Five different erosion best management practices were investigated to close bladed skid trails.
Sediment from forest areas with logging activities is one of the environmental concerns which loggers try to address. Skid trails can be a large source of erosion if not managed correctly. Researchers investigated five different erosion best management practices on skid trails to determine which was the most effective. They were as follows:
Water bars were 0.6 to 0.9 m (2 to 3 ft) high and 45 degrees from the slope. Erosion from the sample plots was captured in sediment traps and weighed each month for 18 months. The results showed that the water bar was the least effective method for preventing erosion, followed by the grass with water bar, then hardwood slash with water bar, then softwood slash with water bar, with the most effective being the straw mulch with grass and water bar. The mulch and logging residue treatments provide immediate erosion protection and would therefore be better where the soil has high erosion potential such as on steep slopes or fill slopes. The literature shows that when the skid trails are not bladed, only half as much erosion can be expected.
This information occurred in the Southern Journal of Applied Forestry, Vol. 36 (4), 2012. The authors were CR Wade, MC Bolding, WM Aust and WA Lakel.
Source: http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/saf/sjaf/2012/00000036/00000004;jsessionid=crk522ohes24o.alice
Sediment from forest areas with logging activities is one of the environmental concerns which loggers try to address. Skid trails can be a large source of erosion if not managed correctly. Researchers investigated five different erosion best management practices on skid trails to determine which was the most effective. They were as follows:
- Water bars
- Water bars and grass seed
- Water bars, grass seed and straw mulch
- Water bars and piled hardwood slash
- Water bars and piled pine slash
Water bars were 0.6 to 0.9 m (2 to 3 ft) high and 45 degrees from the slope. Erosion from the sample plots was captured in sediment traps and weighed each month for 18 months. The results showed that the water bar was the least effective method for preventing erosion, followed by the grass with water bar, then hardwood slash with water bar, then softwood slash with water bar, with the most effective being the straw mulch with grass and water bar. The mulch and logging residue treatments provide immediate erosion protection and would therefore be better where the soil has high erosion potential such as on steep slopes or fill slopes. The literature shows that when the skid trails are not bladed, only half as much erosion can be expected.
This information occurred in the Southern Journal of Applied Forestry, Vol. 36 (4), 2012. The authors were CR Wade, MC Bolding, WM Aust and WA Lakel.
Source: http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/saf/sjaf/2012/00000036/00000004;jsessionid=crk522ohes24o.alice