The Streamside Management Zone (SMZ) is a cornerstone of forestry Best Management Practices to protect streamwater quality from non-point source pollution resulting from silvicultural operations. However, the exact width and harvest intensity of SMZs that best protects water quality while allowing for commercially valuable timber harvesting has not been determined. The long-term objective of this study is to characterize SMZs and watersheds before and after harvest with different SMZ widths and harvesting intensities in the Allegheny Plateau of West Virginia. The objective this paper is to present the pre-harvest SMZ and watershed characterization. Each of the watershed SMZs were characterized pre-harvest in terms of vegetation, water, soil, carbon, and monetary value within SMZs to predict how silvicultural treatments will affect the future stands. The major overstory tree species found are Acer saccharum, Liriodendron tulipifera, Fagus grandifolia, Tilia americana, Betula lenta, snags, Betula lutea, Fraxinus spp., and Acer rubrum. The overall average streamwater temperature is 13°C. Highest daily temperature occurred in the mid-afternoon and lowest temperatures occurred just before sunrise. Streamwater quality was good, with near neutral pH, low nitrogen content, and high dissolved oxygen. USLE erosion estimates predicted an erosion rate of 2.9 Mg/ha/yr in the SMZ. However, the sediment rods showed an overall accumulation of soil in the SMZ, averaging 173 Mg/ha/yr. This equates to an average watershed loss of 10.9 Mg/ha/yr. In-stream and SMZ LWD volume was approximately equal at 28 and 33 m3/ha. Large woody debris was more decayed in the SMZ than in-stream LWD. / Master of Science

The importance of streamside management zones (SMZ) in minimizing the impact of non-point source pollution from silvicultural operations is recognized by the forestry Best Management Practices of most states. However, research concerning the SMZ width and harvesting intensity required to maintain water quality and biotic communities is limited. The goal of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of different SMZ widths and forest harvesting intensities within SMZs, in maintaining the water quality and biotic communities of 22 headwater streams located in the mountains of East-central West Virginia. Streams were organized in four blocks and randomly assigned one of six silvicultural treatments involving variation of SMZ width and harvesting intensity within the SMZ; 30.5 m SMZ with no residual harvest, 30.5 m SMZ with 50% residual harvest, 15.3 m SMZ with no residual harvest, 15.3 m SMZ with a 50% residual harvest, 4.5 m SMZ and control (no harvest within the watershed). Stream water chemistry parameters (in particular, NO3, NH4, Ca, Mg, conductivity and total dissolved solids) as well as aquatic macroinvertebrate communities were monitored from June 2003 through March 2005. Average nitrate concentration in streams harvested with a 4.5 m SMZ was more than 4 times as high as that of control streams. Average summer and fall stream temperatures were inversely related to SMZ width. Mean values for a number of macroinvertebrate community metrics were indicative of poorer water quality in streams harvested with a 4.5 m SMZ. During this short-term study SMZs of at least 15.3 m appeared to be sufficient to maintain water quality. However, harvesting was restricted to one side of the stream and logging induced stream disturbances were observed even with SMZs of 30.5 m. For these reasons SMZs of at least 30.5 m are recommended as a cautionary measure to minimize the potential for impacts to biotic communities. In addition, residual harvest of up to 50% of the basal area within the SMZ did not appear to impact water quality during the temporal scope of the study. / Master of Science

The responses of invasive exotic plant species (IES) to silvicultural treatments one growing season after timber harvesting were examined in the Cumberland Plateau region of Southeastern Kentucky. Treatments included a commercial deferment harvest and unharvested control applied to five watersheds within University of Kentucky’s Robinson Forest. The effects of harvesting were compared between treatments and between preharvest and postharvest samplings. The spatial distribution and abundance of targeted IES throughout forest sites and trail systems were calculated from several sampling schemes. Additional analyses were performed to quantify forest disturbances derived from harvest activities to determine the relationships between soil, light levels, and other environmental characteristics and IES cover. Logistic and multivariate analysis techniques were used to analyze differences in IES distribution between pre-harvest and post-harvest units to relate post-harvest IES to microsite conditions. Microsite conditions within the forest and along the trail system proved important for explaining the presence and distribution of IES. Timber harvesting caused a significant increase in both Ailanthus altissima and Microstegium vimineum within harvested areas. However, many other identified IES did not initially respond to disturbances. Throughout the treatment units, species were influenced by disturbance type and intensity, as well as proximity to reclaimed surface mined land.

No description available.

Interest in BMP-related logger education and training has increased dramatically in recent years. Harvest planning is a critical component of forestry water quality BMPs. All states’ BMP manuals recommend written timber harvest plans, and several states require them by law. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of harvest planning training and the use of written timber harvest plans on BMP compliance, landowner satisfaction and weather-related downtime in the Virginia Piedmont. Nine randomly chosen loggers (study group) from the Virginia Piedmont participated in two days of intensive harvest planning field training. Nine additional loggers were randomly chosen as a control group. Study loggers prepared and followed written timber harvest plans for the 29 tracts they harvested during the 8-month study period immediately following the training. Study Group loggers outperformed Control Group loggers for mean BMP compliance (90% vs. 86%), mean landowner satisfaction (3.54/4.0 vs. 3.27/4.0), and mean weather-related downtime (10% vs. 13%). Absolute scores for all evaluation criteria for both groups were good, and differences, though statistically significant, were relatively small, leading to conclusions that: • Loggers in the Virginia Piedmont are generally doing a good job. • Loggers in the Virginia Piedmont are planning their operations, whether a written plan is required or not. • Harvest planning training and written harvest plans can marginally improve BMP compliance, landowner satisfaction and weather-related downtime, even for loggers who are already performing well. / Master of Science

Conservation easements are increasingly becoming a popular land use control for landowners, government agencies and non-profit conservation organizations. These legal documents restrict a landowner's development rights and constrain other property uses. The landowner (grantor) voluntarily places an easement on his or her property, while the government agency or qualified conservation organization (grantee) holds it in perpetuity. While the Land Trust Alliance's (LTA) most recent estimate of easement-protected land amounts to nearly 2.6 million acres in 2000, an estimate of forestland protected is nonexistent. Additionally, no empirical studies address forest management on current easements nationwide, although a few studies address forestry at the state- or regional-level. As a result, this survey was designed to address three goals by sampling 1,527 conservation organizations and 63 state government agencies that may hold conservation easements. The first goal estimates total forestland protected. The second goal determines forestry restrictions commonly found in current easements. The third goal ascertains the impact of easements on forest management and timber supply. Survey results show that over 536 conservation organizations and 20 state agencies hold over 16,025 conservation easements on 4.9 million acres of all land types. Of these totals, a minimum of 3,598 easements protect over 2.5 million forestland acres. Forest management restrictions tend to vary based on the protected property's forest resources. The desires of the grantee holding the easement also influence the type and level of forestry restrictions. To date, conservation easement restrictions do not appear to impact timber supply nationally, although local or regional timber supply may be impacted in the future, especially in the Northeast. Several conclusions offer technical insights on forestland protection by conservation easements. First, grantees should complete a baseline forest inventory prior to placing an easement on a forested property. This inventory provides a basis for drafting effective easement provisions and permits future monitoring. Second, grantees should encourage professionally-written forest management plans on every working forest easement. Third, all conservation organizations need to work cooperatively with government agencies in locating potential conservation lands. GIS/GPS technology helps demonstrate the spatial relationship of conservation easements to other government-protected lands, promoting efficient location of properties that augment other protected lands. / Master of Science

Three independent case studies focused on harvesting operation value improvement: (1) A productivity study was carried out on a new cable logging operation near Pikeville, Kentucky to document the effect of professional training on production efficiency. The crew received one full week of professional training. Prior to the professional training the productivity of the operation was established at 834 cubic feet per productive machine hour at an average piece size of 54 cubic feet. Two weeks after the training a productivity increase of 218 cubic feet per productive machine hour was established. (2) A USDA Forest Service stewardship contracting pilot project took place at Burns' Creek, Virginia. Productivity and machine costs for the cable-logging 'swing landing' operation were determined. Stream habitat improvement was achieved through the placement of limestone in the headwaters. The yarder placed 6.21 tons of lime per productive machine hour into the creek at a cost of $53 per ton. Instead of a traditional stumpage sale, timber was merchandized by the Forest Service and stored on the landing for a roadside log sale. Benefits and opportunities for a roadside log sale were identified. Consensus from the consumers at the log-sale was that the potential value of the timber was realized. (3) The third case study involved the analysis of the value recovered through log-making techniques (bucking) for five logging crews working in Virginia and West Virginia. An average value loss of 22 percent was calculated using the HW-BUCK bucking optimizer software package. <i>[Vita removed March 2011. GMc]</i> / Master of Science

Invasive exotic species (IES) responses to silvicultural treatments eight years after timber harvesting were examined and compared to one-year post-harvest IES survey in University of Kentucky’s Robinson Forest. The temporal effects of harvesting were further compared between harvested and non-harvested watersheds. Analyses were performed to identify IES spatial distribution and determine the relationships between IES presence and disturbance effects, biological, and environmental characteristics. IES prevalence was higher in the harvested watersheds and was influenced by canopy cover, shrub cover and disturbance proximity. Ailanthus altissima and Microstegium vimineum presence in the study area has decreased over time. Comparing to the 1-yr post-harvest study which only identified direct harvesting effects (e.g. canopy cover and disturbance proximities) as significant predictors, the 8-yr post-harvest survey results suggest that while harvesting effects and disturbance proximity still play an important role, environmental characteristics have also taken precedence in predicting IES presence. Overall IES prevalence has decreased but invasive plant species richness has increased over time. Results indicate that IES eradication may not need to be conducted immediately after harvesting, and when needed, can primarily target IES hotspots where low canopy cover, proximity to disturbance, and southwest facing slopes convene on the landscape.

No description available.

In the United States, federal, state, and local forest policies affect many aspects of the forest industry. Regulations from all levels dictate how resource professionals manage the forest resources of the country. This study examines state and local regulatory relationships with a primary focus on local regulations in the Northeast, Mid-West, and western regions of the United States. A total of 388 local forestry ordinances were identified among the 35 states of the Northeast, Mid-West, and western regions of the United States. The Northeast contains the majority of local forest ordinances with 351. These ordinances are distributed among 8 states and many small local government types. The Mid-West currently embraces fewer local forest regulations with 16 ordinances across 4 states. In the West, 21 local forestry ordinances were found of which most are fostered by comprehensive forest practice acts. The primary objective of most local regulations in all regions is to regulate timber harvesting to some degree. The scope of the remaining local regulations; however, varied by region. The presence of local regulations has existed for over 30 years, and there are indications that they will have an even greater impact on forest management in the future. In addition, local regulations are steadily becoming more comprehensive in scope, which makes it difficult to determine their impacts. The cumulative impact of local regulation rests not only in the number of ordinances, but also in the area they govern, stringency of provisions, local resource conditions, and degree of enforcement. / Master of Science