No description available.

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

Headwater stream systems are important components of the overall hydrologic system. Forestry best management practices (BMP) are effective at minimizing non point source pollution from forest harvesting activities. Streamside management zones (SMZ) are one BMP used to protect surface water quality by maintaining shade near streams, filtering runoff, and minimizing soil disturbance near streams. An evaluation of BMP effectiveness on the watershed scale was conducted at the University of Kentucky’s Robinson Forest. Six watersheds were harvested using a two-age deferment harvest with one of three SMZ configurations applied to each watershed. Two unharvested watersheds served as controls. Treatment 1 was based on the current Kentucky Forest Practice Guidelines for Water Quality Management and included a 16.8 m SMZ with 50% canopy retention for perennial streams, a 7.6 m SMZ with no canopy retention for intermittent streams, and no SMZ or canopy retention for ephemeral streams with unimproved crossings. Treatment 2 also included a 16.8 m perennial SMZ but increased canopy retention to 100%, as well as a 7.6 m intermittent SMZ with 25% canopy retention, and retention of channel bank trees and use of improved crossings for ephemeral streams. Treatment 3 required a 33.5 m perennial SMZ with 100% canopy retention, a 16.8 intermittent SMZ with 25% canopy retention, and a 7.6 m ephemeral SMZ with retention of channel bank trees and use of improved crossings. Total suspended solids (TSS) concentration and turbidity was measured in storm samples in perennial and ephemeral streams, and in non-storm samples in perennial and intermittent streams. Nitrate-N, ammonium-N, and dissolved oxygen concentrations were also measured in non-storm samples in perennial and intermittent streams. Temperature and water level were recorded every 15 minutes for the duration of the study. Results showed that treatment 3 was able to maintain TSS concentrations and turbidity levels similar to those measured in unharvested control watersheds. Increases in nitrate-N and mean daily temperature were measured for all treatments. Ammonium-N and dissolved oxygen concentrations were not different from unharvested control watersheds for any treatment. Storm hydrograph separation did not result in consistent changes post-harvest for any treatment.

Streamside management zones (SMZs) have become important management techniques to prevent the introduction of sediment to stream networks. This study examined the current Kentucky best management practice (BMP) guidelines for SMZs by outfitting mobile forest harvest equipment with global positioning system (GPS) receivers, enabling modeling of equipment traffic and spatial analysis of stream sediment delivery. Three SMZ configurations were implemented during commercial timber harvest, along with four different techniques of crossing ephemeral channels, in order to determine where and why sediment was introduced to the stream network. Results indicate that increasing the SMZ buffer width leads to decreased sediment delivery, and that requiring an SMZ buffer with some canopy retention on ephemeral channels will lead to improvements in stream water quality. Care should be taken in the placement and construction of water control measures for skid trail retirement, and improved stream channel crossings such as bridges and pipe culverts should be required to improve water quality over unimproved fords. A northeasterly aspect of harvested areas was shown to be related to increased sediment delivery to streams, while surface roughness downslope from the skid trail system was shown to decrease sediment delivery.

Salamanders are critical components of forest ecosystems, in terms of total biomass, as well as for their value as indicators of ecosystem stress. Considering the worldwide decline in amphibian populations, the known effects of timber harvest on salamander populations, and the importance of the forest products industry in Kentucky and elsewhere, the impacts of silvicultural operations on salamander communities cannot be overlooked. The objective was to investigate the effects of three different silvicultural treatments, each involving different streamside management zone (SMZ) characteristics, on salamander communities in ephemeral streams. Data were collected by regular checks of pitfall traps, coverboards, and transect searches. Using both pre- and post-harvest data, abundance estimates were acquired using binomial mixture models. Declines in some species of terrestrial and stream-breeding salamanders were detected, and were shown to be likely related to characteristics of the corresponding silvicultural treatment. Applying modest SMZ regulations to ephemeral streams would likely alleviate these declines significantly.

I investigated plant and animal community characteristics on 14 forest stands in north central Mississippi. Study sites included 9 pine plantations, 3 streamside management zones, and 2 hardwood cove forests. I estimated relationships between faunal metrics and habitat characteristics. I measured vegetation characteristics within quadrant and nested plot designs to estimate understory, midstory, and overstory species composition and structure. I inventoried breeding birds using point count surveys and sampled herpetofauna diversity using area-constrained searches within belt transects during 2008 and 2009. I detected 39 species of birds in 2008, 43 species of birds in 2009, 11 species of amphibians, and 9 species of reptiles. Hardwood cove sites supported more deep forest-dwelling bird and salamander species; whereas, pine stands supported more grassland bird species. Species richness and abundance of birds was related to snag DBH. Species richness and abundance of herpetofauna was related to number of understory plant species.

The major study objectives include determining if a 50-foot streamside management zone (SMZ) as described in the Virginia BMP Manual (VDOF 2002) is generally sufficient to protect stream water quality, riparian soils, and stream bank integrity in headwater streams where forest harvesting has taken place, as well as comparing other SMZ widths with regard to the same environmental protection performance. In 2003, 16 forested watersheds were clear-cut harvested for commercial timber production. Four SMZ treatments were installed across four experimental blocks during harvest. Each of the 16 watersheds was subsequently site-prepared with prescribed burning and planted with loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). Within the watersheds, the established treatments were a 100-foot width with no thinning, a 50-foot width without thinning, a 50-foot width with thinning, and a 25-foot "stringer." Each of the four treatments was conducted within three of four blocks (Incomplete Block Design). After a two-year post-harvest monitoring period, it was determined that the SMZ treatments had no significant effect on water quality, channel geometry, or soil erosion in and around the streams. There was no apparent water quality degradation as a result of harvesting timber, and larger SMZs did not have an impact on any of the parameters studied. It was also apparent that leaving narrower SMZs or thinning within SMZs did not cause any apparent environmental degradation. It was also determined that landowners who leave SMZs on their property have very limited opportunities to manage timber within them for financial gain in the long term. / Ph. D.

Biosolids, materials resulting from domestic sewage treatment, are surface applied to forest soils to increase nutrient availability. Retaining streamside management zones (SMZs) can limit nutrient pollution of streams. We delineated 15 m SMZs along three intermittent streams in an 18-year-old Pinus taeda L. plantation. We applied biosolids outside the SMZ on one side of each of the streams maintaining the other side of the stream as control. We collected water samples from the three treated and six reference streams as well as from the perennial stream both upstream and downstream from the intermittent streams for 12 months following treatment. Along transects perpendicular to the treated streams, we collected overland flow samples, soil solution samples at 60 cm and extracts from ion exchange membranes (IEMs) placed in the surface soil. We found elevated nitrate concentrations outside the SMZ in the treated side soil solution samples, in which concentrations remained below 1.5 mg L-1. Nutrient concentrations outside the SMZ in treated side IEM extracts increased following biosolids application, returning to near control levels after one year. Nutrient concentrations in IEM extracts were not elevated adjacent to the streams. We observed elevated phosphorus concentrations adjacent to the stream in overland flow during one period on the treated side of the stream. Stream nutrient concentrations showed few differences downstream from the treatment with concentrations below 1.5 mg L-1. Our results indicate that a 15 m SMZ protected streams from nutrient pollution for the first year following biosolids application to adjacent forestlands. / Master of Science

Many states' Best Management Practices (BMP) programs established Streamside Management Zone (SMZ) widths based on limited or inadequate data with regard to nutrient fluxes from silvicultural activities. Previous studies in forested watersheds have shown slight post-harvest increases of several nutrients in streams. Also, in agricultural settings, increased nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) levels have been detected in streams. However, little is known about the effectiveness of recommended forested SMZ widths for controlling nutrient fluxes following fertilizer application. Diammonium phosphate (DAP) and urea fertilizers were applied to subwatersheds of 2 to 3 year-old loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantations upslope from SMZ study areas throughout Buckingham Co., VA. Three replications of four SMZ treatment widths (30.5m, 15.2m, and 7.6m plus a thinned 15.2m SMZ) were studied using surface water collectors, cation/anion exchange membranes, lysimeters, and stream grab-samples. Measurement devices were spaced symmetrically across the SMZ from the uphill SMZ edge to stream edge with grab samples being collected approximately 20m upstream and 20m downstream of the fertilized area. Little nitrogen and phosphorous movement was detected in surface water which was monitored using surface water collectors. Near-surface water flow sampling using ionic exchange membranes resulted in our most complete dataset and showed infrequent lateral ion transport in the litter and upper soil layers even after water passed over an approximately 1m wide, seeded firebreak located between the SMZ dripline and fertilized area. Results from lysimeter samples used to measure subsurface flow were limited due to dry conditions; however, the limited samples indicate that only minute levels of nitrogen and phosphorous are transported laterally via shallow subsurface and surface flow. Overall, sampling indicated that only minute quantities of nitrogen and phosphorous were ever transported from the fertilized clearcut to the riparian area. Results indicate that even a 7.6m wide SMZ with a seeded firebreak is adequate to protect streams from industrial fertilizer application in a relatively dry year, but wider SMZs may be necessary for other benefits. / Master of Science