Rules of Tennessee Department of Agriculture,
Division of Forestry,
Chapter 0080-7-3
Forestry Best Management Practices
0080-7-3-.01 Identification of Forestry Best Management Practices (BMP) - General
0080-7-3-.03 BMPs That Manage the Placement of Logging Debris and Operation of Equipment
0080-7-3-.02 BMPs That Prevent Erosion, Soil Loss, and Potential Sedimentation
0080-7-3-.01 IDENTIFICATION OF FORESTRY BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMP) - GENERAL
(1) General
(a) Purpose, Scope and Applicability.
This Rule Chapter specifies forestry best management practices (BMPs) pursuant to
TCA 69-3-103(35) and TCA 11-4-301(d)(18). These are applicable to forestry activities
as defined by TCA 69-3-103(38), i.e., harvesting of timber and construction of
roads and trails. Although no law mandates the use of BMPs, if an operator fails
or refuses to implement these BMPs and water pollution results, the Commissioner
of the Department of Environment and Conservation may
issue a stop work order. These are practices that, if implemented properly, would prevent, limit,
or eliminate water pollution that might be associated with the harvesting of timber including road
and trail construction. BMPs are intended to prevent water pollution that might result from
sediment, mechanical and chemical intrusion, or other activity that would adversely impact the
aquatic resource. The potential for forestry activities to pollute streams is significantly
influenced by factors such as time of year, topography, soil type, vegetative cover, logging
technology, and the duration and intensity of rainfall events. Some
judgement is, therefore,
necessary to relate the choice and installation of BMPs relative to those factors. The following
rules provide flexibility in the choice and application of BMPs for purposes of assuring that
silvicultural activities do not result in pollution of waters of the State. Guidance and
specifications are contained in respective publications of the Department of Agriculture.
(b) Use of Number and Gender-As Used in these Rules:
1. Words in the masculine gender also include the feminine and neuter genders; and
2. Words in the singular include the plural; and
3. Words in the plural include the singular.
(c) Rule Structure - These Rules are organized, numbered, and
referenced according to the following outline form:
(1) paragraph
(a) subparagraph
1. part
(i) subpart
(I) item
I. subitem
A. section
(A) subsection
(2) Definitions
When used in this Rule the following terms have the meanings given below
unless otherwise specified:
(a) "Broad-based dip" means a feature constructed into a
forest roadbed for achieving effective drainage.
(b) "Culvert" means a conduit through which surface water
can flow under roads.
(c) "Log deck/landing," means an area to which logs are
skidded to an on-site mill or collected for loading onto trucks for transport
out of the woods.
(d) "Outsloping" means a method of rapidly draining road
surfaces by tilting the road surface toward the downhill side at the rate of
1/4 inch per foot of road width or a 2 to 3 percent outslope.
(e) "Pole ford" means a method of fording soft-bottomed streams by placing poles (small logs)
across the stream bottom.
(f) "Sediment control structures" means natural materials, terrain features, or man-made structures
that trap and hold sediment. Such structures include straw bale fencing, silt fencing, brush
barriers, and sediment traps. Sediment control structures should be installed where necessary to
slow the flow of runoff and to trap sediment until vegetation is established on the sediment
source. The structures must be maintained, cleaned or replaced until areas of exposed soil are
stabilized. Sediment control structures should not be installed in stream channels.
(g) "Sensitive areas" means site specific natural or topographic
features of consequence to an
aquatic resource including but not limited to fragile soils, wetlands, sink holes, seeps, springs
and heads of springs, landslides, old gully systems, and known locations of officially listed
threatened or endangered aquatic species. Activity that disturbs or disrupts such areas and
promotes potential water pollution should be avoided. Activity is not necessarily excluded from
these areas, however, caution and judgment must be used when these areas are encountered.
(h) "Skid trail" means a path established by multiple passes used by harvesting equipment to
transport logs or trees from the stump to a landing or log deck.
(i) "Streamside management zone (SMZ)" means a designated area that consists of the stream and
an adjacent area of varying width where management practices that might impact water quality
are modified or restricted. SMZs are typically areas where qualified activities are closely
managed rather than areas of total activity exclusion.
(j) "Water bar" means a structure constructed into a temporary road or skid trail to achieve effective
drainage.
(k) "Wing ditch" means a water turnout or diversion ditch constructed to move and disperse water
away from a road and side ditches into adjacent undisturbed areas so that the volume and
velocity of water is reduced on the road surface.
Authority: T.C.A. §§11-4-301 et seq. and Public Chapter 680 of the Acts of 2000. Administrative History:
Original rule filed May 23, 2001; effective August 6, 2001.
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0080-7-3-.02 BMPS THAT PREVENT EROSION, SOIL LOSS, AND POTENTIAL SEDIMENTATION
(1) Access Roads.
(a) Access Road Location.
Access roads shall be designed and located to prevent sediment from entering the waters of the
State as defined at Tennessee Code Annotated (T.C.A.) § 69-3-102. Methods to prevent
sedimentation to streams include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Minimize the amount of road to be constructed using existing roads where practical and if properly located.
2. Locate roads as far from streams and lakes as possible and practical.
3. Locate roads as far as practical from streamside management zones (SMZs) and sensitive areas.
4. Avoid or minimize stream crossings. If crossings are unavoidable, roads should cross
streams as close to right angles as possible.
(i) When possible, locate crossings on the straightest section of streams and minimize disruption of normal streamflow.
(ii) Design crossings such that disruption of movement of aquatic life is minimized.
(iii) Where applicable, approaches to stream crossings should climb away from streams to minimize erosion during high water and should be graveled to prevent washing
and rutting.
(iv) Where practical, broad-based dips and wing ditch turnouts should be installed to
turn water off roads before entering the stream.
(v) When fords are used:
(I) Fords should be located where streambanks are low.
(II) Fords should have a solid bottom; if not, use a pole ford or other appropriate stream bottom cover. Poles should be removed after use.
(vi) When culverts are used:
(I) Culvert size should accommodate the area to be drained. Temporary
culverts may be smaller in size than those otherwise specified but must be
removed at the completion of logging activity.
(II) Installation of culverts should minimize disturbance of stream channels and
prevent sloughing of streambanks. Fill material should be stabilized with rip-rap,
vegetation or any other acceptable method to prevent soil movement.
(III) Periodic inspection should ensure that culverts remain free of debris and other blockages.
(vii) When bridges are used:
(I) Bridges should be located across narrow points on firm soils.
(II) Care should be taken to protect banks from sloughing when constructing and removing temporary bridges.
(III) Bridges should not be covered with soil.
5. Avoid sensitive areas that could interfere with drainage and cause soil compaction or erosion.
(b) Access Road Construction.
Access roads shall be constructed to prevent sediment from entering the waters of the State as
defined in T.C.A. § 69-3-102. Methods to prevent sedimentation to streams include, but are not
limited to, the following:
1. To the extent possible, construct and stabilize new roads several weeks or longer in
advance of logging.
2. Avoid road construction during periods of wet weather.
3. Construct roads on grades of 2 to 12 percent where possible. Runoff from roads should
not directly discharge into a stream channel. Runoff associated with stream crossings
should be minimized. Control runoff from roads using techniques such as varying the
slope of the road, crowning, outsloping, wing ditches, sediment traps, sediment control
structures, broad-based dips, rolling dips, water bars and cross drain culverts and other
measures recommended by the Department of Agriculture. Steeper grades are acceptable
for short distances provided additional attention is given to water control/drainage structures.
4. When possible, trees and brush cleared for road corridors should be pushed to the
downhill side of the road to assist in trapping sediment.
5. Minimize soil disturbance during road construction.
6. Revegetate exposed soil in potential problem areas that could generate sediment (i.e.:
culverts, stream crossings, and fill areas).
7. In association with wetlands:
(i) Design the road fill with bridges, culverts or other drainage structures to prevent
the restriction of expected flood flows.
(ii) Remove all temporary fills in their entirety and restore the area to its original
elevation.
(c) Road Retirement.
Access roads shall be retired in such a way as to prevent sediment from entering the waters of
the State as defined at T.C.A. § 69-3-102. Methods to prevent sedimentation to streams include,
but are not limited to, the following:
1. Water bars or other drainage structures should be constructed immediately after active
logging has ceased. If logging will be delayed for a substantial period of time, temporary
drainage and erosion control structures should be constructed.
2. Upon completion of logging, remove temporary bridges, temporary culverts, and pole
fords; remove sediment and debris from dips, ditches and culverts; and revegetate
problem areas.
3. Use lime, fertilizer, mulch, and/or seed when needed to prevent soil erosion. Amounts
should be based on recommendations from the Department of Agriculture or the
University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service.
(2) Streamside Management Zones (SMZ) and Wet Weather Conveyances
(a) Streamside management zones shall be planned and implemented to prevent the occurrence of
water pollution. The configuration of SMZs is dependent in part upon soil types, slope, and
exposure as well as the type and intensity of activity associated with the logging operation.
1. In the vicinity of streams that maintain a defined and discernible channel and flow much or
all of the time, the SMZ shall be planned and implemented to prevent pollution from
sediment as well as elevated water temperatures that could adversely impact aquatic life.
Methods to prevent pollution include, but are not limited to the following:
(i) The width of SMZs should be a minimum distance of 25 feet from the disturbed
area to the stream for zero percent slope and 20 additional feet for each additional
10 percent of slope. This applies to both sides of the stream (total minimum width
of 50 feet). In association with wetlands, establish SMZs at least 50 feet in width
along both sides of all streams and open water (total minimum width of 100 feet).
(ii) Do not remove any trees within the SMZ if such removal would result in soil
potentially getting into stream. If trees can be harvested without risk of soil loss,
maintain 50 to 75 percent of the vegetation canopy shading a perennial stream.
(iii) Avoid operating any harvesting equipment or vehicles within the SMZ. Whenever
possible, timber harvested within the SMZ should be pulled or winched out.
2. The establishment of SMZs may not be necessary relative to wet weather conveyances
[Rule 1200-4-3-.02(7)]. However, in the vicinity of wet weather conveyances and
topographic features that will likely transport sediment, the operator should modify and
limit activities so that sediment pollution will not occur.
(3) Locating and Constructing Log Landings.
(a) Log landings shall be designed and located to prevent sediment from entering waters of the
State. Methods to prevent sedimentation to streams include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. If correctly located, use existing landings from previous timber harvests.
2. Locate landings outside of SMZs and away from stream channels and sensitive areas.
3. Slope landings to allow for drainage.
4. Prevent sawdust, chips and other residues such as fuels and lubricants from entering
drains where runoff may wash the material into streams.
5. Revegetate landings if they pose a potential water quality problem.
6. Install drainage and sediment control structures to divert run-off if needed.
(4) Locating and Constructing Skid Trails.
(a) Skid trails shall be located to prevent sediment from entering waters of the State. Methods to
prevent sedimentation to streams include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Minimize the number of skid trails; use existing trails where appropriate.
2. Locate skid trails on grades of 2 to 30 percent where possible. Control runoff from trails so
that it does not directly discharge into a stream channel. This may be accomplished by
using techniques such as varying the slope of the trail, wing ditches, sediment traps,
sediment control structures, and other measures recommended by the Tennessee
Department of Agriculture. Steeper grades are acceptable for short distances provided
additional attention is given to water control/drainage structures.
3. Runoff associated with stream crossings should be prevented. Avoid crossing streams,
drains, other wet areas, and sensitive areas; skid away from streams and drains. If
crossing streams is unavoidable, use culverts, pole fords or simple bridges.
4. Skidders and other equipment should not be operated directly in streams.
5. Avoid skidding directly up or down hill; operators should slant the course and follow a
"zig-zag" pathway, if possible.
6. Upon completion of logging, remove temporary bridges and culverts; remove sediment
and debris from dips, ditches and culverts; and revegetate problem areas.
7. Use lime, fertilizer, mulch, and/or seed when needed to prevent soil erosion. Amounts
should be based on recommendations from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture or
the University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service.
8. Avoid ruts that risk channeling water to a stream.
Authority: T.C.A. §§11-4-301 et seq. and Public Chapter 680 of the Acts of 2000. Administrative History:
Original rule filed May 23, 2001; effective August 6, 2001.
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0080-7-3-.03 BMPS THAT MANAGE THE PLACEMENT OF LOGGING DEBRIS AND OPERATION OF EQUIPMENT.
(1) Logging debris and operation of equipment shall be managed to prevent sediment or other materials
from entering waters of the State. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:
(a) Disposal of Trees, Tree Tops and Branches.
1. Trees felled in or across streams should be dragged out in a manner that prevents channel
and stream bank disturbance.
2. Tree tops should be pulled far enough back to prevent being washed into streams during
high water.
3. Trees and tree tops should not be dragged down a stream channel.
4. Root wads in banks should be left in place.
(b) Use and Maintenance of Logging Equipment.
1. When available, use low ground pressure tires on skidders and concentrate skidding as
much as possible on a few primary skid trails to minimize site disturbance.
2. Prevent oil and fuel spills. If a spill occurs, clean up all spilled materials, contaminated soil
and dispose of both properly, as soon as possible, per guidelines of the Tennessee
Department of Environment and Conservation.
Authority: T.C.A. §§11-4-301 et seq. and Public Chapter 680 of the Acts of 2000. Administrative History:
Original rule filed May 23, 2001; effective August 6, 2001.
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