Integrative Forest Management Guidelines

Introduction

Protecting watercourses from machine traffic means planning and conducting forest operations to minimize soil disturbance, rutting and sediment transport into streams, wetlands and other water bodies. Heavy machinery can compact soils, alter surface runoff pathways and increase the movement of sediment and pollutants into watercourses, affecting water quality and aquatic ecosystems. Research consistently shows that careful planning of machine trail networks, avoiding sensitive and wet areas, and applying forestry best management practices can substantially reduce these impacts. Effective measures include locating extraction trails and stream crossings to minimize disturbance, maintaining riparian buffers, limiting unnecessary machine traffic near watercourses, and adapting operations to local site conditions such as soil moisture, slope and terrain.