Managing water quality in wetlands with forestry BMP's

Abstract

Forested wetlands are uniquely critical areas in forest operations that present special challenges to protect water quality. These locations are a direct interface between the impacts of forest operations and water. BMP's are designed to minimize nonpoint source pollution, but much of the science behind current guidelines is based on an understanding of erosion processes in upland situations. In wetlands and around temporary stream crossings, redirection of flow, sedimentation processes, and alterations of flow velocity become important. Existing forested wetland BMP's appear to adequately address water quality protection. If existing BMP's became prescriptive regulations, however, there is potential for mis-application and unintended ecological impacts.