Recognition and reporting of water quality management problems on Michigan’s forest lands

Recognition and reporting of water quality management

problems on Michigan’s forest lands

All earth changes, people’s activities and uses have potential for

negative impacts on water quality.

Healthy, productive forests are closely associated with high quality

water, but forest management activities which cause erosion are threats to surface water quality.

Forest land management activities such as:

• Timber harvest activities-landings and skidding

• Site preparation and tree planting• Trails and pathways• Road construction and parking areas

have potential to cause erosion, sedimentation and other undesirable impacts.

Major pollutants that degrade surface and ground water are:

• Sediment• Nutrient• Chemicals• Heat• Debris

We are all responsible for maintaining high quality waters in

Michigan.Do your part by reporting

potential threats to water quality using:

Michigan Department of Natural ResourcesWater Quality Management Practices on Forest Lands

Non-Compliance Report Form

The report form should be filled out as completely as possible

and given to FMFM Unit Manager.

Submitting a report will start a tracking and prioritization

process.

The top portion of the form records general information such as location, priority and who found the problem.

Priority is subjective. A problem that is currently causing a large amount of resource degradation such as a

washed out road may be rated as urgent. An problem such as an undersized culvert on an intermittent stream

may have a low priority. Use your best judgment.

The middle section of the form is a checklist of non –

conformances.

The lower portion of the form records action taken, further action needed and additional tracking

information

The following slides show examples of problems that should

be reported when found.

ORV trail crossing stream

ORV damage-river crossing

ORV damage-unauthorized trail

Mud-bogging around Lake

Hill-climb

HILL CLIMB

ORV damage-rutted trail in low area

ORV Trail crossing stream

ORV Damage above river

Haul road across stream

Logging in riparian zone

No buffer strip on stream

Equipment in watercourse

Erosion of forest road on slope

Gullies and rutting located near watercourses

Road Washout

Road WashoutRoad Washout

Failed culvert and washout

Road grading with no diversion ditching

Road washout-improper drainage

Road washout-no culvert or plugged/undersized culvert

Bank washout at bridge crossing

Bridge approach washed out

Unarmored Culvert discharge

Unauthorized roads/trails

Water, clean water is one of our greatest natural assets.

For additional information refer to: Water Quality Management

Practices on Forest Land 1994Michigan Department of Natural Resources