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TEXAS
Texas has been successful in implementing best management practices to
address nonpoint source pollution from forestry activities through voluntary
participation of local foresters, landowners, and silvicultural contractors.
Educational efforts have reached 20,000 persons, evaluations have shown an 88
percent BMP implementation compliance rate, and BMPs have reduced stream
sedimentation by 40 percent. Texas needs a sustained and expanded commitment to
support the implementation of the voluntary forestry BMP program.
Voluntary Silviculture BMPs Mark Successful Beginnings
Texas has made a successful start in encouraging the widespread adoption of
voluntary forestry BMPs through a cooperative effort--the Texas Silvicultural
Nonpoint Source Project--funded by section 319 and state matching funds.
The project has six objectives:
- Educate the forestry community using a variety of media;
- Integrate BMPs into all relevant state forestry management programs;
- Demonstrate various BMPs using two demonstration areas developed as
educational tools;
- Foster cooperation between agencies and the forestry community for a
coordinated, effective program;
- Evaluate the program and revise as needed; and
- Monitor BMP compliance and effectiveness through on-site inspections of
silvicultural activities.
The Texas Forest Service coordinated the project, designed to reduce
nonpoint source water pollution from - forestry activities by encouraging
widespread adoption of voluntary silvicultural BMPs, working in cooperation
with the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and the Texas Water
Commission. The project was completed between December 1990 and August 1992 and
was funded by an FY 1990 section 319 grant totaling $218,000, including
$130,000 in federal funds and $88,000 in state matching funds.
Educational efforts reached some 20,000 landowners, foresters, loggers,
silvicultural contractors, and the general public:
- Two radio interviews and one television appearance reached some 7,000
individuals;
- Print coverage included four articles in the Texas Forestry monthly
newspaper (2,500 circulation), one article in the quarterly magazine Texas
Trees (10,000 circulation), and a general news release;
- About 4,700 copies of a silvicultural BMP handbook were distributed to
landowners, foresters, and loggers through the joint efforts of the Texas
Forest Service and the Texas Forestry Association, forest projects companies,
and forestry consultants;
- More than 1,100 individuals from a variety of audiences, including 21
county forest landowner associations, attended 43 meetings and workshops, many
of which included field tours demonstrating BMP installations;
- Some 2,000 individuals saw BMP exhibits and presentations at three special
events; and
- Approximately 1,500 loggers, truckers, and other silvicultural contractors
received a series of six educational flyers, through the cooperation of 10
forest products companies.
BMP demonstration areas on the Jones State Forest near Conroe and the
Fairchild State Forest in Cherokee County exhibited 30 practices at 18 stops.
These areas have been used for numerous tours by county forest landowner
associations and industry groups. Practices include erosion remediation along
roads, skid trails, and fire lines; streamside management zones; and
installation of wing ditches, water bars, broad-based dips, and open top box
and steel cross drain culverts. Practices also include using geotextile low
water crossings and culvert stream crossings and revegetating roads and skid
trails.
The project included developing a BMP compliance monitoring system and
inspecting 162 silvicultural sites. Of those inspected, 88 percent received a
compliance rate of fair or better. BMP compliance correlated positively with
landowner and contractor knowledge, ownership, and forester involvement.
When implemented properly, BMPs minimized nonpoint source pollution.
However, BMP guidelines for streamside management zones (SMZs) and fire lines
needed revising. Monitoring found that SMZs were needed to protect intermittent
streams, many of which have deep channels and are susceptible to erosion. Also,
increased attention was needed to prevent erosion in fire lines. These
recommendations were incorporated into a comprehensive revision of the
silvicultural BMP guidelines, printed by the Texas Forestry Association.
An analysis of predicted forest land erosion and sedimentation, based on
the Universal Soil Loss Equation, was conducted to estimate the overall
improvement in water quality as a result of BMP implementation. The analysis
concluded that under current BMP compliance levels, stream sedimentation has
been reduced by 40 percent, when compared to a "no BMP" scenario. These
encouraging results point out the need for a sustained, cooperative educational
effort to reach the 150,000 nonindustrial private landowners, professional
foresters, loggers, and contractors who will ultimately determine the
effectiveness of the voluntary BMP program. This effort will be supported by
additional cycles of compliance monitoring to document continued improvement
and focus attention on reducing nonpoint source pollution.
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