Chapter 9 Forestry

Chapter 9
Forestry in the New River Basin

9.1 Forestland Ownership and Resources

In the New River basin, nonindustrial landowners own approximately 98% of the forestland.
The remaining 2% is state-owned lands that are part of the State Parks system (USDA-
Forest Service, 2004). There are no State Forests, Educational State Forests or significant
National Forestlands in the New River basin.

9.1.1 Forest Management

From 1998 to 2003, nearly 5,900 acres of privately owned forestland in the basin were
established or regenerated with forest trees with over three-quarters of these acres partially
funded by the NC Forest Development Program (FDP). In addition, over 670 forest
management plans were developed to support sustainable forests on 27,195 acres of
forestland owned by nonindustrial, private landowners.

Within the basin, nearly 700 acres across 7 tracts of land are certified under the Forest
Stewardship Program. This voluntary, cooperative program helps individual forest owners
manage their total forest resource. Landowners receive technical assistance in developing a
stewardship management plan based on their ownership objectives. Activities are scheduled
to enhance the forest for wildlife, soil and water quality, timber production, recreational
opportunities, and natural beauty. Recertification is required periodically to benchmark the
progress of the owner’s stewardship plan. For more information on forest management, visit
the DENR Division of Forestry (DFR) website www.dfr.state.nc.us.

9.1.2 Urban Forestry

No Urban & Community Forestry Grants were awarded in the New River basin during this
assessment period. Projects funded by this grant include urban forestry education, teacher
training, forest inventories, tree planting, and urban forest management. Urban forestry and
an associated field known as “agroforestry” are becoming an increasingly vital component in
reducing runoff by integrating “working green space” into urban development projects. In
1993, the Urban & Community Forestry Program recognized the Town of Boone as a Tree
City USA. DENR encourages the Town’s efforts in maintaining working green space.

9.1.3 Forest Utilization

Ten businesses in the basin are considered “Primary Processors” of raw material forest
products. These ten represent less than five percent of the total number of primary
processors located in North Carolina. Some examples of a primary processor include a
sawmill, veneer mill, chip mill, paper mill or pallet mill. These primary processors pay an
assessment to the state, which is then combined with annual legislative appropriations to fund
Chapter 9 – Forestry in the New River Basin 89

the Forest Development Program (FDP). This program provides cost shared reforestation
assistance for forest landowners (Section 9.1.1).

9.1.4 Christmas Tree Production

The Division of Forest Resources does not oversee regulations related to land clearing
activities for Christmas tree production or the associated BMPs for tree farming operations.
These activities are deemed to be an agricultural/horticultural activity and are under the
oversight of the NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (NCA&CS) and their
recommended agricultural best management practices (BMPs). The NC Cooperative
Extension Service through NC State University has developed extensive guidelines and
recommendations for Christmas tree operations. This material is available on-line at
www.ces.ncsu.edu/fletcher/programs/xmas/. Refer to Section 1.5.1 for more information.

9.2 Forestry Water Quality Regulations in North Carolina

9.2.1 Forest Practice Guidelines (FPG) for Water Quality

Forestry operations in North Carolina are subject to regulation under the Sedimentation
Pollution Control Act of 1973 (General Statute Ch.113A Article 4 referred to as "SPCA")
and its amendments. However, forestry operations are exempt from the permit requirements
of the SPCA, if the operations comply with performance standards outlined in the Forest
Practices Guidelines (FPG) Related to Water Quality (Administrative Code 15A NCAC 1I
.0101 - .0209) and the North Carolina General Statutes that addresses stream obstruction
(General Statutes 77-13 and 77-14) (NCDEHNR-DFR, January 1990). Detailed information
on maintaining compliance with the FPGs is available on the Water Quality Section of the
DFR website www.dfr.state.nc.us.

DFR is delegated the authority, by the Division of Land Resources (DLR), to monitor and
evaluate forestry operations for compliance with the aforementioned laws. In addition, DFR
works to resolve FPG compliance questions brought to its attention through citizen
complaints. Violations of the FPG performance standards that cannot be resolved by DFR
are referred to DLR for enforcement action. During a five-year period beginning September
1998, DFR conducted 321 FPG inspections of forestry and/or timber harvesting activities in
the basin; approximately 91 percent of the sites inspected were in compliance with the FPGs.
None of the sites were referred to DLR for noncompliance enforcement.

9.2.2 Other Forestry Related Water Quality Regulations

In addition to the FPGs, DFR monitors the implementation of the following Federal rules
related to water quality and forestry operations. These include:

ƒ US Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Section 404 Dredge and Fill
exemption for forestry activities under the Clean Water Act;
ƒ USACE 15 mandatory BMPs to satisfy the exemption related to forest road
construction in wetlands; and
Chapter 9 – Forestry in the New River Basin 90

ƒ USACE BMPs for mechanical site preparation for the establishment of pine
plantation silviculture in southeastern wetlands.

9.2.3 Water Quality Foresters

Water quality issues related to forestry in the New River basin are predominantly handled by
a Water Quality Forester based in the DFR’s Lenoir District Office. Created in 1999, Water
Quality Foresters were assigned to seven of the DFR’s 13 districts across the state. The
Water Quality Foresters conduct FPG inspections, survey BMP implementation, develop pre-
harvest plans, and provide training opportunities for landowners, loggers and the public
regarding soil conservation and water quality protection practices related to forestry.
Assistant District Foresters and Service Foresters handle water quality issues in the
remaining districts, along with other forest management and fire control responsibilities.
Contact information for each district and/or county can be found on DFR’s website at
www.dfr.state.nc.us and in Appendix VIII.

9.2.4 Forestry Best Management Practices (BMPs) and Water Quality

Implementing forestry BMPs is strongly encouraged by DFR in order to efficiently and
effectively protect the water resources of North Carolina. The Forestry Best Management
Practices Manual (NRCD-DFR, September 1989) describes recommended techniques that
should be used to comply with the State’s forestry laws and help protect water quality. Also
known as the “Blue Book”, this manual is currently undergoing its first revision since
adoption in 1989. Revisions to the manual are led by a DENR appointed Technical Advisory
Committee (TAC). The second edition of the manual will be printed in a condensed pocket-
sized version, as well as a comprehensive desktop text. The pocket-sized, condensed version
will allow for greater distribution and on-site use by loggers and equipment operators. More
information on forestry BMPs can be found at DFR’s website at www.dfr.state.nc.us.

Among the BMP’s promoted for timber harvesting is the use of bridgemats for establishing
temporary stream crossings. DFR’s Bridgemat Loan and Education Program is an education
and protection project which promotes the benefits of using portable bridges for stream
crossings, in lieu of using other techniques such as culverts or hard-surface crossings, both of
which have a greater potential to result in stream sedimentation. Grant awards from the EPA
Nonpoint Source Pollution Management Program have funded all bridgemat purchases for
this loan program. For the last eight years, DFR has provided bridgemats for short-term loan
to loggers to use throughout the New River basin. It is recommended that additional
bridgemats be made available for forestry activities in the New River basin. Further
information on DFR's Bridgemat Loan Program can be found on the DFR website at
www.dfr.state.nc.us or by contacting the Lenoir District Water Quality Forester.

DFR conducted a statewide BMP Implementation Survey (March 2000 to March 2003) to
evaluate Forestry BMPs on active harvest operations for forest management purposes. This
survey evaluated 18 sites in the New River basin, with a resulting BMP implementation rate
of 68%. This was among the lowest of any river basin in the state. Statewide, the problems
most often cited in this survey relate to stream crossings, skid trails and site rehabilitation.
This and future surveys will serve as a basis to focus efforts in the forestry community to
Chapter 9 – Forestry in the New River Basin 91

address water quality concerns through better and more effective BMP implementation and
training.

Since the last basin plan was issued, DFR has implemented the following in an ongoing
effort to improve compliance with forest regulations and, in turn, minimize nonpoint source
pollution from forestry operations.

(1) Replaced worn-out wood timber bridgemats with new steel mats available for use
throughout the basin. Contact the Lenoir District Water Quality Forester for loan
information.

(2) Established a Forestry NPS Unit that develops and oversees projects throughout the state
that involves protection, restoration and education on forestry NPS issues.

(3) Revised and produced 10,000 copies of a pocket field guide outlining the requirements of
the FPGs and suggested BMPs to implement.

(4) Created and published 15,000 copies of a new brochure “Call Before You Cut” for
landowners promoting pre-harvest planning to ensure water quality issues are addressed
prior to undertaking timber harvesting.

(5) Continued to assist with workshops in cooperation with the NC Forestry Association’s
“ProLogger” logger training program. As of 2004, this program requires at least 6 credit
hours of continuing education every 3 years focused exclusively on water quality topics.

DFR continues its efforts to protect water quality through education and training programs,
demonstrations and research projects. Projects that address forestry NPS pollution
prevention can be found on the website at http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/nps/What_is_NPS/forestry.htm.
Progress reports on these projects will be made available on the DFR website
www.dfr.state.nc.us.

Chapter 9 – Forestry in the New River Basin 92