HomeMy WebLinkAboutChapter 17
Chapter 17
Forestry in the Roanoke River Basin
17.1 Forestland Ownership
Approximately 80 percent of timberland in the Roanoke River basin is privately-owned by
individual landowners (Figure 24). This ownership estimate comes from the most recent data
published by the USDA-Forest Service (Forest Statistics for North Carolina, 2002. Brown,
Mark J. Southern Research Station Resource Bulletin SRS-88. January 2004).
It is estimated that forest industry owns nearly 10 percent of the timberland in the basin, while
the remaining 10 percent is divided among other corporate ownership and public ownership.
While there are no State Forests, Educational State Forests, or National Forest lands within the
basin, there are large tracts of timberlands dedicated as State or National wildlife refuges and
gamelands.
10% Industrial
Forest
Landowners
80% Private –
Individual
Landowners
10% Corporate/Public
Ownership
Figure 24 - Ownership of Forestland in the Roanoke River Basin
17.2 Forestry Water Quality Regulations in North Carolina
17.2.1 Forest Practices Guidelines for Water Quality (FPGs)
Forestry operations in North Carolina are subject to regulation under the Sedimentation Pollution
Control Act (SPCA) of 1973 (reference NCGS Ch.113A Art.4). However, forestry operations
may be exempted from the permit and plan requirements of the SPCA, if the operations meet the
compliance standards outlined in the Forest Practices Guidelines Related to Water Quality
(referred to as “FPGs”, reference 15A NCAC 1I .0101 - .0209) and N.C. General Statutes
regarding stream obstruction (G.S.77-13 & G.S.77-14).
The FPGs are nine standards that are, in essence, codified performance-based practices that are
required on forestry-related, site-disturbing activities. While the specific use of Best
Chapter 17 – Forestry in the Roanoke River Basin 161
Management Practices (BMPs) is voluntary, measures must be taken to comply with the
standards defined in the FPGs.
The North Carolina Division of Forest Resources (DFR) is delegated the authority to monitor
and evaluate forestry operations for compliance with these aforementioned laws and/or rules. In
addition, the DFR works to resolve identified FPG compliance questions brought to its attention
through citizen complaints. Violations of the FPG performance standards that cannot be
resolved by the DFR are referred to the appropriate State agency for enforcement action.
During the period September 1, 1999 through August 31, 2004 the Division of Forest Resources
conducted 1,697 FPG inspections of forestry-related activities in the Roanoke River basin; 93
percent of the sites inspected were in compliance.
17.2.2 Other Forestry Related Water Quality Regulations
In addition to the State regulations noted above, DFR monitors the implementation of the
following Federal rules relating to water quality and forestry operations:
y the Section 404 Dredge and Fill exemption under the Clean Water Act;
y the US Army Corps of Engineers 15 mandatory BMPs related to road construction in
wetlands; and
y the US Army Corps of Engineers mandatory BMPs for mechanical site preparation activities
for the establishment of pine plantations in the southeast.
17.2.3 Water Quality Foresters
Water Quality Foresters conduct FPG inspections, survey BMP implementation, develop pre-
harvest plans, and provide training opportunities for landowners, loggers, and the public
regarding water quality issues related to forestry. They also participate in DFR-supported aerial
reconnaissance flights to help locate potential water quality problems, as schedules and aircraft
availability allows.
The DFR has an assigned Water Quality Forester in each of its Districts that cover the entire
Roanoke River basin. The four foresters are based in the DFR's Lexington, Hillsborough, Rocky
Mount, and Elizabeth City District Offices. The Lexington and Elizabeth City positions were
added in 2005 as a result of new appropriations.
The DFR currently has a Water Quality Forester located in ten of its thirteen Districts across the
State. Assistant District Foresters or Service Foresters handle water quality issues in the
remaining Districts, along with other forest management and fire control responsibilities. See
Appendix VIII for contact names and telephone numbers.
17.2.4 Forestry Best Management Practices
While using BMPs for forestry operations are voluntary in North Carolina, their usage is strongly
encouraged in order to efficiently and effectively protect our water resources. It is interesting to
note that while the state laws do not require using BMPs, several forestry and timber companies
require BMPs to be used when timber is harvested to supply their manufacturing mills. This
162 Chapter 17 – Forestry in the Roanoke River Basin
requirement is typically a component of the forest certification program(s) adopted by the forest
products company.
The North Carolina Forestry Best Management Practices Manual describes recommended
techniques that can be used to help comply with the State’s forestry laws and help protect water
quality. This manual is currently undergoing its first revision since adoption in 1989. This
revision, led by the DENR-appointed Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) has undertaken over
three years’ of effort.
BMP Surveys
From March 2000 through March 2003, the DFR conducted a statewide BMP Implementation
Survey to evaluate Forestry BMPs on active harvest operations for forest management purposes.
This survey evaluated 34 sites in the basin, which amounts to six percent (6 percent) of the total
number of surveys conducted. The BMP implementation rate was 90 percent, placing these sites
within the upper quartile from across the state during this survey.
The problems most often cited from the survey results across the state relate to stream crossings,
skid trails, and site rehabilitation. This BMP survey, and additional periodic surveys to be
conducted, will serve as a basis for focused efforts in the forestry community to address water
quality concerns through better and more effective BMP implementation and training.
Bridgemat Loan Project
To help address some of these issues, the DFR has been providing bridgemats on loan out to
loggers for establishing temporary stream crossings during harvest activities. Temporary bridges
are usually the best solution for stream or ditch crossings, instead of culverts, hard-surfaced
‘fords’, or pole-timber crossings. Bridgemats have been available for use in the middle portion of
the Roanoke River basin for three years.
Additional mats are being purchased by DFR for the lower Roanoke basin, to be based in Martin
and Bertie counties. Bridgemats have been funded through US-EPA Section 319 Grants and
from the Albemarle-Pamilco National Estuary Program (APNEP). More information about using
bridgemats, and the above noted BMP survey, is available on the ‘Water Quality’ section of the
DFR’s website http://www.dfr.state.nc.us./.
Hurricane Isabel
In September 2003, Hurricane Isabel damaged several thousand acres of timberland across the
lower Roanoke basin and elsewhere, with an estimated 186,000 acres impacted in Bertie County
alone, which accounts for over one-quarter of all Isabel timber damage.
A short period of widespread salvage logging operations occurred after the storm in an effort to
salvage damaged timber. The DFR sent foresters from outside the region to the impacted area to
perform the additional FPG inspections warranted by this increased level of timber harvesting
activities.
Chapter 17 – Forestry in the Roanoke River Basin 163
17.3 Forest Resources
17.3.1 Forest Products Industry
The economic value of the forest industry is evident across the Roanoke River basin. Twenty-
eight (28) different businesses in the basin are considered “Primary Processors” of forest
products raw material, which represents twelve percent (12 percent) of the total number of
primary processors located in the state.
Two of the five pulp & paper mills that operate in North Carolina are located within the Roanoke
basin. Other examples of primary processors in the basin include sawmills, pallet mills, and
engineered lumber mills.
These forest product manufacturing facilities are foundations of the economy across the basin
and its surrounding counties by providing not only direct employment, but also ancillary
employment from service sectors, forestry occupations, and manufacturing support industries.
In addition to their employment value, all primary processors in North Carolina pay an
assessment to the state, which is then combined with legislative appropriations, to fund the
“Forest Development Program - FDP”, which provides cost-shared reforestation assistance for
forest landowners.
17.3.2 Forest Management
Some of the best-quality hardwood sawtimber in the eastern United States grows within the
lower sections of the Roanoke River, which has been an important source of renewable timber
resources for over two centuries.
In order to provide the raw materials used by the forest industry, the management of working
forests is a vital component of the basin’s landscape. This is evident from DFR records that
indicate at least 54,000 acres of land were established or regenerated with forest trees across the
basin from September 1, 1999 through August 31, 2004. Almost 70 percent of these reforested
acres were partially funded through the FDP.
During this same time period the DFR provided over 2,600 individual forest management plans
for forest landowners that encompassed nearly 154,000 acres in the basin.
17.3.3 Urban and Community Forestry
While the Roanoke River basin in North Carolina is relatively rural when compared to other
river basins in the state, there are still opportunities for smaller communities to undertake Urban
& Community Forestry projects that provide value for its citizens.
Two such towns, Eden and Yanceyville, are recognized as a “Tree City USA” by DFR’s Urban
& Community Forestry Program. Since 2001, seven Urban & Community Forestry Program
Grants have been awarded to various groups in the basin, amounting to over $53,000 in project
funding.
164 Chapter 17 – Forestry in the Roanoke River Basin
Urban forestry grant projects may include tree inventories, ornamental and streetscape tree
planting, or the development of educational and training resources. Urban forestry, and an
associated field known as Agroforestry are becoming increasingly important components in
reducing NPS runoff by integrating ‘working green space’ into urbanized areas.
17.3.4 Forestry Accomplishments
Since the previous basinwide plan was produced, the DFR accomplished the following tasks in
an ongoing effort to improve compliance with forest regulations and, in turn, minimize nonpoint
source (NPS) pollution from forestry activities:
1. provided bridgemats for loaning to loggers for the first time across the western and central
portions of the Roanoke River, and are purchasing additional bridgemats for the lower
Roanoke section;
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 informational brochure for landowners entitled
“Call Before You Cut” promoting pre-harvest planning to insure water quality issues are
addressed prior to undertaking timber harvesting; and
5. continued to assist with workshops in cooperation with the N.C. Forestry Association’s
“ProLogger” logger training program. As of 2005, 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 various protection, restoration, and
education projects statewide. This includes monitoring studies, stream restoration, in-woods
exhibits, and integration of NPS topics through the DFR’s network of Educational State Forests
as well as other public venues. One notable example included the first-ever “Forestry Festival”
hosted in part by the DFR at Plymouth, NC in May 2005.
Progress reports and summaries are posted in the ‘Water Quality’ section of the DFR’s Web site
http://www.dfr.state.nc.us/ as they are completed.
Chapter 17 – Forestry in the Roanoke River Basin 165
166 Chapter 17 – Forestry in the Roanoke River Basin