Chapter 8

Chapter 8
Forestry in the Savannah Basin

8.1 Forestland Ownership and Resources

Approximately 60% of forestland in the Savannah basin is privately owned. The majority of the
balance is comprised of publicly-owned land in the Nantahala National Forest. 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).

8.1.1 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 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/.

8.1.2 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:
y Replaced worn-out wood timber bridgemats in the Sylva District with new mats available for
use throughout the basin.
y Established a Forestry NPS Unit that develops and oversees projects throughout the state that
involves protection, restoration and education on forestry NPS issues.
y Revised and produced 10,000 copies of a pocket field guide outlining the requirements of the
FPGs and suggested BMPs to implement.
y Created and published 15,000 copies of a new brochure “Call Before You Cut” for
landowners promoting pre-harvest planning to insure water quality issues are addressed prior
to undertaking timber harvesting.
y Continued to assist with workshops in cooperation with the N.C. Forestry Association’s
“ProLogger” logger training program.
y DFR continues its efforts to protect water quality through various protection, restoration, and
education projects. This includes research project, on-site demonstrations, and integration of
NPS topics through the DFR’s network of Educational State Forests and State Forests.
Progress reports and summaries are posted in the ‘Water Quality’ section of the DFR’s Web
site www.dfr.state.nc.us as they are completed.

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8.2 Forestry Water Quality Regulations in North Carolina

8.2.1 Forest Practice Guidelines (FPG) for Water Quality

Forestry operations in North Carolina are subject to regulation under the Sedimentation Pollution
Control Act of 1973 (G.S. Ch.113A Art.4 referred to as “SPCA”). 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 (15A
NCAC 1I .0101 - .0209, referred to as “FPGs”) and General Statutes regarding stream
obstruction (G.S.77-13 & G.S.77-14).

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 2 FPG inspections of forestry-related activities in the basin; both of the sites inspected
were in compliance.

8.2.2 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 silviculture exemption under the Clean Water Act
y The federally-mandated 15 Best Management Practices (BMPs) related to road construction
in wetlands
y The federally-mandated BMPs for mechanical site preparation activities for the establishment
of pine plantations in wetlands of the southeastern U.S.

8.2.3 Water Quality Foresters

While the DFR currently has a Water Quality Forester located in ten of the DFR’s thirteen
Districts across the State, there are none assigned within the Hiwassee basin. However, the
forester staff based in the DFR’s Sylva District Office and Asheville Regional Office address
water quality issues related to forestry as time permits, while also handling wildfire suppression
and forest management duties.

8.2.4 Forestry Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Implementing Forestry Best Management Practices is strongly encouraged by the Division of
Forest Resources in order to efficiently and effectively protect the water resources of North
Carolina. During this reporting period, the DFR recorded 6 instances across 400 acres in which
BMPs were either noted in use or had been recommended. The Forestry Best Management
Practices Manual describes recommended techniques that should 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 four years of effort.
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To further assess BMPs, the DFR conducted a detailed, statewide BMP Implementation Survey
from March 2000 through March 2003 to evaluate Forestry BMPs on active harvest operations.
However, that survey did not capture any harvest sites within the Savannah basin. Of those
survey sites taken statewide, though, the problems most often cited relate to stream crossings,
skid trails, and site rehabilitation. This survey, and additional 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.

8.2.5 Bridgemats

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
crossings, instead of culverts or hard-surfaced ‘ford’ crossings. Wooden timber bridgemats have
been available for use in the basin for nearly seven years, and are available upon request from the
Sylva District Office. In 2005, six new 25-foot wooden bridgemats were assigned to the Sylva
District; these mats were acquired with USEPA 319-Grant funds, allowing DFR to continue this
successful program. More information about using bridgemats, and the above noted BMP
survey, is available on the ‘Water Quality’ section of the DFR’s Web site
http://www.dfr.state.nc.us./.

8.2.6 Protection from Wildfires

The “Firewise Communities” program is a national, multi-agency effort designed to reach
homeowners, community leaders, planners, developers, and others in the effort to protect people,
property, and natural resources from the risk of wildfires, before a fire starts. The Firewise
Communities program offers a series of practical steps that individuals and communities can take
to minimize wildfire risks. The Firewise approach emphasizes community responsibility for
planning in the design of a safe community as well as effective emergency response, and
individual responsibility for safer home construction and design, landscaping, and maintenance.
In North Carolina, the most susceptible areas for wildfires in which homes and woodlands co-
exist are in the mountains and areas of the coast.

Some examples of Firewise practices include:
y Maintaining a ‘defensible perimeter’ around homes and structures by controlling vegetation
growth
y Removing so-called ‘ladder fuels’ from around structures, that may allow a small fire on the
ground to move upwards, and into the structure
y Constructing access roads and driveways in a way that will allow access by fire trucks and
other heavy emergency response vehicles.

More information is available on the North Carolina Firewise Web site
http://www.ncfirewise.org/ and the national web site http://www.firewise.org./.
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