Page 20 - Georgia Forestry - Winter 2019

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Statewide implementation of BMPs for Forestry Operations
Thanks to a longstanding partnership between the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD), Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) and forest product manufacturers and loggers across the state, Georgia’s forestry community is very intentional in protecting the state’s valuable water resource through the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) for forestry operations.
Many of Georgia’s 44,000 miles of perennial streams, 24,000 miles of intermittent streams, and 600 miles of ditches and canals begin in or flow through forested land, making forests one of the most significant factors contributing to water quality and
quantity. Forests filter and purify the rainfall, thereby ensuring availability of clean water to millions of Georgians. In fact, water produced by these forest streams is much less expensive to treat at municipal water treatment plants than stream water flowing from land used for other purposes.
“Many communities across the state are dependent on surface water for their drinking water, and millions of dollars are invested annually in treating that water,” said Scott Thackston, GFC water quality program coordinator. “Well-man- aged forests and forestry operations that are following BMPs contribute a lot to reducing the cost of water treatment.”
“Well-managed forests and forestry operations that are following BMPs contribute a lot to reducing the cost of water treatment.”— Scott Thackston
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