Page 22 - Georgia Forestry - Winter 2019

Correctly implementing Best Management Practices for forestry operations helps protect Georgia’s water quality and quantity.
and mediates forestry water quality and wetland complaints.
Threats to Water Quality
Georgia’s population is projected to increase to 14.7 million by 2030, making it the eighth most populous state, accord- ing to the 2010 U.S. Census. This poses a huge threat to water quality and quan- tity for the state as forestlands could be converted to urban and suburban uses. The addition of impervious surfaces in landscapes that were formerly forested or used for agriculture results in increased stormwater runoff as well as changes to drainage patterns.
“We’ve known for a long time that maintaining well-managed forests equals a clean and healthy water supply,” Thackston said. “That is why BMPs are so important. It allows the landowner to maintain the land as a working forest, providing periodic income to sustain the landowner while continuing to provide rich environmental benefits such as clean water.”
As Georgia continues to grow, it will be in the best interest of all citizens to support the concept of well-managed forests, which provide benefits that impact our daily lives.
MATT HESTAD IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND STRATEGY FOR THE GEORGIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.
of Public Safety and the Southeastern Wood Producers Association.
With more than 1,580 MTH-trained loggers across the state, BMP implemen- tation on forested land near these primary wood-using facilities has increased tremendously over time. In fact, accord- ing to a 2018 study from the University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, the average BMP compliance rate of survey sites within the wood baskets of certified mills was higher by about 2 percent relative to surveyed sites located outside of the wood basket of uncertified mills over a period of 14 years (2002 to 2015).
“We acknowledge that a high rate of forestry BMP implementation is not an absolute, but rather a robust, indicator of forest sustainability,” said Dr. Puneet Dwivedi, the primary author of the study from the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources.
Monitoring Compliance and Implementation
Due in large part to the broad educational network and MTH training, statewide BMP implementation is currently at 93.2 percent. Every two years, GFC conducts a BMP Implementation Survey that eval- uates the implementation of practices such as streamside management zones (SMZs), stream crossings, forest roads, special management areas, harvesting (outside SMZs), mechanical site prep, chemical site prep, firebreaks/burning, tree planting, and equipment servicing.
GFC conducts this survey under an agreement with EPD and through an understanding with the U.S. Environ- mental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers. Under the same agreement, GFC also investigates
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GEORGIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION