2024 Forestry Best Management Practices Field Reviews

DNRC Forestry is inviting conservation districts to consider participating in the 2024 Forestry Best Management Practices field reviews.  During this process, we review the implementation and effectiveness of the Streamside Management Zone Law where applicable.  Field Review teams are interdisciplinary and strive to have a forester, hydrologist, fisheries biologist, soil scientist, road engineer, non-industrial private forest landowner or logger and a member of a conservation organization.  More information on BMPs can be found on the DNRC website here.

For those interested participating please click the links below.

Letter to Potential Team Members

Team Member Application Form

History of Forestry Best Management Practices 

In the late 1980’s, water quality impacts across the US were a very hot topic. The 1987 amendments to the Federal Clean Water Act provided some funding for states as they developed and implemented non-point source pollution management plans. The 50^th Montana Legislature passed House Joint Resolution 49 (HJR 49) which directed the Environmental Quality Council (EQC) to study (1) how forest management practices affected watersheds in Montana; (2) a range of management practices that conserve watersheds and maintain economically viable timber harvest operations, and (3) frameworks used by other states. The EQC brought forth six recommendations that include DNRC (Department of State Lands at the time) being the lead agency to finalize and publish BMPs and to serve as the lead agency for educational programs for timber operators, landowners and the general public.

Several test ‘audits’ were implementing in 1988 and 1989, but the first Forestry BMP Audit report was published in 1990 with a scorecard showing adequate Forestry BMP implementation approximately 78% of the time and adequate Forestry BMP effectiveness approximately 81% of the time.  The forest industry—in an effort to keep BMPs voluntary—met the challenge of these low scores head on with the passage of the SMZ law in 1991, the incorporation of BMP training in the Accredited Logging Professional (ALP) program by the Montana Logging Association, and a biennial monitoring strategy that reviews a subset of timber harvests during even numbered years.  By 1998, BMP effectiveness reached 95% although it took two more years to achieve reach a 95%  implementation score.  Montana timber harvest operation have maintained this high level of implementation and effectiveness since.  No bills have been introduced to the MT Legislature since 1991 promoting a Forest Practices Act that would result in increased regulation and oversight. Additionally, the  Forestry BMPs are included in the Montana Department of Environmental Quality’s Nonpoint Source Management Plan.

Now, 34 years after that first BMP Audit Report, you have the opportunity to be a part of the success story by participating as a BMP Field Review Team member alongside colleagues from federal, state, county and private partners.  It is not uncommon to find issues with road surface or skid trail drainage. Over steepened cutslopes may be found on more than one site.  Hopefully, we will find improvements for fish passage or some new ideas for reducing and minimizing erosion during active operations.  Regardless of what circumstances wait for you during the field reviews, you will certainly meet some new landowners/forestry professionals and learn something about managing forests while protecting water quality and soils. We will hold a one-day calibration training in early June 2024 to make sure all team members are approaching the field reviews with a similar mindset.

If you have any questions please reach out to Marc A. Vessar

PH: (406) 381-6736