Forestry Best Management Practices Relationships with Aquatic and Riparian Fauna: A Review

Abstract

Forestry best management practices (BMPs) were developed to minimize water pollution from forestry operations by primarily addressing sediment and sediment transport, which is the leading source of pollution from silviculture. Implementation of water quality BMPs may also benefit riparian and aquatic wildlife, although wildlife benefits were not driving forces for BMP development. Therefore, we reviewed literature regarding potential contributions of sediment-reducing BMPs to conservation of riparian and aquatic wildlife, while realizing that BMPs also minimize thermal, nutrient, and chemical pollution. We reached five important conclusions: (1) a significant body of research confirms that forestry BMPs contribute to the protection of water quality and riparian forest structure; (2) data-specific relationships between forestry BMPs and reviewed species are limited; (3) forestry BMPs for forest road construction and maintenance, skid trails, stream crossings, and streamside management zones (SMZs) are important particularly for protection of water quality and aquatic species; (4) stream crossings should be carefully selected and installed to minimize sediment inputs and stream channel alterations; and (5) SMZs promote retention of older-age riparian habitat with benefits extending from water bodies to surrounding uplands. Overall, BMPs developed for protection of water quality should benefit a variety of riparian and aquatic species that are sensitive to changes in water quality or forest structure.

Trade‐offs among road–stream crossing upgrade prioritizations based on connectivity restoration and erosion risk control

“…For example, road–stream crossings may hinder animal migration, alter hydrological characteristics and sedimentation processes, and degrade habitat quality in river ecosystems (Forman et al, ; Januchowski‐Hartley et al, ). Therefore, the removal or upgrade of road–stream crossings to mitigate the negative effects of roads has become a key issue in river restoration and watershed management (McKay et al, ; Warrington et al, ).…”

Differential responses of amphibian and reptile assemblages to size of riparian buffers within managed forests

“…Streamside management zones are a particularly important component of many Best Management Practice (BMP) programs (Warrington et al. ), and consequently, are widely implemented within managed forests (Lee et al. ) to minimize physical and chemical changes to streams, maintain soil moisture in riparian areas (Brosofske et al.…”

“…Within managed forests, SMZs may be particularly beneficial to wildlife because, compared to the surrounding landscape, they provide diverse vegetation conditions and microhabitats (e.g., waterbodies, coarse woody debris, snags, tree cavities, rocks, leaf litter; Homyack and Kroll , Warrington et al. ). Further, SMZ characteristics may vary across the landscape depending on hydrology, geology, and vegetative structure of a location (Foley , deMaynadier and Hunter ).…”

“…Forested riparian buffers (i.e., streamside management zones; SMZs) are used to protect aquatic environments from terrestrial disturbances, such as timber harvesting operations (Blinn and Kilgore 2001). Streamside management zones are a particularly important component of many Best Management Practice (BMP) programs (Warrington et al 2017), and consequently, are widely implemented within managed forests (Lee et al 2004) to minimize physical and chemical changes to streams, maintain soil moisture in riparian areas (Brosofske et al 1997, Swank et al 2001, Wilkerson et al 2006, and reduce sediment delivery (Aust and Blinn 2004). Riparian buffers also support ecological processes including resource subsidies (e.g., allochthonous inputs of detritus and wood; Langer 1999, Parkyn 2004).…”

Best Management Practices Influence Modeled Erosion Rates at Forest Haul Road Stream Crossings in Virginia

“…Disadvantages of culverts include placement of fill dirt in the stream channel with associated sedimentation, improper sizing for water yields, increased downstream water velocity and scouring, restriction of stream aquatic passage, and problems associated with culverts becoming clogged (Warrington et al. ). Portable bridges are commonly recommended for stream crossings because they can cause less stream disturbance, can be cost‐effective when used repeatedly, and do not clog as readily as culverts.…”