Implementation monitoring of forestry best management practices for harvesting and site preparation in South Carolina 2001-2003

A survey was conducted to determine compliance with BMPs related to timber harvesting and site preparation in South Carolina. 300 sites were evaluated over a 3-year period, and each site was rated for compliance in several categories of BMPs, including forest road construction, stream crossings, streamside management zones, timber harvesting systems, mechanical site preparation, chemical site preparation, prescribed burning, and minor drainage. Overall compliance with BMPs related to harvesting rose to 94% during this survey, and overall compliance with BMPs related to site preparation fell slightly to 96%. Major problems noted on inadequate sites were poor road and stream crossing design, lack of stabilization on forest access roads and stream crossings, insufficient protection of the streamside management zone, and the use of mechanical site preparation techniques on steep slopes