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Soil Disturbance Workshop

Soil Disturbance Workshop. M.Curran, PhD,P.Ag. BCFS, Research. The path to “Pedo-righteousness”. Know your soil Know what you are doing to it Know the effects of this (on- and off-site) Adapt your practices (reliable process) over time as more knowledge becomes available

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Soil Disturbance Workshop

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  1. Soil Disturbance Workshop • M.Curran, PhD,P.Ag. • BCFS, Research

  2. The path to “Pedo-righteousness” • Know your soil • Know what you are doing to it • Know the effects of this (on- and off-site) • Adapt your practices (reliable process) over time as more knowledge becomes available • “Science-based” management • None of this is new, but integration might be...

  3. Outline • Office for 1 hour: • FRPA • Monitoring • Field (return by 4 pm = leave 3 pm)

  4. Outline • Current Legislation - Disturbance types - review of types - Rece Surveys / Disturbance recog - Roadside Dist vs Ldg disturbance - Debris piles part of PAS? - Current Reference info - field cards, - Review dist requiring Rehab - - Stratification - Site prep disturbance

  5. Outline • Background • Soil disturbance concerns • Local soils research and results • FRPA • Soil conservation provisions in FRPA  • identify and discuss opportunities/issues for C&E (eg, MPB) • FREP soil protocol if of interest (eg low level detailed photos) • Briefly discuss harvesting strategies to manage soil disturbance (influence inspection approach

  6. Background: Forest Sciences • Branch and Regional forest science teams • Applied research, problem solving, extension, consulting • Decentralized, close to the scene of the action • Unique service in BC & talent rich • Respected in MOF and externally • A continued MOF core function

  7. F.S.P. Clients Public Licencee’s D.M.’s Field Services Primary Clients Industry Woodlot Public Public RMT BCTS Public

  8. Primary Focus (Earth Sciences) • Implementation and testing of policy related to soil and water conservation. • Done by: • Policy development support • Policy implementation support (Guidance documents, C&E) • Testing policy and developing tools • (Effectiveness, Validation)

  9. Recent Nelson soils work • Erosion control consultation/reviews of active fires • Work on Soil Conservation Framework and Surveys LMHs (guidance documents that include airphoto approach to monitoring) • FRPA Soils Leader during drafting and start of FREP • FREP Protocol development • Continued monitoring on LTSP • Promotion of a common approach to soil disturbance in North America (for FRPA)

  10. “Continual Improvement”(“Science-based resource mgt.) Strategic Direction Data/results Guidelines R & D Monitoring (C&E) Training OPERATIONS Best Mgt.Practices

  11. Provincial Soil Conservation issues Soil “foundation” affects Other Resources • Site productivity • “Hydrologic function” • Erosion and sedimentation • Organic matter • Rooting medium • Soil moisture Timber, Habitat supply Water Global Carbon Aesthetics Operations

  12. Soil Disturbance (a Proxy) • Any physical, biological, or chemical disturbance to the soil caused by ground-based equipment (operations) • May be inconsequential, beneficial, or detrimental depending on the net effect on growth limiting factors and hydrologic properties

  13. Soil Disturbance as a proxyfor productivity/hydrologic effects • We need at least 10 to 20 years data to draw conclusions about the effects • Therefore, we use soil disturbance as a proxy that we can observe and regulate at the time of harvesting, site preparation, etc. • However, when we discuss or read about “Soil Disturbance” there are inconsistent approaches and methods a common approach is needed.

  14. @ 15 YRS @ 10 YRS @ 3 YRS Mean Douglas-fir volume - Gates Creek (Smith & Wass, 1991; Wass & Senyk, 1999) 150 125 100 R / R % of volume on undisturbed soil S / NR 75 T / NS T / R 50 T / NR 25 0

  15. Net effect on tree growth • Resulting tree growth is sum of positive and negative effects • Common negative effects: • reduced aeration from compaction • loss of nutrients and organic matter • Common positive effects: • reduced competition • warmer soils

  16. Beneficial Disturbance • Foresters often create disturbance on purpose as site preparation to ameliorate seedling growth-limiting factors • Net effect would have to be positive • Growth is limited by most limiting factor • Identify and manage for these • Don’t compromise long-term productivity

  17. Processes leading to degradation: • Compaction • Displacement (min. soil; forest floor) • Erosion • Mass Wasting (cut/fill failures) • (Part of management framework)

  18. Compaction • Compaction and Puddling result in the alteration / loss of soil structure (architecture of pores) • Bulk Density increase (penetrability) • Infiltration decreases (more runoff) • Aeration decreases (less biological activity)

  19. Compaction • Controlling factors: texture, coarse fragments, forest floor depth/type, (soil depth, mineralogy) • Manageable factors: machine traffic, machine type/dynamic loading, seasonal soil conditions (wetness, snow, frost)

  20. Aeration Porosity (Nakusp)

  21. Mean Douglas-fir Volume • Both sites sandy-loam texture • BUT, Clay varies • Ratings need validation

  22. Soil Plasticity (Approx., CSSC) Very Plastic Plastic Slightly Plastic Non-Plastic

  23. Displacement • Displacement of fertile mineral topsoil and forest floor layers of concern • Loss of available nutrients • Loss of effective rooting volume • exposure of unfavourable subsoils • Loss of water holding capacity • Increased runoff, drainage diversion

  24. Displacement • Controlling factors: slope, topography, soil depth, subsoil type • Manageable factors: amount and extent of excavation, machine size/type, seasonal soil conditions (wetness, snow, frost)

  25. Outline • Background • Soil disturbance concerns • Local soils research and results • FRPA • Soil conservation provisions in FRPA  • identify and discuss opportunities/issues for C&E (eg, MPB) • FREP soil protocol if of interest (eg low level detailed photos) • Harvesting strategies to manage soil disturbance (can influence inspection approach if a good strategy appears to have been used)

  26. BC Soil disturbance stds • 1988 start, FPC in 1995, now FRPA • Disturbance types of concern evolved from bladed trails to compacted trails, ruts • Limits set in Silviculture Prescription (Site Plan) based on soil dist.hazards • Monitoring based on transects • Disturbance at sample point categorized

  27. Historical Disturbance Levels • late 70’s / early 80’s • over 20 % common • Interim Harv. guidelines (1988) • 13 % without rehab. • 1993 Harv. guidelines • 13 % WITH rehab. • 1995 FPC Act, now FRPA • 10 % AFTER rehab. “10 + 3”(5)

  28. Extra codes • Rehab = r, rX • Other machine traffic = M • Other scalps/gouges = O • 2 rut depths: - Ts, Td (deep) • Mike to provide total key….

  29. Only need to dig Repeated Machine Traffic • Machine traffic (compaction) • Altered soil structure or increased density relative to the surrounding soil • Puddling (and OR) • Compacted deposits of forest floor, fine slash and woody debris such that difficult to dig….

  30. FPRA Objectives for Soils • “Conserve the productivity and hydrologic function of soils.”

  31. Soil disturbance - FREP(pilotted sessions in Castlegar) • Are sensitive soils identified adequately? • Is access being minimized? • PAS • TAS • Roadside work areas • Other disturbance • Is drainage being restored/maintained?

  32. FRPA provision “Sensitive soils” Soil disturbance classes 5 and 10 % limit Can go over 5 % if rehab Conditions where higher Needs (validation as well) Publish former guidebooks, test and revise Soil conservation “framework” LMH; Test cumulative, other conditions like stumping and rehab tech/success FRPA support needed

  33. FRPA Soil Disturbance Stds(others for drainage, revegetation, etc.) • Permanent access 7 % or less • Temporary access up to 5 % • Sensitive Soils 5 % “disturbance” • Less-sensitive 10 % • Roadside work areas 25 % • Based on soil sensitivity

  34. Unfavourable growing media • Mike to provide total key….

  35. FRPA Soil Disturbance Stds(others for drainage, revegetation, etc.) • 35(7), 37 – mtl adverse effect **PJordan** • Drainage control provision • 39 • 79-81 need clarification • Environmental damage (alter ecosystem __(site series) - _define) • Landslide • Soil disturbance (30 % or higher on 0.2 ha?) • Changes to soil (mudbogging)

  36. Soil Issues in other Districts(?) • MPB salvage • Wet soils • Salvage permit… • Small Scale Salvage operations • Roadside work area issues • Opennings less than 1 ha

  37. Types of monitoring • Implementation (Compliance) • Did they meet the contract? • (speeding?) • Effectiveness • Contract and practices effective? • (are ticketting, signing, etc. reducing it) • Validation (research) • Underlying assumptions correct? • (speeding causes more fatalities there?)

  38. Compliance monitoring • Behaviour consistent with good practice? • Identify sensitive areas (SP or photos, reccies, soil maps, experience ___) • Walkthrough to check these • Run some transects to calibrate level of disturbance you are observing • Need to decide if a problem • If a problem you notify C&E and Licensee, call regional expert, speak to contractor about your concerns (educate them), random skidding not good______________ _______________

  39. Compliance monitoring • Behaviour consistent with good practice? • Identify sensitive areas (SP or photos, reccies, soil maps, experience ___) • Walkthrough to check these • Run some transects to calibrate level of disturbance you are observing • Need to decide if a problem • If a problem you call for second opinion (survey), report it to Licensee, document (measurements/observations) in a inspection report, stop work (imm. Env. Damage) / enforcement… _______________

  40. Compliance monitoring • Behaviour consistent with good practice? • Identify sensitive areas (SP or photos, reccies, soil maps, experience ___) • Walkthrough to check these • Run some transects to calibrate level of disturbance you are observing • Need to decide if a problem • If a problem you_survey, stop work, investigate, rehab plans?, _______________

  41. Compliance monitoring • Behaviour consistent with good practice? • Identify sensitive areas (SP or photos, reccies, soil maps, experience ___) • Walkthrough to check these • Run some transects to calibrate level of disturbance you are observing • Need to decide if a problem • If a problem you; escalating enforcement – compliance notice, big ugly?, rehab instructions via cooperation or determination________________

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