Abstract
A multi-year study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Florida's Best Management Practices (BMPs) for protecting aquatic ecosystems during intensive forestry operations and forest chemical applications. Five silviculture sites adjacent to stream systems were selected for study from major eco-regions of the state. Replicate stream bioassessments, using a multimetric approach (the Stream Condition Index), were conducted as part of a `before-after, control-impact' (BACI) study design. Bioassessment stations were established above and below the treatment area to determine pre-treatment reference and test conditions. Silviculture treatments of clearcut harvesting, intensive mechanical site preparation and machine planting were then completed, during which all applicable BMPs were adhered to. In addition, two sites received an herbicide application and one site was fertilized. Following the treatments, the sites were re-sampled at the same points both one year, and two years after the first bioassessment. No significant differences in the SCI were observed between the reference and test portions of the streams that could be attributed to the silviculture operations using BMPs. Hence, the study showed that BMPs provided protection to adjacent stream ecosystems, even during intensive silviculture and forest chemical applications.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adams, T. O., Hook, D. D. and Floyd, M. A.: 1995, ‘Effectiveness monitoring of silvicultural best management practices in South Carolina’, South. J. Appl. For. 19, 170–176.
Barbour, M. T, Gerritsen, J. and White, J. S.: 1996a, Development of the Stream Condition Index for Florida, Florida Dep. Environ. Prot., Tallahassee, 63 pp.
Barbour, M. T., Gerritsen, J., Griffith, G. E., Frydenborg, R., McCarron, E., White, J. S. and Bastian, M. L.: 1996b, ‘A framework for biological criteria for florida streams using benthic macroinvertebrates’, J. N. Amer. Benth. Soc. 15, 185–211.
Bureau of Laboratories: 1990, Biological Assessment of the Crescent Lake Basin, Florida, Report, Florida Dep. Environ. Prot., Tallahassee, 33 pp.
Bureau of Laboratories: 1995, Biological Assessment of Arvah B. Hopkins Generating Station, Report, Florida Dep. Environ. Prot., Tallahassee, 27 pp.
Bureau of Laboratories: 1997, Biological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Forestry Best Management Practices, Report, Florida Dep. Environ. Prot., Tallahassee, 49 pp.
Department of Environmental Protection: 1991, Table of Typical Water Quality Values for Florida, Tallahassee, 11 pp.
Division of Forestry: 2000, Silviculture Best Management Practices Manual, Florida Dep. Agric. Consumer Serv., Tallahassee, 98 pp.
Division of Forestry: 2002, Results of the 2001 Silviculture BMP Compliance Survey, Florida Dep. Agric. Consumer Serv., Tallahassee, 39 pp.
Griffith, G. E., Omernik, J., Rohm, C. and Pierson, S.: 1994, Florida Ecoregionalization Project, U.S. EPA, Environmental Research Laboratory, Corvalis, OR, 83 pp.
Vowell, J. L.: 1996, ‘Revising Florida's best management practices manual — A partnership process’, in Tappi Press (eds.), Partners in Global Stewardship. Proceedings of the International Environmental Conference, Orlando, FL, 1996, pp. 261–265.
Vowell, J. L.: 2001, ‘Using stream bioassessment to monitor best management practice effectiveness’, Forest Ecology and Management 143 237–244.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Vowell, J.L., Frydenborg, R.B. A biological assessment of best management practice effectiveness during intensive silviculture and forest chemical application. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution: Focus 4, 297–307 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:WAFO.0000012812.90967.7a
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:WAFO.0000012812.90967.7a