Forestry Best Management Practices for Illinois

Illinois Department of Natural Resources

2000

Illinois

Eco-Regions:
View Eco-Regions Map
52. Driftless Area
53. Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains
54. Central Corn Belt Plains
72. Interior River Valleys and Hills

Keywords: BMPs , Forestry , Illinois , Water Quality

Clean water is essential to Illinois' economy and quality of life. Our forests play a vital role in purifying and maintaining clean lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater. Maintaining or restoring forest cover protects the site, preserves and improves the quality and integrity of stream waters flowing within and out of the area. Forested lands are effective in maintaining erosional processes to normal, geological rates. Forests are also effective in shading streams, thereby maintaining relatively cool waters in our forested streams. Forests tend to act as a sink and take up and recycle nutrients. Trees, associated vegetation, and the litter-covered forest floor absorbs the impact of rainfall and allows the rain to infiltrate without surface flow. Sediments and debris carried in from other areas are usually trapped and held by the forest vegetation and leaf litter. Forestry Best Management Practices (BMPs) are practices that protect our forest, soil, and water resources while allowing appropriate use of the resources. The following voluntary guidelines for BMP's will help to ensure that Illinois' forested sites are not degraded, that the waters associated with these forests are of the highest quality compatible with natural processes, and that our forest resources are wisely utilized. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources strongly encourages their use by everyone involved with growing, managing, and harvesting trees. The actual cutting of trees has little impact on site degradation or stream water quality. However, those activities associated with moving the product from the stump to the mill have the potential for causing substantial site and water quality degradation problems. In general, the most serious problems involve erosion, the transport of the eroded material, and the deposition of this material. Since site disturbance and site and water quality degradation may be directly related to erosion and sedimentation problems, the majority of the BMP's will focus on measures to minimize site disturbance. The logger will benefit with lower costs through more efficient operations; the forest owner benefits by reducing the need for site reconditioning; and society benefits from less degradation of soil and water on the harvested area. This manual can help guide you when making decisions about management activities on your land. You can get professional advice on BMPs and all forest management activities from natural resource professionals.


State Information Contributor Log in Name Password Forgot your password? New user?	Forestry Best Management Practices for Illinois Illinois Department of Natural Resources 2000 Illinois Forestry Best Management Practices for Illinois Eco-Regions: View Eco-Regions Map 52. Driftless Area 53. Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains 54. Central Corn Belt Plains 72. Interior River Valleys and Hills Keywords: BMPs , Forestry , Illinois , Water Quality Clean water is essential to Illinois' economy and quality of life. Our forests play a vital role in purifying and maintaining clean lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater. Maintaining or restoring forest cover protects the site, preserves and improves the quality and integrity of stream waters flowing within and out of the area. Forested lands are effective in maintaining erosional processes to normal, geological rates. Forests are also effective in shading streams, thereby maintaining relatively cool waters in our forested streams. Forests tend to act as a sink and take up and recycle nutrients. Trees, associated vegetation, and the litter-covered forest floor absorbs the impact of rainfall and allows the rain to infiltrate without surface flow. Sediments and debris carried in from other areas are usually trapped and held by the forest vegetation and leaf litter. Forestry Best Management Practices (BMPs) are practices that protect our forest, soil, and water resources while allowing appropriate use of the resources. The following voluntary guidelines for BMP's will help to ensure that Illinois' forested sites are not degraded, that the waters associated with these forests are of the highest quality compatible with natural processes, and that our forest resources are wisely utilized. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources strongly encourages their use by everyone involved with growing, managing, and harvesting trees. The actual cutting of trees has little impact on site degradation or stream water quality. However, those activities associated with moving the product from the stump to the mill have the potential for causing substantial site and water quality degradation problems. In general, the most serious problems involve erosion, the transport of the eroded material, and the deposition of this material. Since site disturbance and site and water quality degradation may be directly related to erosion and sedimentation problems, the majority of the BMP's will focus on measures to minimize site disturbance. The logger will benefit with lower costs through more efficient operations; the forest owner benefits by reducing the need for site reconditioning; and society benefits from less degradation of soil and water on the harvested area. This manual can help guide you when making decisions about management activities on your land. You can get professional advice on BMPs and all forest management activities from natural resource professionals.