Date: June 6, 2016

To: Prasad Chumble, OWM, U.S. EPA

From: Peter Sherman and Kelly Meadows, Tetra Tech Inc.

Re: Updated Summary of State Forest Road BMP Program Information 

Table A-1 below presents a summary of state program BMPs for forest road management. This table was adapted from two similar 

tables in GLEC/Endicott (2008),

1

additional state program research conducted during 2014, and a May 2016 update of the data based 

on information collected from two sources: The National Association of State Foresters’ (NASF’s) 2013 survey of the state forest best 

management practices accessed through the NASF’s 2015 website (http://www.stateforesters.org/action-issues-and-policy/stateforestry-BMPs-map-o-o) and NCASI’s Compendium of Forestry Best Management Practices for Controlling Nonpoint Source 

Pollution in North America (NCASI 2009). The 2016 update was not intended to constitute new, comprehensive state program 

research, but to add available information (i.e., update) to the draft table since the GLEC document was developed in 2008. 

Please note the following with regard to Table A-1:

 Program type is based on NASF 2013 survey information.2

 State BMP provisions range from comprehensive to minimal. An X in the table indicates that a state has some level of BMP in 

the relevant category. 

 Monitoring information has been carried forward from GLEC 2008 and interim work. In addition, more recent NASF survey 

information has been added.

 The two source documents for the 2016 update generally did not address enforcement. As a result, the enforcement 

information has been carried forward from the earlier documents. 

 

1 National Level Assessment of Water Quality Impairments Related to Forest Roads and Their Prevention by Best Management Practices, Final Report, Great 

Lakes Environmental Center, 2008, (See Tables 4-1, pg. 222, and Table 4-2, pg. 227).

2 Note that characterizations of state forestry BMP programs can differ because of the way reviewers categorize the programs, aspects of the programs they 

review, different interpretations of program elements, and the fact that state forestry BMP programs have evolved and continue to evolve over time.
Table A-1. Summary of state programs for forest road management.

State

Forest 

program 

type*

Last 

edition of 

forest 

practices

Has BMPs for:

Monitor and 

evaluate 

effectiveness 

of BMPs?

Compliance 

and 

enforcement 

mechanisms?

Forest road 

location/ 

design/ 

construction

Forest road 

maintenance

Stream 

crossings

SMZ/ Bank 

Stabil./ 

Buffer 

Strips

Forest 

road 

retirement 

Wet Weather/ 

Winter Use

AL QR Update 

2007

X X X X X X X

AK R FRPA 2003; 

Regs 2013

X X X X X X X X

AZ NR 3 X

AR NR 2002 X X X X X X X

CA R 2016 X X X X X X X X

CO NR 1998

Guidelines 

2010

X X X X X X X

CT QR Field Guide 

2007

X X X X X X

DE QR 19964 X X X X X X X X

FL QR 1993

Revised 

2008

X X X X X X X X

GA NR5 1999

Update 

2009

X X X X X X X

HI NR 1996 X X X X6 X X

 

3 NCASI Technical Bulletin 966 (2009) states AZ has not prepared guidelines. Half of AZ’s productive forest is federal land, so the state relies on USFS BMPs and tribal provisions. 

Document indicates that NPS pollution from forest management is a low priority for the state (silviculture is not a source of impairment in 2004 305(b) report). NASF website indicates 

BMP monitoring.

4 NASF site indicates BMP manual dated 2006, but link does not work. NASF also has a link to most recent BMP manual, which is undated.

5 NASF indicates program is voluntary. BMPs include 40 CFR 232.3 (dredge and fill silviculture 404 permit exemption requirements) and some federal wetland requirements. Also 

notes that Georgia Water Quality Control Act prohibits the discharge of excessive pollutants into state waters in harmful amounts (civil and criminal penalties, pg. 58).

6 BMPs address SMZs, but not expressly in the context of forest roads.
State

Forest 

program 

type*

Last 

edition of 

forest 

practices

Has BMPs for:

Monitor and 

evaluate 

effectiveness 

of BMPs?

Compliance 

and 

enforcement 

mechanisms?

Forest road 

location/ 

design/ 

construction

Forest road 

maintenance

Stream 

crossings

SMZ/ Bank 

Stabil./ 

Buffer 

Strips

Forest 

road 

retirement 

Wet Weather/ 

Winter Use

ID R 20037 X X X X X X X X

IL QR Revised 

2012

X X X X X X

IN NR 2005 X X X X X X X

IA NR 1996 X X X X X X

KS NR X

KY R 1996 X X X X X X X

LA NR 2000 X X X X X X

ME QR 2004 X X X X X X X8

MD R 2015 X X X X X X

MA R9 2013 X X X X X X X

MI QR 2009 X X X X X X X X

MN NR 2013 X X X X X X X X 

MS NR 2008 X X X X X X 

MO NR 2014 X X X X X

MT QR 2015 X X X X X X X X

NE NR 2001 X X X X X

NV QR10 2008 X X

NH QR 2016 X X X X X X

NJ R 1995 X X X X X

NM R 201311 X X X X X X X

 

7 NASF linked BMPs do not include a published date. Dates for forest road regulatory provisions (i.e., sec. 040) range from 1985 to 2006.

8 Regulatory elements.

9 NASF indicates regulatory, however, BMP manual includes required and recommended provisions.

10 NASF link is for urban forestry. NASF indicates monitoring.

11 NASF survey says 2013, but BMP manual linked from website is 2008. State website doesn’t indicate year.
State

Forest 

program 

type*

Last 

edition of 

forest 

practices

Has BMPs for:

Monitor and 

evaluate 

effectiveness 

of BMPs?

Compliance 

and 

enforcement 

mechanisms?

Forest road 

location/ 

design/ 

construction

Forest road 

maintenance

Stream 

crossings

SMZ/ Bank 

Stabil./ 

Buffer 

Strips

Forest 

road 

retirement 

Wet Weather/ 

Winter Use

NY QR 2011 X X X X X X X

NC QR 2006 X X X X X X X

ND NR 2010 X X X X X

OH V 2004 X X X X X X X

OK NR 2008 X X X X X X

OR R 2014 X X X X X X X X

PA QR 2001 X X X X X

RI12 QR X

SC QR 201213 X X X X X X

SD NR 2003 X X X X X X X X

TN NR 2003 X X X X X X X X

TX NR 2014 X X X X X X14 X

UT NR 2001 X X X X X X X

VT QR 2011 X X X X X X X

VA QR 2011 X X X X X X15 X X

WA R 2013 X X X X X X X X

WV R 2014 X X X X X X X

WI QR 2010 X X X X X16 X X

WY NR 2014 X X X X X X X

* Regulatory (R), Non-regulatory (NR), Quasi-regulatory (QR). Based on NASF 2013 survey information.

 

12 NASF identifies BMP manual date of 2003, however, no link to BMPs is provided and only BMPs independently identified include cover letter dated 1996.

13 NASF identified BMP manual date of 2012, however, document linked is undated.

14 Limit operations on sensitive sites and in SMZs during periods of wet weather.

15 Addresses BMPs for wet weather operations in wetlands.

16 Addresses BMPs for inactive roads.