ontana's water quality protection 

program as it applies to forest

management/timber harvest involves both a 

regulatory and a voluntary approach. Since 

the 1970's, non-regulatory Forestry Best 

Management Practices (BMPs) have provided 

guidance on water quality protection 

standards for harvest and other types of

operations. At the same time, concern over 

impacts of forest management on Montana's 

watersheds prompted the 1987 Montana 

Legislature to pass House Joint Resolution 49. 

This resolution directed the Montana 

Environmental Quality Council (EQC) to study 

"how current forest management practices 

are affecting watersheds in Montana." The 

EQC established a Forestry BMP technical 

committee that developed Montana's first 

statewide forestry BMPs in 1987. In 1989 an 

interdisciplinary working group released the 

revised Forestry Best Management Practices

we still use today.

That same year, the Montana Legislature 

enacted the BMP Notification Law (76-13-131 

MCA), which requires private landowners to 

notify the Montana Department of Natural 

Resources and Conservation (DNRC) prior to 

harvesting timber. DNRC foresters provide

information and private landowner technical 

assistance on proper harvest techniques and 

BMP implementation. Forest practices &

harvesting are administered by the DNRC 

within a non-regulatory framework; public 

education is a main goal.

Since October 1991 the Streamside 

Management Zone (SMZ) Law has regulated 

forest practices along streams. This law 

implements suitable streamside management 

practices while providing for exceptions to 

the law if properly applied and approved by 

DNRC. The law also prohibits certain forest 

practices along streams. Additionally, the 

SMZ Rules became effective March 15, 1993, 

and were updated in 2006. They define and 

clarify the SMZ law and enforcement policies.

his BMP Field Review process has been 

developed to evaluate whether BMPs are

effectively limiting non-point source pollution

resulting from timber harvest operations in 

Montana. MT DNRC evaluates forest practices 

for BMP implementation every two years and 

reports the findings to the EQC. This report 

MONTANA

Forestry Best Management Practice (BMP)

2014 Monitoring Report

Executive Summary

M

T

Montana’s Best Management Practices (BMPs) 

aim to protect watersheds and water quality.
summarizes the findings of the MT DNRC

2014 Forestry BMP Field Review cycle.

THE FIELD REVIEW PROCESS

n 2014, three interdisciplinary teams were 

formed to conduct the reviews, covering the

northwestern, the west, and the central/east 

regions of the state. Each team has up to eight 

members: fisheries biologist, forester, 

hydrologist, conservation organization, road 

engineer, soil scientist, non-industrial private 

forest landowner and/or logging professional. 

Additional observers always welcome. The 

landowner/logger being reviewed were both

encouraged to attend. DNRC used established 

site selection criteria to select forty-two (42) 

new timber harvest sites harvested since 

2011. The teams evaluated a maximum of 

forty-nine (49) BMPs at each site, rating the 

application and effectiveness for each BMP on 

a five-point scale.

APPLICATION & EFFECTIVENESS

ll 42 review sites were evaluated for BMP 

application. Results showed that across 

all ownerships, BMPs were properly applied 

97% of the time. Although many harvest sites 

had at least one instance where a BMP was 

inadequately applied, a majority of the 

departures were minor and did not cause 

erosion or deliver material to a stream. Of all 

sites, 5% had one or more major BMP 

departures in application. In the 2012

reviews, 7% had major BMP departures in 

application. 

The application of eight high risk BMPs were 

evaluated separately because these are among 

the most important for protecting soil and 

water resources. In 2014, these high risk 

BMPs were properly applied 92% of the time.

The field review teams also evaluated the 

same 42 sites for BMP effectiveness. Results 

showed that across all ownerships, BMPs 

were effective in protecting soil and water 

resources 98% of the time. Of the 42 sites, 

31% had one or more minor departures in 

BMP effectiveness. This compares with 48%

in 2012. Minor departures in effectiveness 

produce minor impacts to soil and water 

resources; for example: eroded material 

reaches a draw, but not a stream. Major 

departures for BMP effectiveness were found 

on 7% of the sites, compared to 12% in 2012. 

High risk BMPs were effective in providing 

adequate protection to soil and water 

resources 94% of the time.

As with previous cycles, the greatest 

frequency of departures from BMPs, and the 

most impacts, were associated with road 

maintenance and road surface drainage. 

The field review teams also evaluated 

application and effectiveness of the Montana 

Streamside Management (SMZ) Law. Teams 

found 6 departures out of 264 ratings for

application with 50% rated minor and 3 out of 

264 ratings for effectiveness with 100% being 

rated minor.

Table 1: Summary of the 2014 BMP/SMZ 

Application and Effectiveness by Ownership 

Group.

Practice DNRC Federal Industry NIPF Totals

BMP 

Application 99% 94% 98% 98% 97%

BMP 

Effectiveness 99% 96% 98% 99% 98%

SMZ 

Application 96% 100% 100% 95% 98%

SMZ 

Effectiveness 98% 100% 100% 99% 99%

I

A

BMP Field Review Team members evaluate a site.
FIELD REVIEW OBJECTIVES

he BMP field reviews have been 

conducted every two years beginning in 

1990; 2014 represents the thirteenth cycle. 

As with previous reviews, the 2014 objectives 

were to:

1. Determine if BMPs are being applied 

on timber harvest operations.

2. Evaluate the general effectiveness of 

BMPs in protecting soil and water 

resources.

3. Provide information on the 

implementation of the SMZ law and 

rules and assess general effectiveness 

in terms of protecting water quality.

4. Provide information to focus future 

educational or study efforts by 

identifying subjects and geographic 

areas in need of further attention or 

investigation.

5. Provide information on the need to 

revise, clarify, or strengthen BMPs.

SAMPLE SIZE & DISTRIBUTION

he targeted 42 field review sites are 

distributed across the state by 

geographical region and land ownership 

group. The review process recognizes four 

ownership types: State of Montana lands, 

Federal lands, private industrial lands 

(Industry) and non-industrial private forest 

lands (NIPF). The basis for site distribution is 

the proportion of the total statewide harvest 

volume that is harvested within each region 

by each ownership group for the latest year 

complete records are available.

SITE INSPECTIONS

The teams conducted the 2014 field reviews 

from late June through late August. During 

the on-site review, team members and 

landowner representatives meet at a central 

location prior to inspection. Teams and 

observers then travel to the site. When in the 

general area of the site, but before actually 

entering the road system to access the harvest 

area or the harvest area itself, the group stops

to discuss the specifics of the review. The 

team leader provides maps and field review 

forms. There may be a landowner briefing to 

the team giving background information such 

as silvicultural prescription, season of 

operation, and associated practices. The final 

decisions as to which roads and harvest units 

will be reviewed are then made by the team. 

All decisions regarding what to review --

which roads, SMZs, new culvert installations 

and harvest units -- are determined before 

the team enters the area. Once on site, team 

members walk the site as a group and review 

BMP practices conducted in the 

predetermined areas. Teams typically spend 

about two hours inspecting each site. Before 

leaving the site, the team gathers to determine 

the official BMP ratings. 

T

T

Across all ownerships, for 2014, BMPs were effective in 

protecting soil and water resources 98% of the time.

A total of 42 sites were 

reviewed during the 2014 

BMP cycle. 11 (26%) were 

industry sites, 8 (19%) 

were State sites, 10 (24% 

were federal sites, and 13 

(31%) were NIPF sites.
RESULTS

hown below are the results of the 2014

Field Reviews for proper Application and 

for Effectiveness. Streamside Management 

Zones (SMZ) were also rated in terms of 

application and effectiveness.

Application of BMPs: The application rating 

measures whether the BMP was applied, 

whether it was applied to the correct 

standards, the appropriate number of times 

and in the proper locations. Field review

teams rated a total of 1,267 practices to 

assess how landowners and operators 

applied BMPs. They found 37 departures, 30

of which were given a rating of “3” (minor or 

temporary impacts), and 7 were rated a “2” 

(major temporary or minor prolonged

impacts) and 0 ratings of 1 (major prolonged

impacts). Table 2 illustrates the application of 

BMPs for all rated practices.

Table 2: Application of BMPs to All Rated 

Practices by Ownership Group and Rating 

Category.

Percentage (%) of Practices Rated As

Ownership 

Group

# Practices

Rated

Meet or 

Exceed

Minor 

Departures

Major 

Departures

Gross 

Neglect

State 269 98.5% 1.5% 0% 0%

Federal 359 94.3% 3.9% 1.9% 0%

Industry 337 97.9% 2.1% 0% 0%

NIPF 300 98.3% 1.7% 0% 0%

All Sites 1,267 97.6% 2.1% 0.3% 0%

Effectiveness of BMPs: The effectiveness 

rating evaluates how well the applied BMP 

protected soil and water resources. In terms 

of impacts: of the 1,267 practices evaluated, 

there were 24 departures with impacts. 

These departures break down as 16 ratings of 

3 (minor temporary impacts) and 8 ratings of 

2 (major temporary or minor prolonged

impacts), and 0 ratings of 1 (major prolonged

impacts) as illustrated in Table 3.

Table 3: Effectiveness of BMPs for All Rated 

Practices by Ownership Group and Rating 

Category

Streamside Management Zones: The SMZ 

rating form used in 2014 rated the same 11 

BMPs used in previous review cycles. The 

SMZ law and rules were applicable to 31 sites. 

SMZ rules were applied correctly 98% of the 

time. Teams found 6 departures out of 264

ratings for application with 50% rated minor 

and 3 out of 264 ratings for effectiveness with 

100% of those being rated minor.

S

Ownership 

Group

# 

Practices

Rated

Percentage (%) of Practices Rated As

Meet or 

Exceed

Minor 

Departures

Major 

Departures

Gross 

Neglect

State 269 99.3% 0.7% 0% 0%

Federal 359 96.4% 1.7% 1.9% 0%

Industry 337 98.2% 1.5% 0.3% 0%

NIPF 300 99.0% 1.0% 0% 0%

All Sites 1,267 98.1% 1.3% 0.6% 0%

A review team member inspects a culvert.
Table 4 illustrates SMZ departures by 

ownership group.

Table 4: SMZ Departures by Ownership 

Group

Ownership 

Group

Number of Sites 

Evaluated

Number of Sites 

with Departures

Total Number of 

Departures

 (year ) ‘14 ‘12 ‘10 ‘14 ‘12 ‘10 ‘14 ‘12 ‘10

State 6 6 6 1 0 0 3 0 0

Federal 7 10 14 0 2 3 0 3 7

Industry 8 12 12 0 2 1 0 2 2

NIPF 9 9 5 2 3 1 6 6 1

All Sites 30 37 37 3 7 5 9 11 10

SMZ effectiveness was rated very high at 99% 

for all ownerships combined. Of the 264 SMZ 

evaluations, 261 provided adequate 

protection. All 3 departures were rated as 

“minor” with a score of “3” (Minor or

Temporary impacts).

SMZ impacts: Departures covered SMZ width, 

equipment operation, pre-approved 

alternative practices, and reduction of leave 

trees below the minimum requirements.

Fish Passage: Fish passage for new culvert 

installations on fish streams was formally 

rated this year and the results included in the 

analysis. Only two sites qualified and of those 

one was good and one was rated slightly 

deficient in application but OK in 

effectiveness.

CONCLUSIONS

Application Ratings Across All Ownerships: 

Of all practices rated, 97% were properly 

applied according to BMP standards. This 

percentage maintains the 2012 overall rating 

showing that the BMPs are maintaining a very

high level of compliance. This high rating 

demonstrates the strong commitment all 

ownership groups have to proper forest 

management and to the protection of 

Montana’s water and forest resources. 

Effectiveness Ratings Across All 

Ownerships: For all applied BMPs, 98% were 

shown to be effective for all types of natural 

resource impacts. This is on par with the 

overall effectiveness from 2012. Again, a very 

high standard is being maintained. The most 

frequent departures and impacts were 

associated with road maintenance and road 

surface drainage. 

Combining application and effectiveness, 

including the SMZ ratings, the 2014 field 

reviews rated a total of 3,066 practices across 

all 42 reviewed sites. There are a combined 

total of 69 ratings with either a departure or

an impact. A departure and/or impact 

occurred approximately 2.2% of the time 

all practices rated. 

COMPARISON TO BMP FIELD 

REVIEW RESULTS 1990 – 2014

Table 5 (back) shows conclusively that 

voluntary BMP implementation is working in 

Montana. A steady increase in proper 

application and effectiveness is evident from 

1990 through 2000. Since 2000, the BMP 

reviews have shown a very high and sustained 

compliance rate. This success is a tribute to 

the continuing efforts of all landowners and 

loggers working in Montana’s forests.

Continuing improvements in harvesting equipment have 

facilitated industry’s ability to meet or exceed the guidelines 

of Montana’s Best Management Practices.
TABLE 5: COMPARISON OF BMP FIELD REVIEW RESULTS 1994 – 2014 

Category 2014 2012 2010 2008 2006 2004 2002 2000 1998 1996 1994

Application of 

practices that 

meet or exceed 

BMP 

requirements.

97% 98% 97% 97% 96% 97% 96% 96% 94% 92% 91%

Application of 

high risk 

practices that 

meet or exceed 

BMP 

requirements.

92% 93% 93% 90% 89% 89% 90% 92% 84% 81% 79%

Number of sites 

with at least one 

major departure 

in BMP 

application.

2 of 42

(5%)

3 of 

42

(7%)

5 of 

45

(11%)

8 of 

42

(19%)

4 of 

44

(9%)

5 of 

39

(13%)

10 of 

43 

(23%)

4 of 

42

(10%)

8 of 

47

(17%)

12 of 

44

(27%)

17 of 

46

(37%)

Average 

number of 

departures in 

BMP 

application, per 

site.

0.86 0.76 0.87 1.19 1.52 1.30 1.80 1.40 2.00 3.00 3.90

Percentage of 

practices 

providing 

adequate 

protection.

98% 99% 98% 97% 97% 99% 97% 98% 96% 94% 93%

Percentage of 

high risk 

practices 

providing 

adequate 

protection.

94% 96% 96% 91% 92% 95% 92% 93% 89% 86% 83%

Number of sites 

having at least 

one major / 

temporary or 

minor / 

prolonged 

impact.

3 of 

42

(7%)

5 of 

42

(12%)

7 of 

45

(16%)

8 of 

42

(19%)

7 of 

44

(16%)

10 of 

39

(25%)

15 of 

43

(35%)

9 of 

42

(21%)

12 of 

47

(26%)

15 of 

44

(34%)

13 of 

46

(28%)

Average 

number of 

impacts per site.

0.57 0.38 0.47 1.02 1.05 0.56 1.30 1.00 1.50 2.30 3.00

The entire 2014 BMP Audit Report can be viewed online on the Montana DNRC Forest Practices website:

http://dnrc.mt.gov/forestry/assistance/practices/fpractices.asp