Properly planned, constructed, and maintained roads are an asset to forest properties for most uses. Access is necessary for harvest, regeneration, protection, other management activities, and recreational uses. Excluding access is also appropriate for such objectives as protecting sensitive areas or for maintaining semi-primitive and wilderness areas.
Roads have the most potential for impact.
Access roads should be carefully laid out before construction. Roads over wet soils should be limited to the shortest length possible, re-routed to upland areas, or developed for use only when frozen. Professional assistance is desirable since improper location, design, and construction of roads is probably the greatest source of soil erosion on forest lands. Stream crossings require bridges or culverts of a size sufficient to handle stream flow during the spring thaw and normal floods. Stream crossing permits are required under Public Act 451, Part 301.