Woodlot owners can easily find a great deal of material about woodlot management. In order to plan a SMZ along a watercourse the woodlot owner should study the variety of wildlife using the area. Identification guides are a worthwhile investment. Some of these are available through the Department of Lands and Forests, the Nova Scotia Museum and various recreation associations. As you develop an understanding of the wildlife species in your woodlot, your forest management planning can be expanded to include provisions for wildlife.
Streams flow through areas with different soils.
Soil maps can be purchased from book stores to assist you. You may need to dig some holes near your stream or lake and pour some water on to the exposed soil pit to determine the sensitivity of the site. Most woodlot owners who have been stuck with their machinery can spot wet areas and are willing to work around them. The slope of the land near your stream or lake is also important. Steeper slopes require a wider SMZ to prevent silt from crossing the buffer strip and destroying good fish habitat.