Title: Global Positioning System (GPS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis of mobile harvesting equipment and sediment delivery to streams during forest harvest operations on steep terrain: Experimental design

Author: Bowker, Daniel; Stringer, Jeff; Barton, Chris; Fei, Songlin.

Year: 2011

Publication: In: Fei, Songlin; Lhotka, John M.; Stringer, Jeffrey W.; Gottschalk, Kurt W.; Miller, Gary W., eds. Proceedings, 17th central hardwood forest conference; 2010 April 5-7; Lexington, KY; Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-78. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 648-649.

Abstract: Sediment mobilized by forest harvest machine traffic contributes substantially to the degradation of headwater stream systems. This study monitored forest harvest machine traffic to analyze how it affects sediment delivery to stream channels. Harvest machines were outfitted with global positioning system (GPS) dataloggers, recording machine movements and working status. Sediment delivery to streams was monitored by scouting for overland sediment delivery paths after the completion of harvest operations. GPS positional data from the mobile harvesting equipment, along with the sediment delivery information, were analyzed in a geographic information system (GIS) to draw conclusions about the influences of buffer width; intended and actual canopy retention level; harvest equipment traffic intensity; slope; aspect; and trail type, length, and distance from stream on the delivery of sediment to headwater streams. Results from this study will have important implications for designing harvest roads and trails and eff ective streamside management zones (SMZs).