FPC Review - 2-11

11. Domestic Water Quality

ALASKA

Domestic water quality is addressed in the riparian standards of the Regulations. Streambank protection, afforded under the timber harvesting regulations, also protects water quality.

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Community watersheds are drainage areas less than 500 km2 in size located above the most downstream point of diversion on a stream that supplies water for human consumption and that is licensed under the Water Act for a water works purpose or a domestic purpose if the licence is held by a water users' community incorporated under the Water Act. The Regional Manager with the agreement of a designated environment official may designate other areas as community watersheds if they are of the opinion that the area should be so designated. Community watershed objectives are in place to ensure that the principal values of water quality and quantity and the timing of stream flow are recognized and protected. A watershed assessment may be required to address land use and watershed impacts. Watershed assessment is required prior to harvesting activities in a Community Watershed, in other watersheds with significant downstream values or sensitivity, or other watersheds designated by the District Manager. The Forest Development Plan must include the identified constraints to development within a watershed, and operations must be consistent with the results of the assessment. Special considerations related to forestry activities in community watersheds include:

Timber harvesting must not occur within 100 m upslope of a water supply intake, except to provide access to, or to maintain a water supply intake.
No harvesting in a community watershed if the areas has a high likelihood of landslides. No clearcutting on areas with a moderate likelihood of landslides and a high risk of sediment delivery to streams.
Livestock must not be used for site preparation or brush control in a riparian management area of a community watershed.
Range Practices Regulations limit the use of Community Watersheds by livestock use in or near riparian zones.
Pesticides must not be applied closer than 100 m upslope of a community water intake. A 10 m pesticide-free zone must be maintained around all streams in a community watershed. Pesticides must not be detected at the intake during water quality sampling.
Broadcast fertilization must not occur closer than 100 m upslope of a water intake, or within 10 m of a perennial stream (observable from the air at application height), unless otherwise authorized by the District Manager and the Minister of Health. Fertilization treatments must not cause nitrate nitrogen or chlorophyll levels in streams to exceed specified levels.
No road construction, apart from that for the road servicing the intake, is permitted within a 100m radius of a water intake, measured above the intake, unless the Designated Environment Official agrees that the water quality objectives can be better met by a closer location of the road.
In areas with a moderate to high probability for surface soil erosion or landslides (as determined in terrain stability or surface soil erosion assessments), roads must be designed to maintain water quality in a community watershed.
Slash and debris must not be deposited into a watercourse, or in an area where it could be easily transported to a watercourse.
Road construction, modification, and deactivation must not cause a reduction in water quality below levels established by the Minister of Environment, Lands and Parks.
Bridges and culverts must be constructed in such a way that downstream water quality is not reduced.
Excavated or bladed trails are not permitted in community watersheds if there is a high or very high likelihood of surface soil erosion and a moderate or high risk of sediment delivery to streams, or in areas with a moderate or high likelihood of landslides.

Exemptions or amendments may be allowed by the District Manager if the District Manager marks the boundaries, or the harvesting operations are restricted to minor salvage operations.

CALIFORNIA

Water quality is addressed in the Act and Rules through various provisions pertaining to watercourse protection and soil erosion control. However, water quality is under the mandate of the State Water Resources Control Board.

FINLAND

Finland is concerned with changes in water quality possible during forest road building, harvesting, site preparation, fertilization and pesticide applications. Water quality is regulated by the Water Act and a permit is required for any forest drainage project that may lead to water pollution or cause adverse changes in a waterway. The Water Act absolutely prohibits pollution of a groundwater source.

The Finnish Forest and Park Service has detailed guidelines for the prevention of water quality changes:

Groundwater areas, sensitive and valuable minor water bodies and watercourses, the terrain gradient and the sensitivity of the soil to erosion must be identified during the planning of forest activities.
Drainage systems must be established as effectively as possible with ditch gradients not exceeding 3m per 1000m length.
Excavation work must be timed and phased appropriately to minimize the risk of sedimentation and soil erosion.
A buffer zone of 20 to 30 m, depending on the gradient, is required along any watercourse. If harvesting occurs near a spring, a 10 to 20 m buffer must be retained. Shoreline trees and bushes are not to be touched, however, woodlots within the buffer may be harvested if they are regenerated according to forest regeneration principles.
A buffer zone of 50 m, more in steep terrain, must be left between areas to be fertilized and a watercourse. Fertilizer must be applied when the ground is not frozen and only slow-release fertilizer can be used in ground-water or peatland areas.
The groundwater table must be protected at all times. An adequate protective layer must be left above the groundwater table and drainage of surface waters into the groundwater area must be prevented. The use of road salt or pesticides is also prevented in groundwater areas.

The impacts of forest operations on water systems are under study. A five year project was initiated in 1990 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The project will also develop methods to prevent or minimize the negative impacts of forest operations. Pending the outcome of the 5 year study, preliminary program results and several earlier research projects are guiding field operations (J. Heino, pers. comm.).

GERMANY

Federal Republic of Germany

Domestic water quality is regulated by the Water Law, a federal framework law that is expanded by the States. Groundwater is the common domestic water source throughout Germany. Surface water is rarely used. The Water Law protects groundwater.

Baden-Wurttemberg

Section 22 of the Forest Law states that the environment must be maintained and cared for. Other than this reference, domestic water is regulated by Baden-Wurttemberg's state Water Law and enforced by the Environmental administration. The Water Law protects groundwater withdrawal areas and forest management may be restricted in these areas. However, restrictions are rarely applied. Compliance is encouraged by subsidies.

There are three classes of protected groundwater areas:

source area: a small area around the source. No harvesting or chemical use is allowed in this area.
mid-area: defined by the time it takes surface water to flow through the soils to the source area (approximately 50 days).
outlying area: an area 200 flow-through days from the source.

Bavaria

Bavaria also has a Water Law that protects domestic water sources. As in Baden-Wurttemberg, special water-protection areas are established and under certain instances forestry is restricted.

NOVA SCOTIA

Forest Management Planning must integrate appropriate protective measures to respect the integrity of water supply watersheds(Forestry Policy, 1986:6). In addition to streamside special management zones, environmental regulations regarding herbicide use specify that a 60 metre buffer zone must exist when applying herbicides near potable water (Forestry Field Handbook, 1993:29). Harvesting activities may be restricted at certain times of the year, appropriate equipment must be used, and in certain instances, harvesting may not be allowed.

ONTARIO

Standards and guidelines for the protection of Domestic Water Quality are outlined in The Code of Practice for Timber Management Operations In Riparian Areas, the Timber Management Guidelines for the Protection of Fish Habitat, and Environmental Guidelines for Access Roads and Water Crossings. In municipal watersheds, area of concern widths (maintenance of sufficient vegetation) are twice as wide as in normal situations, to provide a safety factor and to prevent any input of sediment (TMG - Fish Habitat, 1988:9).

OREGON

Legal water rights are protected under other legislation. Water quality, in general, is protected by riparian area and wetland protection rules. Recently introduced water protection rules (dated September 28, 1994) bring water quality concerns for domestic use directly under the Forest Practices Rules.

New water protection rules allow for watershed-specific forest practice regulations in drainage basins containing threatened or endangered aquatic species or that are determined to be water quality-limited. There are over 200 community watersheds within forested lands in Oregon.

Water quality is protected in general by RMA rules. Intake areas for domestic water use receive special attention with regard to ground disturbance in riparian areas and the use of pesticides.

Restrictions apply to the use of pesticides near domestically used waters. Special measures protect intake areas from devegetation and pesticides.

SWEDEN

There are no special restrictions governing forest activities in areas that supply domestic water. However, the National Forestry Board recommends fertilizers and pesticides not be used within 50 m of a water source and damage to natural springs be avoided (P. Kjellin pers. comm.).

Historically, Sweden has not suffered from reduced water quality, therefore, forest management has been allowed in areas where ground water is used for household purposes. The land supplying domestic water is often owned by the community and occasionally, the community will develop a watershed forestry program that is less intensive.

The National Forestry Board recommends fertilizers and pesticides not be used within 50 m of a water source and damage to natural springs be avoided. The recommendations are meant to explain the general nature conservation requirements of the Forestry Act. Research organizations, forest companies and product producers recommend biodegradable oils be used in forestry equipment during harvesting activities to further protect groundwater sources (P. Kjellin, pers. comm.).

TASMANIA

Maintaining acceptable water quality and flow must be considered at the catchment and the operational level (FPC, 1993:3). The Forest Practices Code applies to all forest catchments, and lists all major town water supply intakes in the state, including map coordinates. Major water supply intakes and catchment areas must be identified on Timber Harvesting Plans, and special harvesting operations will apply regarding items such as: timing of harvest and road construction; wet weather limitations; camps or living quarters; and disposal of all waste and materials from machinery servicing.

Clearcutting will not occur within 50 m of a bank of a permanent Class 1, 2, or 3 stream for a distance of 2 km upstream from a major town water supply intake, unless approved by the Local Government authority in whose area the intake is located, and the annual felled area will not exceed 5 percent of the total catchment area (FPC, 1993:43). Special care must be taken with bridge construction within 2 km upstream of town water intakes to ensure that earth is kept out of the stream bed; abutments are stable; and earth on earth covered bridges is contained (FPC, 1993:44). Revegetation of bare soil will be as required by the Forest Practices Officer. A Forest Practices Officer may specify enlargement of streamside reserves for additional protection (FPC, 1993:44).

UNITED KINGDOM

Water quality guidelines outline operational procedures to prevent siltation and degradation of water quality, and set standards for ground preparation, road construction, harvesting and pesticide use (Forestry Commission, 1994:6). Specifications for water quality maintenance must be included in operational plans and must be strictly followed (Bell, pers. comm.).

U.S. FOREST SERVICE (REGION 6)

Water quality is addressed by riparian reserves established under the ROD, by the watershed analysis procedure (also under ROD) and the federal Clean Water Act.

VICTORIA STATE

Streamside reserves must be established to protect water quality and the proximity and physical design of any water supply take-off and distribution system is one of the factors to be considered when determining the size of the reserve area. Where timber harvesting is permitted in municipal water catchments,the annual area of operations in the catchment area must be restricted to protect water quality (Code, 1989:16, 36). Where slopes are moderate and soils are stable, the maximum area harvested in any one year must not exceed 20 percent of the forested area of the catchment, and where erosion potential is high the maximum annual limit is 10 percent. Annual limits are, however generally restricted to a total area of one to three percent of the catchment's forested area (Code, 1989:16, 36). Water yield from catchments used for water supply must be protected by the adoption of appropriate rotation length and silvicultural techniques, as well as limitations on annual harvesting areas (Code, 1989:16, 36).

WASHINGTON

Water quality in general is an important concern (manifested, for example, by RMZ and WMZ measures) of the forest practices legislation.

Community watersheds are not recognized as they are in British Columbia; however, user rights are recognized and there is a general objective to have no adverse impact on water quantity or quality. Many of the forest practices rules, especially those under the headings of timber harvesting and roads are concerned with maintaining water quality. RMZ and WMZ provisions are also important for water quality in general.

Class 4-Special forest practices, such as aerial application of pesticides, are subject to particular scrutiny under SEPA.

The WAU analysis program addresses water quantity and quality issues on a watershed and site specific basis. Watersheds that undergo the WAU analysis are usually exempt from SEPA requirements.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Water protection measures must be undertaken during all phases of logging to protect domestic water from increases in salinity, sedimentation, siltation, and turbidity caused by the erosion of soil from disturbed land surfaces (MOLS, 1990:53). A Contractor must take all prescribed precautions to protect water purity in water courses, and river and stream reserves are established to limit forest operations. Culverts and road drains must be kept clean of soil, slash or other debris likely to obstruct the flow of water (COLP, 1990:26). No roading or logging may take place within 500 m of the high water mark of any reservoir without prior notification to the relevant Water Authority (COLP, 1990:94).