The FITT initiative This guide is part of a series that presents best practices to

This guide was published by FPInnovations Ferics Forest
Innovation and Technology Transfer initiative, based in Sault
Ste. Marie. FITT provides forestry contractors and the forest
industry in Northern Ontario with a range of services to help
keep abreast of the latest innovations, working methods and
developments in technology.
reduce damage during partial cut operations
in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Forest Region of Ontario
Controlling
A Practical Guide for Forest Workers
Soil erosion is unsightly and can negatively impact soil health and in turn, tree growth. Sediment
that ends up in watercourses can destroy fish habitat and reduce water quality. Damaged trails may
be unusable for future harvest operations.
FPInnovations Feric created this guide to help forest workers choose preventive measures that

Soil Erosion on
For more information about the FITT initiative, will maintain natural drainage patterns, stabilize exposed soils and protect them from erosion and
please contact: sedimentation during and following harvest operations. Controlling erosion beforehand minimizes
Brad Sutherland sediment movement and is easier than having to deal with transported sediments later on.
FPInnovations Ferics Ontario Liaison and FITT Coordinator
Tel.: 705-541-5659
brad.sutherland@fpinnovations.ca
Skid Trails and
Landings Best Practices
Stabilize exposed soil surfaces and protect them from erosion by preventing pooling or channelling
of water and encouraging revegetation on exposed soil surfaces.
For more information about the contents of
this guide, please contact: Along Skid Trails Smooth out side banks that
can channel water.
Mark Partington,
M.Sc., R.P.F. Install water bars that drain
FPInnovations - Feric to filter areas.
Tel.: 514-694-1140
mark.partington@fpinnovations.ca

Install erosion and/or sediment

control barriers if natural filter
areas are inadequate.
Produced by: Fill in and
level deep
ruts.
In cooperation with:
At Landings
Avoid drainage of water onto landings and Watch the weather
direct runoff water to filter areas. forecast. Install sediment
control barriers prior to
Copyright FPInnovations - Feric 062008 major rain events.

Smooth rutted surfaces to avoid pooling.

Short-term Soil Stabilization Use a mud log to confine Installation of Water Bars
Control erosion and sediment with barriers during operations. puddled soil or mud to a
skid trail.

Use logging debris to slow or disperse water Berm height 30-45

flow along a trail or at drainage outlets. Use sediment > 30 cm
traps consisting
of a depression
or an excavated
sump that allows Use hay bales to slow runoff Use silt fences to trap sediments
sediments to settle and trap sediments from sheet primarily from sheet flow.
out when nearby flow or channelized flow. Do not use where channelized What is a water bar?
filtering material is water flow is expected. A trench and berm or mound constructed
insufficient. across a trail after skidding is completed, to
interrupt the flow of water along the trail.
Choose natural drainage points to locate
water bars such as dips or corners.
Drain onto vegetation or areas protected by
rock or logging debris.
Use brush, logging debris or a log to reinforce
berms where soil textures are highly erodable
or where soil is difficult to excavate, e.g.
frozen or rocky soils or shallow soils over
bedrock.

Long-term Soil Stabilization Water bar spacing on slopes

Stabilize exposed soils after harvest operations through revegetation.
Spacing between
% Grade
water bars (m)
Mulching Seeding 5 40
Spread hay, fine logging Apply commercial
5-10 25
debris or wood chips to erosion control seed
stabilize highly erodable mix according to 10-20 15
soils (silt or fine sand) and specifications. >20 10
encourage vegetation Apply a mulch of
regrowth. hay or fine logging
Spread wood chips or bark debris over the
mulch to a 5-15 cm depth seeded area, so that
on exposed areas with low soil is still visible, to
Before
Repair damaged trails and
slope. help seed establish landings and restore natural
Spread hay mulch at a rate and improve
germination.
leaving the drainage.
of approximately 1 or 2 Remember severely
bales per 40 sq. m area.
Hay can introduce non-native plant species or block damaged trails can be
noxious weeds to an area. unusable for the next harvest.