The following is a partial list of practices that may be applicable to pre-harvest planning during your forest management project. Implement the appropriate practices to protect water quality before, during and after the project is completed.

Refer to the Forest Water Quality Guidelines for a more complete list of practices that might be applicable.

• Consult with a professional resource manager for assistance.
• Develop a forest management plan that reflects your resource management objectives. Include a list of applicable Forest Water Quality Guidelines, recommended treatments and schedule of activities.
• Develop a legally binding contractual agreement that specifies the type and amount to be harvested, and includes requirements for slash disposal, site rehabilitation and all applicable Forest Water Quality Guidelines.
• Locate environmentally sensitive areas such as: streams, wetlands, lakes, ponds, steep slopes and erosive soils.
• Locate and mark streamside management zones (SMZs).
• Consider the physical features such as: topography, soils, slope and aspect.
• Identify the appropriate harvesting system for the site. Consider
  ground-based, cable or aerial logging systems.
• Choose the appropriate harvest prescription such as thinning, shelterwood, seedtree, clearcut, etc. to achieve objectives and provide for desired future conditions.
• Plan for the treatment of slash, site preparation, regeneration and revegetation prior to harvesting.
• Carefully plan road layout along with landings and skid trails that best suit the harvest system and physical features of the land. Also identify which roads will be closed after the forest activity is completed. Consider following the natural contour of the land, minimizing the number of landings and skid trails, minimizing cuts, fills and stream crossings, and constructing roads to adequately support harvest and hauling needs.
• Carefully plan and locate drainage structures and stream crossings. Consider culverts, water bars, cross drains, dips, and diversion structures.
• Obtain all necessary permits and approval requirements before beginning the operation.