Application and effectiveness of forestry best management practices in West Virginia

The application and effectiveness of forestry best management practices (BMP) was assessed on 33 harvested sites with streamside management zones (SMZ) throughout West Virginia, which coincided with 116 sites of statewide BMP compliance assessment. The sampled sites either showed evidence of activity in the SMZ or showed evidence of a stream crossing caused by the harvest. Four checklists derived from the West Virginia BMP guidelines were used to assess 27 BMPs on haul roads, skid trails, at landings, and in SMZs. Rankings were analyzed statistically to examine the differences of BMP application and effectiveness among forester involvement, ownership, harvest, and stream type. The overall BMP application and effectiveness on sites with SMZs averaged 85 and 80% in West Virginia. Results also indicated that the BMP application and effectiveness rates were higher on industry-owned lands or with forester involvement than on private lands or without forester involvement. The findings should be useful to aid in future assessments of application and effectiveness of BMP across West Virginia or in the region.