Water quality problems related to forestry practices result from increased storm water runoff, contamination from pesticides and fertilizer, increased water temperatures, and siltation and sedimentation from erosion (PSWQA, 1989). Sedimentation from forest practices can increase fecal contamination because fecal bacteria attach to sediment particles. These problems can be associated with illegal activities, for example, harvesting timber without a Forest Practices Application, failure to state the intent to convert from forest land to a more intensive land use, or inconsistency with the standards of the state's Shorelines Management Act, but can also be associated with legal forest activities as well.
Local governments have difficulty coordinating their local land use and shorelines regulations with the state Forest Practices Rules and Regulations (WAC 222), administered by the Washington Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). The problem is particularly acute on forested lands in or near urban areas. Regulatory problems are created when development standards produced by local government to protect water quality and environmentally sensitive areas are more stringent than the Forest Practices Rules. In those cases, actions that are ordinarily approved by WDNR would not be approved or would be conditionally approved if they were regulated by local government. Although counties are included in the SEPA review process, when land is cleared under less stringent rules and subsequently proposed to local government for conversion to non-forestry uses, local government has been deprived of the opportunity to establish its standards on the land.
State regulation of non-conversion applications may not meet the needs of local government in urbanizing areas where a strong likelihood of eventual forestland conversion exists. Even where the landowner has no intent to convert, the off-site effects of legal forest practices are significant because of the nature of surrounding development. However, non-conversion forest practice applications, regardless of location, are solely the responsibility of the state under the Forest Practice Rules. Local governments may comment on these applications, but WDNR is not bound by these comments. Few incentives exist for local government to allocate limited staff resources for reviews that are only advisory.
Forests dominate the landscape of the Chehalis River Basin, comprising approximately 85% of the entire basin. Forest lands, which constitute approximately 77% of the upper basin (upstream of Porter) and 91% of the lower basin (downstream of Porter), are generally located on the upland areas with scattered amounts in the wet bottom lands. Seventy-six percent of the forested land is privately owned, most of it corporate owned. Public forest lands (Capitol State Forest, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and Olympic National Forest) total about 350,000 acres.
Significantly reduce or eliminate adverse impacts of nonpoint source pollution from forest practices in the Chehalis River Basin.
Coordinate activities with the Timber/Fish/Wildlife process and the Forest Service Watershed Initiative.
Recommend adequate plan review, inspections, enforcement of existing forest practices rules and regulations, and development of new regulations when needed.
Issue: - Erosion resulting from forestry practices causes increased levels of siltation and suspended sediment in streams. Forest roads are recognized as a significant source of forestry-related water pollution. For example, the Forest Service has conducted a watershed improvement needs inventory on the Olympic National Forest. Ninety-seven percent of the problem sites inventoried in the Satsop Block of the Hood Canal Ranger District are road related (68% sidecast failures or road drainage failure and 29% cutbank failure/erosion). In addition to increased erosion from road surfaces, poorly designed culvert placement and under sizing can increase erosion and hinder fish passage.
Issue: - Education on forestry and water quality impacts is a crucial preventative factor for protecting water quality on forest lands. Educational activities for foresters and the public should be increased in the Chehalis Basin.
Issue: - The majority of foresters are good stewards of water resources and deserve to be recognized for implementing forest practices to protect water quality.
Issue: - Conversion of forest land to other uses is not adequately addressed by forest practice rules and regulations. Counties need to ensure water quality protection throughout the entire conversion process.
Issue: - There should be increased cooperation between the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) and counties to ensure enforcement of the counties' Shoreline Master Plans regarding forest practices.
Issue: - Existing forest practice rules and regulations should be more thoroughly enforced.
Issue: - Well-developed riparian vegetation is crucial to fish habitat, provides a reliable and abundant insect food supply for juvenile fish, and provides security and cover for both juvenile and adult fish. Vegetation shades the water, maintaining cooler temperatures. It acts as a biological filter to reduce inflow of upland sediment and stabilizes streambanks, reducing erosion and contamination of spawning gravels by fine particulates. Timber harvesting can result in shade removal, either by removal of riparian vegetation or debris torrents. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is currently conducting a comprehensive habitat inventory of all streams in the Chehalis River Basin. The inventory will assist the FWS in identifying potential sites for habitat improvement projects, and may be used in identifying sites for other water quality improvement projects.
Issue: - Sustainable timber harvest rates can help prevent chronic water quality problems such as sedimentation and scouring. Large, uncoordinated adjacent clear cuts can contribute to accelerated sedimentation and siltation.