Just a peek at this old logging road indicates how erosion could be a problem.

We’ve reported a few times on studies of sediment runoff as a side effect of logging operations.  It does serve to illustrate the truism that the challenge of any endeavor is in the details.  I mean, you cut a dirt road on a hillside, then when it rains some of that dirt is going to get knocked loose by the raindrops and be carried toward the waterways.  So what’s the problem with quantifying that?  Well, it’s not a problem as long as you consider things like slope, surface composition, and ditch condition.  You place “tipping buckets” at secure locations throughout the forest, then weigh the bucket—and the sediment it collected—with a crane scale.  But to draw any conclusions, you’ll need to look at a lot more, as this paper from forestry researchers shows.

For further information visit swfsc.noaa.gov.

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