Attachment_3_Operations_in_Aquatic_Ecosystems_BMPs.pdf

Operations in Aquatic Ecosystems BMPs:

USFS National BMPs

National BMPs for Water Quality Management on National Forest System Lands Volume 1: National Core BMP Technical Guide FS-990a April 2012

AqEco-2. Operations in Aquatic Ecosystems

Objective: Avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse impacts to water quality when working in aquatic ecosystems.

Explanation: Common construction or maintenance operations in waterbodies often involve ground disturbance. The close proximity to, and contact with, the waterbody increases the potential for introducing sediment and other pollutants that can affect water quality. This BMP includes practices for minimizing direct and indirect water quality impacts when working in or adjacent to waterbodies.

Practices: Develop site-specific BMP prescriptions for the following practices, as appropriate or when required, using State BMPs, Forest Service regional guidance, land management plan direction, BMP monitoring information, and professional judgment.

• Use applicable practices of BMP Plan-2 (Project Planning and Analysis) and BMP Plan-3 (AMZ Planning) when planning operations in aquatic ecosystems.

• Use suitable measures to protect the waterbody when preparing the site for construction or maintenance activities.

o Clearly delineate the work zone.

o Locate access and staging areas near the project site but outside of work area boundaries, AMZs, wetlands, and sensitive soil areas.

o Refuel and service equipment only in designated staging areas.

o Consider using small, low ground pressure equipment, and hand labor where practicable.

o Ensure all equipment operated in or adjacent to the waterbody is clean of aquatic invasive species, as well as oil and grease, and is well maintained.

• Use suitable measures to protect the waterbody when clearing the site.

o Use suitable drainage measures to improve the workability of wet sites.

o Avoid or minimize unacceptable damage to existing vegetation, especially plants that are stabilizing the bank of the waterbody.

• Use suitable measures to avoid or minimize impacts to the waterbody when implementing construction and maintenance activities.

o Conduct operations during dry periods.

o Stage construction operations as needed to limit the extent of disturbed areas without installed stabilization measures.

o Promptly install and appropriately maintain erosion control measures.

o Promptly install and appropriately maintain spill prevention and containment measures.

o Minimize bank and riparian area excavation during construction to the extent practicable.

o Keep excavated materials out of the waterbody.

o Use only clean, suitable materials that are free of toxins and invasive species for fill.

o Remove all project debris from the waterbody in a manner that will cause the least disturbance.

• Use suitable measures to divert or partition channelized flow around the site or to dewater the site as needed to the extent practicable.

o Remove aquatic organisms from the construction area before dewatering and prevent organisms from returning to the site during construction.

o Return clean flows to channel or waterbody downstream of the activity.

o Restore flows to their natural stream course as soon as practicable after construction or before seasonal closures.

• Inspect the work site at suitable regular intervals during and after construction or maintenance activities to check on quality of the work and materials and identify need for mid project corrections.