BMPs for Erosion Control for Logging Practices in Ohio

Bulletin 196

Haul Roads

The purpose of the haul road is to provide for efficient transportation from the landing to public access. The ideal haul road (Figures 2 and 3) would:

• Be straight
• Have a slight grade
• Be well drained
• Enter public road at right angle (90°)
• Enter public road on long straight stretch of road
• Have a firm base to keep mud off road
• Have culvert at entrance to public road

Figure 2. Well-designed and maintained haul road.

Figure 3. Haul road graveled at entrance to logging site.

Figure 4A (above). Proper installation of a sediment barrier.

Figure 4B (below). Temporary sediment barriers: hay or straw bales.

- Fit straw bales into trench and secure with 2 re-bars, steel pickets, or 2” x 2” stakes 1½’ to 2’ in ground.

A. Existing Roads: Repair or Relocate?

Many forested tracts in Ohio already have existing roads. Many of these existing roads are eroding and have washed-out areas due to lack of maintenance or bad location and design. Old roads often do not meet present BMP guidelines for design or location. Consider the effects of construction, continued use, and maintenance when making decisions regarding existing roads.

B. Controlling Sediment During Construction

Erosion is a problem during the construction of haul roads and landings. Before permanent erosion control practices are installed and functional and/or new vegetation has been established, temporary measures may be necessary. Temporary measures consist of sediment barriers across a slope or at the base of a slope. There are two types of barriers used for temporary measures: hay or straw bales and silt fences. These barriers trap sediment from a disturbed area by slowing and filtering storm water runoff.

With either straw bales (Figures 4A, 4B, and 5) or silt fences (Figures 6 and 7), the ground level at the end points must be higher than the top of the lowest point of the barrier.

Construction Guidelines for Sediment Barriers

1. Place hay or straw bales in a row along the contour with adjacent bales securely tied with either wire or nylon string. Anchor each bale with two metal or wood stakes. Wooden stakes should be at least 2 inches X 2 inches and driven in the ground a minimum of 1½ feet. Bales should be placed in the ground at least 4 inches.
2. Place silt fences on the contour. Space fence posts not more than 10 feet apart. If woven wire fence is used, fasten it securely on the upstream side of the fence posts.

Spacing is governed by slope. Use the following guidelines.

	-Set posts and excavate trench. -If utilizing wire fencing, staple wire fencing to posts. Otherwise, skip to step 3. -Attach filter fabric to posts (or wire fencing) allowing extension into trench as shown.	-Backfill and compact excavated soil.
Figure 5. Properly installed straw bales.	Figure 6. Temporary sediment barriers: silt fence.

C. Slope

Keep all roads between 2 and 10 percent slope. If necessary, 15 percent grades can be used for distances up to 200 feet. Avoid long, straight grades by following contours along hillsides. Breaking or changing grade frequently will reduce erosion problems. Use topographic maps to help locate roads.

D. Drainage

Locate roads on side slopes where side drainage is possible, and insure good cross drainage for dispersing surface water (Figures 8, 9, 10A, and 10B). On level surfaces provide proper drainage by crowning and/or ditching.

Figure 7. Effective application of silt fence.

Figure 8. Water diversion: water turnouts.

Figure 9. Rolling dip.

A rolling dip is a low outsloped diversion in the road designed to catch water and drain it from the road surface. A rolling dip is shorter in length and deeper than a broad-based dip. Rolling dips should be used on slopes of up to 15 percent. They should be used during the road construction period and at the road closing; not when the road is being actively used for hauling.

Figure 10A. Broad-based dip examples.

Figure 10B. Construction guidelines for broad-based dip.	Figure 11. Correct installation of a pipe culvert for water diversion.

Figure 12. Water diversion: open-top box culvert.	Figure 13. Water diversion: open-top pole culvert.
	NOTE: All culverts should fall not less than 1/2” to the foot.

Figure 14. Water diversion: energy dissipaters for culvert outlets.
	NOTE: All culverts should fall not less than 1/2” to the foot.
A fiber blanket can consist of a feed sack or heavy plastic.

Table 1. Culvert spacing chart.

E. Design Standards

Design the road so that it is able to accommodate vehicles and their loads safely and without damage to the road.

Design Guidelines

1. Minimum roadbed width should be 14 feet for a single lane and 20 feet for a double lane.
2. Side slopes for excavated cuts should be straight up and stepped or sloped. Up to a 5-foot vertical cut is acceptable; greater than 5 feet should not exceed 1½:1.
3. Earthen fill slopes should be no steeper than 2:1.
4. Install side ditches on road sections where surface runoff endangers fill areas.

Example

Figure 15. Straight up excavated side cut.

Figure 16. Protective wooden mud mats.

• For the 1½:1 Ratio
• Road bank height X 1½ + Horizontal Distance
• Example: If road bank is 6.6 feet high, then 6.6 feet X
• 1½ = 9.9 feet or 10 feet of horizontal distance.

F. Daylighting

If possible, trees may be removed along the sides of the road to allow sunlight to enter and dry the road’s surface.

G. Filter Areas

See Section VII, Filter and Shade Strips.

H. Stream Crossings

1. Cross streams at right angles (90°) (see Section VI, Stream Crossings).
2. Armor stream bottom and protect banks.
3. Break grade at both approaches.
4. Use culverts and bridges where appropriate (see Section VI, Stream Crossings).

I. Wet and Critical Areas

Where possible, avoid wet and critical areas. Build roads using fill or borrow material, such as gravel or crushed rock. Geo-Textile, poles, slabs, or logs or tree tops placed side by side can provide a base for borrow material. Wooden mats (see Figure 16), planking, or other appropriate material can be used to prevent rutting.

J. Access Roads

Gravel the haul road entrance up to 200 feet from the public highway when necessary to reduce mud on the highway.

K. Maintenance

During the construction period and the harvest operation period, roads and their drainage systems should be maintained so as to remain functional. Operations that will cause adverse erosion and sediment problems should not be conducted in times of extreme weather conditions. See Section V, Maintenance, for a detailed discussion.

L. Closing or Putting to Bed

If the road is to be closed, retire the road as in Section VIII, Sale Closing.