The effect of increasing gravel cover on forest roads for reduced sediment delivery to stream crossings

  • Authors: Brown, Kristopher; McGuire, Kevin J.; Aust, W. Michael; Hession, W. Cully; Dolloff, C. Andrew.
  • Publication Year: 2014
  • Publication Series: Scientific Journal (JRNL)
  • Source: Hydrological Processes
  • DOI: 10.1002/hyp.10232

Abstract

Direct sediment inputs from forest roads at stream crossings are a major concern for water quality and aquatic habitat. Legacy road–stream crossing approaches, or the section of road leading to the stream, may have poor water and grade control upon reopening, thus increasing the potential for negative impacts to water quality. Rainfall simulation experiments were conducted on the entire running surface area associated with six reopened stream crossing approaches in the south-western Virginia Piedmont physiographic region, USA. Event-based surface run-off and associated total suspended solid (TSS) concentrations were compared among a succession of gravel surfacing treatments that represented increasing intensities of best management practice (BMP) implementation. The three treatments were no gravel (10–19% cover), low gravel (34–60% cover), and high gravel (50–99% cover). Increased field hydraulic conductivity was associated with maximized surface cover and ranged from 7.2 to 41.6, 11.9 to 46.3, and 16.0 to 58.6 mmh-1 respectively for the no gravel, low gravel, and high gravel treatments. Median TSS concentration of surface run-off for the no gravel treatment (2.84 g1-1) was greater than low gravel (1.10 g1-1) and high gravel (0.82 g1-1) by factors of 2.6 and 3.5 respectively. Stream crossing approaches with 90–99% surface cover had TSS concentrations below 1 g1-1. Reducing the length of road segments that drain directly to the stream can reduce the costs associated with gravel surfacing. This research demonstrates that judicious and low-cost BMPs can ameliorate poor water control and soil erosion associated with reopening legacy roads.

  • Citation: Brown, Kristopher, R.; McGuire, Kevin J.; Aust, W. Michael; Hession, W. Cully; Dolloff, C. Andrew. 2014. The effect of increasing gravel cover on forest roads for reduced sediment delivery to stream crossings. Hydrological Processes. doi: 10.1002/hyp.10232
  • Keywords: forest roads; stream crossing approaches; rainfall simulation; sediment delivery; BMP cost-effectiveness; non-point-source pollution
  • Posted Date: June 4, 2014
  • Modified Date: July 2, 2014
  • Print Publications Are No Longer Available

    In an ongoing effort to be fiscally responsible, the Southern Research Station (SRS) will no longer produce and distribute hard copies of our publications. Many SRS publications are available at cost via the Government Printing Office (GPO). Electronic versions of publications may be downloaded, printed, and distributed.

    Publication Notes

    • This article was written and prepared by U.S. Government employees on official time, and is therefore in the public domain.
    • Our online publications are scanned and captured using Adobe Acrobat. During the capture process some typographical errors may occur. Please contact the SRS webmaster if you notice any errors which make this publication unusable.
    • To view this article, download the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.