S Montana* Dept. of 333.9l62State Lands L3sinz Streanside 1987 manaseinent zone tiuldellneij and prescript ion S Montana. Dapt* of ^,— a \ }l la on ' , 333.9162Stata Lands ^vu«. SJu4,I^ - ^ ?7 ' LGsBZ Stroamaide / /, , ^ . , //^/^ 111987 ■anage«ent zona h/L A/^C)- 1 01 b'^Y W guidelines and a. I prascrlption £C-<-X_^ : 1 2 1915 STREAMSIDE MANAGEMENT ZONE GUIDELINES AND PRESCRIPTIONS j^gy ) 3 |0M MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF STATE LANDS STATI MeUMENTS COLLECTION JUN191990 DEFINITIONS MONTANA STATE LIBRARY • - 1816 E- 6th AVE. The Streams ide Management Zone (SMZ) consists of the stream itself and an adjacent area of varying width where management practices that might affect water quality, fish, or other aquatic resources are modified. The Streamside Management Zone is not a zone of exclusion, but a zone of closely managed activity. It is a zone which acts as an effective filter and absorptive zone for sediment; maintains shade; protects aquatic and terrestrial riparian habitats; protects channel and streambanks; and promotes floodplain stability. The riparian zone consists of those areas and biotic communities which are predominately influenced by high water tables, usually occurring adjacent to surface water. -, . r , , , An ephemeral stream is a stream or portion of a stream which flows only in direct response to precipitation or snowmelt. Its channel is at all times above the water table and generally lacks obvious channel characteristics. An intermittent stream is a stream which flows only at certain times when it receives water from springs or from some source such as snowmelt. Its channel is below the water table for a portion of the year. Defined channel characteristics are generally present. A perenial stream is a stream that flows throughout the year and from source to mouth. APPLICATION These guidelines apply to all perennial streams, most intermittent streams, and some ephemeral streams, subject to the discretion of the manager with input from hydrologist or fisheries biologist. Riparian zones may occur outside of SMZs, such as along lakes and wetlands. These guidelines may be applicable to riparian zones in these locations. MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES FOR SMZs The water resource objective for SMZs is to protect the stream and its adjacent environment so as to maintain water quality and water resources at near natural levels. PLEASE RETURN >s n The timber management objectives for SMZs are: 1) Maintain SMZs in commercial timber production. 2) Manage SMZs for profitable (not necessarily maximum profit) timber production. Adequate measures for protecting water values must be of primary importance. MANAGEMENT DIRECTION FOR SMZs Management direction in SMZs is guided by water resource and timber management objectives. Fisheries and wildlife considerations will be an integrated part of these objectives. Acceptable practices will be selected to meet the objectives. The intent is that all SMZs will be managed, providing adequate measures are taken for protection of water values. Silvicultural prescriptions, rotation lengths, species composition, and scheduling of cutting can be manipulated to provide the necessary protection for water quality. Most SMZs have not been site specifically determined. They have been estimated on maps, based on topographical features. As project level activ- ities occur, the SMZs will be located and mapped. The rotation length in the SMZ will generally be longer than stands outside of the SMZ. Analysis on the Kootenai National Forest showed 180 years to be an optimum rotation age for SMZs (2). Timber harvesting within an SMZ should be done under the following guidelines: 1) Retain riparian zone hardwood species. 2) Maximize the retention of bank-edge trees which are key to channel stabilization until replacement trees are available. 3) Re-establish coniferous stands where they originally existed. 4) Maintain stream temperature within legal limits. 5) Maintain channel stability within acceptable limits. 6) Maintain or provide sufficient ground cover to trap sediment. 7) Avoid the addition of woody debris from logging operations to the stream channel . DEVELOPING PRESCRIPTION FOR SMZs SILVICULTURE Timber production in the SMZ is constrained by the need to manage for water quality. The SMZ may have site characteristics which encourage int-.ensive management, bat r.ome of the practices involved may not be consistant with management objectives. There are basically two scenarios for prescriptions for SMZs. They are: 1) Even-aged management Small clearcuts (generally less than 10 acres) are considered an appropriate method to manage SMZs if certain conditions are met. The total length of stream e: