• Use soil surveys, aerial photographs and topographic maps to help locate skid trails.
• Use the smallest number, width and length of skid trails needed to log the area effectively.
• Use waterbars, wing ditches or other appropriate practices to slow and disperse water runoff.
• Construct water bars to divert water rather than block it.
• Keep stream crossings to a minimum.
• Cross streams at right angles and in straight sections of the stream, when practical.
• Skid logs uphill at an angle.
• Scatter logging slash on wetter areas of skid trails to prevent rutting.
• Keep skidder loads light in sensitive areas to reduce rutting and protect drainage integrity.
• Stabilize skid trails to prevent erosion by using waterbars, logging slash or other appropriate water diversions.
• Establish vegetative cover after smoothing and shaping bare ground subject to erosion.
• When crossing streams, temporary fills should be removed in their entirety after completion of harvesting operations.
• Restore stream crossings to natural grade and shape.

Avoid

1. Sensitive areas and problem soils.
2. Skidding straight up or down steep slopes.
3. Long, steep skids. Lay out skid trails on slopes at an angle to break up the grade.
4. Water draining down skid trails.
5. Skidding in a stream channel even when it is temporarily dry.
6. Skidding across perennial streams or large intermittent streams unless it is done with a properly constructed temporary crossing.
7. Excessive damage to remaining timber and other vegetation within SMZs.
8. Using existing skid trails if further use will cause excessive soil disturbance.

BMPs for Felling

1. When possible, trres should be directionally felled away from water bodies.
2. Remove only tops and limbs which have fallen into any water body during harvesting.
3. Inspect all stream courses to be sure they are free from excessive logging debris.