HydroAxe BMPs?

[Mr.Burnzzz]

Hey guys, new to the forum here..

I'm starting a 40-acre commercial thinning job this fall on a piece of private ground. We're running a HydroAxe for the main prep work. The contract calls for strict adherence to Best Management Practices, especially because we've got a couple of small, dry creek beds and wet-weather drains that run through the area.

My main concern is getting the work done efficiently while absolutely minimizing the risk of sediment runoff and silt reaching the waterways when the rains start.

What are the most effective, realistic things you've done or seen beyond just standard silt fencing to handle ground disturbance from heavy machinery like the HydroAxe near sensitive areas? Looking for practical, field-proven tips for protecting the water! Thanks!

 

[EileenLepant]

Don't trust silt fence alone. Use buffers, armored crossings, matting, water bars, sediment traps, quick stabilization, scheduled inspections. Tell your crew "if you see water turning brown, stop and fix before you keep pushing."

 

[granddaddilly]

Water bars and slash mats have been way more effective for me than relying on silt fence alone, also, keep equipment turns and traffic to a minimum near those zones

 

[TmK.logger]

Avoid working when ground is saturated, like seriously, don't run that hydroaxe when it's muddy or you'll tear everything up. Your state forestry BMP manual should have specific buffer requirements for intermittent streams that you'll need to follow anyway

 

[Alan]

Good advice above. Slash mats and staying out when it’s wet will do more for BMP compliance than any amount of silt fence ever will.