Comparing Water Quality Best Management Practice Implementation and Estimated Erosion From Conventional and Wood Pellet Harvesting Operations In The Southeastern U.s.

Wood pellet feedstock sourced from the southeastern U.S. has become an important renewable fuel for energy production in Europe. Concerns associated with pellet feedstock harvesting operations include increased removal of woody debris compared to conventional harvests, and the ability to adequately protect water quality using conventional forestry best management practices (BMPs). Decades of research have documented the effectiveness of properly implemented BMPs at protecting water quality and aquatic systems during forest operations. In contrast, limited research has been directed at BMP efficacy associated with biomass harvesting and essentially none has addressed wood pellet harvests specifically. To better understand how existing BMPs protect water quality during biomass harvests, we evaluated 51 recent (<1-yr) operational harvests in the southeastern U.S. and assessed predicted soil erosion and BMP implementation on conventional and wood pellet feedstock harvests. BMP implementation was scored using state BMP audit questionnaires and erosion was estimated using the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE). Results will determine if there is rational for specific guidelines on wood pellet feedstock operations, or if conventional BMPs are sufficient to meet forest sustainability goals.