What is it?

Forestry chemcial management includes planning, equipment maintenance, proper mixing and application methods, spill cleanup, and proper disposal of chemcials.

Conservation Benefits

• Prevents contamination of water resources and habitats with chemicals

What does it include?

The following recommendations were taken from the Texas Forestry Best Management Practices Handbook produced by the Texas Forestry Association and Texas Forest Service.

Planning

• Read and follow all guidelines on the manufacturer’s label before applying silvicultural chemicals.
• Know the chemical characteristics, topography, soils, drainage, condition of bridges, weather, and any other factors that might be important for preventing water pollution during application

Equipment Maintenance

• No visible leakage of chemicals should be permitted from equipment used for transporting, storing, mixing or applying chemicals

Chemical Mixing

• Water for mixing with chemicals should be carried to the site in tanks used only for the transport of water. The danger of getting a chemical into a ground or surface water supply must be avoided. An air gap is essential in the water intake to prevent back flow. Adding chemicals and mixing should only be done at the application site
• Mix chemicals and clean tanks only where possible spills will not enter streams, lakes, or ponds. Do not mix chemicals or clean/flush tanks near well-heads

Aerial Application

• Carefully plan application to avoid direct and indirect entry of chemicals into streams and impoundments. Realize that significant portions of the SMZ will probably be left untreated. Leave well-marked buffer zones between target area and surface water.
• Chemicals should not be applied when stream pollution is likely to occur through aerial drift.
• Use a spray device capable of immediate shutoff.
• Shut off chemical application during turns and over open water

Ground Application

• Carefully plan application to avoid direct and indirect entry of chemicals into streams and impoundments.
• Exercise care not to exceed intended or allowable dosages.
• Where feasible, utilize injection or stump treatment herbicide methods in areas immediately adjacent to open water.
• Special care should be taken when chemicals are used in the SMZ.
• Avoid applying chemicals to vegetation protecting eroded slopes, gullies, drainages, and other fragile areas subject to erosion

Spill Management

• Should a spill occur, create a dike around the spill. Use absorbent material (kitty litter, slaked lime, sawdust, soil, etc.) to soak up fluid. Keep spill from flowing into streams or bodies of water.
• Some spills will require notifying appropriate authorities

Chemical Disposal

• Before disposal, containers should be rinsed as described in equipment clean up. Containers should be disposed of in accordance with manufacturers' recommendations

Equipment Cleanup

• Clean up equipment in a location where chemicals will not enter any stream, lake, pond, or where stream pollution might occur.
• Rinse empty herbicide containers and mixing apparatus three times. This rinsate should be applied in spray form to the treatment area, NOT onto the ground.