Forestry Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Water Quality

What is Nonpoint Source Pollution

Nonpoint source pollution is generated from land runoff resulting from precipitation. As runoff moves over land surfaces, it picks up and carries away natural and man-made pollutants and deposits them into waterways, wetlands, and groundwater. Human activity can dramatically increase nonpoint source pollution potential.

There can be five types of water pollutants resulting from silvicultural activities:

  • Sediment
  • Nutrients
  • Organics
  • Temperature
  • Chemicals

Silvicultural activities that have the greatest chance of causing nonpoint source pollution include:

  • Forest road construction, including stream crossings
  • Forest harvesting activities, including skidding and processing timber
  • Site preparation
  • Pesticide application
  • Wildfire control lines and prescribed fire use

Why Nonpoint Source Pollution is Important to Us

Abundant clean water is important to all Virginians. Excessive runoff can increase sedimentation to streams. Increased sedimentation raises filtering costs for drinking water, increases flood potential by filling up streambeds, and chokes irrigation systems. Fish habitats can be altered by improper management activities. Removing shade from critical streamside areas can increase water temperatures thus affecting fish and other aquatic life. Best management practices (BMPs) can reduce the impact from these management activities.

Best Management Practices – What They are and Why They are Important

Best Management Practices (BMPs) are activities chosen to reduce soil erosion and prevent or control pollution resulting from forestry operations. BMPs have been around for many years in the areas of forestry, agriculture and urban development. Forestry BMPs are directed primarily at controlling erosion. Erosion can lead to sedimentation, which is the entry of soil into waterways. BMPs are proven methods to lessen the potential damage from land-disturbing activities.

Virginia Forestry Biomass BMPs

Per Virginia Code § 10.1-1308.1 A.1, Renewable Energy Credit (REC) – eligible biomass can include the following forest-derived materials: mill residues, logging residues, forest thinnings, slash, brush, low-commercial value materials, undesirable species and woody material harvested for the purpose of forest fire fuel reduction or forest health and watershed improvement. Any of these materials harvested such that:

  1. there is no sedimentation of state waters, and
  2. the harvesting of biomass does not reduce the productive capacity of the site for forest growth, will be considered to be harvested in accordance with best management practices for the sustainable harvesting of biomass.

DOF Assistance

The DOF is available to assist landowners and forest operators with harvest planning, BMP recommendations, and site restoration guidance. The Department also monitors BMP implementation on areas statewide to ensure that water quality is being protected through harvest inspections. We’re proud to report that we continue to see a high BMP implementation rate of 95% statewide.

DOF developed a comprehensive Virginia’s Forestry Best Management Practices for Water Quality – Technical Guide and Field Guide that are both available in our Resource Library below.


Your local DOF forest technician can advise about incorporating proper BMPs to protect water quality during the implementation of a forestry practice on your property. Your local DOF water quality staff can also assist with technical BMP guidance.

Agency Directory


Additional Resources

ImageTitleIDDescriptionContent TypeViewhf:tax:document-categoryhf:tax:Media
Best Management Practices (BMPs) for the Sustainable Harvesting of Biomass
Best Management Practices (BMPs) for the Sustainable Harvesting of Biomass

In the 2023 General Assembly session, HB2026 and SB1231 amended the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) to enable woody biomass to continue to be used as a source of electric power generation in Virginia and for specific biomass energy facilities to be included as eligible sources in the renewable energy standard. This document outlines the best management practices enforcement process and guidance for the sustainable harvesting of biomass for electric generation, as well as information gathered for the carbon LCA in 2023.

Viewmarketing-and-utilization water-qualitydocument
Best Management Practices: Brush Matting and Vegetation - Examples
Best Management Practices: Brush Matting and Vegetation – ExamplesFT0041

Forestry topic information sheet shows examples of correct best management practices – brush matting and vegetation.

Viewwater-qualitypublication
Best Management Practices: Log Landings - Examples
Best Management Practices: Log Landings – ExamplesFT0043

Forestry topic information sheet shows examples of correct best management practices – log landings.

Viewwater-qualitypublication
Best Management Practices: Roads and Trails - Examples
Best Management Practices: Roads and Trails – ExamplesFT0046

Forestry topic information sheet shows examples of correct best management practices – roads and trails.

Viewwater-qualitypublication
Best Management Practices: Stream Crossings - Examples
Best Management Practices: Stream Crossings – ExamplesFT0042

Forestry topic information sheet shows examples of correct best management practices – stream crossings.

Viewwater-qualitypublication
Best Management Practices: Streamside Management Zones - Examples
Best Management Practices: Streamside Management Zones – ExamplesFT0044

Forestry topic information sheet shows examples of correct best management practices – streamsize management zones.

Viewwater-qualitypublication
Best Management Practices: Water Bars and Rolling Dips - Examples
Best Management Practices: Water Bars and Rolling Dips – ExamplesFT0045

Forestry topic information sheet shows examples of correct best management practices – water bars and rolling dips.

Viewwater-qualitypublication
Logger Best Management Practice (BMP) Cost-Share Program
Logger Best Management Practice (BMP) Cost-Share ProgramFT0047

Forestry topic information sheet provides program information about the Logger Best Management Practice (BMP) Cost-Share Program providing cost-share assistance to loggers for installation of best management practices.

Viewfinancial-assistance-water-quality water-qualitypublication
Silvicultural Best Management Practices Implementation - 2022
Silvicultural Best Management Practices Implementation – 2022P00143

Annual report on the implementation of BMP monitoring in Virginia, including the audit methods and results of audits over the course of a year.

Viewwater-qualitypublication
Silvicultural Best Management Practices Implementation - 2023
Silvicultural Best Management Practices Implementation – 2023P00143

Annual report on the implementation of BMP monitoring in Virginia, including the audit methods and results of audits over the course of a year.

Viewwater-qualitypublication
Silvicultural Best Management Practices Implementation Monitoring for Virginia - 2007-2008
Silvicultural Best Management Practices Implementation Monitoring for Virginia – 2007-2008P00143

Annual report on the implementation of BMP monitoring in Virginia, including the audit methods and results of audits over the course of a year.

Viewwater-qualitypublication
Silvicultural Best Management Practices Implementation Monitoring for Virginia - 2009
Silvicultural Best Management Practices Implementation Monitoring for Virginia – 2009P00143

Annual report on the implementation of BMP monitoring in Virginia, including the audit methods and results of audits over the course of a year.

Viewwater-qualitypublication
Silvicultural Best Management Practices Implementation Monitoring for Virginia - 2010
Silvicultural Best Management Practices Implementation Monitoring for Virginia – 2010P00143

Annual report on the implementation of BMP monitoring in Virginia, including the audit methods and results of audits over the course of a year.

Viewwater-qualitypublication
Silvicultural Best Management Practices Implementation Monitoring for Virginia - 2011
Silvicultural Best Management Practices Implementation Monitoring for Virginia – 2011P00143

Annual report on the implementation of BMP monitoring in Virginia, including the audit methods and results of audits over the course of a year.

Viewwater-qualitypublication
Silvicultural Best Management Practices Implementation Monitoring for Virginia - 2012
Silvicultural Best Management Practices Implementation Monitoring for Virginia – 2012P00143

Annual report on the implementation of BMP monitoring in Virginia, including the audit methods and results of audits over the course of a year.

Viewwater-qualitypublication
Silvicultural Best Management Practices Implementation Monitoring for Virginia - 2013
Silvicultural Best Management Practices Implementation Monitoring for Virginia – 2013P00143

Annual report on the implementation of BMP monitoring in Virginia, including the audit methods and results of audits over the course of a year.

Viewwater-qualitypublication
Silvicultural Best Management Practices Implementation Monitoring for Virginia - 2014
Silvicultural Best Management Practices Implementation Monitoring for Virginia – 2014P00143

Annual report on the implementation of BMP monitoring in Virginia, including the audit methods and results of audits over the course of a year.

Viewwater-qualitypublication
Silvicultural Best Management Practices Implementation Monitoring for Virginia - 2015
Silvicultural Best Management Practices Implementation Monitoring for Virginia – 2015P00143

Annual report on the implementation of BMP monitoring in Virginia, including the audit methods and results of audits over the course of a year.

Viewwater-qualitypublication
Silvicultural Best Management Practices Implementation Monitoring for Virginia - 2016
Silvicultural Best Management Practices Implementation Monitoring for Virginia – 2016P00143

Annual report on the implementation of BMP monitoring in Virginia, including the audit methods and results of audits over the course of a year.

Viewwater-qualitypublication
Silvicultural Best Management Practices Implementation Monitoring for Virginia - 2017
Silvicultural Best Management Practices Implementation Monitoring for Virginia – 2017P00143

Annual report on the implementation of BMP monitoring in Virginia, including the audit methods and results of audits over the course of a year.

Viewwater-qualitypublication
Silvicultural Best Management Practices Implementation Monitoring for Virginia - 2018
Silvicultural Best Management Practices Implementation Monitoring for Virginia – 2018P00143

Annual report on the implementation of BMP monitoring in Virginia, including the audit methods and results of audits over the course of a year.

Viewwater-qualitypublication
Silvicultural Best Management Practices Implementation Monitoring for Virginia - 2019
Silvicultural Best Management Practices Implementation Monitoring for Virginia – 2019P00143

Annual report on the implementation of BMP monitoring in Virginia, including the audit methods and results of audits over the course of a year.

Viewwater-qualitypublication
Silvicultural Best Management Practices Implementation Monitoring for Virginia - 2020
Silvicultural Best Management Practices Implementation Monitoring for Virginia – 2020P00143

Annual report on the implementation of BMP monitoring in Virginia, including the audit methods and results of audits over the course of a year.

Viewwater-qualitypublication
Silvicultural Best Management Practices Implementation Monitoring for Virginia - 2021
Silvicultural Best Management Practices Implementation Monitoring for Virginia – 2021P00143

Annual report on the implementation of BMP monitoring in Virginia, including the audit methods and results of audits over the course of a year.

Viewwater-qualitypublication
Timber Harvesting and Water Quality
Timber Harvesting and Water QualityP00132

Brochure educates landowners and harvesters about the impact of timber harvesting on water quality and the steps required to maintain compliance with applicable laws during pre-harvest planning, harvesting and tract closeout after harvesting. Printed copies available.

Viewwater-qualitypublication
Virginia Forestry Biomass BMPs - Enforcement Process and Guidance
Virginia Forestry Biomass BMPs – Enforcement Process and Guidance

Pursuant to the requirements in Chapter 803 of the 2023 Acts of Assembly, this document outlines the best management practices enforcement process and guidance for the sustainable harvesting of biomass for electric generation.

Viewmarketing-and-utilizationdocument
Virginia's Forestry Best Management Practices for Water Quality: Field Guide
Virginia’s Forestry Best Management Practices for Water Quality: Field GuideP00134

Technical field guide provides a convenient pocket instruction guide for timber harvesters to protect water quality when harvesting timber and comply with applicable laws. Printed copies available.

Viewwater-qualitypublication
Virginia's Forestry Best Management Practices for Water Quality: Technical Manual
Virginia’s Forestry Best Management Practices for Water Quality: Technical ManualP00104

Technical guide (5th edition) provides detailed instruction for timber harvesters to protect water quality when harvesting timber and comply with applicable laws. Printed copies available.

Viewwater-qualitypublication

A variety of financial assistance programs are available through DOF and partner agencies for forest management activities to protect water quality.

Explore All Financial Assistance Programs


Contact Us

Your local DOF forest technician can advise about incorporating proper BMPs to protect water quality during the implementation of a forestry practice on your property. Your local DOF water quality staff can also assist with technical BMP guidance. Contact your local DOF staff.

For more information or questions, e-mail us or use our contact form.