Appropriate design of unsealed roads and stream crossing in forests
Design of forest roads should be done in a way that surface water is diverted to the forest aside. Various surfaces cross drain solutions with a different level of maintenance need are available (e.g. rolling drain dip, culverts, rubber strips). They need to be combined with ditch dams for directing runoff. New forest roads should be planned carefully and only in exceptional cases. An interesting solution for small stream crossings can be the substitution of bridges or pipes by fords – e.g. after damages caused by flooding. This reduces the danger of blocking and flooding.
Additionally to flood risk reduction by slowing and storing surface runoff, the measure has medium or high possible benefits for the following biophysical impacts and ecosystem services: Reduce erosion and/or sediment delivery; Create aquatic habitat; Biodiversity preservation; Slow river water; Store river water; Reduce pollutant sources; Aesthetic/cultural value
Check out the RAINMAN good practice examples:
READ MORE:
- Office International de l’Eau (2015): Natural Water Retention Measures, URL: http://nwrm.eu (19.03.2020): appropriate design of roads and stream crossings
- Norbert Billern, André Assmann, Jessica Kempf, Heike Puhlmann (2018): Land-und forstwirtschaftliche Maßnahmen zur Stärkung des Wasser-und Bodenrückhalts in Kommunen, URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/324797743_Land-und_forstwirtschaftliche_Massnahmen_zur_Starkung_des_Wasser-und_Bodenruckhalts_in_Kommunen (19.03.2020): Wegewasserableitung
Sabine Scharfe, Saxon State Office for Environment, Agriculture and Geology
