Access feature areas within clearcut harvests by region across the southeastern US

ABSTRACT Extensive forest harvesting within the southeastern United States may disturb soils, accelerate erosion, and increase stream sedimentation. Soil erosion is often accelerated by access features, such as decks, roads, skid trails, and stream crossings. Area of access features have been reported for small samples within specific regions yet have not been examined at larger scales. Areas of haul roads, stream crossings, decks, skid trails, and harvest areas within 112 clearcuts in 11 southeastern states and three regions (Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain) were measured. Analyses revealed that Mountain harvests (13.6 hectares) were smaller than Piedmont (18.1 hectares) and Coastal Plain (16.7 hectares) harvests. While there was substantial variability, only one significant difference was detected regarding percent areas for access features between Mountain (7.8%) and Coastal Plain (6.3%) skid trails. Area percentages in combined regional access features revealed that the smaller Mountain harvests had a greater percentage of area (13.3%) in access features than in the Piedmont (12.2%) and Coastal Plain (10.3%). Analyses also indicated that an increase in total harvest area was associated with a significant decrease in the percent area occupied by access features.