Site-level Monitoring

Implementation Monitoring

The Sustainable Forest Resource Act requires monitoring to assess rates of guideline implementation. Implementation monitoring documents the statewide rate at which forest guidelines are applied during management activities. Monitoring is an important aspect of the MFRC Site-level program, providing information for guideline revision and targeted outreach. Monitoring information also helps to maintain the credibility of the voluntary approach for guideline implementation. The Department of Natural Resources is charged with managing the monitoring program, but broad oversight and program direction is the responsibility of the MFRC.

History

Following guidance from the MFRC, DNR has focused implementation monitoring exclusively on those guidelines which apply to timber harvesting operations. The DNR has monitored guideline implementation at over 1,300 harvest sites since 2000 and has published ten reports summarizing the findings through 2018. In 2013, the program was modified by 1) focusing harvest site monitoring at the eight-digit hydrologic unit code (HUC-8) watershed scale, and 2) incorporating forest disturbance estimates into the assessment, recognizing that local disturbance patterns influence interpretation of implementation estimates. The overall objective of this watershed approach is to use the new assessment to conduct more targeted and effective education and outreach for improved FMG implementation. Monitoring sites are randomly selected from all harvest sites in target watersheds, and findings are summarized to estimate regional and statewide implementation levels. From 2014 through 2018, 438 sites were monitored on this watershed basis and a statewide summary report was published in 2021. An additional 181 harvest sites were monitored in 2020 and 2021 and watershed sample unit level reporting for these sites will be complete in early 2022. Guideline implementation reports and related documentation can be found on our reports page.
Current Monitoring Approach
Starting in 2014, the monitoring program was modified to provide inference at the watershed scale (compared to the historic statewide approach), enhanced with inclusion of forest disturbance mapping using satellite imagery, and program emphasis was focused on water quality as related to forest management. The overall approach is summarized in the following steps:
- Conduct field monitoring at the watershed scale to assess local implementation
- Quantify forest disturbance (harvest, fire, windthrow, land use conversion, etc.) patterns over time by watershed
- Combine information from steps 1 and 2 to conduct a relative assessment of risk to water quality by watershed.
- Target education and outreach efforts based on results from the relative risk assessment.
This new approach provides information at relevant scales for outreach while simultaneously engaging stakeholders to maintain supplies of high-quality water provided from working forested landscapes. Funding is provided by the Clean Water Land and Legacy fund. A presentation on the new approach can be viewed here.

Filter Strip Implementation Example: 2014-2018
- Of 2,312 filter strips monitored:
  - 387 (16.7%) had problems,
  - 5 (0.2%) had sediment delivery.
- Problem Examples:
  - Landing located in filter strip (242)
  - Road constructed in filter strip (62)
- Filter strips are 99.8% effective at preventing sedimentation to surface water.
Monitoring Updates
The DNR recently published a report from the 2014-2018 monitoring that summarizes findings from 438 harvest sites across 34 major watersheds. Reports from current and historic implementation monitoring can be accessed at the links below:
Monitoring Protocol and Recommendations
- Final report to the MN Forest Resources Council on Ad hoc committee recommendations on guideline implementation goals
- DNR Field Collection User Guide/Monitoring Protocol
In 2020-2021, field crews began a new cycle of monitoring, observing FMG implementation on an additional 184 sites across 10 forested watersheds in northern Minnesota. A report summarizing findings from 2020-2021 will be completed in early 2022. All forested watersheds in the state will be monitored for a fourth time by the end of 2024, providing a statewide look at guideline implementation across all ownerships. Watersheds with greater than 20% forest cover are monitored on a 5 year cycle, with the current monitoring effort ending in 2024. Reports are issued on a biennial basis with a final summary report providing additional analysis and perspective on statewide guideline implementation observed during the monitoring cycle.

MFRC and DNR staff are also working to develop a database of monitoring data that is readily available for public access. Site-level information such as harvest size, leave tree retention, RMZ characteristics, and much more, will be compiled and spatially referenced so that reports from defined areas of interest can be quickly summarized. The database will be completed and made available for use in the near future.