Introduction
The Special Management Zone (SMZ) is a BMP which consists of a specific area associated with a stream, lake, wetland or other waterbody that is designated and maintained during silviculture operations. The purpose of the SMZ is to protect water quality by reducing or eliminating forestry related inputs of sediment, nutrients, logging debris, chemicals and water temperature fluctuations that can adversely affect aquatic communities. SMZs provide shade, streambank stability and erosion control, as well as detritus and woody debris which benefits the aquatic ecosystem in general. In addition, the SMZ is designed to maintain certain forest attributes that will provide specific wildlife habitat values. Snags, den and cavity trees as well as mast producing trees, left in the SMZ, are necessary to meet habitat requirements for certain types of wildlife.
As described in the following sections, the SMZ is subject to specific criteria, that defines operational restrictions, and special management objectives. In addition, the SMZ has a specific width which is based on the size and type of waterbody involved, and on the Site Sensitivity Class (SSC). The SSC is based on the local soil type and slope percent, which indicate the general potential for erosion and sedimentation. For determining the SSC, Florida soils have been classified as A, B or C, with A being stable and C being highly erodible. Percent ground slope has also been classified as 1 through 6, with 1 being relatively flat and 6 being very steep (Appendices 2 and 3).
The Special Management Zone has three principal components - the Primary Zone, the Secondary Zone and the Stringer. One or more of these components may apply on a given forestry operation, depending on the SSC and on the type and size of waterbodies on site. The following sections provide a detailed description of the three SMZ components and the practices that are acceptable or prohibited within each one. Practices that are acceptable within all components of the SMZ include direct seeding, hand planting or machine planting on the contour of the land, prescribed burning for site preparation on slopes less than 18%, and basal application of herbicides and insecticides.
Primary Zone
Primary
Zone
The Primary Zone applies to perennial streams, perennial lakes, sinkholes with perennial water, Outstanding Florida Waters (OFW), Outstanding National Resource Waters (ONRW), Class I Waters, and in some cases wetlands (see
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