Modelling plumes of overland flow from logging tracks

Most land-based forestry systems use extensive networks of unsealed tracks to access the timber resource. These tracks are normally drained by constructing cross-banks, or water bars, across the tracks immediately following logging. Cross-banks serve three functions in controlling sediment movement within forestry compartments: 1. they define the specific catchment area of the snig track (also known as skid trails) so that the overland flow does not develop sufficient energy to cause gullies, and sheet and rill erosion is reduced; 2. they induce some sediment deposition as flow velocity reduces at the cross-bank; 3. they redirect overland flow into the adjacent general harvesting area (GHA) so that further sediment deposition may take place. This paper describes a simple model that predicts the third of these functions in which the rate of runoff from the track is combined with spatial attributes of the track and stream network. Predictions of the extent of the overland flow plumes and the volume of water delivered to streams is probabilistically presented for a range of rainfall-event scenarios with rainfall intensity, time since logging and compartment layout as model inputs. Generic equations guiding the trade-off between intercross-bank length and flow path distance from cross-bank outlet to the stream network needed for infiltration of track runoff are derived. Copyright (C) 2002 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.