Comparison of forest road characteristics between forest stewardship properties and non-forest stewardship properties in central West Virginia

Eight non-stewardship properties and seven stewardship properties were visited and measurements were taken to determine whether or not differences exist between these two property types. Twenty dependent variables relating to residual vegetation, forest road characteristics, erosion and certain best management practices were used to characterize timber harvesting operations that had been conducted on these property types. With the exception of road density and waterbar implementation, analysis of these dependent variables failed to detect any statistical differences among property types. Results suggest that stewardship landowners may also have a wider range of harvest objectives as well as use a wider diversity of BMPs. 81% of BMP practices encountered other than waterbars were observed on stewardship properties. A correlation exists between industry land and road density. Reach capacity and excess reach capacity are two new metrics of road efficiency that warrant further research.