Skip to main content

For Loggers

Programs and Incentives for Loggers

The Watershed Agricultural Council believes that loggers with a deeper understanding of sustainability and water quality will make better harvesting decisions. The Forestry Program supports this by providing loggers with training and educational opportunities, backed up with financial incentives, to implement these practices during timber harvests.

Training and educational opportunities for loggers

Watershed Logger Education Initiative

The WAC Forestry Program offers specialized training for loggers. The Logger Education Initiative strengthens the knowledge and skills of loggers, helping them to be more productive and safer in the woods. All trainings are approved by New York Logger Training (NYLT) for TLC eligibility and core TLC classes are offered twice annually. Since its inception, we have provided logger trainings to over 3500 participants. 

Annual workshops cover topics such as: 

  • Forest Ecology & Silviculture 
  • Game of Logging (all levels) 
  • Adult First Aid & CPR 
  • Erosion Control Methods & Stream Crossings 
  • Wildlife Habitat 
  • Logger Rescue 
  • Log Truck Maintenance & Inspection 
  • Pests & Diseases 
  • Tracking Harvest Profitability 
                  Watershed Logger Education Initiative

                  Financial incentives for loggers

                  Best Management Practice (BMP) Program

                  The WAC Forestry Program provides money, materials and technical support to loggers installing BMPs on timber harvests in the NYC Watershed. BMPs are beneficial to both the landowner and the logger during and after timber harvests operations by preventing erosion and protecting water quality.  

                  The BMP Program has three components that can be used individually or combined on a timber harvest: 

                  • Erosion Control Component 
                    Receive funding to control erosion during and after the harvest using simple BMPs like water bars, skid trail re-grading, corduroy, hay and grass seed, and gravel on the landing. 
                  • Stream Crossing Component 
                    Sediment from timber harvests is most likely to enter the water at stream crossings and BMPs are especially important here. Funding is available for enhanced BMPs around stream crossings, portable bridges are available free of charge, and the transportation and installation of them are cost- shared.  
                  • BMP Free Sample Component 
                    Samples to try include geotextile fabric, silt fencing, pipe culverts, hay bales, grass seed, erosion control blankets and straw wattles. 
                  Best Management Practice (BMP) Program

                  For Loggers

                  Documents and Resources

                  BMP Program

                  Logger Training