A combined rainfall simulator and tracer approach to assess the role of Best Management Practices in minimising sediment redistribution and loss in forests after harvesting

In this paper, we use the combined results from two contrasting methods to investigate the effectiveness of Best Management Practices (BMPs) on sediment erosion and redistribution in managed forestry environments in southeastern New South Wales (NSW), Australia. The first method employed a rainfall simulator at the skid track (snig track)—water bar (cross-bank)—general harvest area (GHA) spatial scale. This showed the majority of production and redistribution occurring from the skid tracks and coinciding with the period after initial disturbance. However, 5 years after harvesting, little redistribution between these elements was occurring. Furthermore, water bar structures were effective in trapping coarse sediment generated from skid tracks but markedly less so for fine <br/