Team works to recommend log-salvage policy

The state Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) created a Submerged-Log Salvage Policy Development Team in October 1999 in response to growing interest by commercial operations to salvage sunken old-growth logs from North Carolina waters. The team consisted of members of DENR agencies, other state agencies and an environmental advocacy group. Representatives of current salvaging operations regularly attended meetings. Coastal Management Director Donna Moffitt chaired the team, which completed its work in June 2000.

The team worked to identify potential adverse environmental impacts of salvaging submerged cut logs from the state's rivers, streams and sounds, and to develop policy recommendations that would minimize adverse effects to aquatic ecosystems.

Using the limited information available, the team reviewed the various issues of concern involved with log salvaging as thoroughly as possible. The team also reviewed management approaches in other states and available studies about log salvaging. After discussing the pertinent issues, the team concluded that there is potential for damage to occur to the aquatic environment if this subject area is not addressed with a conservative approach. Little is known about the impacts of log salvaging or its cumulative effects. The ecosystems of North Carolina's water bodies vary greatly and require flexibility in the permitting process to address certain concerns that may exist in one area, but not in others. Following 10 meetings over an eight-month period, the team reached a consensus on recommendations.

Read the Log-Salvage Policy Development Team's report and recommendations (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader).

Don't have Acrobat Reader? Download it free from Adobe's Web site.