Assessing the operational cost of streamside management zones

A geographic information system (GIS) is a set of powerful, computer-based, analytical algorithms applied to solving spatial data problems. Recently d ue to increases in memory, computing speed, and programming advances, perso nal computers have increased in use in solving spatial analysis problems. T his study reports the benefits of applying a PC-based GIS to solve a common , but complicated, problem in forest management: assignment of harvesting a reas with harvesting exclusion zones. Two stands each from the USDA Crosset t Experimental Forest, and the University of Arkansas Forest, and four stan ds each from the Ouachita National Forest, and the Ozark National Forest (t otal 12) were analyzed to determine the changes in operational costs due to following best management practices by excluding sensitive areas from harv esting activity with streamside management zones (SMZs). In a one-time loss , land averaging 6.3 percent of the forest land was taken out of production due to the implementation of SMZs. Benefit/cost ratios of harvestable timb er value to harvesting cost decreased with the imposition of SMZs, but the judicious use of portable bridging to span SMZs at critical locations mitig ated losses considerably.