Fertilizing the Forest:

Using Biosolids to

Improve Forest Soils and

Increase Tree Harvest

SEFS 507 Field Trip

Outline

•• Introduction to Biosolids

• Forest Soils

• Tree Harvesting

• History of Tiger Mountain

• Introduction to Field Site

Biosolids

•• What are Biosolids

• How are Biosolids Made

• Uses

• Restriction to Use

• Potential Issues with Application

What are Biosolids?

Class A Biosolids are

Pasteurized

Dewatered

Wastewater Effluent

In going sludge

90 - 95% water

Processed Cake

> 20 % solids

wasteprocessingsolutions.com

Creating Biosolidsbiosolids.com.au

Creating Biosolidssswm.info

Creating Biosolids

Mixed with Sand for Desired Drainage

Mixed with Various Types of Sawdust

Weeklyvolcano.com

Common Uses

••Garden Amendmento Improves Drainage

o Adds Nutrients with Slow Release

• Forestry Applicationo Improves Tree Harvesting

Harvest Trees Faster

o Improves Understory Growth Attracts Wildlife

kingcounty.gov

Restrictions to Use

● EPA 40 CFR Part 503 Rule

governs biosolids application

● Permits required for lower

grades

● Monitoring contaminant

(metals) levels in soil and

groundwater

● No application where it could

adversely affect endangered

species

http://cvilletomorrow.typepad.com/charlottesville_tomorrow_/biosolids/

Potential Issues

● Pathogens○ Treated to destroy most pathogens and reduce vector attractants

■ Class A - no detectable pathogens

■ Class B - detectable pathogens, more regulated use

○ Time delay for crop harvest/grazing/public access after application

● Nitrification○ Agronomic Rate - calculated rate of application equal to nutrient

uptake by plants

○ 50-200+ foot buffers of natural vegetation around waterbodies

○ Well drained soil required

○ Prohibited use on frozen or saturated ground and during rainy season

○ Flat or gently sloping ground

Potential Issues

● Heavy Metals○ Part 503 rules sets limits on concentrations to prevent toxic

buildup

○ Separating stormwater from sewage reduces concentrations

○ Generally found to be bound in biosolids with little uptake by

plants

● “Emerging Contaminants”○ Chemical compounds from drugs and commercial products

○ USGS/EPA study found pharmaceutical/hormonally active

chemicals common in biosolids

○ Further research being done

○ WA Dept of Ecology believes state regulations protect

human/environmental health

Outline

•• Introduction to Biosolids

• Forest Soils

• Tree Harvesting

• History of Tiger Mountain

• Introduction to Field Site

Forest Soils

•Soil Characteristics- Soils play a large role in determining species composition and interaction

- Plant-soil relationships vary among ecosystems

•Soil Quality

- Affected in many ways

- Biotic and abiotic factors

- The quality of the soil shows relationship with site productivity

- A productive site is key

•Soil Processes- Underground interactions, fluxes, and pools affect ecosystem

characteristics

- Soil processes can be studied and even altered to ‘get the most’ out of a

site.

Applying Biosolids

• Is it a Good Idea?

- How does one tell if biosolids are the right choice?

- Observing soil and aboveground characteristics can tell you a lot!

• The Processes

- Dispersed from back of truck

- Tilled out

- Applied manually in smaller batches

Courtesy of Colorado State UniversityCourtesy of Lincoln Nebraska Waste Water treatment Facility

Why Use Biosolids?

• Soil Nutrients

- The availability of soil nutrients is always changing.

- The abundances/lack of each nutrient will vary among ecosystem.

- Example: Nitrogen is more readily available in Alder dominant forests

due to N fixing abilities, which result in depletion of base cations due

to higher rates of nitrification (Verberg et al. 2000)

• Soil Drainage/Retention

- Proper drainage is critical for plant growth

- Species require different amounts of water

- Example: You are not going to find a flourishing Doug Fir stand in the

middle of the desert.

Why Use Biosolids?

• Soil Nutrients

- Application of Biosolids allows for slow release of nutrients over time.

- Biosolids can increase plant growth and overall site productivity

• Soil Drainage/Retention- Addition of biosolids can improve soil structure, while increasing the

thickness of the O horizon

- Biosolids act almost like a glue, binding particles together. This

increases potential for a deeper rooting depth and increases porosity.

•Overall Site Productivity

- Biosolid application often results in increased site productivity (Henry

& Cole 1997).

Outline

•• Introduction to Biosolids

• Forest Soils

• Tree Harvesting

• History of Tiger Mountain

• Introduction to Field Site

Tree Harvesting

• Soil Compactiono Harvesting equipment

o Skid trails

o Repeated entry

• Surface Erosiono Slope

o Roots

o Mass Soil Movement

• Watero Decrease transpiration

o Precipitation impact/velocity

o Soil and water temperature

Tree Harvesting

Outline

•• Introduction to Biosolids

• Forest Soils

• Tree Harvesting

• History of Tiger Mountain

• Introduction to Field Site

History of Tiger Mountain

Tiger Mountain is a good and hot place for climbing. The Tiger Mountain Trail was first conceived of in 1972, with construction getting underway in 1977.

A hang glider launching point

on Tiger Mountain, WA

By Matt Wachowski

History of Tiger Mountain

It was established as Tiger Mountain State Forest in 1981. In 1989, the entire Issaquah Plateau in the northwest corner was designated as a conservation area.

Table from Peakbagger.com

Word from Wikipedia

History of Tiger Mountain

• As a land formation, that whole area is part of the Seattle uplift. It’s an example of plate tectonics in action.

• Millions of years of soil deposits from glacial formations and changing climates are inscribed in them, layer upon layer. You would see how the exposed gorge walls take on color striations similar to a sunset.

• Where a belt of specifically colored soil dips drastically and continues in a straight line again, you are more than likely looking at the work of an active fault, pointing to two instances on the gorge walls above the swift creek.

[Another secrets about Tiger Mt are amber and fossils. You could explore more if you are interested.]

Resource:

http://www.issaquahpress.com/2010/

06/29/unearthing-secrets-buried-

beneath-tiger-mountain/

Outline

•• Introduction to Biosolids

• Forest Soils

• Tree Harvesting

• Introduction to Field Site

Where Are We Going?

• Tradition Lake

o Lake Trail

o Bus Trail

o Power Line Trail

• On NW side of Tiger

Mountain

• History of Logging

Courtesy of Google Maps

What Will We See?

• Stop 1: Garden Just

Outside Bloedel

• Stop 2: Stream Feeding

Tradition Lake

o Erosion

o Recreational Land

Use in Forest

• Stop 3: Forest Stop 1

o Overland Flow

o Drainage SystemCourtesy of Google Maps

What Will We See?

• Stop 4: Forest Stop 2

o Forest Health

• Stop 5: Human Forest

Use

o Bonneville Power

Lines

o Natural Gas Pipelines

• Stop 6: Tradition Lake

o Wetland

What Will We Take Away?

Is this forest a good place to apply

biosolids?

...and keep an eye out for

this old Greyhound Bus

skeleton! (No one knows

how it actually got

there…)

Bring your lab notebook,

warm clothes, and a rain

coat!

http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCM9TC_bus-line-

stop?guid=2d2df0e1-9bf8-4946-b39a-f0759fa79a1d

References

Fact Sheet:

http://water.epa.gov/scitech/wastetech/biosolids/upload/2002_06_28_mtb_bios

olids_503pe_503pe_2.pdf

Fact Sheet:

http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/wastewater/treatment/biosolids/genqa.cfm

Fact Sheet:

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/biosolids/faq.html#metals

C.L. Henry, D.W. Cole. 1997. Use of biosolids in the forest: Technology,

economics and regulations. Biomass and Bioenergy, Volume 13, Issues 4–

5, 1997, Pages 269-277

P.S.J. Verburga, D.W. Johnson, R. Harrison. Long-term nutrient cycling

patterns in douglas-fir and red alder stands: a simulation study. Forest and

Ecology Management. 145 (2001) 203-217