Site preparation prepares the land for planting, direct seeding or natural regeneration.  Using machinery to prepare sites and plant trees exposes soil.  Proceed carefully to maintain good water quality.

Common site preparation techniques includes scarifying, shearing, raking, disking, and roller chopping.  Select a technique based on specific site characteristics including soil, topography, vegetation, access, and distance to surface waters.  Prescribed burning and herbicides are also used for site preparation; BMPs for these management tools are listed in Prescribed Burning and in Chemical Use.

Avoid operating mechanical site-preparation and tree planting equipment on slopes greater than 30% where the slopes drain directly into a body of water.

Operate mechanical site-preparation and tree-planting equipment on the contour where necessary to minimize erosion into water bodies.

Minimize raking in areas, or under conditions, in which soil could erode and enter water bodies.  Two preferred practices are (a) shearing and raking when the soil is frozen; and (b) raking lightly to remove slash only.

Suspend operations during wet periods if equipment begins to cause excessive soil disturbance.

Deposit site preparation residues in stable locations outside streamside management zones.

Use patch scarification or low-intensity prescribed burns on sites that have steep slopes, erodible soils, and on sites that drain to surface water.

Consider herbicide treatment instead of mechanical methods.  The use of herbicides causes less disturbance to the soil.  Be sure to follow all label recommendations on the product.  See Chemical Use.

On slopes utilize barrier zones, or undisturbed strips, to act as natural terraces.  See Figure 6-1.  Install these at times and places as per the guidelines for water bars.