Program Introduction About the Program Forest Watershed Functions Portable Skidder Bridge Initiative AMP Program Heavy Cutting Law Assistance for AMP and Heavy Cutting Programs Water Links

Portable Skidder Bridge Demonstration

Project (EPA Section 319 Grant)

The Environmental Protection Agency provides grants to states to address Non-Point Source (NPS) pollution through the Section 319 Grants Program. In 2004 the Department secured a grant to build four steel design portable skidder bridges. These bridges were professionally engineered and constructed. One 30-foot long by 12 ½ -foot wide bridge and three 25-foot long by 12 ½ -foot bridges were designed and fabricated. They will be demonstrated and used during logging on State Lands timber sales. The 30-foot bridge has been engineered to support loads as great as a 70,000 pound harvester. The three smaller bridges were designed to support skidders up to a 30,000 pound operating weight or a 40,000 pound forwarder with load. The grant requires demonstration workshops to be held around the state. Water quality will also be monitored at the stream crossing sites during and after logging for compliance with Vermont’s “Acceptable Management Practices for Maintaining Water Quality on Logging Jobs in Vermont.”