Reissued General Permits
NYSDEC has reissued two General Permits for Stream Crossings for Timber Harvesting, under the authority of Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) Article 15, Title 5 Stream Disturbance and Article 24, Freshwater Wetlands. The reissued GP's (GP-0-23-004 (PDF) and GP-0-23-005 (PDF)) became effective on October 1, 2023 and replaced GP-0-18-005 and GP-0-18-004 which expired on September 30, 2023. The permits were modified on June 13, 2025, to include authorization pursuant to ECL Article 24, Freshwater Wetlands.
General Permit GP-0-23-004 Temporary Bridges/Arch Culverts for Logging Activities
The installation, construction, maintenance and removal of stream crossings for timber harvesting only and limited in scope to:
- Temporary Bridges - placed bank-to-bank with a bridge length no greater than 30 feet long, limited to no more than one crossing per 1,000 feet of stream course, and removed upon completion of work.
- Temporary Arch Culverts - a single arch bottomless culvert only, in streams no greater than 4 feet wide, limited to no more than one crossing per 1,000 feet of stream course, and removed upon completion of work.
If NYSDEC does not contact the Applicant regarding any environmental concerns within 5 business days of NYSDEC's receipt of the Request for Authorization and enclosures, the project can proceed without further approval. Otherwise, the project may not proceed until concerns are resolved.
General Permit GP-0-23-005 Temporary Bridges/Culverts for Logging Activities
The installation, construction, maintenance and removal of stream crossings for timber harvesting only and limited in scope to:
- Temporary Bridges - placed bank-to-bank with a bridge length no greater than 50 feet long, limited to no more than one crossing per 1,000 feet of stream course, and removed upon completion of work.
- Temporary Culverts - a single culvert only, in streams no greater than 8 feet wide, limited to no more than one crossing per 1,000 feet of stream course, and removed upon completion of work.
No work is authorized until the permittee receives the signed Project Authorization by NYSDEC.
These permits do NOT authorize:
- permanent crossings of any type;
- stream fords except any equipment access ford associated with an approved bridge or culvert;
- crossings that the Department has determined will impact state listed Threatened or Endangered species;
- crossings over Wild, Scenic and Recreational Rivers; or
- multiple culverts installed side-by-side.
Read General Permit GP-0-23-004 (PDF) and General Permit GP-0-23-005 (PDF) to see if your project is covered. If your project is included in the list of authorized activities, read the Instructions to Applicants 2023 (PDF). Fill out and submit the Request for Authorization 2023 (PDF) to the DEC Regional Permit Administrator. DEC encourages electronic submission of the Request for Authorization.
The following items must also be submitted with the Request for Authorization:
- a project location map;
- sketch plan view and cross-section drawings, drawn to scale;
- at least 3 color photographs which clearly depict the site of the proposed activity; and
- the Permission to Inspect Property Supplement (PDF) available on the Forms for DEC Permits page.
