New Logging Regulations

In March of this year, the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection adopted a set of changes to the Forest Practice Rules designed to protect coho salmon and impaired watersheds. These rules are in effect for a limited time period, recently extended by the Board to January 1, 2002.

A summary of the changes follows:

Intent

• Defines “watersheds with threatened or impaired values” and recognizes that they exist and need special prescriptions for timber harvesting activities.
• Specifies that the intent of timber operations in and around those Watercourse and Lake Protection Zones (WLPZ) within watersheds with threatened or impaired values is to ensure beneficial uses of water and that riparian zones be fully protected from site specific and cumulative impacts of timber operations.
• Beneficial uses of water and the functions of riparian zones shall be

1. maintained if in good condition;
2. protected where threatened; and
3. restored where impaired.

Protection

• Protection must also be provided for riparian functions.
• The watercourse and lake protection measures set forth in the Rules are minimum protection measures; additional protection or restoration must be provided where water-related values are threatened or impaired.

Watersheds with Threatened or Impaired Values

• Every timber operation shall meet the following goals:

1. Not result in any measurable sediment load increase
2. Not result in any measurable decrease in stability of watercourse channel or bank
3. Not result in any measurable blockage of aquatic migratory routes
4. Protect and maintain stream flows during low water periods
5. Protect and restore trees for large woody debris recruitment
6. Protect shade canopy for stream temperature control

• 150-foot minimum WLPZ for all Class I streams with 85% overstory shade canopy retained. 85% for the first 75 feet and 65% for the next 75 feet.
• No salvage logging is allowed in a WLPZ without an approved Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), Sustained Yield Plan (SYP) or approved plan.
• Large woody debris (LWD) standards are prescribed for Class I watercourses.
• No-cut buffers within Class I watercourses out to the transition line.
• Pre-THP adverse cumulative watershed effects shall be considered.
• Watercourse Transition Line is 2 times the bankful depth for confined channels. For unconfined channels it is the outer edge of the active channel boundary.
• During the winter period no skid trails, landings or roads shall be constructed or used on slopes over 40%
• RPFs shall identify all active erosion sites and address remediation in the plan.
• Site preparation shall be designed to prevent movement of soil into a watercourse.
• Logging road crossings of Class I watercourses must not disrupt normal hydrologic and biologic processes and must have a stable bed.

Roads and Landings

• New road construction shall be designed to minimize the adverse effects of long-term site occupancy of the transportation system.
• New and reconstructed logging roads shall be no wider than needed for the widest equipment to be used and single lane with adequate turnouts for safety.
• Specific provisions of construction shall be identified for roads on slopes greater than 50 percent or must be properly engineered when using cuts and fills.
• All Class I crossings will meet 100-year flood standard and allow for passage of all life stages for fish.