Bull Trout Overlay Map
PROPOSED RULES
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 04-23-097.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Amend TITLE 222 WAC to incorporate amendments to chapter 76.09 RCW, correct typographical errors, and clarify language without changing the effect of existing rules.
Hearing Location(s): Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington Street S.E., Room 172, Olympia, WA 98504-7012, on April 11, 2005, at 3:00 p.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: May 11, 2005.
Submit Written Comments to: Patricia Anderson, Department of Natural Resources, Forest Practices Division, 1111 Washington Street S.E., P.O. Box 47012, Olympia, WA 98504-7012, e-mail forest.practicesboard@wadnr.gov, fax (360) 902-1428, by April 11, 2005.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Forest Practices Division at (360) 902-1400, by April 1, 2005, TTY (360) 902-1125.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The purpose of the proposal is to amend existing forest practices rules to correct typographical errors, clarify language, and incorporate language of chapter 76.09 RCW.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: The proposal changes certain forest practices rules so that they are clear and understandable for users.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 76.09.040.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: Forest Practices Board, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Gretchen Robinson, 1111 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, (360) 902-1705; Implementation: Jed Herman, 1111 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, (360) 902-1684; and Enforcement: Lenny Young, 1111 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, (360) 902-1744.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. The rule amendments correct typographical errors, clarify language, and incorporate language of statute. It would not impose additional costs on businesses.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. The rule amendments correct typographical errors, clarify language, and incorporate language of statute. Therefore, it does not fall into the category of "significant legislative rule" per RCW 34.05.328.
February 28, 2005
Pay McElroy
Chair
OTS-7899.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 01-12-042, filed 5/30/01,
effective 7/1/01)
WAC 222-10-030
*SEPA policies for potentially unstable
slopes and landforms.
In addition to SEPA policies
established elsewhere in this chapter, the following policies
apply to forest practices described in WAC 222-16-050 (1)(d)
relating to construction or harvest on potentially unstable
slopes or landforms.
(1) In order to determine whether such forest practices are likely to have a probable significant adverse impact, and therefore require an environmental impact statement, the applicant must submit the following additional information, prepared by a qualified expert. The expert must describe the potentially unstable landforms in and around the application site, and analyze:
(a) The likelihood that the proposed forest practices will cause movement on the potentially unstable slopes or landforms, or contribute to further movement of a potentially unstable slope or landform;
(b) The likelihood of delivery of sediment or debris to any public resources, or in a manner that would threaten public safety; and
(c) Any possible mitigation for the identified hazards and risks.
(2) The department's threshold determination will include an evaluation of whether the proposed forest practices:
(a) Are likely to increase the probability of a mass movement on or near the site;
(b) Would deliver sediment or debris to a public resource or would deliver sediment or debris in a manner that would threaten public safety; and
(c) Such movement and delivery are likely to cause significant adverse impacts.
If the department determines that (a), (b) and (c) of this subsection are likely to occur, then the forest practice is likely to have a probable significant adverse impact.
(3) The department will evaluate the proposal, using appropriate expertise and in consultation with other affected agencies and Indian tribes.
(4) Specific mitigation measures or conditions must be designed to avoid accelerating rates and magnitudes of mass wasting that could deliver sediment or debris to a public resource or could deliver sediment or debris in a manner that would threaten public safety.
(5) Qualified expert for the purposes of this section
means a person licensed under chapter 18.220 RCW as either an
engineering geologist or as a hydrogeologist (if the site
warrants hydrologist expertise), with ((a master's degree in
geology or geomorphology or a related field or a significant
amount of postgraduate course or thesis work or other training
in geomorphology or mass movement and, in either case, an
additional)) 3 years of field experience in the evaluation of
relevant problems in forested lands.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 76.09.040, [76.09.]050, [76.09.]370, 76.13.120(9). 01-12-042, § 222-10-030, filed 5/30/01, effective 7/1/01.]
(1) The department shall consult with the department of fish and wildlife, other agencies with expertise, affected landowners, affected Indian tribes, and others with expertise when evaluating the impacts of forest practices. If the department does not follow the recommendations of the department of fish and wildlife, the department shall set forth in writing a concise explanation of the reasons for its action.
(2) In order to determine whether forest practices are likely to have a probable significant adverse impact, and therefore require an environmental impact statement, the department shall evaluate whether the forest practices reasonably would be expected, directly or indirectly, to reduce appreciably the likelihood of the survival or recovery of a listed species in the wild by reducing the reproduction, numbers, or distribution of that species.
(3) Specific mitigation measures or conditions shall be designed to reduce any probable significant adverse impacts identified in subsection (2) of this section.
(4) The department shall consider the species-specific policies in WAC 222-10-041 and 222-10-042 when reviewing and evaluating SEPA documents and the impacts of forest practices.
(5) The SEPA policies in this section and the species
specific SEPA policies for threatened and endangered species
do not apply to forest practices that are consistent with a
wildlife conservation agreement listed in WAC 222-16-080(6)
for species covered by these agreements, that has received
environmental review with an opportunity for public comment
under the National Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. section
4321 et seq., ((the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. section
1531 et seq.,)) or the State Environmental Policy Act, chapter 43.21C RCW.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, 43.21C.060, and 43.21C.120. 02-11-075, § 222-10-040, filed 5/13/02, effective 6/13/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 97-24-091, § 222-10-040, filed 12/3/97, effective 1/3/98. Statutory Authority: Chapters 76.09 and 34.05 RCW. 96-12-038 and 96-14-081, § 222-10-040, filed 5/31/96 and 7/1/96, effective 7/1/96 and 8/1/96.]
OTS-7900.2
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 01-12-042, filed 5/30/01,
effective 7/1/01)
WAC 222-12-040
*Alternate plans -- Policy.
All forest
practice operations must comply with both the act and the
rules promulgated pursuant to the act, unless an alternate
plan has been approved by the department.
(1) The alternate plan process can be used as a tool to deal with a variety of situations, including where the cumulative impacts of regulations disproportionately impact a landowner. In some instances an alternate plan may be used to make minor on-the-ground modifications, which result in significant operation efficiencies. The alternate plan process may be used to address circumstances where a landowner has an economically inaccessible unit. The alternate plan process may also be used to facilitate voluntary landscape, riparian or stream restoration. In all cases, the alternate planning process will result in a plan that provides protection to public resources at least equal in overall effectiveness as provided by the act and rules while seeking to minimize constraints to the management of the affected lands.
(2) The legislature has found in RCW 76.13.100(2) that small forest landowners should also have the option of alternate management plans or alternate harvest restrictions on smaller harvest units that may have a relatively low impact on aquatic resources. These alternate plans are intended to provide flexibility to small forest landowners that will still provide protection of riparian functions based on specific field conditions or stream conditions on the landowner's property.
(3) Alternate plans do not replace other rules that
recognize different types of landowner plans. For examples,
see ((e.g.,)) WAC ((222-08-035)) 222-08-160(3), 222-12-041,
222-16-080(6), 222-16-100(1), and 222-16-105.
(4) Landowners are encouraged to communicate with the departments of ecology, fish and wildlife, affected Indian tribes, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and other interested parties prior to submission of an application accompanied by an alternate plan.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 76.09.040, [76.09.]050, [76.09.]370, 76.13.120(9). 01-12-042, § 222-12-040, filed 5/30/01, effective 7/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 97-24-091, § 222-12-040, filed 12/3/97, effective 1/3/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, 76.09.050 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 92-15-011, § 222-12-040, filed 7/2/92, effective 8/2/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040. 87-23-036 (Order 535), § 222-12-040, filed 11/16/87, effective 1/1/88; Order 263, § 222-12-040, filed 6/16/76.]
(1) Purpose: The purpose of the program is to provide science-based recommendations and technical information to assist the board in determining if and when it is necessary or advisable to adjust rules and guidance for aquatic resources to achieve resource goals and objectives. The board may also use this program to adjust other rules and guidance. The goal of the program is to affect change when it is necessary or advisable to adjust rules and guidance to achieve the goals of the forests and fish report or other goals identified by the board. There are three desired outcomes: Certainty of change as needed to protect targeted resources; predictability and stability of the process of change so that landowners, regulators and interested members of the public can anticipate and prepare for change; and application of quality controls to study design and execution and to the interpreted results.
(2) Program elements: By this rule, the board establishes an active, ongoing program composed of the following initial elements, but not to exclude other program elements as needed:
(a) Key questions and resource objectives: Upon receiving recommendations from the TFW policy committee, or similar collaborative forum, the board will establish key questions and resource objectives and prioritize them.
(i) Projects designed to address the key questions shall be established in the order and subject to the priorities identified by the board.
(ii) Resource objectives are intended to ensure that forest practices, either singularly or cumulatively, will not significantly impair the capacity of aquatic habitat to:
(A) Support harvestable levels of salmonids;
(B) Support the long-term viability of other covered species; or
(C) Meet or exceed water quality standards (protection of beneficial uses, narrative and numeric criteria, and antidegradation).
(iii) Resource objectives consist of functional objectives and performance targets. Functional objectives are broad statements regarding the major watershed functions potentially affected by forest practices. Performance targets are the measurable criteria defining specific, attainable target forest conditions and processes.
(iv) Resource objectives are intended for use in adaptive management, rather than in the regulatory process. Best management practices, as defined in the rules and manual, apply to all forest practices regardless of whether or not resource objectives are met at a given site.
(b) Participants: The board will manage the program and has empowered the following entities to participate in the program: The cooperative monitoring evaluation and research committee (CMER), the TFW policy committee (or similar collaborative forum), the adaptive management program administrator, and other participants as directed to conduct the independent scientific peer review process. The program will strive to use a consensus-based approach to make decisions at all stages of the process. Specific consensus-decision stages will be established by CMER and approved by the board. Ground rules will follow those established by the TFW process as defined in the board manual.
(i) CMER. By this rule, the board establishes a cooperative monitoring evaluation and research (CMER) committee to impose accountability and formality of process, and to conduct research and validation and effectiveness monitoring to facilitate achieving the resource objectives. The purpose of CMER is to advance the science needed to support adaptive management. CMER also has ongoing responsibility to continue research and education in terrestrial resource issues. CMER will be made up of members that have expertise in a scientific discipline that will enable them to be most effective in addressing forestry, fish, wildlife, and landscape process issues. Members will represent timber landowners, environmental interests, state agencies, county governments, federal agencies and tribal governments from a scientific standpoint, not a policy view. CMER members will be approved by the board. This will not preclude others from participating in and contributing to the CMER process or its subcommittees. CMER shall also develop and manage as appropriate:
(A) Scientific advisory groups and subgroups;
(B) Research and monitoring programs;
(C) A set of protocols and standards to define and guide execution of the process including, but not limited to, research and monitoring data, watershed analysis reports, interdisciplinary team evaluations and reports, literature reviews, and quality control/quality assurance processes;
(D) A baseline data set used to monitor change; and
(E) A process for policy approval of research, monitoring, and assessment projects and use of external information, including the questions to be answered and the timelines.
(ii) TFW policy committee (policy). TFW, or a similar collaborative forum, is managed by a policy committee (hereafter referred to in this section as "policy"). Policy membership is self-selecting, and at a minimum should include representatives of the following caucuses: Timber landowners (industrial and nonindustrial private landowners); environmental community; tribal governments; county governments; state departments (including fish and wildlife, ecology, and natural resources); and federal agencies (including National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Forest Service). Policy members will participate without compensation or per diem.
(iii) Adaptive management program administrator (program administrator). The department will employ a full-time independent program administrator to oversee the program and support CMER. The program administrator will have credentials as a program manager, scientist, and researcher. The program administrator will make reports to the board and have other responsibilities as defined in the board manual.
(c) Independent scientific peer review process. By this rule, the board establishes an independent scientific peer review process to determine if the scientific studies that address program issues are scientifically sound and technically reliable; and provide advice on the scientific basis or reliability of CMER's reports. Products that must be reviewed include final reports of CMER funded studies, certain CMER recommendations, and pertinent studies not published in a CMER-approved, peer-reviewed journal. Other products that may require review include, but are not limited to, external information, work plans, requests for proposal, subsequent study proposals, the final study plan, and progress reports.
(d) Process: The following stages will be used to affect change for managing adaptive management proposals and approved projects. If consensus cannot be reached by participants at any stage, the issue will be addressed within the dispute resolution process.
(i) Proposal initiation: Adaptive management proposals can be initiated at this stage by any of the participants listed in (2)(b) of this subsection to the program administrator, or initiation may be proposed by the general public at board meetings. Proposals must provide the minimum information as outlined in the board manual and demonstrate how results of the proposal will address key questions and resource objectives or other program rule and/or guidance issues. The board may initiate proposals or research questions in the course of fulfilling their duties according to statute.
(ii) Proposal approval and prioritization: The program administrator will manage the proposal approval and prioritization process at this stage and consult with CMER on the program workplan. CMER proposals will be forwarded by the program administrator to policy and then to the board. The board will make the final determination regarding proposal approvals and prioritization. The board will act on proposal approval and prioritization in a timely manner.
(iii) CMER implementation of proposal: Board approved proposals are systematically implemented through CMER at this stage by the program administrator.
(iv) Independent scientific peer review: An independent scientific peer review process will be used at identified points within this stage of implementation depending upon the study and will be used on specified final studies or at the direction of the board.
(v) CMER committee technical recommendations: Upon completion, final CMER reports and information will be forwarded at this stage by the program administrator to policy in the form of a report that includes technical recommendations and a discussion of rule and/or guidance implications.
(vi) Policy petitions for amendment: Upon receipt of the CMER report, policy will prepare program rule amendments and/or guidance recommendations in the form of petitions for amendment. When completed, the petitions and the original CMER report and/or other information as applicable will be forwarded by the program administrator to the board for review and action. Policy recommendations to the board will be accompanied by formal petitions for rule making (RCW 34.05.330). Policy will use the CMER results to make specific petitions to the board for amending:
(A) The regulatory scheme of forest practices management (TITLE 222 WAC rules and board manual);
(B) Voluntary, incentive-based, and training programs affecting forestry;
(C) The resource objectives; and
(D) CMER itself, adaptive management procedures, or other mechanisms implementing the recommendations contained in the most current forests and fish report.
(vii) Board action to adopt petitions for amendment: Upon receiving a formal petition for amendment to rules and/or guidance, the board will take appropriate and timely action. There will be a public review of all petitions as applicable. The board will make the final determination.
(e) Biennial fiscal and performance audits. The board shall require biennial fiscal and performance audits of the program by the department or other appropriate and accepting independent state agency.
(f) CMER five-year peer review process. Every five years the board will establish a peer review process to review all work of CMER and other available, relevant data, including recommendations from the CMER staff. There will be a specified, but limited, period for public review and comment.
(g) Funding. Funding is essential to implement the adaptive management program, which is dependent on quality and relevant data. The department shall request biennial budgets to support the program priority projects and basic infrastructure needs including funding to staff the adaptive management program administrator position. A stable, long-term funding source is needed for these activities.
(h) Dispute resolution process. If consensus cannot be reached through the adaptive management program process, participants will have their issues addressed by this dispute resolution process. Potential failures include, but are not limited to: The inability of policy to agree on research priorities, program direction, or recommendations to the board for uses of monitoring and/or research after receiving a report from CMER; the inability of CMER to produce a report and recommendation on schedule; and the failure of participants to act on policy recommendations on a specified schedule. Key attributes of the dispute resolution process are:
(i) Specific substantive and benchmark (schedule) triggers will be established by the board for each monitoring and research project for invoking dispute resolution;
(ii) The dispute resolution process will be staged in three parts and may be applied at any level of the adaptive management process. Any participant, or the board, may invoke each succeeding stage, if agreement is not reached by the previous stage, within the specified time (or if agreements are not substantially implemented) as follows:
(A) Stage one will be an attempt by CMER and policy to reach consensus. On technical issues, CMER shall have up to six months to reach a consensus unless otherwise agreed upon by policy. Parties may move the process to stage two after an issue has been before policy for six months unless otherwise agreed. The time periods commence from referral of technical issues to CMER, report by CMER to policy, or the raising of a nontechnical issue (or matter not otherwise referable to CMER) directly at policy.
(B) Stage two will be either informal mediation or formal arbitration. Within one month, one or the other will be picked, with the default being formal unless otherwise agreed. Stage two will be completed within three months (including the one month to select the process) unless otherwise agreed.
(C) If stage two does not result in consensus, stage three will be action by the board. The board will consider policy and CMER reports, and majority and minority thinking regarding the results and uses of the results can be brought forward to the board. The board will make the final determination regarding dispute resolution.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 76.09.040, [76.09.]050, [76.09.]370, 76.13.120(9). 01-12-042, § 222-12-045, filed 5/30/01, effective 7/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040. 87-23-036 (Order 535), § 222-12-045, filed 11/16/87, effective 1/1/88.]
(1) TITLE 222 WAC establishes minimum standards for all forest practices, regardless of the class of forest practices application.
(2) Forest practices which have a potential for a substantial impact on the environment are classified as Class IV-Special or Class IV-General by WAC 222-16-050 and receive an evaluation as to whether or not a detailed statement must be prepared pursuant to chapter 43.21C RCW.
(3) Certain rules are designed to focus on specific aspects of cumulative effects of forest practices. For example:
(a) WAC ((222-08-035)) 222-08-160 requires continuing
review of the forest practices rules and voluntary processes
and adopts the concept of adaptive management. WAC 222-12-045
also adopts adaptive management.
(b) WAC 222-12-040 allows alternate plans that provide protection to public resources at least equal in overall effectiveness to the protection provided in the Forest Practices Act and rules.
(c) WAC 222-24-051 allows the department to require road maintenance and abandonment plans.
(d) WAC 222-30-025 addresses harvest unit size and separation requirements.
(e) Chapter 222-22 WAC addresses cumulative effects on the public resources of fish, water, and capital improvements of the state or its political subdivisions.
(f) Chapter 222-46 WAC establishes the enforcement policy for forest practices.
The board shall continue consultation with the departments of ecology, fish and wildlife, natural resources, forest landowners, and federally recognized tribes to further protect cultural resources and wildlife resource issues.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 76.09.040, [76.09.]050, [76.09.]370, 76.13.120(9). 01-12-042, § 222-12-046, filed 5/30/01, effective 7/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 97-24-091, § 222-12-046, filed 12/3/97, effective 1/3/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, 76.09.050 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 92-15-011, § 222-12-046, filed 7/2/92, effective 8/2/92.]
(2) Forest practices applications and notifications related to qualifying projects under chapter 43.21L RCW may be appealed to the environmental and land use hearings board. Proceedings at the environmental and land use hearings board are governed by chapter 43.21L RCW and chapter 199-08 WAC.
(3) A petition for judicial review of a decision of the
appeals boards may be ((appealed to the superior court)) filed
in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, chapter
((34.04)) 34.05 RCW. In addition, RCW 43.21L.140 governs
judicial review of a final decision of the environmental and
land use hearings board.
[Order 263, § 222-12-080, filed 6/16/76.]
(1) Method for determination of adequate shade requirements on streams needed for use with WAC 222-30-040.
(2) Standards for identifying channel migration zones and bankfull channel features.
(3) Guidelines for forest roads.
(4) Guidelines for clearing slash and debris from Type Np and Ns Waters.
(5) Guidelines for landing location and construction.
(6) Guidelines for determining acceptable stocking levels.
(7) Guidelines for riparian management zones.
(8) Guidelines for wetland delineation.
(9) Guidelines for wetland replacement or substitution.
(10) A list of nonnative wetland plant species.
(11) The standard methodology, which shall specify the quantitative methods, indices of resource conditions, and definitions, for conducting watershed analysis under chapter 222-22 WAC. The department, in consultation with Timber/Fish/Wildlife's Cooperative Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Committee (CMER), may make minor modifications to the version of the standard methodology approved by the board. Substantial amendments to the standard methodology requires approval by the board.
(12) Guidelines for forest chemicals.
(a) A list of special concerns related to aerial application of pesticides developed under WAC 222-16-070(3).
(b) Guidelines for aerial applications of pesticides and other forest chemicals under chapter 222-38 WAC.
(13) Guidelines for determining fish use for the purpose of typing waters under WAC 222-16-031.
(14) Survey protocol for marbled murrelets. The Pacific Seabird Group survey protocol dated January 6, 2003, and formally titled Methods for Surveying Marbled Murrelets in Forests: A Revised Protocol for Land Management and Research, shall be used when surveying for marbled murrelets in a stand. Surveys are valid if they were conducted in compliance with the board-recognized Pacific Seabird Group survey protocols in effect at the beginning of the season in which the surveys were conducted.
(15) The department shall, in consultation with the department of fish and wildlife, develop platform protocols for use by applicants in estimating the number of platforms, and by the department in reviewing and classifying forest practices under WAC 222-16-050. These protocols shall include:
(a) A sampling method to determine platforms per acre in the field;
(b) A method to predict the number of platforms per acre based on information measurable from typical forest inventories. The method shall be derived from regression models or other accepted statistical methodology, and incorporate the best available data; and
(c) Other methods determined to be reliable by the department, in consultation with the department of fish and wildlife.
(16) Guidelines for evaluating potentially unstable slopes and landforms.
(17) Guidelines for the small forest landowner forestry riparian easement program.
(((18) Guidelines for riparian open space program.))
(19) Guidelines for hardwood conversion.
(20) Guidelines for financial assurances.
(21) Guidelines for alternate plans.
(22) Guidelines for adaptive management program.
(23) Guidelines for field protocol to locate mapped divisions between stream types and perennial stream identification.
(24) Guidelines for interim modification of bull trout habitat overlay.
(25) Guidelines for bull trout presence survey protocol.
(26) Guidelines for placement strategy for woody debris in streams.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040. 04-05-087, § 222-12-090, filed 2/17/04, effective 3/19/04. Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 76.09.040, [76.09.]050, [76.09.]370, 76.13.120(9). 01-12-042, § 222-12-090, filed 5/30/01, effective 7/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 97-24-091, § 222-12-090, filed 12/3/97, effective 1/3/98; 97-15-105, § 222-12-090, filed 7/21/97, effective 8/21/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, 76.09.050 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 92-15-113, § 222-12-090, filed 7/21/92, effective 8/21/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040. 88-19-112 (Order 551, Resolution No. 88-1), § 222-12-090, filed 9/21/88, effective 11/1/88; 87-23-036 (Order 535), § 222-12-090, filed 11/16/87, effective 1/1/88. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and 76.09.050. 82-16-077 (Resolution No. 82-1), § 222-12-090, filed 8/3/82, effective 10/1/82; Order 263, § 222-12-090, filed 6/16/76.]
Reviser's note: The typographical error in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.
OTS-7901.2
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 04-05-087, filed 2/17/04,
effective 3/19/04)
WAC 222-16-010
General definitions.*
Unless otherwise
required by context, as used in these rules:
"Act" means the Forest Practices Act, chapter 76.09 RCW.
"Affected Indian tribe" means any federally recognized Indian tribe that requests in writing from the department information on forest practices applications and notification filed on specified areas.
"Alluvial fan" see "sensitive sites" definition.
"Appeals board" means the forest practices appeals board established in the act.
"Aquatic resources" means water quality, fish, the Columbia torrent salamander (Rhyacotriton kezeri), the Cascade torrent salamander (Rhyacotriton cascadae), the Olympic torrent salamander (Rhyacotriton olympian), the Dunn's salamander (Plethodon dunni), the Van Dyke's salamander (Plethodon vandyke), the tailed frog (Ascaphus truei) and their respective habitats.
"Area of resource sensitivity" means areas identified in accordance with WAC 222-22-050 (2)(d) or 222-22-060(2).
"Bankfull depth" means the average vertical distance between the channel bed and the estimated water surface elevation required to completely fill the channel to a point above which water would enter the floodplain or intersect a terrace or hillslope. In cases where multiple channels exist, the bankfull depth is the average depth of all channels along the cross-section. (See board manual section 2.)
"Bankfull width" means:
(a) For streams - the measurement of the lateral extent of the water surface elevation perpendicular to the channel at bankfull depth. In cases where multiple channels exist, bankfull width is the sum of the individual channel widths along the cross-section (see board manual section 2).
(b) For lakes, ponds, and impoundments - line of mean high water.
(c) For tidal water - line of mean high tide.
(d) For periodically inundated areas of associated wetlands - line of periodic inundation, which will be found by examining the edge of inundation to ascertain where the presence and action of waters are so common and usual, and so long continued in all ordinary years, as to mark upon the soil a character distinct from that of the abutting upland.
"Basal area" means the area in square feet of the cross section of a tree bole measured at 4 1/2 feet above the ground.
"Bedrock hollows" (colluvium-filled bedrock hollows, or hollows; also referred to as zero-order basins, swales, or bedrock depressions) means landforms that are commonly spoon-shaped areas of convergent topography within unchannelled valleys on hillslopes. (See board manual section 16 for identification criteria.)
"Board" means the forest practices board established by the act.
"Bog" means wetlands which have the following
characteristics: Hydric organic soils (peat and/or muck)
typically 16 inches or more in depth (except over bedrock or
hardpan); and vegetation such as sphagnum moss, Labrador tea,
bog laurel, bog rosemary, sundews, and sedges; bogs may have
an overstory of spruce, western hemlock, lodgepole pine,
western red cedar, ((whitepine,)) western white pine, Oregon
crabapple, or quaking aspen, and may be associated with open
water. This includes nutrient-poor fens. (See board manual
section 8.)
"Borrow pit" ((shall)) means an excavation site outside
the limits of construction to provide material necessary to
that construction, such as fill material for the embankments.
"Bull trout habitat overlay" means those portions of Eastern Washington streams containing bull trout habitat as identified on the department of fish and wildlife's bull trout map. Prior to the development of a bull trout field protocol and the habitat-based predictive model, the "bull trout habitat overlay" map may be modified to allow for locally-based corrections using current data, field knowledge, and best professional judgment. A landowner may meet with the departments of natural resources, fish and wildlife and, in consultation with affected tribes and federal biologists, determine whether certain stream reaches have habitat conditions that are unsuitable for supporting bull trout. If such a determination is mutually agreed upon, documentation submitted to the department will result in the applicable stream reaches no longer being included within the definition of bull trout habitat overlay. Conversely, if suitable bull trout habitat is discovered outside the current mapped range, those waters will be included within the definition of "bull trout habitat overlay" by a similar process.
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"Chemicals" means substances applied to forest lands or timber including pesticides, fertilizers, and other forest chemicals.
"Clearcut" means a harvest method in which the entire stand of trees is removed in one timber harvesting operation. Except as provided in WAC 222-30-110, an area remains clearcut until:
It meets the minimum stocking requirements under WAC 222-34-010(2) or 222-34-020(2); and
The largest trees qualifying for the minimum stocking levels have survived on the area for five growing seasons or, if not, they have reached an average height of four feet.
"Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area or CRGNSA" means the area established pursuant to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act, 16 U.S.C. § 544b(a).
"CRGNSA special management area" means the areas designated in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act, 16 U.S.C. § 544b(b) or revised pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 544b(c). For purposes of this rule, the special management area shall not include any parcels excluded by 16 U.S.C. § 544f(o).
"CRGNSA special management area guidelines" means the guidelines and land use designations for forest practices developed pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 544f contained in the CRGNSA management plan developed pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 544d.
"Commercial tree species" means any species which is capable of producing a merchantable stand of timber on the particular site, or which is being grown as part of a Christmas tree or ornamental tree-growing operation.
"Completion of harvest" means the latest of:
Completion of removal of timber from the portions of forest lands harvested in the smallest logical unit that will not be disturbed by continued logging or an approved slash disposal plan for adjacent areas; or
Scheduled completion of any slash disposal operations where the department and the applicant agree within 6 months of completion of yarding that slash disposal is necessary or desirable to facilitate reforestation and agree to a time schedule for such slash disposal; or
Scheduled completion of any site preparation or rehabilitation of adjoining lands approved at the time of approval of the application or receipt of a notification: Provided, That delay of reforestation under this paragraph is permitted only to the extent reforestation would prevent or unreasonably hinder such site preparation or rehabilitation of adjoining lands.
"Constructed wetlands" means those wetlands voluntarily developed by the landowner. Constructed wetlands do not include wetlands created, restored, or enhanced as part of a mitigation procedure or wetlands inadvertently created as a result of current or past practices including, but not limited to: Road construction, landing construction, railroad construction, or surface mining.
"Contamination" means introducing into the atmosphere, soil, or water, sufficient quantities of substances as may be injurious to public health, safety or welfare, or to domestic, commercial, industrial, agriculture or recreational uses, or to livestock, wildlife, fish or other aquatic life.
"Convergent headwalls" (or headwalls) means teardrop-shaped landforms, broad at the ridgetop and terminating where headwaters converge into a single channel; they are broadly concave both longitudinally and across the slope, but may contain sharp ridges separating the headwater channels. (See board manual section 16 for identification criteria.)
"Conversion option harvest plan" means a voluntary plan
developed by the landowner and approved by the local
((government)) governmental entity indicating the limits of
harvest areas, road locations, and open space.
"Conversion to a use other than commercial timber
operation" ((shall)) means a bona fide conversion to an active
use which is incompatible with timber growing.
"Cooperative habitat enhancement agreement (CHEA)" see WAC 222-16-105.
"Critical habitat (federal)" means the habitat of any threatened or endangered species designated as critical habitat by the United States Secretary of the Interior or Commerce under Sections 3 (5)(A) and 4 (a)(3) of the Federal Endangered Species Act.
"Critical nesting season" means for marbled murrelets - April 1 to August 31.
"Critical habitat (state)" means those habitats designated by the board in accordance with WAC 222-16-080.
"Cultural resources" means archaeological and historic sites and artifacts and traditional religious, ceremonial and social uses and activities of affected Indian tribes.
"Cumulative effects" means the changes to the environment caused by the interaction of natural ecosystem processes with the effects of two or more forest practices.
"Daily peak activity" means for marbled murrelets - one hour before official sunrise to two hours after official sunrise and one hour before official sunset to one hour after official sunset.
"Debris" means woody vegetative residue less than 3 cubic feet in size resulting from forest practices activities which would reasonably be expected to cause significant damage to a public resource.
"Deep-seated landslides" means landslides in which most of the area of the slide plane or zone lies below the maximum rooting depth of forest trees, to depths of tens to hundreds of feet. (See board manual section 16 for identification criteria.)
"Demographic support" means providing sufficient suitable spotted owl habitat within the SOSEA to maintain the viability of northern spotted owl sites identified as necessary to meet the SOSEA goals.
"Department" means the department of natural resources.
"Desired future condition (DFC)" is a reference point on a pathway and not an endpoint for stands. DFC means the stand conditions of a mature riparian forest at 140 years of age, the midpoint between 80 and 200 years. Where basal area is the only stand attribute used to describe 140-year old stands, these are referred to as the "Target Basal Area."
"Diameter at breast height (dbh)" means the diameter of a tree at 4 1/2 feet above the ground measured from the uphill side.
"Dispersal habitat" see WAC 222-16-085(2).
"Dispersal support" means providing sufficient dispersal habitat for the interchange of northern spotted owls within or across the SOSEA, as necessary to meet SOSEA goals. Dispersal support is provided by a landscape consisting of stands of dispersal habitat interspersed with areas of higher quality habitat, such as suitable spotted owl habitat found within RMZs, WMZs or other required and voluntary leave areas.
"Drainage structure" means a construction technique or feature that is built to relieve surface runoff and/or intercepted ground water from roadside ditches to prevent excessive buildup in water volume and velocity. A drainage structure is not intended to carry any typed water. Drainage structures include structures such as: Cross drains, relief culverts, ditch diversions, water bars, or other such structures demonstrated to be equally effective.
"Eastern Washington" means the geographic area in Washington east of the crest of the Cascade Mountains from the international border to the top of Mt. Adams, then east of the ridge line dividing the White Salmon River drainage from the Lewis River drainage and east of the ridge line dividing the Little White Salmon River drainage from the Wind River drainage to the Washington-Oregon state line.
 |
| Timber Habitat Types | Elevation Ranges |
| ponderosa pine | 0 - 2500 feet |
| mixed conifer | 2501 - 5000 feet |
| high elevation | above 5000 feet |
"End hauling" means the removal and transportation of excavated material, pit or quarry overburden, or landing or road cut material from the excavation site to a deposit site not adjacent to the point of removal.
"Equipment limitation zone" means a 30-foot wide zone measured horizontally from the outer edge of the bankfull width of a Type Np or Ns Water. It applies to all perennial and seasonal nonfish bearing streams.
"Erodible soils" means those soils that, when exposed or displaced by a forest practices operation, would be readily moved by water.
"Even-aged harvest methods" means the following harvest methods:
Clearcuts;
Seed tree harvests in which twenty or fewer trees per acre remain after harvest;
Shelterwood regeneration harvests in which twenty or fewer trees per acre remain after harvest;
Group or strip shelterwood harvests creating openings wider than two tree heights, based on dominant trees;
Shelterwood removal harvests which leave fewer than one hundred fifty trees per acre which are at least five years old or four feet in average height;
Partial cutting in which fewer than fifty trees per acre remain after harvest;
Overstory removal when more than five thousand board feet per acre is removed and fewer than fifty trees per acre at least ten feet in height remain after harvest; and
Other harvesting methods designed to manage for multiple age classes in which six or fewer trees per acre remain after harvest.
Except as provided above for shelterwood removal harvests and overstory removal, trees counted as remaining after harvest shall be at least ten inches in diameter at breast height and have at least the top one-third of the stem supporting green, live crowns. Except as provided in WAC 222-30-110, an area remains harvested by even-aged methods until it meets the minimum stocking requirements under WAC 222-34-010(2) or 222-34-020(2) and the largest trees qualifying for the minimum stocking levels have survived on the area for five growing seasons or, if not, they have reached an average height of four feet.
"Fen" means wetlands which have the following characteristics: Peat soils 16 inches or more in depth (except over bedrock); and vegetation such as certain sedges, hardstem bulrush and cattails; fens may have an overstory of spruce and may be associated with open water.
"Fertilizers" means any substance or any combination or mixture of substances used principally as a source of plant food or soil amendment.
"Fill" means the placement of earth material or aggregate for road or landing construction or other similar activities.
"Fish" means for purposes of these rules, species of the vertebrate taxonomic groups of Cephalospidomorphi and Osteichthyes.
"Fish habitat" means habitat, which is used by fish at any life stage at any time of the year including potential habitat likely to be used by fish, which could be recovered by restoration or management and includes off-channel habitat.
"Flood level - 100 year." Is a calculated flood event flow based on an engineering computation of flood magnitude that has a 1 percent chance of occurring in any given year. For purposes of field interpretation, landowners may use the following methods:
Flow information from gauging stations;
Field estimate of water level based on guidance for "Determining the 100-Year Flood Level" in the forest practices board manual section 2.
The 100-year flood level shall not include those lands that can reasonably be expected to be protected from flood waters by flood control devices maintained by or under license from the federal government, the state, or a political subdivision of the state.
"Forest land" means all land which is capable of supporting a merchantable stand of timber and is not being actively used for a use which is incompatible with timber growing.
"Forest land owner" ((shall)) means any person in actual
control of forest land, whether such control is based either
on legal or equitable title, or on any other interest
entitling the holder to sell or otherwise dispose of any or
all of the timber on such land in any manner: Provided, That
any lessee or other person in possession of forest land
without legal or equitable title to such land shall be
excluded from the definition of "forest land owner" unless
such lessee or other person has the right to sell or otherwise
dispose of any or all of the timber located on such forest
land.
"Forest practice" means any activity conducted on or directly pertaining to forest land and relating to growing, harvesting, or processing timber, including but not limited to:
Road and trail construction;
Harvesting, final and intermediate;
Precommercial thinning;
Reforestation;
Fertilization;
Prevention and suppression of diseases and insects;
Salvage of trees; and
Brush control.
"Forest practice" shall not include: Forest species seed orchard operations and intensive forest nursery operations; or preparatory work such as tree marking, surveying and road flagging; or removal or harvest of incidental vegetation from forest lands such as berries, ferns, greenery, mistletoe, herbs, mushrooms, and other products which cannot normally be expected to result in damage to forest soils, timber or public resources.
"Forest road" means ways, lanes, roads, or driveways on forest land used since 1974 for forest practices or forest management activities such as fire control. "Forest roads" does not include skid trails, highways, or county roads except where the county is a forest landowner or operator.
"Forest trees" ((excludes)) does not include hardwood
trees cultivated by agricultural methods in growing cycles
shorter than ((ten)) 15 years((: Provided, That Christmas
trees are forest trees and: Provided further, That this
exclusion applies only to)) if the trees were planted on land
that was not in forest use immediately before the trees were
planted and before the land was prepared for planting the
trees. Forest trees includes Christmas trees but does not
include Christmas trees that are cultivated by agricultural
methods, as that term is defined in RCW 84.33.035.
"Full bench road" means a road constructed on a side hill without using any of the material removed from the hillside as a part of the road. This construction technique is usually used on steep or unstable slopes.
"Green recruitment trees" means those trees left after harvest for the purpose of becoming future wildlife reserve trees under WAC 222-30-020(11).
"Ground water recharge areas for glacial deep-seated slides" means the area upgradient that can contribute water to the landslide, assuming that there is an impermeable perching layer in or under a deep-seated landslide in glacial deposits. (See board manual section 16 for identification criteria.)
"Headwater spring" means a permanent spring at the head of a perennial channel. Where a headwater spring can be found, it will coincide with the uppermost extent of Type Np Water.
"Herbicide" means any substance or mixture of substances intended to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate any tree, bush, weed or algae and other aquatic weeds.
"Historic site" includes:
Sites, areas and structures or other evidence of human activities illustrative of the origins, evolution and development of the nation, state or locality; or
Places associated with a personality important in history; or
Places where significant historical events are known to have occurred even though no physical evidence of the event remains.
"Horizontal distance" means the distance between two points measured at a 0% slope.
"Hyporheic" means an area adjacent to and below channels where interstitial water is exchanged with channel water and water movement is mainly in the downstream direction.
"Identified watershed processes" means the following components of natural ecological processes that may in some instances be altered by forest practices in a watershed:
Mass wasting;
Surface and road erosion;
Seasonal flows including hydrologic peak and low flows and annual yields (volume and timing);
Large organic debris;
Shading; and
Stream bank and bed stability.
"Inner gorges" means canyons created by a combination of the downcutting action of a stream and mass movement on the slope walls; they commonly show evidence of recent movement, such as obvious landslides, vertical tracks of disturbance vegetation, or areas that are concave in contour and/or profile. (See board manual section 16 for identification criteria.)
"Insecticide" means any substance or mixture of substances intended to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate any insect, other arthropods or mollusk pests.
"Interdisciplinary team" (ID Team) means a group of varying size comprised of individuals having specialized expertise, assembled by the department to respond to technical questions associated with a proposed forest practices activity.
"Islands" means any island surrounded by salt water in Kitsap, Mason, Jefferson, Pierce, King, Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, Island, or San Juan counties.
"Limits of construction" means the area occupied by the completed roadway or landing, including the cut bank, fill slope, and the area cleared for the purpose of constructing the roadway or landing.
"Load bearing portion" means that part of the road, landing, etc., which is supportive soil, earth, rock or other material directly below the working surface and only the associated earth structure necessary for support.
"Local ((government)) governmental entity" means the
governments of counties and the governments of cities and
towns as defined in chapter 35.01 RCW.
"Low impact harvest" means use of any logging equipment, methods, or systems that minimize compaction or disturbance of soils and vegetation during the yarding process. The department shall determine such equipment, methods or systems in consultation with the department of ecology.
"Marbled murrelet detection area" means an area of land
associated with a visual or audible detection of a marbled
murrelet, made by a qualified surveyor which is documented and
recorded in the department of fish and wildlife data base. The marbled murrelet detection area shall be comprised of the
section of land in which the marbled murrelet detection was
made and the eight sections of land immediately adjacent to
that section.
 |
"Median home range circle" means a circle, with a specified radius, centered on a spotted owl site center. The radius for the median home range circle in the Hoh-Clearwater/Coastal Link SOSEA is 2.7 miles; for all other SOSEAs the radius is 1.8 miles.
"Merchantable stand of timber" means a stand of trees that will yield logs and/or fiber:
Suitable in size and quality for the production of lumber, plywood, pulp or other forest products;
Of sufficient value at least to cover all the costs of harvest and transportation to available markets.
"Multiyear permit" means a permit to conduct forest practices which is effective for longer than two years but no longer than five years.
"Northern spotted owl site center" means the location of status 1, 2 or 3 northern spotted owls based on the following definitions:
| Status 1: | Pair or reproductive - a male and female heard and/or observed in close proximity to each other on the same visit, a female detected on a nest, or one or both adults observed with young. |
| Status 2: | Two birds, pair status unknown - the presence or response of two birds of opposite sex where pair status cannot be determined and where at least one member meets the resident territorial single requirements. |
| Status 3: | Resident territorial single - the presence or response of a single owl within the same general area on three or more occasions within a breeding season with no response by an owl of the opposite sex after a complete survey; or three or more responses over several years (i.e., two responses in year one and one response in year two, for the same general area). |
"Notice to comply" means a notice issued by the department pursuant to RCW 76.09.090 of the act and may require initiation and/or completion of action necessary to prevent, correct and/or compensate for material damage to public resources which resulted from forest practices.
"Occupied marbled murrelet site" means:
(1) A contiguous area of suitable marbled murrelet habitat where at least one of the following marbled murrelet behaviors or conditions occur:
(a) A nest is located; or
(b) Downy chicks or eggs or egg shells are found; or
(c) Marbled murrelets are detected flying below, through, into or out of the forest canopy; or
(d) Birds calling from a stationary location within the area; or
(e) Birds circling above a timber stand within one tree height of the top of the canopy; or
(2) A contiguous forested area, which does not meet the definition of suitable marbled murrelet habitat, in which any of the behaviors or conditions listed above has been documented by the department of fish and wildlife and which is distinguishable from the adjacent forest based on vegetative characteristics important to nesting marbled murrelets.
(3) For sites defined in (1) and (2) above, the sites will be presumed to be occupied based upon observation of circling described in (1)(e), unless a two-year survey following the 2003 Pacific Seabird Group (PSG) protocol has been completed and an additional third-year of survey following a method listed below is completed and none of the behaviors or conditions listed in (1)(a) through (d) of this definition are observed. The landowner may choose one of the following methods for the third-year survey:
(a) Conduct a third-year survey with a minimum of nine visits conducted in compliance with 2003 PSG protocol. If one or more marbled murrelets are detected during any of these nine visits, three additional visits conducted in compliance with the protocol of the first nine visits shall be added to the third-year survey. Department of fish and wildlife shall be consulted prior to initiating third-year surveys; or
(b) Conduct a third-year survey designed in consultation with the department of fish and wildlife to meet site specific conditions.
(4) For sites defined in (1) above, the outer perimeter of the occupied site shall be presumed to be the closer, measured from the point where the observed behaviors or conditions listed in (1) above occurred, of the following:
(a) 1.5 miles from the point where the observed behaviors or conditions listed in (1) above occurred; or
(b) The beginning of any gap greater than 300 feet wide lacking one or more of the vegetative characteristics listed under "suitable marbled murrelet habitat"; or
(c) The beginning of any narrow area of "suitable marbled murrelet habitat" less than 300 feet in width and more than 300 feet in length.
(5) For sites defined under (2) above, the outer perimeter of the occupied site shall be presumed to be the closer, measured from the point where the observed behaviors or conditions listed in (1) above occurred, of the following:
(a) 1.5 miles from the point where the observed behaviors or conditions listed in (1) above occurred; or
(b) The beginning of any gap greater than 300 feet wide lacking one or more of the distinguishing vegetative characteristics important to murrelets; or
(c) The beginning of any narrow area of suitable marbled murrelet habitat, comparable to the area where the observed behaviors or conditions listed in (1) above occurred, less than 300 feet in width and more than 300 feet in length.
(6) In determining the existence, location and status of occupied marbled murrelet sites, the department shall consult with the department of fish and wildlife and use only those sites documented in substantial compliance with guidelines or protocols and quality control methods established by and available from the department of fish and wildlife.
"Old forest habitat" see WAC 222-16-085 (1)(a).
"Operator" ((shall)) means any person engaging in forest
practices except an employee with wages as his/her sole
compensation.
"Ordinary high-water mark" means the mark on the shores of all waters, which will be found by examining the beds and banks and ascertaining where the presence and action of waters are so common and usual, and so long continued in all ordinary years, as to mark upon the soil a character distinct from that of the abutting upland, in respect to vegetation: Provided, That in any area where the ordinary high-water mark cannot be found, the ordinary high-water mark adjoining saltwater shall be the line of mean high tide and the ordinary high-water mark adjoining freshwater shall be the line of mean high-water.
"Other forest chemicals" means fire retardants when used to control burning (other than water), nontoxic repellents, oil, dust-control agents (other than water), salt, and other chemicals used in forest management, except pesticides and fertilizers, that may present hazards to the environment.
"Park" means any park included on the parks register maintained by the department pursuant to WAC 222-20-100(2). Developed park recreation area means any park area developed for high density outdoor recreation use.
"Partial cutting" means the removal of a portion of the merchantable volume in a stand of timber so as to leave an uneven-aged stand of well-distributed residual, healthy trees that will reasonably utilize the productivity of the soil. Partial cutting does not include seedtree or shelterwood or other types of regeneration cutting.
"Pesticide" means any insecticide, herbicide, fungicide, or rodenticide, but does not include nontoxic repellents or other forest chemicals.
"Plantable area" is an area capable of supporting a commercial stand of timber excluding lands devoted to permanent roads, utility rights-of-way, that portion of riparian management zones where scarification is not permitted, and any other area devoted to a use incompatible with commercial timber growing.
"Power equipment" means all machinery operated with fuel burning or electrical motors, including heavy machinery, chain saws, portable generators, pumps, and powered backpack devices.
"Preferred tree species" means the following species listed in descending order of priority for each timber habitat type:
| Ponderosa pine habitat type |
Mixed conifer habitat type |
|
| all hardwoods | all hardwoods | |
| ponderosa pine | western larch | |
| western larch | ponderosa pine | |
| Douglas-fir | western red cedar | |
| western red cedar | western white pine | |
| Douglas-fir | ||
| lodgepole pine |
"Qualified surveyor" means an individual who has successfully completed the marbled murrelet field training course offered by the department of fish and wildlife or its equivalent.
"Rehabilitation" means the act of renewing, or making usable and reforesting forest land which was poorly stocked or previously nonstocked with commercial species.
"Resource characteristics" means the following specific measurable characteristics of fish, water, and capital improvements of the state or its political subdivisions:
For fish and water:
Physical fish habitat, including temperature and turbidity;
Turbidity in hatchery water supplies; and
Turbidity and volume for areas of water supply.
For capital improvements of the state or its political subdivisions:
Physical or structural integrity.
If the methodology is developed and added to the manual to analyze the cumulative effects of forest practices on other characteristics of fish, water, and capital improvements of the state or its subdivisions, the board shall amend this list to include these characteristics.
"Riparian function" includes bank stability, the recruitment of woody debris, leaf litter fall, nutrients, sediment filtering, shade, and other riparian features that are important to both riparian forest and aquatic system conditions.
"Riparian management zone (RMZ)" means:
(1) For Western Washington
(a) The area protected on each side of a Type S or F Water measured horizontally from the outer edge of the bankfull width or the outer edge of the CMZ, whichever is greater (see table below); and
| Site Class | Western Washington Total RMZ Width |
| I | 200' |
| II | 170' |
| III | 140' |
| IV | 110' |
| V | 90' |
(2) For Eastern Washington
(a) The area protected on each side of a Type S or F Water measured horizontally from the outer edge of the bankfull width or the outer edge of the CMZ, whichever is greater (see table below); and
| Site Class | Eastern Washington Total RMZ Width |
| I | 130' |
| II | 110' |
| III | 90' or 100'* |
| IV | 75' or 100'* |
| V | 75' or 100'* |
| * | Dependent upon stream size. (See WAC 222-30-022.) |
(3) For exempt 20 acre parcels, a specified area alongside Type S and F Waters where specific measures are taken to protect water quality and fish and wildlife habitat.
"RMZ core zone" means:
(1) For Western Washington, the 50 foot buffer of a Type S or F Water, measured horizontally from the outer edge of the bankfull width or the outer edge of the channel migration zone, whichever is greater. (See WAC 222-30-021.)
(2) For Eastern Washington, the 30 foot buffer of a Type S or F Water, measured horizontally from the outer edge of the bankfull width or the outer edge of the channel migration zone, whichever is greater. (See WAC 222-30-022.)
"RMZ inner zone" means:
(1) For Western Washington, the area measured horizontally from the outer boundary of the core zone of a Type S or F Water to the outer limit of the inner zone. The outer limit of the inner zone is determined based on the width of the affected water, site class and the management option chosen for timber harvest within the inner zone. (See WAC 222-30-021.)
(2) For Eastern Washington, the area measured horizontally from the outer boundary of the core zone 45 feet (for streams less than 15 feet wide) or 70 feet (for streams more than 15 feet wide) from the outer boundary of the core zone. (See WAC 222-30-022.)
"RMZ outer zone" means the area measured horizontally between the outer boundary of the inner zone and the RMZ width as specified in the riparian management zone definition above. RMZ width is measured from the outer edge of the bankfull width or the outer edge of the channel migration zone, whichever is greater. (See WAC 222-30-021 and 222-30-022.)
"Road construction" means the establishment of any new sub -grade including widening, realignment, or modification of an existing road prism, with the exception of replacing or installing drainage structures, for the purposes of managing forest land under TITLE 222 WAC.
"Road maintenance" means any road work specifically related to maintaining water control or road safety and visibility (such as; grading, spot rocking, resurfacing, roadside vegetation control, water barring, ditch clean out, replacing or installing relief culverts, cleaning culvert inlets and outlets) on existing forest roads.
"Rodenticide" means any substance or mixture of substances intended to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate rodents or any other vertebrate animal which the director of the state department of agriculture may declare by regulation to be a pest.
"Salvage" means the removal of snags, down logs, windthrow, or dead and dying material.
"Scarification" means loosening the topsoil and/or disrupting the forest floor in preparation for regeneration.
"Sensitive sites" are areas near or adjacent to Type Np Water and have one or more of the following:
(1) Headwall seep is a seep located at the toe of a cliff or other steep topographical feature and at the head of a Type Np Water which connects to the stream channel network via overland flow, and is characterized by loose substrate and/or fractured bedrock with perennial water at or near the surface throughout the year.
(2) Side-slope seep is a seep within 100 feet of a Type Np Water located on side-slopes which are greater than 20 percent, connected to the stream channel network via overland flow, and characterized by loose substrate and fractured bedrock, excluding muck with perennial water at or near the surface throughout the year. Water delivery to the Type Np channel is visible by someone standing in or near the stream.
(3) Type Np intersection is the intersection of two or more Type Np Waters.
(4) Headwater spring means a permanent spring at the head of a perennial channel. Where a headwater spring can be found, it will coincide with the uppermost extent of Type Np Water.
(5) Alluvial fan means ((an erosional)) a depositional
land form consisting of cone-shaped deposit of water-borne,
often coarse-sized sediments.
(a) The upstream end of the fan (cone apex) is typically characterized by a distinct increase in channel width where a stream emerges from a narrow valley;
(b) The downstream edge of the fan is defined as the sediment confluence with a higher order channel; and
(c) The lateral margins of a fan are characterized by distinct local changes in sediment elevation and often show disturbed vegetation.
Alluvial fan does not include features that were formed under climatic or geologic conditions which are not currently present or that are no longer dynamic.
"Shorelines of the state" shall have the same meaning as in RCW 90.58.030 (Shoreline Management Act).
"Side casting" means the act of moving excavated material to the side and depositing such material within the limits of construction or dumping over the side and outside the limits of construction.
"Site class" means a grouping of site indices that are used to determine the 50-year or 100-year site class. In order to determine site class, the landowner will obtain the site class index from the state soil survey, place it in the correct index range shown in the two tables provided in this definition, and select the corresponding site class. The site class will then drive the RMZ width. (See WAC 222-30-021 and 222-30-022.)
(1) For Western Washington
| Site class | 50-year site index range (state soil survey) |
| I | 137+ |
| II | 119-136 |
| III | 97-118 |
| IV | 76-96 |
| V | <75 |
| Site class | 100-year site
index range (state soil survey) |
50-year site index range (state soil survey) |
| I | 120+ | 86+ |
| II | 101-120 | 72-85 |
| III | 81-100 | 58-71 |
| IV | 61-80 | 44-57 |
| V | ≤60 | <44 |
(a) If the site index in the soil survey is for red alder, and the whole RMZ width is within that site index, then use site class V. If the red alder site index is only for a portion of the RMZ width, or there is on-site evidence that the site has historically supported conifer, then use the site class for conifer in the most physiographically similar adjacent soil polygon.
(b) In Western Washington, if no site index is reported in the soil survey, use the site class for conifer in the most physiographically similar adjacent soil polygon.
(c) In Eastern Washington, if no site index is reported in the soil survey, assume site class III, unless site specific information indicates otherwise.
(d) If the site index is noncommercial or marginally commercial, then use site class V.
See also section 7 of the board manual.
"Site preparation" means those activities associated with the removal of slash in preparing a site for planting and shall include scarification and/or slash burning.
"Skid trail" means a route used by tracked or wheeled skidders to move logs to a landing or road.
"Slash" means pieces of woody material containing more than 3 cubic feet resulting from forest practices activities.
"SOSEA goals" means the goals specified for a spotted owl special emphasis area as identified on the SOSEA maps (see WAC 222-16-086). SOSEA goals provide for demographic and/or dispersal support as necessary to complement the northern spotted owl protection strategies on federal land within or adjacent to the SOSEA.
"Spoil" means excess material removed as overburden or generated during road or landing construction which is not used within limits of construction.
"Spotted owl dispersal habitat" see WAC 222-16-085(2).
"Spotted owl special emphasis areas (SOSEA)" means the geographic areas as mapped in WAC 222-16-086. Detailed maps of the SOSEAs indicating the boundaries and goals are available from the department at its regional offices.
"Stop work order" means the "stop work order" defined in RCW 76.09.080 of the act and may be issued by the department to stop violations of the forest practices chapter or to prevent damage and/or to correct and/or compensate for damages to public resources resulting from forest practices.
"Stream-adjacent parallel roads" means roads (including associated right of way clearing) in a riparian management zone on a property that have an alignment that is parallel to the general alignment of the stream, including roads used by others under easements or cooperative road agreements. Also included are stream crossings where the alignment of the road continues to parallel the stream for more than 250 feet on either side of the stream. Not included are federal, state, county or municipal roads that are not subject to forest practices rules, or roads of another adjacent landowner.
"Sub-mature habitat" see WAC 222-16-085 (1)(b).
"Suitable marbled murrelet habitat" means a contiguous forested area containing trees capable of providing nesting opportunities:
(1) With all of the following indicators unless the department, in consultation with the department of fish and wildlife, has determined that the habitat is not likely to be occupied by marbled murrelets:
(a) Within 50 miles of marine waters;
(b) At least 40% of the dominant and codominant trees are Douglas-fir, western hemlock, western red cedar or sitka spruce;
(c) Two or more nesting platforms per acre;
(d) At least 7 acres in size, including the contiguous forested area within 300 feet of nesting platforms, with similar forest stand characteristics (age, species composition, forest structure) to the forested area in which the nesting platforms occur.
"Suitable spotted owl habitat" see WAC 222-16-085(1).
"Temporary road" means a forest road that is constructed and intended for use during the life of an approved forest practices application/notification. All temporary roads must be abandoned in accordance to WAC 222-24-052(3).
"Threaten public safety" means to increase the risk to the public at large from snow avalanches, identified in consultation with the department of transportation or a local government, or landslides or debris torrents caused or triggered by forest practices.
"Threatened or endangered species" means all species of wildlife listed as "threatened" or "endangered" by the United States Secretary of the Interior or Commerce, and all species of wildlife designated as "threatened" or "endangered" by the Washington fish and wildlife commission.
"Timber" ((shall)) means forest trees, standing or down,
of a commercial species, including Christmas trees. However,
timber does not include Christmas trees that are cultivated by
agricultural methods, as that term is defined in RCW 84.33.035.
"Unconfined avulsing stream" means generally fifth order or larger waters that experience abrupt shifts in channel location, creating a complex flood plain characterized by extensive gravel bars, disturbance species of vegetation of variable age, numerous side channels, wall-based channels, oxbow lakes, and wetland complexes. Many of these streams have dikes and levees that may temporarily or permanently restrict channel movement.
"Water bar" means a diversion ditch and/or hump in a trail or road for the purpose of carrying surface water runoff into the vegetation duff, ditch, or other dispersion area so that it does not gain the volume and velocity which causes soil movement and erosion.
"Watershed administrative unit (WAU)" means an area shown on the map specified in WAC 222-22-020(1).
"Watershed analysis" means, for a given WAU, the assessment completed under WAC 222-22-050 or 222-22-060 together with the prescriptions selected under WAC 222-22-070 and shall include assessments completed under WAC 222-22-050 where there are no areas of resource sensitivity.
"Weed" is any plant which tends to overgrow or choke out more desirable vegetation.
"Western Washington" means the geographic area of Washington west of the Cascade crest and the drainages defined in Eastern Washington.
"Wetland" means those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions, such as swamps, bogs, fens, and similar areas. This includes wetlands created, restored, or enhanced as part of a mitigation procedure. This does not include constructed wetlands or the following surface waters of the state intentionally constructed from wetland sites: Irrigation and drainage ditches, grass lined swales, canals, agricultural detention facilities, farm ponds, and landscape amenities.
"Wetland functions" include the protection of water quality and quantity, providing fish and wildlife habitat, and the production of timber.
"Wetland management zone" means a specified area adjacent to Type A and B Wetlands where specific measures are taken to protect the wetland functions.
"Wildlife" means all species of the animal kingdom whose members exist in Washington in a wild state. The term "wildlife" includes, but is not limited to, any mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, or invertebrate, at any stage of development. The term "wildlife" does not include feral domestic mammals or the family Muridae of the order Rodentia (old world rats and mice).
"Wildlife reserve trees" means those defective, dead, damaged, or dying trees which provide or have the potential to provide habitat for those wildlife species dependent on standing trees. Wildlife reserve trees are categorized as follows:
Type 1 wildlife reserve trees are defective or deformed live trees that have observably sound tops, limbs, trunks, and roots. They may have part of the top broken out or have evidence of other severe defects that include: "Cat face," animal chewing, old logging wounds, weather injury, insect attack, or lightning strike. Unless approved by the landowner, only green trees with visible cavities, nests, or obvious severe defects capable of supporting cavity dependent species shall be considered as Type 1 wildlife reserve trees. These trees must be stable and pose the least hazard for workers.
Type 2 wildlife reserve trees are dead Type 1 trees with sound tops, limbs, trunks, and roots.
Type 3 wildlife reserve trees are live or dead trees with unstable tops or upper portions. Unless approved by the landowner, only green trees with visible cavities, nests, or obvious severe defects capable of supporting cavity dependent species shall be considered as Type 3 wildlife reserve trees. Although the roots and main portion of the trunk are sound, these reserve trees pose high hazard because of the defect in live or dead wood higher up in the tree.
Type 4 wildlife reserve trees are live or dead trees with unstable trunks or roots, with or without bark. This includes "soft snags" as well as live trees with unstable roots caused by root rot or fire. These trees are unstable and pose a high hazard to workers.
"Windthrow" means a natural process by which trees are uprooted or sustain severe trunk damage by the wind.
"Yarding corridor" means a narrow, linear path through a riparian management zone to allow suspended cables necessary to support cable logging methods or suspended or partially suspended logs to be transported through these areas by cable logging methods.
"Young forest marginal habitat" see WAC 222-16-085 (1)(b).
[Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040. 04-05-087, § 222-16-010, filed 2/17/04, effective 3/19/04. Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 76.09.040, [76.09.]050, [76.09.]370, 76.13.120(9). 01-12-042, § 222-16-010, filed 5/30/01, effective 7/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 98-07-047, § 222-16-010, filed 3/13/98, effective 5/1/98; 97-24-091, § 222-16-010, filed 12/3/97, effective 1/3/98; 97-15-105, § 222-16-010, filed 7/21/97, effective 8/21/97. Statutory Authority: Chapters 76.09 and 34.05 RCW. 96-12-038, § 222-16-010, filed 5/31/96, effective 7/1/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 94-17-033, § 222-16-010, filed 8/10/94, effective 8/13/94; 93-12-001, § 222-16-010, filed 5/19/93, effective 6/19/93. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, 76.09.050 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 92-15-011, § 222-16-010, filed 7/2/92, effective 8/2/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, 76.09.050 and 34.05.350. 92-03-028, § 222-16-010, filed 1/8/92, effective 2/8/92; 91-23-052, § 222-16-010, filed 11/15/91, effective 12/16/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040. 88-19-112 (Order 551, Resolution No. 88-1), § 222-16-010, filed 9/21/88, effective 11/1/88; 87-23-036 (Order 535), § 222-16-010, filed 11/16/87, effective 1/1/88. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and 76.09.050. 82-16-077 (Resolution No. 82-1), § 222-16-010, filed 8/3/82, effective 10/1/82; Order 263, § 222-16-010, filed 6/16/76.]
Fish habitat water type maps will be updated every five years where necessary to better reflect observed, in-field conditions. Except for these periodic revisions of the maps, on-the-ground observations of fish or habitat characteristics will generally not be used to adjust mapped water types. However, if an on-site interdisciplinary team using nonlethal methods identifies fish, or finds that habitat is not accessible due to naturally occurring conditions and no fish reside above the blockage, then the water type will be immediately changed to reflect the findings of the interdisciplinary team. The finding will be documented on a water type update form provided by the department and the fish habitat water type map will be updated as soon as practicable. If a dispute arises concerning a water type the department shall make available informal conferences, as established in WAC 222-46-020 which shall include the departments of fish and wildlife, and ecology, and affected Indian tribes and those contesting the adopted water types.
The waters will be classified using the following criteria:
*(1) "Type S Water" means all waters, within their bankfull width, as inventoried as "shorelines of the state" under chapter 90.58 RCW and the rules promulgated pursuant to chapter 90.58 RCW including periodically inundated areas of their associated wetlands.
*(2) "Type F Water" means segments of natural waters other than Type S Waters, which are within the bankfull widths of defined channels and periodically inundated areas of their associated wetlands, or within lakes, ponds, or impoundments having a surface area of 0.5 acre or greater at seasonal low water and which in any case contain fish habitat or are described by one of the following four categories:
(a) Waters, which are diverted for domestic use by more than 10 residential or camping units or by a public accommodation facility licensed to serve more than 10 persons, where such diversion is determined by the department to be a valid appropriation of water and the only practical water source for such users. Such waters shall be considered to be Type F Water upstream from the point of such diversion for 1,500 feet or until the drainage area is reduced by 50 percent, whichever is less;
(b) Waters, which are diverted for use by federal, state, tribal or private fish hatcheries. Such waters shall be considered Type F Water upstream from the point of diversion for 1,500 feet, including tributaries if highly significant for protection of downstream water quality. The department may allow additional harvest beyond the requirements of Type F Water designation provided the department determines after a landowner-requested on-site assessment by the department of fish and wildlife, department of ecology, the affected tribes and interested parties that:
(i) The management practices proposed by the landowner will adequately protect water quality for the fish hatchery; and
(ii) Such additional harvest meets the requirements of the water type designation that would apply in the absence of the hatchery;
(c) Waters, which are within a federal, state, local, or private campground having more than 10 camping units: Provided, That the water shall not be considered to enter a campground until it reaches the boundary of the park lands available for public use and comes within 100 feet of a camping unit, trail or other park improvement;
(d) Riverine ponds, wall-based channels, and other channel features that are used by fish for off-channel habitat. These areas are critical to the maintenance of optimum survival of fish. This habitat shall be identified based on the following criteria:
(i) The site must be connected to a fish habitat stream and accessible during some period of the year; and
(ii) The off-channel water must be accessible to fish.
(3) "Type Np Water" means all segments of natural waters
within the bankfull width of defined channels that are
perennial nonfish habitat streams. Perennial streams are
waters that do not go dry any time of a year of normal
rainfall. However, for the purpose of water typing, Type Np
Waters include the intermittent dry portions of the perennial
channel below the uppermost point of perennial flow. If the
uppermost point of perennial flow cannot be identified with
simple, nontechnical observations (see board manual((,))
section 23), then Type Np Waters begin at a point along the
channel where the contributing basin area is:
(a) At least 13 acres in the Western Washington coastal zone (which corresponds to the Sitka spruce zone defined in Franklin and Dyrness, 1973);
(b) At least 52 acres in other locations in Western Washington; or
(c) At least 300 acres in Eastern Washington.
(4) "Type Ns Water" means all segments of natural waters within the bankfull width of the defined channels that are not Type S, F, or Np Waters. These are seasonal, nonfish habitat streams in which surface flow is not present for at least some portion of a year of normal rainfall and are not located downstream from any stream reach that is a Type Np Water. Ns Waters must be physically connected by an above-ground channel system to Type S, F, or Np Waters.
*(5) For purposes of this section:
(a) "Residential unit" means a home, apartment, residential condominium unit or mobile home, serving as the principal place of residence.
(b) "Camping unit" means an area intended and used for:
(i) Overnight camping or picnicking by the public containing at least a fireplace, picnic table and access to water and sanitary facilities; or
(ii) A permanent home or condominium unit or mobile home not qualifying as a "residential unit" because of part time occupancy.
(c) "Public accommodation facility" means a business establishment open to and licensed to serve the public, such as a restaurant, tavern, motel or hotel.
(d) "Natural waters" only excludes water conveyance systems which are artificially constructed and actively maintained for irrigation.
(e) "Seasonal low flow" and "seasonal low water" mean the conditions of the 7-day, 2-year low water situation, as measured or estimated by accepted hydrologic techniques recognized by the department.
(f) "Channel width and gradient" means a measurement over a representative section of at least 500 linear feet with at least 10 evenly spaced measurement points along the normal stream channel but excluding unusually wide areas of negligible gradient such as marshy or swampy areas, beaver ponds and impoundments. Channel gradient may be determined utilizing stream profiles plotted from United States geological survey topographic maps (see board manual section 23).
(g) "Intermittent streams" means those segments of streams that normally go dry.
(h) "Fish habitat" means habitat which is used by any fish at any life stage at any time of the year, including potential habitat likely to be used by fish which could be recovered by restoration or management and includes off-channel habitat.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 76.09.040, [76.09.]050, [76.09.]370, 76.13.120(9). 01-12-042, § 222-16-030, filed 5/30/01, effective 7/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 97-24-091, § 222-16-030, filed 12/3/97, effective 1/3/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, 76.09.170 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 94-01-134, § 222-16-030, filed 12/20/93, effective 1/1/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, 76.09.050 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 92-15-011, § 222-16-030, filed 7/2/92, effective 8/2/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040. 87-23-036 (Order 535), § 222-16-030, filed 11/16/87, effective 1/1/88; Order 263, § 222-16-030, filed 6/16/76.]
For the purposes of this interim water typing system see the following table:
Water Type Conversion Table
| Permanent Water Typing | Interim Water Typing |
| Type "S" | Type 1 Water |
| Type "F" | Type 2 and 3 Water |
| Type "Np" | Type 4 Water |
| Type "Ns" | Type 5 Water |
*(1) "Type 1 Water" means all waters, within their ordinary high-water mark, as inventoried as "shorelines of the state" under chapter 90.58 RCW and the rules promulgated pursuant to chapter 90.58 RCW, but not including those waters' associated wetlands as defined in chapter 90.58 RCW.
*(2) "Type 2 Water" means segments of natural waters which are not classified as Type 1 Water and have a high fish, wildlife, or human use. These are segments of natural waters and periodically inundated areas of their associated wetlands, which:
(a) Are diverted for domestic use by more than 100 residential or camping units or by a public accommodation facility licensed to serve more than 10 persons, where such diversion is determined by the department to be a valid appropriation of water and only considered Type 2 Water upstream from the point of such diversion for 1,500 feet or until the drainage area is reduced by 50 percent, whichever is less;
(b) Are diverted for use by federal, state, tribal or private fish hatcheries. Such waters shall be considered Type 2 Water upstream from the point of diversion for 1,500 feet, including tributaries if highly significant for protection of downstream water quality. The department may allow additional harvest beyond the requirements of Type 2 Water designation provided by the department of fish and wildlife, department of ecology, the affected tribes and interested parties that:
(i) The management practices proposed by the landowner will adequately protect water quality for the fish hatchery; and
(ii) Such additional harvest meets the requirements of the water type designation that would apply in the absence of the hatchery;
(c) Are within a federal, state, local or private campground having more than 30 camping units: Provided, That the water shall not be considered to enter a campground until it reaches the boundary of the park lands available for public use and comes within 100 feet of a camping unit.
(d) Are used by fish for spawning, rearing or migration. Waters having the following characteristics are presumed to have highly significant fish populations:
(i) Stream segments having a defined channel 20 feet or greater within the bankfull width and having a gradient of less than 4 percent.
(ii) Lakes, ponds, or impoundments having a surface area of 1 acre or greater at seasonal low water; or
(e) Are used by fish for off-channel habitat. These areas are critical to the maintenance of optimum survival of fish. This habitat shall be identified based on the following criteria:
(i) The site must be connected to a fish bearing stream and be accessible during some period of the year; and
(ii) The off-channel water must be accessible to fish through a drainage with less than a 5% gradient.
*(3) "Type 3 Water" means segments of natural waters
which are not classified as Type 1 or 2 Waters and have a
moderate to slight fish, wildlife, ((and)) or human use. These are segments of natural waters and periodically
inundated areas of their associated wetlands which:
(a) Are diverted for domestic use by more than 10 residential or camping units or by a public accommodation facility licensed to serve more than 10 persons, where such diversion is determined by the department to be a valid appropriation of water and the only practical water source for such users. Such waters shall be considered to be Type 3 Water upstream from the point of such diversion for 1,500 feet or until the drainage area is reduced by 50 percent, whichever is less;
(b) Are used by fish for spawning, rearing or migration. The requirements for determining fish use are described in the board manual section 13. If fish use has not been determined:
(i) Waters having any of the following characteristics are presumed to have fish use:
(A) Stream segments having a defined channel of 2 feet or
greater within the bankfull width in Western Washington; or 3
feet or greater in width in Eastern Washington; and having a
gradient of 16 percent or less((.));
(B) Stream segments having a defined channel ((or)) of 2
feet or greater within the bankfull width in Western
Washington; or 3 feet or greater within the bankfull width in
Eastern Washington, and having a gradient greater than 16
percent and less than or equal to 20 percent, and having
greater than 50 acres in contributing basin size in Western
Washington or greater than 175 acres contributing basin size
in Eastern Washington, based on hydrographic boundaries;
(C) Ponds or impoundments having a surface area of less than 1 acre at seasonal low water and having an outlet to a fish stream;
(D) Ponds of impoundments having a surface area greater than 0.5 acre at seasonal low water.
(ii) The department shall waive or modify the characteristics in (i) of this subsection where:
(A) Waters have confirmed, long term, naturally occurring water quality parameters incapable of supporting fish;
(B) Snowmelt streams have short flow cycles that do not support successful life history phases of fish. These streams typically have no flow in the winter months and discontinue flow by June 1; or
(C) Sufficient information about a geomorphic region is available to support a departure from the characteristics in (i) of this subsection, as determined in consultation with the department of fish and wildlife, department of ecology, affected tribes and interested parties.
*(4) "Type 4 Water" means all segments of natural waters within the bankfull width of defined channels that are perennial nonfish habitat streams. Perennial streams are waters that do not go dry any time of a year of normal rainfall. However, for the purpose of water typing, Type 4 Waters include the intermittent dry portions of the perennial channel below the uppermost point of perennial flow. If the uppermost point of perennial flow cannot be identified with simple, nontechnical observations (see board manual, section 23), then Type 4 Waters begin at a point along the channel where the contributing basin area is:
(a) At least 13 acres in the Western Washington coastal zone (which corresponds to the Sitka spruce zone defined in Franklin and Dyrness, 1973);
(b) At least 52 acres in other locations in Western Washington;
(c) At least 300 acres in Eastern Washington.
*(5) "Type 5 Waters" means all segments of natural waters within the bankfull width of the defined channels that are not Type 1, 2, 3, or 4 Waters. These are seasonal, nonfish habitat streams in which surface flow is not present for at least some portion of the year and are not located downstream from any stream reach that is a Type 4 Water. Type 5 Waters must be physically connected by an above-ground channel system to Type 1, 2, 3, or 4 Waters.
*(6) For purposes of this section:
(a) "Residential unit" means a home, apartment, residential condominium unit or mobile home, serving as the principal place of residence.
(b) "Camping unit" means an area intended and used for:
(i) Overnight camping or picnicking by the public containing at least a fireplace, picnic table and access to water and sanitary facilities; or
(ii) A permanent home or condominium unit or mobile home not qualifying as a "residential unit" because of part time occupancy.
(c) "Public accommodation facility" means a business establishment open to and licensed to serve the public, such as a restaurant, tavern, motel or hotel.
(d) "Natural waters" only excludes water conveyance systems which are artificially constructed and actively maintained for irrigation.
(e) "Seasonal low flow" and "seasonal low water" mean the conditions of the 7-day, 2-year low water situation, as measured or estimated by accepted hydrologic techniques recognized by the department.
(f) "Channel width and gradient" means a measurement over a representative section of at least 500 linear feet with at least 10 evenly spaced measurement points along the normal stream channel but excluding unusually wide areas of negligible gradient such as marshy or swampy areas, beaver ponds and impoundments. Channel gradient may be determined utilizing stream profiles plotted from United States geological survey topographic maps. (See board manual section 23.)
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 76.09.040, [76.09.]050, [76.09.]370, 76.13.120(9). 01-12-042, § 222-16-031, filed 5/30/01, effective 7/1/01.]
(1) "Class IV - special." Except as provided in WAC 222-16-051, application to conduct forest practices involving the following circumstances requires an environmental checklist in compliance with the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), and SEPA guidelines, as they have been determined to have potential for a substantial impact on the environment. It may be determined that additional information or a detailed environmental statement is required before these forest practices may be conducted.
*(a) Aerial application of pesticides in a manner identified as having the potential for a substantial impact on the environment under WAC 222-16-070 or ground application of a pesticide within a Type A or B wetland.
(b) Specific forest practices listed in WAC 222-16-080 on lands designated as critical habitat (state) of threatened or endangered species.
(c) Harvesting, road construction, aerial application of pesticides and site preparation on all lands within the boundaries of any national park, state park, or any park of a local governmental entity, except harvest of less than 5 MBF within any developed park recreation area and park managed salvage of merchantable forest products.
*(d) Timber harvest, or construction of roads, landings, gravel pits, rock quarries, or spoil disposal areas, on potentially unstable slopes or landforms described in (i) below that has the potential to deliver sediment or debris to a public resource or that has the potential to threaten public safety, and which has been field verified by the department (see WAC 222-10-030 SEPA policies for potential unstable slopes and landforms).
(i) For the purpose of this rule, potentially unstable slopes or landforms are one of the following: (See the board manual section 16 for more descriptive definitions.)
(A) Inner gorges, convergent headwalls, or bedrock hollows with slopes steeper than 35 degrees (70%);
(B) Toes of deep-seated landslides, with slopes steeper than 33 degrees (65%);
(C) Ground water recharge areas for glacial deep-seated landslides;
(D) Outer edges of meander bends along valley walls or high terraces of an unconfined meandering stream; or
(E) Any areas containing features indicating the presence of potential slope instability which cumulatively indicate the presence of unstable slopes.
(ii) The department will base its classification of the application/notification on professional knowledge of the area, information such as soils, geologic or hazard zonation maps and reports or other information provided by the applicant.
(iii) An application would not be classified as Class IV-Special for potentially unstable slopes or landforms under this subsection if:
(A) The proposed forest practice is located within a WAU that is subject to an approved watershed analysis;
(B) The forest practices are to be conducted in accordance with an approved prescription from the watershed analysis (or as modified through the 5-year review process); and
(C) The applicable prescription is specific to the site or situation, as opposed to a prescription that calls for additional analysis. The need for an expert to determine whether the site contains specific landforms will not be considered "additional analysis," as long as specific prescriptions are established for such landforms.
*(e) Timber harvest, in a watershed administrative unit not subject to an approved watershed analysis under chapter 222-22 WAC, construction of roads, landings, rock quarries, gravel pits, borrow pits, and spoil disposal areas on snow avalanche slopes within those areas designated by the department, in consultation with department of transportation and local government, as high avalanche hazard where there is the potential to deliver sediment or debris to a public resource, or the potential to threaten public safety.
(f) Timber harvest, construction of roads, landings, rock quarries, gravel pits, borrow pits, and spoil disposal areas on archaeological or historic sites registered with the Washington state office of archaeology and historic preservation, or on sites containing evidence of Native American cairns, graves, or glyptic records, as provided for in chapters 27.44 and 27.53 RCW. The department shall consult with affected Indian tribes in identifying such sites.
*(g) Forest practices subject to an approved watershed analysis conducted under chapter 222-22 WAC in an area of resource sensitivity identified in that analysis which deviates from the prescriptions (which may include an alternate plan) in the watershed analysis.
*(h) Filling or draining of more than 0.5 acre of a wetland.
(2) "Class IV - general." Applications involving the
following circumstances are "Class IV - general" forest
practices unless they are listed in "Class IV - special." ((Upon receipt of an application, the department will
determine the lead agency for purposes of compliance with the
State Environmental Policy Act pursuant to WAC 197-11-924 and
197-11-938(4) and RCW 43.21C.037(2). Such applications are
subject to a 30-day period for approval unless the lead agency
determines a detailed statement under RCW 43.21C.030 (2)(c) is
required. Upon receipt, if the department determines the
application is for a proposal that will require a license from
a county/city acting under the powers enumerated in RCW 76.09.240, the department shall notify the applicable
county/city under WAC 197-11-924 that the department has
determined according to WAC 197-11-938(4) that the county/city
is the lead agency for purposes of compliance with State
Environmental Policy Act.))
(a) Forest practices (other than those in Class I) on
lands platted after January 1, 1960, ((or)) as provided in
chapter 58.17 RCW;
(b) Forest practices (other than those in Class I) on
lands that have been or are being converted to another
use((.));
(((b))) (c) Forest practices which would otherwise be
Class III, but which are taking place on lands which are not
to be reforested because of likelihood of future conversion to
urban development. (See WAC 222-16-060 and 222-34-050((.)));
or
(d) Forest practices involving timber harvesting or road construction on lands that are contained within urban growth areas, designated pursuant to chapter 36.70A RCW, except where the forest landowner provides one of the following:
(i) A written statement of intent signed by the forest landowner not to convert to a use other than commercial forest products operations for ten years accompanied by either a written forest management plan acceptable to the department or documentation that the land is enrolled under the provisions of chapter 84.33 RCW; or
(ii) A conversion option harvest plan approved by the local governmental entity and submitted to the department as part of the application.
Upon receipt of an application, the department will determine the lead agency for purposes of compliance with the State Environmental Policy Act pursuant to WAC 197-11-924 and 197-11-938(4) and RCW 43.21C.037(2). Such applications are subject to a 30-day period for approval unless the lead agency determines a detailed statement under RCW 43.21C.030 (2)(c) is required. Upon receipt, if the department determines the application is for a proposal that will require a license from a county/city acting under the powers enumerated in RCW 76.09.240, the department shall notify the applicable county/city under WAC 197-11-924 that the department has determined according to WAC 197-11-938(4) that the county/city is the lead agency for purposes of compliance with the State Environmental Policy Act.
(3) "Class I." Those operations that have been determined to have no direct potential for damaging a public resource are Class I forest practices. When the conditions listed in "Class IV - Special" are not present, these operations may be commenced without notification or application.
(a) Culture and harvest of Christmas trees and seedlings.
*(b) Road maintenance except: (i) Replacement of bridges and culverts across Type S, F or flowing Type Np Waters; or (ii) movement of material that has a direct potential for entering Type S, F or flowing Type Np Waters or Type A or B Wetlands.
*(c) Construction of landings less than 1 acre in size, if not within a shoreline area of a Type S Water, the riparian management zone of a Type F Water, the bankfull width of a Type Np Water, a wetland management zone, a wetland, or the CRGNSA special management area.
*(d) Construction of less than 600 feet of road on a sideslope of 40 percent or less if the limits of construction are not within the shoreline area of a Type S Water, the riparian management zone of a Type F Water, the bankfull width of a Type Np Water, a wetland management zone, a wetland, or the CRGNSA special management area.
*(e) Installation or removal of a portable water crossing structure where such installation does not take place within the shoreline area of a Type S Water and does not involve disturbance of the beds or banks of any waters.
*(f) Initial installation and replacement of relief culverts and other drainage control facilities not requiring a hydraulic permit.
(g) Rocking an existing road.
(h) Loading and hauling timber from landings or decks.
(i) Precommercial thinning and pruning, if not within the CRGNSA special management area.
(j) Tree planting and seeding.
(k) Cutting and/or removal of less than 5,000 board feet of timber (including live, dead and down material) for personal use (i.e., firewood, fence posts, etc.) in any 12-month period, if not within the CRGNSA special management area.
(l) Emergency fire control and suppression.
(m) Slash burning pursuant to a burning permit (RCW 76.04.205).
*(n) Other slash control and site preparation not involving either off-road use of tractors on slopes exceeding 40 percent or off-road use of tractors within the shorelines of a Type S Water, the riparian management zone of any Type F Water, or the bankfull width of a Type Np Water, a wetland management zone, a wetland, or the CRGNSA special management area.
*(o) Ground application of chemicals, if not within the CRGNSA special management area. (See WAC 222-38-020 and 222-38-030.)
*(p) Aerial application of chemicals (except insecticides), outside of the CRGNSA special management area when applied to not more than 40 contiguous acres if the application is part of a combined or cooperative project with another landowner and where the application does not take place within 100 feet of lands used for farming, or within 200 feet of a residence, unless such farmland or residence is owned by the forest landowner. Provisions of chapter 222-38 WAC shall apply.
(q) Forestry research studies and evaluation tests by an established research organization.
*(r) Any of the following if none of the operation or limits of construction takes place within the shoreline area of a Type S Water or the riparian management zone of a Type F Water, the bankfull width of a Type Np Water or flowing Type Ns Water, or within the CRGNSA special management area and the operation does not involve off-road use of tractor or wheeled skidding systems on a sideslope of greater than 40 percent:
(i) Any forest practices within the boundaries of existing golf courses.
(ii) Any forest practices within the boundaries of existing cemeteries which are approved by the cemetery board.
(iii) Any forest practices involving a single landowner where contiguous ownership is less than two acres in size.
(s) Removal of beaver structures from culverts on
((active and inactive)) forest roads. A hydraulics project
approval from the Washington department of fish and wildlife
may be required.
(4) "Class II." Certain forest practices have been
determined to have a less than ordinary potential to damage a
public resource and may be conducted as Class II forest
practices: Provided, That no forest practice enumerated below
may be conducted as a Class II forest practice if the
operation requires a hydraulic project approval (RCW
((75.20.100)) 77.55.100) or is within a "shorelines of the
state," or involves owner of perpetual timber rights subject
to RCW 76.09.067 (other than renewals). Such forest practices
require an application. No forest practice enumerated below
may be conducted as a "Class II" forest practice if it takes
place on lands platted after January 1, 1960, as provided in
chapter 58.17 RCW, or on lands that have been or are being
converted to another use. No forest practice enumerated below
involving timber harvest or road construction may be conducted
as a "Class II" if it takes place within urban growth areas
designated pursuant to chapter 37.70A RCW. Such forest
practices require a Class IV application. Class II forest
practices are the following:
(a) Renewal of a prior Class II notification where no change in the nature and extent of the forest practices is required under rules effective at the time of renewal.
(b) Renewal of a previously approved Class III or IV forest practices application where:
(i) No modification of the uncompleted operation is proposed;
(ii) No notices to comply, stop work orders or other enforcement actions are outstanding with respect to the prior application; and
(iii) No change in the nature and extent of the forest practice is required under rules effective at the time of renewal. Renewal of a previously approved multiyear permit for forest practices within a WAU with an approved watershed analysis requires completion of a necessary 5-year review of the watershed analysis.
*(c) Any of the following if none of the operation or limits of construction takes place within the riparian management zone of a Type F Water, within the bankfull width of a Type Np Water, within a wetland management zone, within a wetland, or within the CRGNSA special management area:
(i) Construction of advance fire trails.
(ii) Opening a new pit of, or extending an existing pit by, less than 1 acre.
*(d) Salvage of logging residue if none of the operation or limits of construction takes place within the riparian management zone of a Type F Water, within the bankfull width of a Type Np Water, within a wetland management zone or within a wetland; and if none of the operations involve off-road use of tractor or wheeled skidding systems on a sideslope of greater than 40 percent.
*(e) Any of the following if none of the operation or limits of construction takes place within the riparian management zone of a Type F Water, within the bankfull width of a Type Np Water, within a wetland management zone, within a wetland, or within the CRGNSA special management area, and if none of the operations involve off-road use of tractor or wheeled skidding systems on a sideslope of greater than 40 percent, and if none of the operations are located on lands with a likelihood of future conversion (see WAC 222-16-060):
(i) West of the Cascade summit, partial cutting of 40 percent or less of the live timber volume.
(ii) East of the Cascade summit, partial cutting of 5,000 board feet per acre or less.
(iii) Salvage of dead, down, or dying timber if less than 40 percent of the total timber volume is removed in any 12-month period.
(iv) Any harvest on less than 40 acres.
(v) Construction of 600 or more feet of road, provided that the department shall be notified at least 2 business days before commencement of the construction.
(5) "Class III." Forest practices not listed under Classes IV, I or II above are "Class III" forest practices. Among Class III forest practices are the following:
(a) Those requiring hydraulic project approval (RCW
((75.20.100)) 77.55.100).
*(b) Those within the shorelines of the state other than those in a Class I forest practice.
*(c) Aerial application of insecticides, except where classified as a Class IV forest practice.
*(d) Aerial application of chemicals (except insecticides), except where classified as Class I or IV forest practices.
*(e) Harvest or salvage of timber except where classed as Class I, II or IV forest practices.
*(f) All road construction and reconstruction except as listed in Classes I, II and IV forest practices.
(g) Opening of new pits or extensions of existing pits over 1 acre.
*(h) Road maintenance involving:
(i) Replacement of bridges or culverts across Type S, F or flowing Type Np Waters; or
(ii) Movement of material that has a direct potential for entering Type S, F or flowing Type Np Waters or Type A or B Wetlands.
(i) Operations involving owner of perpetual timber rights subject to RCW 76.09.067.
(j) Site preparation or slash abatement not listed in Classes I or IV forest practices.
(k) Harvesting, road construction, site preparation or aerial application of pesticides on lands which contain cultural, historic or archaeological resources which, at the time the application or notification is filed, are:
(i) On or are eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places; or
(ii) Have been identified to the department as being of interest to an affected Indian tribe.
(l) Harvesting exceeding 19 acres in a designated difficult regeneration area.
(m) Utilization of an alternate plan. See WAC 222-12-040.
*(n) Any filling of wetlands, except where classified as Class IV forest practices.
*(o) Multiyear permits.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, 76.09.050, 76.09.370, and 34.05.350. 02-17-099, § *222-16-050, filed 8/20/02, effective 9/20/02. Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 76.09.040, [76.09.]050, [76.09.]370, 76.13.120(9). 01-12-042, § 222-16-050, filed 5/30/01, effective 7/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 98-07-047, § 222-16-050, filed 3/13/98, effective 5/1/98; 97-24-091, § 222-16-050, filed 12/3/97, effective 1/3/98; 93-12-001, § 222-16-050, filed 5/19/93, effective 6/19/93. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, 76.09.050 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 92-15-011, § 222-16-050, filed 7/2/92, effective 8/2/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, 76.09.050 and 34.05.350. 91-23-052, § 222-16-050, filed 11/15/91, effective 12/16/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040. 88-19-112 (Order 551, Resolution No. 88-1), § 222-16-050, filed 9/21/88, effective 11/1/88; 87-23-036 (Order 535), § 222-16-050, filed 11/16/87, effective 1/1/88. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and 76.09.050. 82-16-077 (Resolution No. 82-1), § 222-16-050, filed 8/3/82, effective 10/1/82; Order 263, § 222-16-050, filed 6/16/76.]
(1) Pesticide list - The department shall maintain a list of all pesticides registered under chapter 15.58 RCW for use in forest practices. The department shall conduct, in consultation with the departments of ecology, health, agriculture, and fish and wildlife, an annual review of the list for the purpose of including new pesticides and/or removing those pesticides which have been prohibited from use. The list shall be available to the public at each of the department's offices. A list of the department's offices and their addresses appears at WAC 332-10-030. In preparing the pesticide list, the department shall include information on the following characteristics:
(a) Active ingredients, name brand or trade mark, labeled uses, pesticide type, EPA-registration number;
(b) Toxicity of the pesticide based on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) label warning under 40 C.F.R. 156.10 (h)(1), listed as "caution," "warning," "danger," or "danger - poison" except as modified to consider aquatic or mammalian toxicity; and
(c) Whether the pesticide is a state restricted use
pesticide for the protection of ground water under WAC
((16-228-164(1))) 16-228-1231.
(2) Key for evaluating applications. To determine whether aerial application of a pesticide has the potential for a substantial impact on the environment, the department shall apply the following analysis:
| Question | Question | Resp | Action |
| 1 (a) | Is the pesticide on the pesticide list (WAC 222-16-070(1))? | Yes No |
go to 2 go to 1(b) |
| 1 (b) | Is the pesticide being used
under a Dept of Agriculture
Experimental Use Permit
(WAC (( |
Yes No |
Class III Class IV Sp |
| 2 | Is the toxicity rating for the pesticide to be used "Danger - Poison” as designated in the pesticide list (WAC 222-16-070 (1)(b))? | Yes No |
Class IV Sp go to 3(a) |
| 3 (a) | Is Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) the only pesticide being used on this application? | Yes No |
go to 3(b) go to 4(a) |
| 3 (b) | Is there a Threatened or Endangered species or the critical habitat (Federal) or critical habitat (State) of a species within the application area that is susceptible to the BT strain being used? | Yes No |
Class IV Sp Class III |
| 4 (a) | Is this operation occurring
over ground water with a
high susceptibility to
contamination as specified
in EPA 910/ (( |
Yes No |
go to 4(b) go to 5(a) |
| 4 (b) | Is this pesticide a state
restricted use pesticide for
the protection of ground
water under WAC
(( |
Yes No |
Class IV Sp go to 5(a) |
| 5 (a) | Is the operation adjacent (within 100 ft.) of surface water? | Yes No |
go to 5(b) go to 5(e) |
| 5 (b) | Determine the toxicity
rating from the pesticide
list: *Is the toxicity rating "Caution” or "Warning”? *Is the toxicity rating "Danger”? |
Yes Yes |
go to 5(c) go to 5(d) |
| 5 (c) | Is there a Group A or B water surface water system (WAC 246-290-020) intake OR a fish hatchery intake within one half mile downstream of the operation? | Yes No |
Class IV Sp go to 5(e) |
| 5 (d) | Is there a Group A or B water surface system intake OR a fish hatchery intake within 1 mile downstream of the operation? | Yes No |
Class IV Sp go to 5(e) |
5 (e) |
Is the operation within 200 feet of the intake of a Group A or B spring water system? |
Yes No |
Class IV Sp go to 5(f) |
| 5 (f) | Is the operation applying a pesticide in a Type A or B wetland? | Yes No |
Class IV Sp go to 6(a) |
| 6 (a) | Does any portion of the planned operation cover 240 or more contiguous acres? Pesticide treatment units will be considered contiguous if they are separated by less than 300 feet or treatment dates of adjacent units are less than 90 days apart. | Yes No |
Class IV Sp go to 6(b) |
| 6 (b) | Is there a Threatened or Endangered species or the critical habitat (Federal) or critical habitat (State) of a species within the application area? | Yes No |
Class IV Sp go to 6(c) |
| 6 (c) | If there is a special concern identified for this pesticide in the Board manual, does it apply to this application? | Yes No |
Class IV Sp Class III |
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 76.09.040, [76.09.]050, [76.09.]370, 76.13.120(9). 01-12-042, § 222-16-070, filed 5/30/01, effective 7/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 97-24-091, § 222-16-070, filed 12/3/97, effective 1/3/98; 93-12-001, § 222-16-070, filed 5/19/93, effective 6/19/93. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, 76.09.050 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 92-15-011, § 222-16-070, filed 7/2/92, effective 8/2/92.]
(a) Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) - harvesting, road construction, aerial application of pesticides, or site preparation within 0.5 mile of a known active nest site, documented by the department of fish and wildlife, between the dates of January 1 and August 15 or 0.25 mile at other times of the year; and within 0.25 mile of a communal roosting site. Communal roosting sites shall not include refuse or garbage dumping sites.
(b) Gray wolf (Canis lupus) - harvesting, road construction, or site preparation within 1 mile of a known active den site, documented by the department of fish and wildlife, between the dates of March 15 and July 30 or 0.25 mile from the den site at other times of the year.
(c) Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) - harvesting, road construction, aerial application of pesticides, or site preparation within 1 mile of a known active den site, documented by the department of fish and wildlife, between the dates of October 1 and May 30 or 0.25 mile at other times of the year.
(d) Mountain (woodland) caribou (Rangifera tarandus) - harvesting, road construction, aerial application of pesticides, or site preparation within 0.25 mile of a known active breeding area, documented by the department of fish and wildlife.
(e) Oregon silverspot butterfly (Speyeria zerene hippolyta) - harvesting, road construction, aerial or ground application of pesticides, or site preparation within 0.25 mile of an individual occurrence, documented by the department of fish and wildlife.
(f) Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) - harvesting, road construction, aerial application of pesticides, or site preparation within 0.5 mile of a known active nest site, documented by the department of fish and wildlife, between the dates of March 1 and July 30; or harvesting, road construction, or aerial application of pesticides within 0.25 mile of the nest site at other times of the year.
(g) Sandhill crane (Grus canadensis) - harvesting, road construction, aerial application of pesticides, or site preparation within 0.25 mile of a known active nesting area, documented by the department of fish and wildlife.
(h) Northern spotted owl((.)) (Strix occidentalis
caurina)
(i) Within a SOSEA boundary (see maps in WAC 222-16-086), except as indicated in (h)(ii) of this subsection, harvesting, road construction, or aerial application of pesticides on suitable spotted owl habitat within a median home range circle that is centered within the SOSEA or on adjacent federal lands.
(ii) Within the Entiat SOSEA, harvesting, road construction, or aerial application of pesticides within the areas indicated for demographic support (see WAC 222-16-086(2)) on suitable spotted owl habitat located within a median home range circle that is centered within the demographic support area.
(iii) Outside of a SOSEA, harvesting, road construction, or aerial application of pesticides, between March 1 and August 31 on the seventy acres of highest quality suitable spotted owl habitat surrounding a northern spotted owl site center located outside a SOSEA. The highest quality suitable habitat shall be determined by the department in cooperation with the department of fish and wildlife. Consideration shall be given to habitat quality, proximity to the activity center and contiguity.
(iv) Small parcel northern spotted owl exemption. Forest practices proposed on the lands owned or controlled by a landowner whose forest land ownership within the SOSEA is less than or equal to 500 acres and where the forest practice is not within 0.7 mile of a northern spotted owl site center shall not be considered to be on lands designated as critical habitat (state) for northern spotted owls.
(i) Western pond turtle (Clemmys marmorata) - harvesting, road construction, aerial application of pesticides, or site preparation within 0.25 mile of a known individual occurrence, documented by the department of wildlife.
(j) Marbled murrelet((.)) (Brachyramphus marmoratus)
(i) Harvesting, other than removal of down trees outside of the critical nesting season, or road construction within an occupied marbled murrelet site.
(ii) Harvesting, other than removal of down trees outside of the critical nesting season, or road construction within suitable marbled murrelet habitat within a marbled murrelet detection area.
(iii) Harvesting, other than removal of down trees outside of the critical nesting season, or road construction within suitable marbled murrelet habitat containing 7 platforms per acre outside a marbled murrelet detection area.
(iv) Harvesting, other than removal of down trees outside of the critical nesting season, or road construction outside a marbled murrelet detection area within a marbled murrelet special landscape and within suitable marbled murrelet habitat with 5 or more platforms per acre.
(v) Harvesting within a 300 foot managed buffer zone adjacent to an occupied marbled murrelet site that results in less than a residual stand stem density of 75 trees per acre greater than 6 inches in dbh; provided that 25 of which shall be greater than 12 inches dbh including 5 trees greater than 20 inches in dbh, where they exist. The primary consideration for the design of managed buffer zone widths and leave tree retention patterns shall be to mediate edge effects. The width of the buffer zone may be reduced in some areas to a minimum of 200 feet and extended to a maximum of 400 feet as long as the average of 300 feet is maintained.
(vi) Except that the following shall not be critical habitat (state):
(A) Where a landowner owns less than 500 acres of forest land within 50 miles of saltwater and the land does not contain an occupied marbled murrelet site; or
(B) Where a protocol survey (see WAC 222-12-090(14)) has been conducted and no murrelets were detected. The landowner is then relieved from further survey requirements. However, if an occupied marbled murrelet site is established, this exemption is void.
(2) The following critical habitats (federal) designated by the United States Secretary of the Interior or Commerce, or specific forest practices within those habitats, have been determined to have the potential for a substantial impact on the environment and therefore are designated as critical habitats (state) of threatened or endangered species.
(3) For the purpose of identifying forest practices which have the potential for a substantial impact on the environment with regard to threatened or endangered species newly listed by the Washington fish and wildlife commission and/or the United States Secretary of the Interior or Commerce, the department shall after consultation with the department of fish and wildlife, prepare and submit to the board a proposed list of critical habitats (state) of threatened or endangered species. This list shall be submitted to the board within 30 days of the listing of the species. The department shall, at a minimum, consider potential impacts of forest practices on habitats essential to meeting the life requisites for each species listed as threatened or endangered. Those critical habitats (state) adopted by the board shall be added to the list in subsection (1) of this section. See WAC 222-16-050 (1)(b).
(4) For the purpose of identifying any areas and/or forest practices within critical habitats (federal) designated by the United States Secretary of the Interior or Commerce which have the potential for a substantial impact on the environment, the department shall, after consultation with the department of fish and wildlife, submit to the board a proposed list of any forest practices and/or areas proposed for inclusion in Class IV - Special forest practices. The department shall submit the list to the board within 30 days of the date the United States Secretary of the Interior or Commerce publishes a final rule designating critical habitat (federal) in the Federal Register. Those critical habitats included by the board in Class IV - Special shall be added to the list in subsection (2) of this section. See WAC 222-16-050 (1)(b).
(5)(a) Except for bald eagles under subsection (1)(a) of this section, the critical habitats (state) of threatened and endangered species and specific forest practices designated in subsections (1) and (2) of this section are intended to be interim. These interim designations shall expire for a given species on the earliest of:
(i) The effective date of a regulatory system for wildlife protection referred to in (b) of this subsection or of substantive rules on the species.
(ii) The delisting of a threatened or endangered species by the Washington fish and wildlife commission and by the United States Secretary of Interior or Commerce.
(b) The board shall examine current wildlife protection and department authority to protect wildlife and develop and recommend a regulatory system, including baseline rules for wildlife protection. To the extent possible, this system shall:
(i) Use the best science and management advice available;
(ii) Use a landscape approach to wildlife protection;
(iii) Be designed to avoid the potential for substantial impact to the environment;
(iv) Protect known populations of threatened and endangered species of wildlife from negative effects of forest practices consistent with RCW 76.09.010; and
(v) Consider and be consistent with recovery plans adopted by the department of fish and wildlife pursuant to RCW 77.12.020(6) or habitat conservation plans or 16 U.S.C. 1533(d) rule changes of the Endangered Species Act.
(6) Regardless of any other provision in this section, forest practices applications shall not be classified as Class IV-Special based on critical habitat (state) (WAC 222-16-080 WAC 222-16-050 (1)(b)) for a species, if the forest practices are consistent with one or more of the following:
(a) Documents addressing the needs of the affected species provided such documents have received environmental review with an opportunity for public comment under the National Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. section 4321 et seq.:
(i) A habitat conservation plan and incidental take permit; or an incidental take statement covering such species approved by the Secretary of the Interior or Commerce pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 1536(b) or 1539(a); or
(ii) An "unlisted species agreement" covering such species approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or National Marine Fisheries Service; or
(iii) Other conservation agreement entered into with a federal agency pursuant to its statutory authority for fish and wildlife protection that addresses the needs of the affected species; or
(iv) A rule adopted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the National Marine Fisheries Service for the conservation of an affected species pursuant to 16 U.S.C. section 1533(d); or
(b) Documents addressing the needs of the affected species so long as they have been reviewed under the State Environmental Policy Act;
(i) A landscape management plan; or
(ii) Another cooperative or conservation agreement entered into with a state resource agency pursuant to its statutory authority for fish and wildlife protection;
(c) A special wildlife management plan (SWMP) developed by the landowner and approved by the department in consultation with the department of fish and wildlife;
(d) A bald eagle management plan approved under WAC 232-12-292;
(e) A landowner option plan (LOP) for northern spotted owls developed pursuant to WAC 222-16-100(1);
(f) A cooperative habitat enhancement agreement (CHEA) developed pursuant to WAC 222-16-105; or
(g) A take avoidance plan issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the National Marine Fisheries Service prior to March 20, 2000.
In those situations where one of the options above has been used, forest practices applications may still be classified as Class IV-Special based upon the presence of one or more of the factors listed in WAC 222-16-050(1), other than critical habitat (state) for the species covered by the existing plan.
(7) The department, in consultation with the department of fish and wildlife, shall review each SOSEA to determine whether the goals for that SOSEA are being met through approved plans, permits, statements, letters, or agreements referred to in subsection (6) of this section. Based on the consultation, the department shall recommend to the board the suspension, deletion, modification or reestablishment of the applicable SOSEA from the rules. The department shall conduct a review for a particular SOSEA upon approval of a landowner option plan, a petition from a landowner in the SOSEA, or under its own initiative.
(8) The department, in consultation with the department of fish and wildlife, shall report annually to the board on the status of the northern spotted owl to determine whether circumstances exist that substantially interfere with meeting the goals of the SOSEAs.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 76.09.040, [76.09.]050, [76.09.]370, 76.13.120(9). 01-12-042, § 222-16-080, filed 5/30/01, effective 7/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 97-24-091, § 222-16-080, filed 12/3/97, effective 1/3/98; 97-15-105, § 222-16-080, filed 7/21/97, effective 8/21/97. Statutory Authority: Chapters 76.09 and 34.05 RCW. 96-12-038, § 222-16-080, filed 5/31/96, effective 7/1/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 93-12-001, § 222-16-080, filed 5/19/93, effective 6/19/93. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, 76.09.050 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 92-15-011, § 222-16-080, filed 7/2/92, effective 8/2/92.]
OTS-7902.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 01-12-042, filed 5/30/01,
effective 7/1/01)
WAC 222-20-010
Applications and notifications -- Policy.
(1) No Class II, III or IV forest practices shall be commenced
or continued unless the department has received a notification
for Class II forest practices, or approved an application for
Class III or IV forest practices pursuant to the act. Where
the time limit for the department to act on the application
has expired, and none of the conditions in WAC 222-20-020(1)
exist, the operation may commence. (NOTE: OTHER LAWS AND RULES AND/OR
PERMIT REQUIREMENTS MAY APPLY. SEE CHAPTER 222-50 WAC.)
(2) The department shall prescribe the form and contents of the notification and application, which shall specify what information is needed for a notification, and the information required for the department to approve or disapprove the application.
(3) Except as provided in subpart (4) below, applications and notifications shall be signed by the landowner, the timber owner and the operator, or the operator and accompanied by a consent form signed by the timber owner and the landowner. A consent form may be another document if it is signed by the landowner(s) and it contains a statement acknowledging that he/she is familiar with the Forest Practices Act, including the provisions dealing with conversion to another use (RCW 76.09.060(3)).
(4) In lieu of a landowner's signature, where the timber rights have been transferred by deed to a perpetual owner who is different from the forest landowner, the owner of perpetual timber rights may sign a forest practices application or notification for operations not converting to another use and the statement of intent not to convert for a set period of time. The holder of perpetual timber rights shall serve the signed forest practices application or notification and the signed statement of intent on the forest landowner. The forest practices application shall not be considered complete until the holder of perpetual timber rights has submitted evidence acceptable to the department that such service has occurred.
(5) Where an application for a conversion is not signed by the landowner or accompanied by a consent form, as outlined in subsection (3) of this section, the department shall not approve the application. Applications and notifications for the development or maintenance of utility rights of way shall not be considered to be conversions.
(6) Transfer of the approved application or notification to a new landowner, timber owner or operator requires written notice by the original landowner or applicant to the department and should include the original application or notification number. This written notice shall be in a form acceptable to the department and shall contain an affirmation signed by the new landowner, timber owner, or operator, as applicable, that he/she agrees to be bound by all conditions on the approved application or notification. In the case of a transfer of an application previously approved without the landowner's signature the new timber owner or operator must submit a bond securing compliance with the requirements of the forest practices rules as determined necessary by the department. If an application or notification indicates that the landowner or timber owner is also the operator, or an operator signed the application, no notice need be given regarding any change in subcontractors or similar independent contractors working under the supervision of the operator of record.
(7) Applications and notifications must be delivered to the department at the appropriate region office. Delivery should be in person or by registered or certified mail.
(8) Applications and notifications shall be considered
received on the date and time shown on any registered or
certified mail receipt, or the written receipt given at the
time of personal delivery, or at the time of receipt by
general mail delivery. Applications or notifications that are
not complete, or are inaccurate will not be considered
officially received until the applicant furnishes the
necessary information to complete the application. A review
statement from the U.S. Forest Service that evaluates
compliance of the forest practices with the CRGNSA special
management area guidelines is necessary information for an
application or notification within the CRGNSA special
management area. The review statement requirement shall be
waived if the applicant can demonstrate the U.S. Forest
Service received a complete plan application and failed to act
within 45 days. An environmental checklist (WAC 197-11-315)
is necessary information for all Class IV applications. A
local ((government)) governmental entity clearing and/or
grading permit is necessary information for all Class IV
applications on lands that have been or will be converted to a
use other than commercial timber production or on lands which
have been platted after January 1, 1960, as provided in
chapter 58.17 RCW, if the local ((government)) governmental
entity has jurisdiction and has an ordinance requiring such
permit. If a notification or application is delivered in
person to the department by the operator or the operator's
authorized agent, the department shall immediately provide a
dated receipt. In all other cases, the department shall
immediately mail a dated receipt to the applicant.
(9) An operator's name, if known, must be included on any forest practices application or notification. The landowner or timber owner must provide notice of hiring or change of operator to the department within 48 hours. The department shall promptly notify the landowner if the operator is subject to a notice of intent to disapprove under WAC 222-46-070. Once notified, the landowner will not permit the operator, who is subject to a notice of intent to disapprove, to conduct the forest practices specified in the application or notification, or any other forest practices until such notice of intent to disapprove is removed by the department.
(10) Financial assurances may be required by the department prior to the approval of any future forest practices application or notification to an operator or landowner under the provisions of WAC 222-46-090.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 76.09.040, [76.09.]050, [76.09.]370, 76.13.120(9). 01-12-042, § 222-20-010, filed 5/30/01, effective 7/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 98-07-047, § 222-20-010, filed 3/13/98, effective 5/1/98; 93-12-001, § 222-20-010, filed 5/19/93, effective 6/19/93. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, 76.09.050 and 34.05.350. 91-23-052, § 222-20-010, filed 11/15/91, effective 12/16/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040. 87-23-036 (Order 535), § 222-20-010, filed 11/16/87, effective 1/1/88; 82-18-053 (Resolution No. 82-2), § 222-20-010, filed 8/31/82. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and 76.09.050. 82-16-077 (Resolution No. 82-1), § 222-20-010, filed 8/3/82, effective 10/1/82; Order 263, § 222-20-010, filed 6/16/76.]
(a) To the extent the department is prohibited from approving the application by the act.
(b) For "Class IV" applications when the department or the lead agency has determined that a detailed environmental statement must be made, the application must be approved, conditioned or disapproved within 60 days, unless the commissioner of public lands promulgates a formal order specifying a later date for completion of the detailed environmental statement and final action on the application. At least 10 days before promulgation of such an order extending the time, the applicant shall be given written notice that the department is requesting such extension; giving the reasons the process cannot be completed within such period; and stating that the applicant may comment in writing to the commissioner of public lands or obtain an informal conference with the department regarding the proposed extension.
(c) When they involve lands ((platted after January 1,
1960, or lands to be converted)) described in (c)(i) through
(iv) of this subsection, the applicable time limit shall be no
less than 14 business days from transmittal to the ((county))
local governmental entity unless the ((county)) local
governmental entity has waived its right to object or has
consented to approval of the application:
(i) Lands platted after January 1, 1960, as provided in chapter 58.17 RCW;
(ii) Lands that have been or are being converted to another use;
(iii) Lands which are not to be reforested because of likelihood of future conversion to urban development (see WAC 222-16-060 and 222-24-050); or
(iv) Forest practices involving timber harvesting or road construction on lands that are contained within urban growth areas, designated pursuant to chapter 36.70A RCW.
(2) Unless the ((county)) local governmental entity has
waived its rights under the act or consents to approval, the
department shall not approve an application involving lands
platted after January 1, 1960, ((in the process of being
platted or proposed to be)) as provided in chapter 58.17 RCW,
or lands that have been or are being converted to another use
until at least 14 business days from the date of transmittal
to the ((county)) local governmental entity.
(3) Where a notification is submitted for operations which the department determines involve Class III or IV forest practices, the department shall issue a stop work order or take other appropriate action. If the operations were otherwise in compliance with the act and forest practices rules, no penalty should be imposed for those operations which occurred prior to the enforcement action: Provided, That no damage to a public resource resulted from such operations, and the operations commenced more than 5 days from receipt by the department of the notification.
(4) If the department fails to approve or disapprove an application or any portion thereof within the applicable time limit, the application shall be deemed approved and the operation may commence: Provided, That this provision shall not apply where:
(a) The ((county)) local governmental entity objects and
the application involves lands platted after January 1, 1960,
as provided in chapter 58.17 RCW, or lands ((to be)) that have
been or are being converted where the county's right of
objection is 14 business days which may be longer than the
approval time limit.
(b) The department is prohibited from approving the application by the act.
(c) Compliance with the State Environmental Policy Act requires additional time.
(5) If seasonal field conditions prevent the department from being able to properly evaluate the application, the department may disapprove the application until field conditions allow for an on-site review.
(6) An application for a multiyear permit must be approved, conditioned or disapproved by the department within 45 days of receiving a complete application.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 76.09.040, [76.09.]050, [76.09.]370, 76.13.120(9). 01-12-042, § 222-20-020, filed 5/30/01, effective 7/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040. 87-23-036 (Order 535), § 222-20-020, filed 11/16/87, effective 1/1/88. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and 76.09.050. 82-16-077 (Resolution No. 82-1), § 222-20-020, filed 8/3/82, effective 10/1/82; Order 263, § 222-20-020, filed 6/16/76.]
(2) All approvals are subject to any conditions stipulated on the approved application and to any subsequent additional requirements set forth in a stop work order or a notice to comply.
(3) Local ((government)) governmental entity conditions.
(a) RCW 76.09.240(((1)))(4) allows a local ((government))
governmental entity to exercise limited land use planning or
zoning authority on certain types of forest practices. This
subsection is designed to ensure that local ((government))
governmental entities exercise this authority consistent with
chapter 76.09 RCW and the rules in TITLE 222 WAC. The system
provided for in this subsection is optional.
(b) This subsection only applies to Class IV general
applications on lands that ((will be)) have been or are being
converted to a use other than commercial timber production or
to Class IV general applications on lands which have been
platted after January 1, 1960, as provided in chapter 58.17 RCW.
(c) The department shall transmit the applications to the
appropriate local ((government)) governmental entity within
two business days from the date the department receives the
application.
(d) The department shall condition the application
consistent with the request of the local ((government))
governmental entity if:
(i) The local ((government)) governmental entity has
adopted a clearing and/or grading ordinance that addresses the
items listed in (e) of this subsection and requires a permit;
(ii) The local ((government)) governmental entity has
issued a permit under the ordinance in (i) that contains the
requested conditions; and
(iii) The local ((government)) governmental entity has
entered into an interagency agreement with the department
consistent with WAC 222-50-030 addressing enforcement of
forest practices.
(e) The local ((government)) governmental entity
conditions may only cover:
(i) The location and character of open space and/or vegetative buffers;
(ii) The location and design of roads;
(iii) The retention of trees for bank stabilization, erosion prevention, and/or storm water management; or
(iv) The protection of critical areas designated pursuant to chapter 36.70A RCW.
(f) Local ((government)) governmental entity conditions
shall be filed with the department within twenty-nine days of
the filing of the application with the department or within
fourteen business days of the transmittal of the application
to the local ((government)) governmental entity or one day
before the department acts on the application, whichever is
later.
(g) The department shall incorporate local ((government))
governmental entity conditions consistent with this subsection
as conditions of the forest practices approval.
(h) Any exercise of local ((government)) governmental
entity authority consistent with this subsection shall be
considered consistent with the forest practices rules in this
chapter.
(4) Lead agency mitigation measures.
(a) This subsection is designed to specify procedures for a mitigated DNS process that are consistent with chapters 76.09 and 43.21C RCW and the rules in TITLE 222 WAC and chapter 197-11 WAC.
(b) This subsection applies to all Class IV applications in which the department is not the lead agency under SEPA. (See WAC 197-11-758.)
(c) The department shall transmit the application to the lead agency within two business days from the date the department receives the application.
(d) The lead agency may specify mitigation measures pursuant to WAC 197-11-350.
(e) The lead agency threshold determination and any
mitigation measures must be filed with the department within
the later of (i) twenty-nine days of the receipt of the
application by the department, (ii) fourteen business days of
the transmittal of the application to the lead agency if the
lead agency is a local ((government)) governmental entity; or
(iii) one day before the department acts on the application.
(f) Unless the applicant clarifies or changes the application to include mitigation measures specified by the lead agency, the department must deny the application or require an EIS. (See WAC 197-11-738.)
(g) If the department does not receive a threshold determination from the lead agency by the time it must act on the application, the department shall deny the application.
(5) CRGNSA special management area.
(a) Policy. The states of Oregon and Washington have entered into a Compact preauthorized by Congress to implement the CRGNSA Act, 16 U.S.C. §§ 544, et seq. chapter 43.97 RCW, 16 U.S.C. § 544c. The purposes of the CRGNSA Act are:
(i) To establish a national scenic area to protect and provide for the enhancement of the scenic, cultural, recreational, and natural resources of the Columbia River Gorge; and
(ii) To protect and support the economy of the Columbia River Gorge area by encouraging growth to occur in existing urban areas and by allowing future economic development in a manner that is consistent with paragraph (1). 16 U.S.C. § 544a.
The forest practices rules addressing forest practices in the CRGNSA special management area recognize the intent of Congress and the states expressed in the CRGNSA Act and Compact and the intent of the Washington state legislature in the Forest Practices Act. These rules are designed to recognize the public interest in sound natural resource protection provided by the Act and the Compact, including the protection to public resources, recreation, and scenic beauty. These rules are designed to achieve a comprehensive system of laws and rules for forest practices in the CRGNSA special management area which avoids unnecessary duplication, provides for interagency input and intergovernmental and tribal coordination and cooperation, considers reasonable land use planning goals contained in the CRGNSA management plan, and fosters cooperation among public resources managers, forest landowners, tribes and the citizens.
(b) The CRGNSA special management area guidelines shall apply to all forest practices within the CRGNSA special management area. Other forest practices rules also apply to these forest practices. To the extent these other rules are inconsistent with the guidelines, the more restrictive requirement controls. To the extent there is an incompatibility between the guidelines and another rule, the guidelines control. Copies of the guidelines can be obtained from the department Southeast and Southwest regional offices and Olympia office, as well as from the Columbia River Gorge commission and the U.S. Forest Service.
(c) The department shall review and consider the U.S. Forest Service review statement and shall consult with the U.S. Forest Service and the Columbia River Gorge commission prior to making any determination on an application or notification within the CRGNSA special management area.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 76.09.040, [76.09.]050, [76.09.]370, 76.13.120(9). 01-12-042, § 222-20-040, filed 5/30/01, effective 7/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 98-07-047, § 222-20-040, filed 3/13/98, effective 5/1/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, 76.09.050 and 34.05.350. 91-23-052, § 222-20-040, filed 11/15/91, effective 12/16/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040. 87-23-036 (Order 535), § 222-20-040, filed 11/16/87, effective 1/1/88; Order 263, § 222-20-040, filed 6/16/76.]
(2) For Class II, III, and IV special forest practices,
if a landowner wishes to maintain the option for conversion to
a use other than commercial timber operation the landowner may
request the appropriate local ((government)) governmental
entity to approve a conversion option harvest plan. This
plan, if approved by the local ((government)) governmental
entity and followed by the landowner, shall release the
landowner from the six-year moratorium on future development,
but does not create any other rights. The conversion option
harvest plan shall be attached to the application or
notification as a condition. Violation of the conversion
option harvest plan will result in the reinstatement of the
local ((government)) governmental entity's right to the
six-year moratorium. Reforestation requirements will not be
waived in the conversion option harvest plan. Reforestation
rules shall apply at the completion of the harvest operation
as required in chapter 222-34 WAC. Nothing herein shall
preclude the local ((government)) governmental entity from
charging a fee to approve such a plan. (See RCW 76.09.060
(3)(b)(i).)
(3) If the application does not state that any land
covered by the application will be or is intended to be
converted to a specified active use incompatible with
commercial timber operations ((and except as provided in
subsection (2) of this section, the local government entity
may, for six years after the date of the application, refuse
to accept, process, or approve any or all applications for
permits or approvals, including building permits and
subdivision approvals, relating to nonforestry uses of the
land subject to the application. (See)), or if harvesting
takes place without an application, then the provisions of RCW 76.09.060 (3)(b)(i)((.))) regarding the six-year moratorium
apply.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 76.09.040, [76.09.]050, [76.09.]370, 76.13.120(9). 01-12-042, § 222-20-050, filed 5/30/01, effective 7/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, 76.09.050 and 34.05.350. 91-23-052, § 222-20-050, filed 11/15/91, effective 12/16/91; Order 263, § 222-20-050, filed 6/16/76.]
[Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 97-24-091, § 222-20-060, filed 12/3/97, effective 1/3/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040. 87-23-036 (Order 535), § 222-20-060, filed 11/16/87, effective 1/1/88; Order 263, § 222-20-060, filed 6/16/76.]
(1) For the purposes of this section, exotic forest insect or disease has the same meaning as defined in RCW 76.06.020.
(2) In order to minimize adverse impacts to public resources, control measures must be based in integrated pest management, as defined in RCW 17.15.010, and must follow forest practices rules relating to road construction and maintenance, timber harvest, and forest chemicals, to the extent possible without compromising control objectives.
(3) Forest lands where trees have been cut as part of an exotic forest insect or disease control effort under this subsection are subject to reforestation requirements under RCW 76.09.070.
(4) The exemption from obtaining approved forest practices applications or notifications does not apply to forest practices conducted after the governor, the director of the department of agriculture, or the commissioner of public lands has declared that an emergency no longer exists because control objectives have been met, that there is no longer an imminent threat, or that there is no longer a good likelihood of control.
(5) Nothing under this section relieves agencies conducting or directing control efforts from requirements of the federal Clean Water Act as administered by the department of ecology under RCW 98.48.260.
[]
OTS-7903.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 03-06-039, filed 2/26/03,
effective 3/29/03)
WAC 222-21-030
Document standards.
(1) Riparian
easement. The riparian easement document must be
substantially in the following form, but may be modified by
the small forest landowner office wherever necessary to
accomplish the purposes of RCW 76.13.120.
(This version assumes ownership of land and trees)
(2) Forestry riparian easement application. The following items are required for a complete forestry riparian easement application:
(a) A certification by the small forest landowner that he or she meets the qualifications of a small forest landowner;
(b) ((The small forest landowners' timber tax
identification number and permission to access harvest
information at the department of revenue;
(c))) All forest practices application numbers for the commercially reasonable harvest units and the associated qualifying timber on the property;
(((d))) (c) The dates and areas of all planned future
harvest entries on the easement premises;
(((e))) (d) A preliminary litigation guarantee or similar
report from a title company for the tax parcels that contain
the easement premises;
(((f))) (e) A description of past and current uses of the
easement premises;
(((g))) (f) Any information not specifically listed that
the small forest landowner office needs to evaluate the
easement and eligibility of the small forest landowner.
(3) Baseline documentation. The baseline documentation must describe the features and current uses on the easement premises and the qualifying timber. The information provided by the small forest landowner in subsection (2) of this section is considered part of the baseline documentation. In addition, the department will provide documentation that includes, but is not limited to:
(a) Cruise information consistent with the standards and methods in WAC 222-21-040;
(b) An assessment to determine site condition and potential liabilities associated with the proposed riparian easement (see the board manual section 17 for procedures for conducting assessment); and
(c) A description of the easement consistent with WAC 222-21-035.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, 76.09.370, chapters 76.13 and 34.05 RCW. 03-06-039, § 222-21-030, filed 2/26/03, effective 3/29/03. Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 76.09.040, [76.09.]050, [76.09.]370, 76.13.120(9). 01-12-042, § 222-21-030, filed 5/30/01, effective 7/1/01.]
Reviser's note: The brackets and enclosed material in the text of the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appear in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.
OTS-7904.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 94-01-134, filed 12/20/93,
effective 1/1/94)
WAC 222-22-010
Policy.
*(1) Public resources may be
adversely affected by the interaction of two or more forest
practices. The purpose of this rule is to address these
cumulative effects of forest practices on the public resources
of fish, water, and capital improvements of the state or its
political subdivisions. The long-term objective of this rule
is to protect and restore these public resources and the
productive capacity of fish habitat adversely affected by
forest practices while maintaining a viable forest products
industry. The board intends that this be accomplished through
prescriptions designed to protect and allow the recovery of
fish, water, and capital improvements of the state or its
political subdivisions, through enforcement against
noncompliance of the forest practices rules in this TITLE 222 WAC, and through voluntary mitigation measures. This system
also allows for monitoring, subsequent watershed analysis, and
adaptive management.
*(2) Adaptive management in a watershed analysis process requires advances in technology and cooperation among resource managers. The board finds that it is appropriate to promulgate rules to address certain cumulative effects by means of the watershed analysis system, while recognizing the pioneering nature of this system and the need to monitor its success in predicting and preventing adverse change to fish, water, and capital improvements of the state and its political subdivisions.
*(3) Many factors other than forest practices can have a significant effect on the condition of fish, water, and capital improvements of the state or its political subdivisions. Nonforest practice contributions to cumulative effects should be addressed by the appropriate jurisdictional authorities. When a watershed analysis identifies a potential adverse effect on fish, water, and capital improvements of the state or its political subdivisions from activities that are not regulated under chapter 76.09 RCW, the department should notify any governmental agency or Indian tribe having jurisdiction over those activities.
*(4) The rules in this chapter set forth a system for identifying the probability of change and the likelihood of this change adversely affecting specific characteristics of fish, water, and capital improvements of the state or its political subdivisions, and for using forest management prescriptions to avoid or minimize significant adverse effects from forest practices. The rules in this chapter are in addition to, and do not take the place of, the other forest practices rules in this TITLE 222 WAC.
*(5) These rules are intended to be applied and should be construed in such a manner as to minimize the delay associated with the review of individual forest practices applications and notifications by increasing the predictability of the process and the appropriate management response.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, 76.09.170 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 94-01-134, § 222-22-010, filed 12/20/93, effective 1/1/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, 76.09.050 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 92-15-011, § 222-22-010, filed 7/2/92, effective 8/2/92.]
(a) Forest resource management;
(b) Forest harvest and road systems engineering;
(c) Forest hydrology; and
(d) Fisheries science or management.
Any owner, and any cooperating group of owners, of ten percent or more of the nonfederal forest land acreage in the WAU and any affected Indian tribe shall be entitled to include one qualified individual to participate on the team at its own expense.
*(2) Each forest land owner in a WAU shall have the right to submit to the department or the forest land owner conducting the watershed analysis prescriptions for areas of resource sensitivity on its land. If these prescriptions are received within the time period described in subsection (4) of this section, they shall be considered for inclusion in the watershed analysis.
*(3) For each identified area of resource sensitivity, the field managers' team shall, in consultation with the level 1 and level 2 teams, if any, select and recommend to the department prescriptions. These prescriptions shall be reasonably designed to minimize, or to prevent or avoid, as set forth in table 1 in WAC 222-22-050 (2)(d), the likelihood of adverse change and deliverability that has the potential to cause a material, adverse effect to resource characteristics in accordance with the following:
(a) The prescriptions shall be designed to provide forest land owners and operators with as much flexibility as is reasonably possible while addressing the area of resource sensitivity. The prescriptions should, where appropriate, include, but not be limited to, plans for road abandonment, orphaned roads, and road maintenance and plans for applying prescriptions to recognized land features identified in the WAU as areas of resource sensitivity but not fully mapped;
(b) Restoration opportunities may be included as voluntary prescriptions where appropriate;
(c) Each set of prescriptions shall provide for an option
for an alternate plan under WAC 222-12-040, which the
applicant shows meets or exceeds the protection provided by
the other prescriptions approved for a given area of resource
sensitivity; ((and))
(d) The rules of forest practices and cumulative effects under this chapter shall not require mitigation for activities or events not regulated under chapter 76.09 RCW. Any hazardous condition subject to forest practices identified in a watershed analysis requiring corrective action shall be referred to the department for consideration under RCW 76.09.300 et seq.; and
(e) The forests and fish riparian permanent rules, when effective, supersede all existing watershed analysis riparian prescriptions with the exception of riparian management zones for exempt 20-acre parcels, when watershed analysis prescriptions were in effect before January 1, 1999. (See WAC 222-30-021, 222-30-022, and 222-30-023.) No new riparian prescriptions will be written after completion of the riparian management zone assessment report during a watershed analysis.
*(4) The field managers' team shall submit the recommended prescriptions to the department within 30 days of the submission to the department of the level 2 assessment under WAC 222-22-060 or within 21 days of the submission to the department of the level 1 assessment under WAC 222-22-050.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 76.09.040, [76.09.]050, [76.09.]370, 76.13.120(9). 01-12-042, § 222-22-070, filed 5/30/01, effective 7/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, 76.09.170 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 94-01-134, § 222-22-070, filed 12/20/93, effective 1/1/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, 76.09.050 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 92-15-011, § 222-22-070, filed 7/2/92, effective 8/2/92.]
(a) Any landowner within the WAU may apply for a multiyear permit to conduct forest practices according to the watershed analysis prescriptions. This permit is not renewable if a five-year review is found necessary by the department and has not been completed.
(b) Nonmultiyear forest practices applications and notifications submitted to the department shall indicate whether an area of resource sensitivity will be affected and, if so, which prescription the operator, timber owner, or forest land owner shall use in conducting the forest practice in the area of resource sensitivity;
(c) The department shall assist operators, timber owners, and forest land owners in obtaining governmental permits required for the prescription (see WAC 222-50-020 and 222-50-030);
(d) The department shall confirm that the prescription
selected under (((a))) (b) of this subsection was one of the
prescriptions approved for the area of resource sensitivity
under WAC 222-22-080 and shall require the use of the
prescription; and
(e) The department shall not further condition forest practices applications and notifications in an area of resource sensitivity in a WAU where the applicant will use a prescription contained in the watershed analysis nor shall the department further condition forest practices applications and notifications outside an area of resource sensitivity in a WAU, except for reasons other than the watershed processes and fish, water, and capital improvements of the state or its political subdivisions analyzed in the watershed analysis in the WAU, and except to correct mapping errors, misidentification of soils, landforms, vegetation, or stream features, or other similar factual errors.
*(2) Pending completion of a watershed analysis for a WAU, the department shall process forest practices notifications and applications in accordance with the other chapters of this title, except that applications and notifications received for forest practices on a WAU after the date notice is mailed under WAC 222-22-040(4) commencing a watershed analysis on the WAU shall be conditioned to require compliance with interim, draft, and final prescriptions, as available.
Processing and approval of applications and notifications shall not be delayed by reason of review, approval, or appeal of a watershed analysis.
*(3) The board encourages cooperative and voluntary monitoring. Evaluation of resource conditions may be conducted by qualified specialists, analysts, and field managers as determined under WAC 222-22-030. Subsequent watershed analysis and management strategies in response to areas where recovery is not occurring shall be conducted in accordance with this chapter.
*(4) Where the condition of resource characteristics in a WAU are fair or poor, the department shall evaluate the effectiveness of the prescriptions applied under this chapter to the WAU in providing for the protection and recovery of the resource characteristic. If the department finds that the prescriptions are not providing for such protection and recovery over a period of 3 years, the department shall repeat the watershed analysis in the WAU. Aside from the foregoing, once a watershed analysis is completed on a WAU, it shall be revised in whole or in part upon the earliest of the following to occur:
(a) Five years after the date the watershed analysis is final, if necessary;
(b) The occurrence of a natural disaster having a material adverse effect on the resource characteristics of the WAU;
(c) Deterioration in the condition of a resource characteristic in the WAU measured over a 12-month period or no improvement in a resource characteristic in fair or poor condition in the WAU measured over a 12-month period unless the department determines, in cooperation with the departments of ecology, fish and wildlife, affected Indian tribes, forest land owners, and the public, that a longer period is reasonably necessary to allow the prescriptions selected to produce improvement; or
(d) The request of an owner of forest land in the WAU, which wishes to conduct a watershed analysis at its own expense.
Revision of an approved watershed analysis shall be conducted in accordance with the processes, methods, and standards set forth in this chapter, except that the revised watershed analysis shall be conducted only on the areas affected in the case of revisions under (b) or (c) of this subsection, and may be conducted on areas smaller than the entire WAU in the case of revisions under (a) and (d) of this subsection. The areas on which the watershed analysis revision is to be conducted shall be determined by the department and clearly delineated on a map before beginning the assessment revision. Forest practices shall be conditioned under the current watershed analysis pending the completion of any revisions.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 76.09.040, [76.09.]050, [76.09.]370, 76.13.120(9). 01-12-042, § 222-22-090, filed 5/30/01, effective 7/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 97-24-091, § 222-22-090, filed 12/3/97, effective 1/3/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, 76.09.170 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 94-01-134, § 222-22-090, filed 12/20/93, effective 1/1/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, 76.09.050 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 92-15-011, § 222-22-090, filed 7/2/92, effective 8/2/92.]
OTS-7905.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 01-12-042, filed 5/30/01,
effective 7/1/01)
WAC 222-23-020
Submitting and processing of applications
for the riparian open space program.
(1) Qualifying CMZ
land(s). Lands that qualify for the riparian open space
program are those lands located within an unconfined avulsing
channel migration zone and are, as of the date an application
is submitted to the department under this section, identified
in records of the applicable county assessor as being
classified or designated as forest land under chapter 84.33 RCW or as being subject to current use taxation as forest land
under chapter 84.34 RCW. Qualifying CMZ lands may be placed
in the riparian open space program whether they represent all
or just a portion of the lands within the channel migration
zone along a particular stream segment. That is, the lands to
be placed in the program may include all of a landowner's
lands located within the channel migration zone up to the
boundary between that zone and the RMZ core area, or lands to
be included may include only a portion of a landowner's lands
within an unconfined avulsing channel migration zone of a
given stream segment. Likewise, where more than one landowner
owns land within the channel migration zone of a given stream
segment, any landowner may elect to participate in the
riparian open space program without regard to participation of
neighboring landowners.
Land does not qualify for the riparian open space program where the department has determined that:
(a) The lack of legal access to the land is likely to materially impair the department's ability to administer the riparian open space program with respect to the land;
(b) All persons having an interest of any description in the land, including, but not limited to, joint tenancy, tenancy in common, holder of easement, or holder of lien or security interest, have not agreed to convey or subordinate such interests to the state to the extent deemed necessary by the state to transfer the fee or easement free of or superior to any such interest;
(c) The land is subject to unacceptable liabilities as
defined in WAC ((222-23-20(4) [222-23-020(4)])) 222-23-020(4); or
(d) There is any other circumstance making the land unsuitable for fisheries enhancement or ecological protection.
(2) Application. An owner or owners of qualifying CMZ lands may apply to the department to place the lands within the riparian open space program. Applications for the riparian open space program may, at the landowners' option, be submitted at the same time as a forest practices application for adjoining or nearby forestlands, or may be submitted separately (and without reference to or the requirement of a current forest practices application). The application for the riparian open space program shall be in writing on a form provided by the department and shall contain the following information:
(a) Name, address, and telephone number of applicant(s);
(b) Contact name and telephone number for questions concerning the application;
(c) Location and description of the land proposed for inclusion in the program, including estimated acreage, a description of the methods used by the landowner to determine that the land is qualifying CMZ land and a map showing the approximate boundary between the channel migration zone and the adjoining RMZ core area (and in situations were the latter is not applicable, a description of the process the landowner used to determine that the qualifying CMZ land is within an unconfined avulsing stream channel migration zone);
(d) Tax parcel identification number(s) that contain the qualifying CMZ land;
(e) List of all persons having any right or interest in the land covered by the application for the riparian open space program and a description of such right or interest;
(f) The stumpage value area and hauling zone in which the qualifying lands lie (see map at WAC 458-40-640).
(g) A map of the qualifying CMZ land;
(h) A statement indicating the landowner's desire to place the land covered by the application within the riparian open space program and whether the landowner wishes to convey the qualifying land in fee or convey only a conservation easement;
(i) Whether the landowner wishes to receive the statutory compensation for the conveyance or wishes to donate the qualifying CMZ land;
(j) Whether the landowner representative submitting the application is aware of the presence of any hazardous substances on the lands;
(k) Description and documentation of the legal and physical access to the land being acquired;
(l) The type of boundary description proposed by landowner (survey or other description); and
(m) Any other information DNR determines is necessary to assess whether the land qualifies for the riparian open space program.
(3) Review and processing of application. Within ninety days of receipt of a complete and accurate application for the riparian open space program, the department shall preliminarily determine (and advise the applicant) whether lands proposed for the riparian open space program appear to meet the requirements of this chapter and of RCW 76.09.040 (3) and (4), and, if so, whether there is funding available for the purchase. This determination is subject to subsequent confirmation of all information required for the program and eligibility of the land as qualifying for the program. If the preliminary determination is that the land qualifies for the program and if funding is available for the proposed purchase, then the following shall occur within the ninety days following notice to the landowner of the preliminary determination:
(a) The landowner, in cooperation with the department, shall delineate on the ground the boundary line between the CMZ and the RMZ core area; following which,
(b) The department shall verify the appropriateness of that delineation, determine the standards for the boundary description (i.e., a survey or other), make a final determination whether there are any unacceptable liabilities on the lands proposed for inclusion in the program, and communicate the foregoing to the landowner.
If the department determines there are no unacceptable liabilities on the lands, the landowner shall mark the boundary (as verified) using tree tags or other long-term boundary marking methods specified by the department.
(4) Unacceptable liabilities. As used in this section, unacceptable liabilities are created by the presence of hazardous substances on the qualifying CMZ lands or by other condition that creates such a liability to the department that may jeopardize the department's ability to maintain fisheries enhancement or the ecological protection of the qualifying CMZ lands, and with respect to which liability the applicant is unwilling or unable to provide reasonable indemnification to the department. If the department finds unacceptable liabilities with respect to qualifying CMZ lands, the department may reject the landowner's application.
(5) Preparation of conveyance documents. Within ninety days following placement in the field of the long-term boundary between the CMZ and the RMZ core area as provided for in subsection (3) of this section, the following shall occur:
(a) The landowner shall:
(i) Traverse the boundary to determine the acreage of the qualifying lands;
(ii) Either perform a legal land survey or otherwise document the boundaries consistent with the requirements of WAC 222-23-030(3), as applicable; and
(iii) Prepare a map of the qualifying CMZ lands suitable for recording.
(b) The department shall:
(i) Conduct and finalize a cruise of the timber on the qualifying CMZ lands;
(ii) Determine the statutory compensation to be paid to the landowner;
(iii) Prepare conveyance documents consistent with this chapter; and
(iv) Prepare any other documents necessary for closing and recording the conveyance, including without limitation a real estate excise tax affidavit.
(6) Timber cruise. The timber cruise will be conducted by the department using a cruiser acceptable to the department and the landowner and using generally accepted cruise methodology and sampling intensity acceptable to both parties. The timber cruise shall measure all trees within the lands to be conveyed that contain measurable log volume and develop all information (species and grade) with respect to those trees necessary to apply the stumpage tables developed by the department of revenue pursuant to RCW 84.33.091; this includes volume by species and grade sufficient to apply the department of revenue stumpage tables in WAC 458-40-640, 458-40-650 and 458-40-660 (1) and (2). The department will provide the cruise data to the landowner; within thirty days thereafter, the landowner shall advise the department whether the cruise results are acceptable. The landowner or the department may, at their option, perform a check cruise.
(7) Compensation for conveyances. RCW 76.09.040(3) specifies the compensation the department shall pay for purchases of qualifying CMZ lands, unless the landowner chooses to donate the property in fee or donate a conservation easement.
(a) Fee interests. For conveyances of fee interests, the department shall pay for both the land value and the timber value, as determined in this subsection. The land value component shall be the acreage of qualifying CMZ lands to be conveyed multiplied by the average per acre value of all commercial forest land in Western Washington or the average for Eastern Washington, whichever average is applicable to the qualifying CMZ lands. The department shall determine the Western and Eastern Washington averages based on the land value tables established by RCW 84.33.120 and revised annually by the department of revenue (see WAC 458-40-540). The timber value component of the compensation shall be based on the cruise volume multiplied by the appropriate department of revenue stumpage values from the stumpage value table for the applicable stumpage value area and hauling distance zone. The stumpage value tables to be applied are those found in WAC 458-40-660(2). Except as provided in (c) of this subsection, the tables applied shall be those in effect as of the date the application under this section is submitted to the department by the landowner.
(b) Conservation easements. Conservation easements shall be perpetual and not for a term of years. For conveyances of a conservation easement in which the landowner conveys an interest in the trees only, the compensation shall only include the timber value component, determined as set forth in subsection (7)(a) of this section. For conveyances of a conservation easement in which the landowner conveys interests in both land and trees, the compensation shall include the timber value component plus such portion of the land value component as determined just and equitable by the department.
(c) Adjustment in compensation. Where the department does not complete its duties as required in subsections (3) through (5) of this section within the required time period or the department is unable to complete the acquisition because of a lack of funds or other reason, the landowner has the option to require that the department recompute the compensation based on the most recently published land value and stumpage value tables.
(8) ((Alternative)) Management options. In any
circumstance where qualifying CMZ lands are not acquired by
the department in fee or through a conservation easement, the
landowner may elect to develop ((an alternative)) a management
option for the lands in cooperation with the department, other
agencies and affected Indian tribes.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 76.09.040, [76.09.]050, [76.09.]370, 76.13.120(9). 01-12-042, § 222-23-020, filed 5/30/01, effective 7/1/01.]
(2) Use and management of lands and easement interests acquired under riparian open space program. Subject to the exceptions set forth in this subsection (or as otherwise provided in the conveyance or easement documents), the lands conveyed or subject to the conservation easements under this chapter shall be managed by the department only in a manner necessary for ecological protection or fisheries enhancement. The conveyance of lands under the riparian open space program shall not create a right of public access to the conveyed lands across adjoining or other lands owned by the landowner conveying property or an easement under the riparian open space program.
(3) Transfer of fee or easement interest or management
responsibility. After acquisition of a fee or easement
interest in qualifying CMZ lands, the department may transfer
its interest in such lands by a recorded instrument to another
state agency, a local government within which the lands lie,
or a private nonprofit nature ((conservation)) conservancy
corporation (as defined in RCW 64.04.130). Alternatively, the
department may contract with one or more of the foregoing
entities to exercise the department's management authority
over the qualifying CMZ lands. Any such contract will include
provisions fully advising the contracting party of the rights
of the landowner under this chapter and the conveyance
instrument. The department shall notify the landowner of any
transfer of its interest in the qualifying CMZ lands or any
transfer of management responsibilities over those lands,
provided that failure to so notify the landowner shall not
affect the validity of the transfer.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 76.09.040, [76.09.]050, [76.09.]370, 76.13.120(9). 01-12-042, § 222-23-025, filed 5/30/01, effective 7/1/01.]
OTS-7906.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 01-12-042, filed 5/30/01,
effective 7/1/01)
WAC 222-24-010
Policy.
*(1) A well designed, located,
constructed, and maintained system of forest roads is
essential to forest management and protection of the public
resources. Riparian areas contain some of the more productive
conditions for growing timber, are heavily used by wildlife
and provide essential habitat for fish and wildlife and
essential functions in the protection of water quality. Wetland areas serve several significant functions in addition
to timber production: Providing fish and wildlife habitat,
protecting water quality, moderating and preserving water
quantity. Wetlands may also contain unique or rare ecological
systems.
*(2) To protect water quality and riparian habitat, roads must be constructed and maintained in a manner that will prevent potential or actual damage to public resources. This will be accomplished by constructing and maintaining roads so as not to result in the delivery of sediment and surface water to any typed water in amounts, at times or by means, that preclude achieving desired fish habitat and water quality by:
• Providing for fish passage at all life stages (see Washington state department of fish and wildlife hydraulic code TITLE 220 WAC);
• Preventing mass wasting;
• Limiting delivery of sediment and surface runoff to all
typed waters; ((and))
• Avoiding capture and redirection of surface or ground water. This includes retaining streams in their natural drainages and routing subsurface flow captured by roads and road ditches back onto the forest floor;
• ((Divert)) Diverting most road runoff to the forest
floor;
• ((Provide)) Providing for the passage of some woody
debris;
• ((Protect)) Protecting stream bank stability;
• Minimizing the construction of new roads; and
• ((Assure)) Assuring that there is no net loss of
wetland function.
The road construction and maintenance rules in this
chapter must be applied in achieving these goals. Additional
guidance is identified in the board manual((,)) section 3. If
these goals are not achieved using the rules and the applied
guidance, additional management strategies must be employed.
*(3) Extra protection is required during road construction and maintenance to protect public resources and timber growing potential. Landowners and fisheries and wildlife managers are encouraged to cooperate in the development of road management and abandonment plans. Landowners are further encouraged to cooperate in sharing roads to minimize road mileage and avoid duplicative road construction.
*(4) This section covers the location, design, construction, maintenance and abandonment of forest roads, bridges, stream crossings, quarries, borrow pits, and disposal sites used for forest road construction and is intended to assist landowners in proper road planning, construction and maintenance so as to protect public resources.
| (Note: | Other laws and rules and/or permit requirements may apply. See chapter 222-50 WAC.) |
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 76.09.040, [76.09.]050, [76.09.]370, 76.13.120(9). 01-12-042, § 222-24-010, filed 5/30/01, effective 7/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, 76.09.170 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 94-01-134, § 222-24-010, filed 12/20/93, effective 1/1/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, 76.09.050 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 92-15-011, § 222-24-010, filed 7/2/92, effective 8/2/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040. 87-23-036 (Order 535), § 222-24-010, filed 11/16/87, effective 1/1/88. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and 76.09.050. 82-16-077 (Resolution No. 82-1), § 222-24-010, filed 8/3/82, effective 10/1/82; Order 263, § 222-24-010, filed 6/16/76.]
*(1) Landowners with 500 acres or more of forest land in a DNR region must maintain a schedule of submitting plans to the department that cover 20% of their roads or land base each year.
*(2) Landowners with less than 500 acres of forest land in a DNR region must submit with their first forest practices application or notification a road maintenance and abandonment plan covering the roads that will be used by the application. Within one year of the date of submittal of the first forest practices application or notification or before the end of 2005, whichever comes first, the landowner must submit a road maintenance and abandonment plan for the rest of their ownership in that region. Once the plan is approved, the landowner must attach or reference the approved road maintenance and abandonment plan when submitting subsequent applications.
(3) For those portions of their ownership that fall within a watershed administrative unit covered by an approved watershed analysis plan, chapter 222-22 WAC, landowners may follow the watershed administrative unit-road maintenance plan, providing the roads they own are covered by the plan. A proposal to update the road plan to meet the current road maintenance standards must be submitted to the department for review on or before the next scheduled road maintenance plan review. If annual reviews are not required as part of the watershed analysis road plan, the plan must be updated by October 1, 2005. All roads in the planning area must be in compliance with the current rules by the end of calendar year 2015. See the board manual section 3 for road maintenance and abandonment plan outline.
*(4) Plans will be submitted by landowners on a priority basis. Road systems or drainages in which improvement, abandonment or maintenance have the highest potential benefit to the public resource are the highest priority. Based upon a "worst first" principle, work on roads that affect the following are presumed to be the highest priority:
(a) Basins containing, or road systems potentially affecting, waters which either contain a listed threatened or endangered fish species under the federal or state law or a water body listed on the current 303(d) water quality impaired list for road related issues.
(b) Basins containing, or road systems potentially affecting, sensitive geology/soils areas with a history of slope failures.
(c) Road systems or basins where other restoration projects are in progress or may be planned coincident to the implementation of the proposed road plan.
(d) Road systems or basins likely to have the highest use in connection with future forest practices.
*(5) Based upon a "worst first" principle, road maintenance and abandonment plans must pay particular attention to:
(a) Roads that block fish passage;
(b) Roads that deliver sediment to typed water;
(c) Roads with evidence of existing or potential instability that could adversely affect public resources;
(d) Roads or ditchlines that intercept ground water; and
(e) Roads or ditches that deliver surface water to any typed waters.
*(6) Road maintenance and abandonment plans must include:
(a) Ownership maps showing all forest roads, including orphan roads; planned and potential abandonment, all typed water, Type A and B Wetlands that are adjacent to or crossed by roads, stream adjacent parallel roads and an inventory of the existing condition; and
(b) Detailed description of the first years work with a schedule to complete the entire plan within fifteen years; and
(c) Standard practices for routine road maintenance; and
(d) Storm maintenance strategy that includes prestorm planning, emergency maintenance and post storm recovery; and
(e) Inventory and assessment of the risk to public resources or public safety of orphaned roads; and
(f) The landowner or landowner representative's signature.
*(7) Priorities for road maintenance work within plans are:
(a) Removing blockages to fish passage beginning on roads affecting the most habitat first, generally starting at the bottom of the basin and working upstream;
(b) Preventing or limiting sediment delivery (areas where sediment delivery or mass wasting will most likely affect bull trout habitat will be given the highest priority);
(c) Correcting drainage or unstable sidecast in areas where mass wasting could deliver to public resources or threaten public safety;
(d) Disconnecting road drainage from typed waters;
(e) Repairing or maintaining stream-adjacent parallel roads with an emphasis on minimizing or eliminating water and sediment delivery;
(f) Improving hydrologic connectivity by minimizing the interruption of surface water drainage, interception of subsurface water, and pirating of water from one basin to another; and
(g) Repair or maintenance work which can be undertaken with the maximum operational efficiency.
*(8) Initial plans for landowners with 500 acres or more of forest land in a DNR region must be submitted to the department during the year 2001 as scheduled by the department.
*(9) Each year on the anniversary date of the plan's submittal, landowners must report work accomplished for the previous year and submit to the department a detailed description of the upcoming year's work including modifications to the existing work schedule.
The department's review and approval will be conducted in consultation with the department of ecology, the department of fish and wildlife, affected tribes and interested parties. The department will:
(a) Review the progress of the plans annually with the landowner to determine if the plan is being implemented as approved; and
(b) The plan will be reviewed by the department and approved or returned to the applicant with concerns that need to be addressed within forty-five days of the plan's submittal.
(c) Additional plans will be signed by the landowner or the landowner's representative.
*(10) The department will facilitate an annual water resource inventory area (WRIA) meeting with landowners, the department of fish and wildlife, the department of ecology, affected tribes, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, affected counties, local U.S. Forest Service, watershed councils, and other interested parties. The purpose of the meeting is to:
(a) Suggest priorities for road maintenance and abandonment planning; and
(b) Exchange information on road maintenance and stream restoration projects.
*(11) A forest practices application with a detailed one to five year work plan associated with a submitted road maintenance and abandonment plan will be treated as a multiyear permit. The application will be reviewed, approved, conditioned and/or disapproved within 45 days of acceptance. The application will be reviewed in consultation with the department of ecology, department of fish and wildlife, affected tribes and interested parties.
*(12) Regardless of the schedule for plan development, roads that are currently used or proposed to be used for timber hauling must be maintained in a condition that prevents potential or actual damage to public resources. If the department determines that log haul on such a road will cause or has the potential to cause material damage to a public resource, the department may require the applicant to submit a plan to address specific issues or segments on the haul route.
*(13) If a landowner is found to be out of compliance with the work schedule of an approved road maintenance and abandonment plan and the department determines that this work is necessary to prevent potential or actual damage to public resources, then the department will exercise its authority under WAC 222-46-030 (notice to comply) and WAC 222-46-040 (stop work order) to restrict use of the affected road segment.
(a) The landowner may submit a revised maintenance plan for maintenance and abandonment and request permission to use the road for log haul.
(b) The department must approve use of the road if the revised maintenance plan provides protection of the public resource and maintains the overall schedule of maintenance of the road system or basin.
*(14) If a landowner is notified by the department that their road(s) has the potential to damage public resources, the landowner must, within 90 days, submit to the department for review and approval a plan or plans for those drainages or road systems within the area identified by the department.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 76.09.040, [76.09.]050, [76.09.]370, 76.13.120(9). 01-12-042, § 222-24-051, filed 5/30/01, effective 7/1/01.]
OTS-7907.2
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 01-12-042, filed 5/30/01,
effective 7/1/01)
WAC *222-30-020
Harvest unit planning and design.
(1)
Logging system. The logging system should be appropriate for
the terrain, soils, and timber type so that yarding or
skidding can be economically accomplished and achieve the
ecological goals of WAC 222-30-010 (2), (3) and (4) in
compliance with these rules.
*(2) Landing locations. Locate landings to prevent damage to public resources. Avoid excessive excavation and filling.
*(3) Western Washington riparian management zones. (See WAC 222-30-021 and 222-30-023.)
*(4) Eastern Washington riparian management zones. (See WAC 222-30-022 and 222-30-023.)
*(5) Riparian leave tree areas. (See WAC 222-30-021, 222-30-022, and 222-30-023.)
*(6) Forested wetlands. Within the wetland, unless otherwise approved in writing by the department, harvest methods shall be limited to low impact harvest or cable systems. Where feasible, at least one end of the log shall be suspended during yarding.
(a) When forested wetlands are included within the harvest area, landowners are encouraged to leave a portion (30 to 70%) of the wildlife reserve tree requirement for the harvest area within a wetland. In order to retain undisturbed habitat within forested wetlands, these trees should be left in clumps. Leave tree areas should be clumped adjacent to streams, riparian management zones, or wetland management zones where possible and they exist within forested wetlands. Green recruitment trees should be representative of the size and species found within the wetland. Leave nonmerchantable trees standing where feasible.
(b) If a RMZ or WMZ lies within a forested wetland, the leave tree requirement associated with those areas may be counted toward the percentages in (a) of this subsection.
(c) Where riparian associated wetlands are present in the outer zone of a RMZ, trees may be left in the zone to maximize wetland function. See WAC 222-30-021 *(1)(c)(ii).
(d) If the conditions described in (a) and (b) of this subsection are met, the distribution requirements for wildlife reserve trees and green recruitment trees (subsection (11)(e) of this section) are modified as follows: For purposes of distribution, no point within the harvest unit shall be more than 1000 feet from a wildlife reserve tree and green recruitment tree retention area.
(e) Approximate determination of the boundaries of forested wetlands greater than 3 acres shall be required. Approximate boundaries and areas shall be deemed to be sufficient for harvest operations.
(f) The department shall consult with the department of fish and wildlife and affected Indian tribes about site specific impacts of forest practices on wetland-sensitive species in forested wetlands.
*(7) Wetland management zones (WMZ). These zones shall apply to Type A and B Wetlands, as indicated in (a) of this subsection, and shall be measured horizontally from the wetland edge or the point where the nonforested wetland becomes a forested wetland, as determined by the method described in the board manual section 8, and shall be of an average width as described in (a) of this subsection. These zones shall not be less than the minimum nor more than the maximum widths described in (a) of this subsection. When these zones overlap a riparian management zone the requirement which best protects public resources shall apply.
*(a) Wetland management zones (WMZ) shall have variable widths based on the size of the wetland and the wetland type, described as follows:
Wetland Management Zones
| Wetland Type | Acres of Nonforested Wetland* |
Maximum WMZ Width |
Average WMZ Width |
Minimum WMZ Width |
| A (including bogs) | Greater than 5 | 200 feet | 100 feet | 50 feet |
| A (including bogs) | 0.5 to 5 | 100 feet | 50 feet | 25 feet |
| A (bogs only) | 0.25 to 0.5 | 100 feet | 50 feet | 25 feet |
| B | Greater than 5 | 100 feet | 50 feet | 25 feet |
| B | 0.5 to 5 | 25 feet | ||
| B | 0.25 to 0.5 | No WMZ required | No WMZ required |
(b) Within the WMZ, leave a total of 75 trees per acre of
WMZ greater than 6 inches dbh in Western Washington and
greater than 4 inches dbh in Eastern Washington, 25 of which
shall be greater than 12 inches dbh including 5 trees greater
than 20 inches dbh, where they exist. Leave trees shall be
representative of the species found within the WMZ.
(c) Retain wildlife reserve trees where feasible. Type 1 and 3 wildlife reserve trees may be counted among, and need not exceed, the trees required in (b) of this subsection. Leave all cull logs on site.
(d) Partial-cutting or removal of groups of trees is acceptable within the WMZ. The maximum width of openings created by harvesting within the WMZ shall not exceed 100 feet as measured parallel to the wetland edge. Openings within WMZs shall be no closer than 200 feet. Landowners are encouraged to concentrate leave trees within the WMZ to the wetland edge.
*(e) Tractors, wheeled skidders, or other ground based harvesting systems shall not be used within the minimum WMZ width without written approval of the department.
*(f) When 10% or more of a harvest unit lies within a wetland management zone and either the harvest unit is a clearcut of 30 acres or less or the harvest unit is a partial cut of 80 acres or less, leave not less than 50% of the trees required in (b) of this subsection.
*(8) Type A or B Wetlands. Within the boundaries of Type A or B Wetlands the following shall apply:
(a) Individual trees or forested wetland areas less than 0.5 acre in size may occur. These trees have a high habitat value to the nonforested wetland. Leave individual trees or forested wetlands less than 0.5 acre. These trees may be counted toward the WMZ requirements.
(b) Harvest of upland areas or forested wetlands which are surrounded by Type A or B Wetlands must be conducted in accordance with a plan, approved in writing by the department.
(c) No timber shall be felled into or cable yarded across Type A or B Wetlands without written approval of the department.
(d) Harvest shall not be allowed within a Type A Wetland which meets the definition of a bog.
(9) Future productivity. Harvesting shall leave the land in a condition conducive to future timber production except:
(a) To the degree required for riparian management zones; or
(b) Where the lands are being converted to another use or classified urban lands as specified in WAC 222-34-050.
(10) Wildlife habitat. This subsection is designed to encourage timber harvest practices that would protect wildlife habitats, provided, that such action shall not unreasonably restrict landowners action without compensation.
(a) The applicant should make every reasonable effort to cooperate with the department of fish and wildlife to identify critical habitats (state) as defined by the board. Where these habitats are known to the applicant, they shall be identified in the application or notification.
(b) Harvesting methods and patterns in established big
game winter ranges should be designed to ((insure)) ensure
adequate access routes and escape cover where practical.
(i) Where practical, cutting units should be designed to
conform with topographical features.
(ii) Where practical on established big game winter ranges, cutting units should be dispersed over the area to provide cover, access for wildlife, and to increase edge effect.
(11) Wildlife reserve tree management. In areas where leaving wildlife reserve trees under this section will not create a significant fire hazard, or significant hazard to overhead power lines and operations that are proposed in the vicinity of wildlife reserve trees will not create a significant safety or residential hazard nor conflict with achieving conformance with the limitation of or performance with the provisions of chapter 76.04 RCW (snag falling law) and chapter 49.17 RCW (safety), wildlife reserve trees will be left to protect habitat for cavity nesting wildlife in accordance with the following:
(a) For the purposes of this subsection the following defines eastern and western Washington boundaries for wildlife reserve tree management. Beginning at the International Border and Okanogan National Forest boundary at the N1/4 corner Section 6, T. 40N, R. 24E., W.M., south and west along the Pasayten Wilderness boundary to the west line of Section 30, T. 37N, R. 19E.,
Thence south on range line between R. 18E. and R. 19E., to the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness at Section 31, T. 35N, R. 19E.,
Thence south and east along the eastern wilderness boundary of Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness to the west line of Section 18, T. 31N, R. 19E. on the north shore of Lake Chelan,
Thence south on the range line between R. 18E. and R. 19E. to the SE corner of T. 28N, R. 18E.,
Thence west on the township line between T. 27N, and T. 28N to the NW corner of T. 27N, R. 17E.,
Thence south on range line between R. 16E. and R. 17E. to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness at Section 31, T. 26N, R. 17E.,
Thence south along the eastern wilderness boundary to the west line of Section 6, T. 22N, R. 17E.,
Thence south on range line between R. 16E. and R. 17E. to the SE corner of T. 22N, R. 16E.,
Thence west along township line between T. 21N, and T. 22N to the NW corner of T. 21N, R. 15E.,
Thence south along range line between R. 14E. and R. 15E. to the SW corner of T. 20N, R. 15E.,
Thence east along township line between T. 19N, and T. 20N to the SW corner of T. 20N, R. 16E.,
Thence south along range line between R. 15E. and R. 16E. to the SW corner of T. 18N, R. 16E.,
Thence west along township line between T. 17N, and T. 18N to the SE corner of T. 18N, R. 14E.,
Thence south along range line between T. 14E. and R. 15E. to the SW corner of T. 14N, R. 15E.,
Thence south and west along Wenatchee National Forest boundary to the NW corner of T. 12N, R. 14E.,
Thence south along range line between R. 13E. and R. 14E. to the SE corner of T. 10N, R. 13E.,
Thence west along township line between T. 9N, and T. 10N to the NW corner of T. 9N, R. 12E.,
Thence south along range line between R. 11E. and R. 12E. to the SE corner of T. 8N, R. 11E.,
Thence west along township line between T. 7N, and T. 8N to the Gifford Pinchot National Forest boundary,
Thence south along forest boundary to the SE corner of Section 33, T. 7N, R. 11E.,
Thence west along township line between T. 6N, and T. 7N to the SE corner of T. 7N, R. 9E.,
Thence south along Skamania-Klickitat County line to Oregon-Washington.
(b) In Western Washington, for each acre harvested 3 wildlife reserve trees, 2 green recruitment trees, and 2 down logs shall be left. In Eastern Washington for each acre harvested 2 wildlife reserve trees, 2 green recruitment trees, and 2 down logs shall be left. Type 1 wildlife reserve trees may be counted, at the landowner's option, either as a wildlife reserve tree or as a green recruitment tree. If adequate wildlife reserve trees are not available, no additional green recruitment trees will be required as substitutes. Landowners shall not under any circumstances be required to leave more than 2 green recruitment trees per acre for the purpose of wildlife reserve tree recruitment, or be required to leave Type 3 or 4 wildlife reserve trees.
(c) In Western Washington, only those wildlife reserve trees 10 or more feet in height and 12 or more inches dbh shall be counted toward wildlife reserve tree retention requirements. In Eastern Washington, only those wildlife reserve trees 10 or more feet in height and 10 or more inches dbh shall be counted toward wildlife reserve tree retention requirements. Green recruitment trees, 10 or more inches dbh and 30 or more feet in height and with at least 1/3 of their height in live crown, left standing after harvest may be counted toward green recruitment tree requirements. Green recruitment trees and/or wildlife reserve trees left to meet other requirements of the rules or those left voluntarily by the landowner shall be counted toward satisfying the requirements of this section. Large, live defective trees with broken tops, cavities, and other severe defects are preferred as green recruitment trees. Only down logs with a small end diameter greater than or equal to 12 inches and a length greater than or equal to 20 feet or equivalent volume shall be counted under (a) of this subsection. Large cull logs are preferred as down logs.
(d) In the areas where wildlife reserve trees are left, the largest diameter wildlife reserve trees shall be retained to meet the specific needs of cavity nesters. Where the opportunity exists, larger trees with numerous cavities should be retained and count as recruitment trees.
(e) In order to facilitate safe and efficient harvesting operations, wildlife reserve trees and recruitment trees may be left in clumps. For purposes of distribution, no point within the harvest unit shall be more than 800 feet from a wildlife reserve tree or green recruitment tree retention area. Subject to this distribution requirement, the location of these retention areas and the selection of recruitment trees shall be at the landowner's discretion. Closer spacing of retention areas through voluntary action of the landowner is encouraged. Wildlife reserve tree and green recruitment tree retention areas may include, but are not limited to, riparian management zones, riparian leave tree areas, other regulatory leave areas, or voluntary leave areas that contain wildlife reserve trees and/or green recruitment trees.
(f) In order to provide for safety, landowners may remove any Type 3 or 4 wildlife reserve tree, which poses a threat to humans working, recreating, or residing within the hazard area of that tree. In order to provide for fire safety, the distribution of wildlife reserve tree retention areas, described in (e) of this subsection, may be modified as necessary based on a wildlife reserve tree management plan proposed by the landowner and approved by the department.
*(12) Channel migration zones. No harvest, construction or salvage will be permitted within the boundaries of a channel migration zone except for the construction and maintenance of road crossings in accordance with applicable rules and the creation and use of yarding corridors consistent with WAC 222-24-020(6), 222-30-060(1), 222-30-045(2), and chapter 220-110 WAC (Hydraulic code rules).
(13) Bankfull width. No harvest or construction will be permitted within the bankfull width of any Type S or F Water or any buffered length of Type Np Water, except for the construction and maintenance of road crossings in accordance with applicable rules and creation and use of yarding corridors consistent with WAC 222-30-020 *(5)(a), 222-24-060(1), and chapter 220-110 WAC (Hydraulic code rules). No salvage may take place within the bankfull width of any typed water (see WAC 222-30-045).
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 76.09.040, [76.09.]050, [76.09.]370, 76.13.120(9). 01-12-042, § 222-30-020, filed 5/30/01, effective 7/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 97-24-091, § 222-30-020, filed 12/3/97, effective 1/3/98; 97-15-105, § 222-30-020, filed 7/21/97, effective 8/21/97; 94-17-033, § 222-30-020, filed 8/10/94, effective 8/13/94; 93-12-001, § 222-30-020, filed 5/19/93, effective 6/19/93. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.060, 76.09.040 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 92-23-056, § 222-30-020, filed 11/17/92, effective 12/18/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, 76.09.050 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 92-15-011, § 222-30-020, filed 7/2/92, effective 8/2/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040. 88-19-112 (Order 551, Resolution No. 88-1), § 222-30-020, filed 9/21/88, effective 11/1/88; 87-23-036 (Order 535), § 222-30-020, filed 11/16/87, effective 1/1/88; Order 263, § 222-30-020, filed 6/16/76.]
*(1) Western Washington RMZs for Type S and F Waters have three zones: The core zone is nearest to the water, the inner zone is the middle zone, and the outer zone is furthest from the water. (See definitions in WAC 222-16-010.) RMZ dimensions vary depending on the site class of the land, the management harvest option, and the bankfull width of the stream. See tables for management options 1 and 2 below.
None of the limitations on harvest in each of the three zones listed below will preclude or limit the construction and maintenance of roads for the purpose of crossing streams in WAC 222-24-030 and 222-24-050, or the creation and use of yarding corridors in WAC 222-30-060(1).
The shade requirements in WAC 222-30-040 must be met regardless of harvest opportunities provided in the inner zone RMZ rules. See the board manual section 1.
(a) Core zones. No timber harvest or construction is allowed in the core zone except operations related to forest roads as detailed in subsection (1) of this section. Any trees cut for or damaged by yarding corridors in the core zone must be left on the site. Any trees cut as a result of road construction to cross a stream may be removed from the site, unless used as part of a large woody debris placement strategy or as needed to reach stand requirements.
(b) Inner zones. Forest practices in the inner zone must be conducted in such a way as to meet or exceed stand requirements to achieve the goal in WAC 222-30-010(2). The width of the inner zone is determined by site class, bankfull width, and management option. Timber harvest in this zone must be consistent with the stand requirements in order to reach the desired future condition targets.
"Stand requirement" means a number of trees per acre, the basal area and the proportion of conifer in the combined inner zone and adjacent core zone so that the growth of the trees would meet desired future conditions. The following table defines basal area targets when the stand is 140 years old.
| Site Class | Desired future condition target basal area per acre (at 140 years) |
| I | 285 sq. ft. |
| II | 275 sq. ft. |
| III | 258 sq. ft. |
| IV | 224 sq. ft. |
| V | 190 sq. ft. |
(i) Hardwood conversion in the inner zone. When the existing stands in the combined core and inner zone do not meet stand requirements, no harvest is permitted in the inner zone, except in connection with hardwood conversion.
(A) The landowner may elect to convert hardwood-dominated stands in the inner zone to conifer-dominated stands. Harvesting and replanting shall be in accordance with the following limits:
(I) Conversion activities in the inner zone of any harvest unit are only allowed where all of the following are present:
• Existing stands in the combined core and inner zone do not meet stand requirements (WAC 222-30-021 (1)(b));
• There are fewer than 57 conifer trees per acre 8 inches or larger dbh in the conversion area;
• There are fewer than 100 conifer trees per acre larger than 4 inches dbh in the conversion area;
• There is evidence (such as conifer stumps, historical photos, or a conifer understory) that the conversion area can be successfully reforested with conifer and support the development of conifer stands;
• The landowner owns 500 feet ((above)) upstream and
((below)) 500 feet downstream of the harvest unit;
• The core and inner zones contain no stream adjacent parallel roads;
• Riparian areas contiguous to the proposed harvest unit
are owned by the landowner proposing to conduct the conversion
activities, and meet shade requirements of WAC 222-30-040 or
have a 75-foot buffer with trees at least 40 feet tall on both
sides of the stream for 500 feet ((above)) upstream and
((below)) 500 feet downstream of the proposed harvest unit (or
the length of the stream, if less);
• ((The landowner has performed post-harvest treatment to
the satisfaction of the department on previously converted
hardwood-dominated stands.)) If the landowner has previously
converted hardwood-dominated stands, then post-harvest
treatments must have been performed to the satisfaction of the
department.
(II) In addition to the conditions set forth above, permitted conversion activities in the inner zone of any harvest unit are limited by the following:
• Each continuous conversion area is not more than 500 feet in length; two conversion areas will be considered "continuous" unless the no-harvest area separating the two conversion areas is at least half the length of the larger of the two conversion areas.
• Type S and F (Type 1, 2, or 3) Water: Up to 50% of the inner zone area of the harvest unit on one side of the stream may be converted provided that:
♦ The landowner owns the opposite side of the stream and the landowner's riparian area on the opposite bank meets the shade requirements of WAC 222-30-040 or has a 75-foot buffer of trees at least 40 feet tall or:
♦ The landowner does not own land on the opposite side of the stream but the riparian area on the opposite bank meets the shade requirements of WAC 222-30-040 or has a 75-foot buffer of trees at least 40 feet tall.
• Not more than 25% of the inner zone of the harvest unit on both sides of a Type S or F Water may be converted if the landowner owns both sides.
(III) Where conversion is allowed in the inner zone, trees within the conversion area may be harvested except that:
• Conifer trees larger than 20 inches dbh shall not be harvested;
• Not more than 10% of the conifer stems greater than 8 inches dbh, exclusive of the conifer noted above, within the conversion area may be harvested; and
• The landowner must exercise reasonable care in the conduct of harvest activities to minimize damage to all residual conifer trees within the conversion area including conifer trees less than 8 inches dbh.
(IV) Following harvest in conversion areas, the landowner must:
• Reforest the conversion area with conifer tree species suitable to the site in accordance with the requirements of WAC 222-34-010; and
• Conduct post-harvest treatment of the site until the conifer trees necessary to meet acceptable stocking levels in WAC 222-34-010(2) have crowns above the brush or until the conversion area contains a minimum of 150 conifer trees greater than 8 inches dbh per acre.
• Notify the department in writing within three years of the approval of the forest practices application for hardwood conversion, if the hardwood conversion has been completed.
(V) Tracking hardwood conversion. The purpose of tracking hardwood conversion is to determine if hardwood conversion is resulting in adequate enhancement of riparian functions toward the desired future condition while minimizing the short term impacts on functions. The department will use existing or updated data bases developed in cooperation with the Washington Hardwoods Commission to identify watershed administrative units (WAUs) with a high percentage of hardwood-dominated riparian areas and, thus have the potential for excessive hardwood conversion under these rules. The department will track the rate of conversion of hardwoods in the riparian zone: (1) Through the application process on an annual basis; and (2) at a WAU scale on a biennial basis as per WAC 222-30-120 through the adaptive management process which will develop thresholds of impact for hardwood conversion at the watershed scale.
(ii) Harvest options.
(A) No inner zone management. When the existing stands in the combined core and inner zone do not meet stand requirements, no harvest is permitted in the inner zone. When no harvest is permitted in the inner zone or the landowner chooses not to enter the inner zone, the width of core, inner and outer zones are as provided in the following table:
No inner zone management RMZ widths for Western Washington
| Site Class | RMZ width | Core zone
width
|
Inner zone width
|
Outer zone width
|
||
| stream width ≤10' |
stream width >10' | stream width ≤10' | stream width >10' | |||
| I | 200' | 50' | 83' | 100' | 67' | 50' |
| II | 170' | 50' | 63' | 78' | 57' | 42' |
| III | 140' | 50' | 43' | 55' | 47' | 35' |
| IV | 110' | 50' | 23' | 33' | 37' | 27' |
| V | 90' | 50' | 10' | 18' | 30' | 22' |
(B) Inner zone management. If trees can be harvested and removed from the inner zone because of surplus basal area consistent with the stand requirement, the harvest and removal of the trees must be undertaken consistent with one of two options:
(I) Option 1. Thinning from below. The objective of thinning is to distribute stand requirement trees in such a way as to shorten the time required to meet large wood, fish habitat and water quality needs. This is achieved by increasing the potential for leave trees to grow larger than they otherwise would without thinning. Thinning harvest under option 1 must comply with the following:
• Residual trees left in the combined core and inner zones must meet stand requirements necessary to be on a trajectory to desired future condition. See board manual section 7 for guidelines.
• Thinning must be from below, meaning the smallest dbh trees are selected for harvest first, then progressing to successively larger diameters.
• Thinning cannot decrease the proportion of conifer in the stand.
• Shade retention to meet the shade rule must be confirmed by the landowner for any harvest inside of 75 feet from the outer edge of bankfull width or outer edge of CMZ, whichever is greater.
• The number of residual conifer trees per acre in the inner zone will equal or exceed 57.
Option 1. Thinning from below.
| Site class |
RMZ width |
Core zone width
|
Inner zone width
|
Outer zone width
|
||
| stream width ≤10' |
stream width >10' |
stream width ≤10' |
stream width >10' |
|||
| I | 200' | 50' | 83' | 100' | 67' | 50' |
| II | 170' | 50' | 63' | 78' | 57' | 42' |
| III | 140' | 50' | 43' | 55' | 47' | 35' |
| IV | 110' | 50' | 23' | 33' | 37' | 27' |
| V | 90' | 50' | 10' | 18' | 30' | 22' |
(II) Option 2. Leaving trees closest to the water. Management option 2 applies only to riparian management zones for site class I, II, and III on streams that are less than or equal to 10 feet wide and RMZs in site class I and II for streams greater than 10 feet wide. Harvest must comply with the following:
• Harvest is not permitted within 30 feet of the core zone for streams less than or equal to 10 feet wide and harvest is not permitted within 50 feet of the core zone for streams greater than 10 feet wide;
• Residual leave trees in the combined core and inner zone must meet stand requirements necessary to be on a trajectory to desired future condition. See board manual section 7 for calculating stand requirements;
• A minimum of 20 conifers per acre, with a minimum 12-inch dbh, will be retained in any portion of the inner zone where harvest occurs. These riparian leave trees will not be counted or considered towards meeting applicable stand requirements nor can the number be reduced below 20 for any reason.
• Trees are selected for harvest starting from the outer most portion of the inner zone first then progressively closer to the stream.
• If (II) of this subsection results in surplus basal area per the stand requirement, the landowner may take credit for the surplus by harvesting additional riparian leave trees required to be left in the adjacent outer zone on a basal area-for-basal area basis. The number of leave trees in the outer zone can be reduced only to a minimum of 10 trees per acre.
Option 2. Leaving trees closest to water.
| Site class | RMZ width | Core zone
width
|
Inner zone width | Outer zone width
|
|||||
| stream
width ≤10' |
stream
width ≤10' |
stream
width >10' |
stream
width >10' |
stream
width ≤10' |
stream
width >10' |
||||
| minimum floor distance | minimum floor distance | ||||||||
| (measured from outer edge of core zone) | (measured from outer edge of core zone) | (measured from outer edge of core zone) | (measured from outer edge of core zone) | ||||||
| I | 200' | 50' | 84' | 30' | 84' | 50' | 66' | 66' | |
| II | 170' | 50' | 64' | 30' | 70' | 50' | 56' | 50' | |
| III | 140' | 50' | 44' | 30' | ** | ** | 46' | ** | |
(iii) Where the basal area components of the stand
requirement cannot be met within the sum of the areas in the
inner and core zone due to the presence of a stream-adjacent
parallel road in the inner or core zone, a determination must
be made of the approximate basal area that would have been
present in the inner and core zones if the road was not
occupying space in the core or inner zone and the shortfall in
the basal area component of the stand requirement. See
definition of "stream-adjacent parallel road" in WAC 222-16-010.
(A) Trees containing basal area equal to the amount determined in (iii) of this subsection will be left elsewhere in the inner or outer zone, or if the zones contain insufficient riparian leave trees, substitute riparian leave trees will be left within the RMZ width of other Type S or F Waters in the same unit or along Type Np or Ns Waters in the same unit in addition to all other RMZ requirements on those same Type S, F, Np or Ns Waters.
(B) When the stream-adjacent road basal area calculated in (iii) of this subsection results in an excess in basal area (above stand requirement) then the landowner may receive credit for such excess which can be applied on a basal area-by-basal area basis against the landowner's obligation to leave trees in the outer zone of the RMZ of such stream or other waters within the same unit, provided that the number of trees per acre in the outer zone is not reduced to less than 10 trees per acre.
(C) When the basal area requirement cannot be met, as explained in (iii) of this subsection, the shortfall may be reduced through the implementation of an acceptable large woody debris placement plan. See board manual section 26 for guidelines.
(iv) If a harvest operation includes both yarding and harvest activities within the RMZ, all calculations of basal area for stand requirements will be determined as if the yarding corridors were constructed prior to any other harvest activities. If trees cut or damaged by yarding are taken from excess basal area, these trees may be removed from the inner zone. Trees cut or damaged by yarding in a unit which does not meet the basal area target of the stand requirements cannot be removed from the inner zone. Any trees cut or damaged by yarding in the core zone may not be removed.
(c) Outer zones. Timber harvest in the outer zone must leave 20 riparian leave trees per acre after harvest. "Outer zone riparian leave trees" are trees that must be left after harvest in the outer zone in Western Washington. Riparian leave trees must be left uncut throughout all future harvests:
Outer zone riparian leave tree requirements
| Application | Leave tree spacing | Tree species | Minimum dbh required |
| Outer zone | Dispersed | Conifer | 12" dbh or greater |
| Outer zone | Clumped | Conifer | 12" dbh or greater |
| Protection of sensitive features | Clumped | Trees representative of the overstory including both hardwood and conifer | 8" dbh or greater |
The 20 riparian leave trees to be left can be reduced in number under the circumstances delineated in (c)(iv) of this subsection. The riparian leave trees must be left on the landscape according to one of the following two strategies. A third strategy is available to landowners who agree to a LWD placement plan.
(i) Dispersal strategy. Riparian leave trees, which means conifer species with a diameter measured at breast height (dbh) of 12 inches or greater, must be left dispersed approximately evenly throughout the outer zone. If riparian leave trees of 12" dbh or greater are not available, then the next largest conifers must be left. If conifers are not present, riparian leave trees must be left according to the clumping strategy in subsection (ii) below.
(ii) Clumping strategy. Riparian leave trees must be left clumped in the following way:
(A) Clump trees in or around one or more of the following sensitive features to the extent available within the outer zone. When clumping around sensitive features, riparian leave trees must be 8 inches dbh or greater and representative of the overstory canopy trees in or around the sensitive feature and may include both hardwood and conifer species. Sensitive features are:
(I) Seeps and springs;
(II) Forested wetlands;
(III) Topographic locations (and orientation) from which leave trees currently on the site will be delivered to the water;
(IV) Areas where riparian leave trees may provide windthrow protection;
(V) Small unstable, or potentially unstable, slopes not of sufficient area to be detected by other site evaluations. See WAC 222-16-050 (1)(d).
(VI) Archeological or historical sites registered with the Washington state office of archeology and historic preservation. See WAC 222-16-050 (1)(g); or
(VII) Sites containing evidence of Native American cairns, graves or glyptic records. See WAC 222-16-050 (1)(f).
(B) If sensitive features are not present, then clumps must be well distributed throughout the outer zone and the leave trees must be of conifer species with a dbh of 12 inches or greater. When placing clumps, the applicant will consider operational and biological concerns. Tree counts must be satisfied regardless of the presence of stream-adjacent parallel roads in the outer zone.
(iii) Large woody debris in-channel placement strategy. A landowner may design a LWD placement plan in cooperation with the department of fish and wildlife. The plan must be consistent with guidelines in the board manual section 26. The landowner may reduce the number of trees required to be left in the outer zone to the extent provided in the approved LWD placement plan. Reduction of trees in the outer zone must not go below a minimum of 10 trees per acre. If this strategy is chosen, a complete forest practices application must include a copy of the WDFW approved hydraulics project approval (HPA) permit.
(iv) Twenty riparian leave trees must be left after harvest with the exception of the following:
(A) If a landowner agrees to implement a placement strategy, see (iii) of this subsection.
(B) If trees are left in an associated channel migration zone, the landowner may reduce the number of trees required to be left according to the following:
(I) Offsets will be measured on a basal area-for-basal area basis.
(II) Conifer in a CMZ equal to or greater than 6" dbh will offset conifer in the outer zone at a one-to-one ratio.
(III) Hardwood in a CMZ equal to or greater than 10" dbh will offset hardwood in the outer zone at a one-to-one ratio.
(IV) Hardwood in a CMZ equal to or greater than 10" dbh will offset conifer in the outer zone at a three-to-one ratio.
*(2) Western Washington protection for Type Np and Ns Waters.
(a) An equipment limitation zone is a 30-foot wide zone measured horizontally from the outer edge of the bankfull width of a Type Np or Ns Water where equipment use and other forest practices that are specifically limited by these rules. It applies to all perennial and seasonal streams.
(i) On-site mitigation is required if any of the following activities exposes the soil on more than 10% of the surface area of the zone:
(A) Ground based equipment;
(B) Skid trails;
(C) Stream crossings (other than existing roads); or
(D) Cabled logs that are partially suspended.
(ii) Mitigation must be designed to replace the equivalent of lost functions especially prevention of sediment delivery. Examples include water bars, grass seeding, mulching, etc.
(iii) Nothing in this subsection (2) reduces or eliminates the department's authority to prevent actual or potential material damage to public resources under WAC 222-46-030 or 222-46-040 or any related authority to condition forest practices notifications or applications.
(b) Sensitive site and RMZs protection along Type Np Waters. Forest practices must be conducted to protect Type Np RMZs and sensitive sites as detailed below:
(i) A 50-foot, no-harvest buffer, measured horizontally from the outer edge of bankfull width, will be established along each side of the Type Np Water as follows:
Required no-harvest, 50-foot buffers on Type Np Waters.
| Length of Type Np Water from the confluence of Type S or F Water | Length of 50' buffer required on Type Np Water (starting at the confluence of the Type Np and connecting water) |
| Greater than 1000' | 500' |
| Greater than 300' but less than 1000' | Distance of the greater of 300' or 50% of the entire length of the Type Np Water |
| Less than or equal to 300' | The entire length of Type Np Water |
(ii) No timber harvest is permitted in an area within 50 feet of the outer perimeter of a soil zone perennially saturated from a headwall seep.
(iii) No timber harvest is permitted in an area within 50 feet of the outer perimeter of a soil zone perennially saturated from a side-slope seep.
(iv) No timber harvest is permitted within a 56-foot radius buffer patch centered on the point of intersection of two or more Type Np Waters.
(v) No timber harvest is permitted within a 56-foot radius buffer patch centered on a headwater spring or, in the absence of a headwater spring, on a point at the upper most extent of a Type Np Water as defined in WAC 222-16-030(3) and 222-16-031.
(vi) No timber harvest is permitted within an alluvial fan.
(vii) At least 50% of a Type Np Waters' length must be protected by buffers on both sides of the stream (2-sided buffers). Buffered segments must be a minimum of 100 feet in length. If an operating area is located more than 500 feet upstream from the confluence of a Type S or F Water and the Type Np Water is more than 1,000 feet in length, then buffer the Type Np Water according to the following table. If the percentage is not met by protecting sensitive sites listed in (b)(i) through (vii) of this subsection, then additional buffers are required on the Type Np Water to meet the requirements listed in the table.
Minimum percent of length of Type Np Waters to be buffered when more than 500 feet upstream from the confluence of a Type S or F Water
| Total length of a Type Np Water upstream from the confluence of a Type S or F Water | Percent of length of Type Np Water that must be protected with a 50 foot no harvest buffer more than 500 feet upstream from the confluence of a Type S or F Water |
| 1000 feet or less | Refer to table in this subsection (i) above |
| 1001 - 1300 feet | 19% |
| 1301 - 1600 feet | 27% |
| 1601 - 2000 feet | 33% |
| 2001 - 2500 feet | 38% |
| 2501 - 3500 feet | 42% |
| 3501 - 5000 feet | 44% |
| Greater than 5000 feet | 45% |
The landowner must select the necessary priority areas for additional 2-sided buffers according to the following priorities:
(A) Low gradient areas;
(B) Perennial water reaches of nonsedimentary rock with gradients greater than 20% in the tailed frog habitat range;
(C) Hyporheic and ground water influence zones; and
(D) Areas downstream from other buffered areas.
Except for the construction and maintenance of road crossings and the creation and use of yarding corridors, no timber harvest will be allowed in the designated priority areas. Landowners must leave additional acres equal to the number of acres (including partial acres) occupied by an existing stream-adjacent parallel road within a designated priority area buffer.
(c) None of the limitations on harvest in or around Type Np Water RMZs or sensitive sites listed in (b) of this subsection will preclude or limit:
(i) The construction and maintenance of roads for the purpose of crossing streams in WAC 222-24-030 and 222-24-050.
(ii) The creation and use of yarding corridors in WAC 222-30-060(1).
To the extent reasonably practical, the operation will both avoid creating yarding corridors or road crossings through Type Np Water RMZ or sensitive sites and associated buffers, and avoid management activities which would result in soil compaction, the loss of protective vegetation or sedimentation in perennially moist areas.
Where yarding corridors or road crossings through Type Np Water RMZs or sensitive sites and their buffers cannot reasonably be avoided, the buffer area must be expanded to protect the sensitive site by an area equivalent to the disturbed area or by providing comparable functions through other management initiated efforts.
Landowners must leave additional acres equal to the number of acres (including partial acres) occupied by an existing stream-adjacent parallel road within a Type Np Water RMZs or sensitive site buffer.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 76.09.040, [76.09.]050, [76.09.]370, 76.13.120(9). 01-12-042, § 222-30-021, filed 5/30/01, effective 7/1/01.]
Eastern Washington RMZ for streams with bankfull width
of less than or equal to 15 feet wide
| Site Class |
Total
RMZ Width |
Core Zone
Width From outer edge of bankfull width or outer edge of CMZ, whichever is greater |
Inner Zone Width |
Outer Zone Width |
| I | 130' | 30' | 45' | 55' |
| II | 110' | 30' | 45' | 35' |
| III | 90' | 30' | 45' | 15' |
| IV | 75' | 30' | 45' | 0' |
| V | 75' | 30' | 45' | 0' |
Eastern Washington RMZ for streams with bankfull width
of greater than 15 feet wide
| Site Class |
Total
RMZ Width |
Core Zone
Width From outer edge of bankfull width or outer edge of CMZ, whichever is greater |
Inner Zone Width |
Outer Zone Width |
| I | 130' | 30' | 70' | 30' |
| II | 110' | 30' | 70' | 10' |
| III | 100' | 30' | 70' | 0' |
| IV | 100' | 30' | 70' | 0' |
| V | 100' | 30' | 70' | 0' |
*(1) Eastern Washington RMZs on Type S and F Waters have three zones: The core zone is nearest to the edge of the bankfull width or outer edge of the CMZ, whichever is greater. The inner zone is the middle zone, and the outer zone is furthest from the water. Permitted forest practices vary by timber habitat type and site class.
None of the limitations on harvest in each of the three zones listed below will preclude or limit the construction and maintenance of roads for the purpose of crossing streams in accordance with WAC 222-24-030 and 222-24-050, or the creation and use of yarding corridors in accordance with WAC 222-30-060(1).
The shade requirements in WAC 222-30-040 must be met regardless of harvest opportunities provided in the inner zone RMZ rules. See the board manual, section 1.
(a) Core zones. The core zone extends 30 feet measured horizontally from the edge of the bankfull width or outer edge of the CMZ, whichever is greater, for all timber habitat types. No harvest or construction is allowed in the core zone except as detailed in subsection (1) of this section. Any trees cut for or damaged by yarding corridors must be left on site. Any trees cut as a result of road construction to cross a stream may be removed from the site unless used as part of a large woody debris replacement strategy.
(b) Inner zones. Width and leave tree requirements of the inner zone vary by timber habitat type as outlined below.
(i) Ponderosa pine timber habitat type.
(A) The width of the inner zone is 70 feet measured horizontally from the outer edge of the core zone on streams greater than 15 feet bankfull width or 45 feet measured horizontally from the outer edge of the core zone on streams with a bankfull width of 15 feet or less.
(B) No harvest is allowed in the inner zone except as described in (C) or (D) below, and as allowed for stream crossings and yarding corridors as described above in subsection (1).
(C) Stands with a high basal area: Harvest is permitted in the inner zone if the basal area in the inner zone is greater than 110 square feet per acre for conifer and hardwood trees equal to or greater than 6 inches dbh. The harvest must leave at least 50 trees per acre AND subject to subclause (III) below, a basal area of at least 60 square feet per acre. The trees to be left shall be selected as follows:
(I) The 21 largest trees per acre must be left; and
(II) An additional 29 trees per acre that are 10-inch dbh or greater must be left. If there are less than 29 10-inch dbh or greater trees per acre, leave the 29 largest trees. If there are more than 29 10-inch dbh or greater trees per acre, leave 29 10-inch dbh or greater trees per acre based on the following priority order:
• Trees that provide shade to water;
• Trees that lean towards the water;
• Trees of the preferred species, as defined in WAC 222-16-010;
• Trees that are evenly distributed across the inner zone.
(III) If more than 50 trees per acre are needed to meet the minimum basal area of 60 square feet per acre, then all trees greater than 6-inch dbh must be left. The minimum basal area to be left in the inner zone will be 60 square feet per acre provided that if the minimum basal area cannot be met with fewer than 100 trees of at least 6 inches dbh, then no more than 100 trees per acre will be required to be left regardless of the basal area.
(D) Stands with low basal areas and high density: Thinning is permitted if the basal area of all species is less than 60 square feet per acre AND there are more than 100 trees per acre. The thinning must leave a minimum of 100 trees per acre. The trees to be left must be selected as follows:
(I) The 50 largest trees per acre must be left; and
(II) An additional 50 trees per acre that are greater than 6 inches dbh must be left. If there are not 50 6-inch dbh or greater trees per acre, then all 6-inch dbh or greater trees per acre must be left plus the largest remaining trees to equal 50 trees per acre. Select the additional 50 trees based on the following priority order:
• Trees that provide shade to water;
• Trees that lean towards the water;
• Trees of the preferred species, as defined in WAC 222-16-010;
• Trees that are evenly distributed across the inner zone.
(E) To the extent down wood is available on site prior to harvest, at least twelve tons of down wood per acre must be left following harvest as follows:
(I) Six pieces greater than 16 inches diameter and 20 feet in length; and
(II) Four pieces greater than 6 inches in diameter and 20 feet in length.
(III) Landowner/operator is not required to create down wood.
(F) See stream-adjacent parallel roads for all timber habitat types in (iv) of this subsection if there is a stream-adjacent parallel road in this zone.
(ii) Mixed conifer timber habitat type.
(A) The width of the inner zone is 70 feet measured horizontally from the outer edge of the core zone on streams greater than 15 feet bankfull width or 45 feet measured horizontally from the outer edge of the core zone on streams with a bankfull width of 15 feet or less.
(B) No harvest is allowed in the inner zone except as described in (C) or (F) below, and as allowed for stream crossings and yarding corridors as described above in subsection (1).
(C) Stands with a high basal area: Harvest is permitted in the inner zone if the combined conifer and hardwood basal area for trees greater than 6 inches dbh is:
(I) Greater than 110 square feet per acre on low site indexes (site index less than 90); or
(II) Greater than 130 square feet per acre on medium site indexes (site index between 90 and 110); or
(III) Greater than 150 square feet per acre on high site indexes (site index greater than 110).
(D) The harvest must leave at least 50 trees per acre AND a basal area of at least:
(I) 70 square feet per acre on low site indexes; or
(II) 90 square feet per acre on medium site indexes; or
(III) 110 square feet per acre on high site indexes.
(E) The trees to be left shall be selected as follows:
(I) The 21 largest trees per acre must be left; and
(II) An additional 29 trees per acre that are 10-inch dbh or greater must be left. If there are less than 29 10-inch dbh or greater trees per acre, leave the 29 largest trees. If there are more than 29 10-inch dbh or greater trees per acre, leave 29 10-inch dbh trees per acre based on the following priority order:
• Trees that provide shade to water;
• Trees that lean towards the water;
• Trees of the preferred species, as defined in WAC 222-16-010; or
• Trees that are evenly distributed across the inner zone.
(III) If more than 50 trees per acre are needed to meet the minimum basal area for the site index, then all trees greater than 6 inches dbh must be left. The minimum basal area to be left in the inner zone will be 60 square feet per acre provided, that if the minimum basal area cannot be met with fewer than 100 trees at least 6 inches dbh, then no more than 100 trees per acre will be required to be left regardless of the basal area.
(F) Stands with low basal areas and high density:
Thinning is permitted if the basal area of all species is less
than the minimum requirements for the site index in (((C)))
(D) of this subsection AND there are more than 120 trees per
acre. The thinning must leave a minimum of 120 trees per
acre. The trees to be left shall be selected as follows:
(I) The 50 largest trees per acre must be left; and
(II) An additional 70 trees per acre greater than 6 inches dbh must be left. If there are not 70 6-inch dbh or greater trees per acre, then all 6-inch dbh or greater trees per acre must be left plus the largest remaining trees to equal 70 trees per acre. Select the additional 70 trees based on the following priority order:
• Trees that provide shade to water;
• Trees that lean towards the water;
• Trees of the preferred species, as defined in WAC 222-16-010; or
• Trees that are evenly distributed across the inner zone.
(G) To the extent down wood is available on site prior to harvest, 20 tons of down wood per acre is required to be left following harvest as follows:
(I) 8 pieces greater than 16 inches diameter and 20 feet in length; and
(II) 8 pieces greater than 6 inches in diameter and 20 feet in length.
(III) Landowner/operator is not required to create down wood.
(H) See stream-adjacent parallel roads for all timber habitat types in (iv) of this subsection if there is a parallel road in this zone.
(iii) High elevation timber habitat type.
(A) The width of the inner zone is 45 feet measured horizontally from the outer edge of the core zone on streams equal to or less than 15 feet bankfull width or 70 feet measured horizontally from the outer edge of the core zone on streams with a bankfull width of greater than 15 feet.
(B) Follow stand requirements for Western Washington
riparian management zones, WAC 222-30-021 (1)(b).
| Note: | Option 2 is not permitted for eastside use, because of the minimum floor (100') constraint.. |
(I) 8 pieces greater than 16 inches diameter and 20 feet in length; and
(II) 8 pieces greater than 6 inches in diameter and 20 feet in length.
(III) Landowner/operator is not required to create down wood.
(D) See stream-adjacent parallel roads for all timber habitat types in (iv) of this subsection if there is a parallel road in this zone.
(iv) Stream-adjacent parallel roads for all timber habitat types in the inner zone. The shade rule, WAC 222-30-040, must be met whether or not the inner zone includes a stream-adjacent parallel road. Where a stream-adjacent parallel road exists in the inner zone and the minimum required basal area cannot be met due to the presence of the road, then the location of the road determines the allowable operations as follows:
(A) For streams with a bankfull width that is greater than 15 feet:
(I) If the edge of the road closest to the stream is 75 feet or more from the outer edge of bankfull width of the stream or outer edge of CMZ, whichever is greater, no harvest is permitted in the inner zone. This includes trees within the inner zone on the uphill side of the road.
(II) No harvest is permitted within the inner zone on the streamside of the road. If the edge of the road closest to the stream is less than 75 feet from the outer edge of bankfull width of the stream or outer edge of CMZ, whichever is greater then:
• Additional leave trees equal in total basal area to the trees lost due to the road must be left near the streams in or adjacent to the unit to be harvested; (See the board manual section 7.)
• Where the additional leave trees providing fish habitat
for water quality function are determined to be not available
or not practical by the department, landowners and operators
((may alternatively)) will employ site specific management
activities to replace lost riparian functions that may include
placement of large woody debris in streams. (See the board
manual section 7.)
(B) For streams with a bankfull width less than 15 feet:
(I) If the edge of the road closest to the stream is 50 feet or more from the outer edge of bankfull width or outer edge of CMZ, whichever is greater, no harvest is permitted in the inner zone. This includes trees within the inner zone on the uphill side of the road.
(II) No harvest is permitted within the inner zone on the stream side of the road. If the edge of the road closest to the stream is less than 50 feet from the bankfull width or CMZ, whichever is greater then:
• Additional leave trees equal in total basal area to the trees lost due to the road must be left near the streams in or adjacent to the unit to be harvested. (See the board manual section 7.)
• Where the additional leave trees providing fish habitat
for water quality function are determined to be not available
or not practical by the department, landowners and operators
((may alternatively)) will employ site specific management
activities to replace lost riparian functions that may include
placement of large woody debris in streams. (See the board
manual section 7.)
(C) Wildlife reserve trees. Leave all wildlife reserve trees within the inner zone of the riparian management zone where operations in the vicinity do not violate the safety regulations (chapter 296-54 WAC and chapter 49-17 RCW administered by the department of labor and industries, safety division). Live wildlife reserve trees will contribute to the basal area requirements for inner zone leave trees and to leave tree counts if they are among the 21 largest trees per acre; or meet the requirement of an additional 29 leave trees per acre as per (E) above.
(c) Outer zones. This zone has three categories based on timber habitat type: Ponderosa pine, mixed conifer and high elevation. The width of this zone is 0 to 55 feet measured horizontally from the outer edge of the inner zone depending on the site class and stream width. (See WAC 222-16-010 definition of "RMZ outer zone.")
(i) Tree counts that must be left per acre, regardless of the presence of an existing stream-adjacent parallel road in the zone, are:
(A) Ponderosa pine habitat type - 10 dominant or codominant trees.
(B) Mixed conifer habitat type - 15 dominant or codominant trees.
(C) High elevation habitat type - See requirements for Western Washington RMZs in WAC 222-30-021 (1)(c).
(ii) Outer zone leave tree requirements in section (i) above may be reduced to 5 trees per acre in the ponderosa pine zone, 8 trees per acre in the mixed forest habitat type and 10 trees per acre in the high elevation habitat type, if the landowner voluntarily implements a LWD placement plan consistent with board manual section 26. If this strategy is chosen, a complete forest practices application must include a copy of the WDFW-approved hydraulics project approval (HPA) permit.
*(2) Eastern Washington protection along Type Np and Ns Waters.
(a) An equipment limitation zone is a 30-foot wide zone measured horizontally from the outer edge of bankfull width of a Type Np or Ns Water where equipment is limited. It applies to all perennial and seasonal streams.
(i) On-site mitigation is required if any of the following activities exposes the soil more than 10% of the surface area of the zone:
(A) Ground based equipment;
(B) Skid trails;
(C) Stream crossings (other than existing roads); or
(D) Cabled logs that are partially suspended.
(ii) Mitigation must be designed to replace the equivalent of lost functions, especially prevention of sediment delivery. Examples include water bars, grass seeding, mulching, etc.
(iii) Nothing in this subsection (2) reduces or eliminates the department's authority to prevent actual or potential material damage to public resources under WAC 222-46-030 or 222-46-040 or any related authority to condition forest practices notifications or applications.
(b) Type Np Waters.
Within 50 horizontal feet of the outer edge of bankfull width of the stream, the landowner must identify either a partial cut and/or clearcut strategy for each unit to be harvested:
Once approved by the department, the selected strategy will remain in effect until July 1, 2051. If a landowner transfers title of the harvest unit, the landowner must provide written notice of this continuing obligation to the new owner and send a copy to the department. See WAC 222-20-055.
(i) For partial cuts:
(A) Basal areas requirements are the same as those specified for the timber habitat type in the Eastern Washington RMZ inner zone.
(B) Where a stream-adjacent parallel road exists, the basal area required in (A) of this subsection is required to be left. (See stream-adjacent parallel roads for Type Np Waters in (c) below.)
(C) The trees to be included in the basal area determination and left after harvest must include:
(I) The 10 largest trees per acre;
(II) Up to an additional 40 trees per acre greater than or equal to 10 inches dbh must be left. If all or some of the trees are not at least 10 inches dbh, then the largest of the remaining trees must be left. Select trees based on the following priority order:
• Provide streambank stability;
• Provide shade to water;
• Lean towards the water;
• Preferred species, as defined in WAC 222-16-010; or
• Evenly distributed; and
If the basal area target has not been met with the trees required above, up to an additional 50 trees are required greater than 6 inches in dbh based on the above priority order.
(D) Side slope seeps must be protected with a 50-foot partial cut buffer that meets the basal area and leave tree requirements of (A), (B), and (C) above. The buffer shall be measured from the outer perimeter of the perennially saturated soil zone.
(ii) For clearcuts:
When the clearcut strategy in this subsection is selected, the landowner must simultaneously designate a 2-sided no-harvest 50-foot buffer along the stream reach in the harvest unit that:
(A) Is equal in total length to the clearcut portion of the stream reach in the harvest unit; and
(B) Meets the upper end of basal area requirements for each respective timber habitat type in the Eastern Washington RMZ inner zone. See WAC 222-30-022 (1)(b)(i), (ii) or (iii).
(C) The streamside boundary of all clearcuts must:
(I) Not exceed in total 30% of the length of the stream reach in the harvest unit;
(II) Not exceed 300 continuous feet in length;
(III) Not be located within 500 feet of the intersection of a Type S or F Water; and
(IV) Not occur within 50 feet of the following sensitive sites as defined in WAC 222-16-010:
• The outer perimeter of a soil zone perennially saturated from a headwall seep;
• The outer perimeter of a soil zone perennially saturated from a side-slope seep;
• The center of a headwater spring;
• An alluvial fan;
• The center point of intersection of two or more Type Np Waters.
(c) Stream-adjacent parallel roads for Type Np Waters. If a road exists in a Type Np RMZ and the basal area required to be left cannot be met within 50 feet of the outer edge of bankfull width of the stream measured horizontally due to the presence of the road, then the distance of the road to the stream determines the allowable operations as follows:
(i) A road that is within 30 to 49 feet measured horizontally from the outer edge of bankfull width of the stream requires:
(A) A total of 100 feet of riparian management zone measured horizontally (both sides of the stream count towards the total) must be left in a manner to provide maximum functions for nonfish use streams. If harvest is taking place on only one side of the stream, then 50 feet of RMZ width must be left, regardless of presence of a stream-adjacent parallel road. The width of the road is not counted as part of the total width of the RMZ.
(B) The location of the riparian management zone required in (A) of this subsection shall be based on the following priority order:
(I) Preferred: The area between the stream and the stream side edge of the road.
(II) The area that provides the most shade to the channel.
(III) The area that is most likely to deliver large woody debris to the channel.
(ii) A road that is within less than 30 feet from the outer edge of bankfull width of the stream measured horizontally requires, in addition to (c)(i)(A) and (B) of this subsection, that all trees between the stream and the streamside edge of the road must be left.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 76.09.040, [76.09.]050, [76.09.]370, 76.13.120(9). 01-12-042, § 222-30-022, filed 5/30/01, effective 7/1/01.]
| Note: | Compliance with this section does not (( |
*(1) Western Washington RMZs for exempt 20-acre parcels. Riparian management zones are measured horizontally from the outer edge of bankfull width of a Type S or F Water and extend to the line where vegetation changes from wetland to upland plant community, or the line required to leave sufficient shade as required by WAC 222-30-040, whichever is greater, but must not be less than 29 feet in width nor more than the maximum widths described in (c) of this subsection, provided that the riparian management zone width shall be expanded as necessary to include wetlands or ponds adjacent to the stream. When the riparian management zone overlaps a Type A or B Wetland or a wetland management zone, the requirement which best protects public resources shall apply.
(a) Harvest units shall be designed so that felling, bucking, yarding or skidding, and reforestation can be accomplished in accordance with these rules, including those rules relating to stream bank integrity and shade requirements to maintain stream temperature. Where the need for additional actions or restrictions adjacent to waters not covered by the following become evident, WAC 222-12-050 and 222-12-060 may apply.
(b) When requested in writing by the applicant, the department shall assist in preparation of an alternate plan for the riparian management zone.
(c) Within the riparian management zone, trees shall be left for wildlife and fisheries habitat as provided for in the chart below. Fifty percent or more of the trees shall be live and undamaged on completion of the harvest. The leave trees shall be randomly distributed where feasible; some clumping is allowed to accommodate operational considerations. The number, size, species and ratio of leave trees, deciduous to conifer, is specified by the bed material and average width of the water type within the harvest unit. Landowners must meet the shade rule in effect January 1, 1999, as shown in (d) of this subsection. Trees left according to (d) of this subsection may be included in the number of required leave trees in this subsection.
((Western Washington Riparian Leave Tree Requirements
For exempt 20-acre parcels
Type/Average Width |
Maximum Width |
Conifer to Deciduous/ Minimum Size Leave Trees |
||
<10" Diameter |
||||
75' & over |
||||
under 75' |
||||
5' & over |
||||
less than 5' |
||||
| (( |
(d) ((Landowners must meet shade rule in effect January
1, 1999, (WAC 222-30-040).)) Determination of adequate shade.
The temperature prediction method in (d)(ii) and (iii) of this
subsection shall be used to determine appropriate shade levels
for flowing Type S and F Waters to prevent excessive water
temperatures which may have detrimental impact on aquatic
resources.
*(i) Temperature prediction method. In addition to the riparian management zone requirements described in (c) of this subsection, leave trees shall be retained within the maximum riparian management zones on flowing Type S and F Waters as provided by the method described in the board manual which includes the following considerations:
(A) Minimum shade retention requirements; and
(B) Regional water temperature characteristics; and
(C) Elevation; and
(D) Temperature criteria defined for stream classes in chapter 173-201A WAC.
(ii) Leave tree requirements for shade. The method described in (d)(ii) of this subsection shall be used to establish the minimum shade cover based on site-specific characteristics. When site-specific data indicate that preharvest conditions do not meet the minimums established by the method, no additional shade removal from riparian management zones will be allowed.
(iii) Waivers. The department may waive or modify the shade requirements where:
(A) The applicant agrees to a staggered setting program producing equal or greater shade requirements to maintain stream temperature; or
(B) The applicant provides alternative means of stream temperature control satisfactory to the department; or
(C) The temperature method indicates that additional shade will not affect stream temperature.
(e) For wildlife habitat within the riparian management zone, leave an average of 5 undisturbed and uncut wildlife trees per acre at the ratio of 1 deciduous tree to 1 conifer tree equal in size to the largest existing trees of those species within the zone. Where the 1 to 1 ratio is not possible, then substitute either species present. Forty percent or more of the leave trees shall be live and undamaged on completion of harvest. Wildlife trees shall be left in clumps whenever possible.
(f) When 10 percent or more of the harvest unit lies within any combination of a riparian management zone of Type S or F Waters or a wetland management zone and the harvest unit is a clearcutting of 20 acres or less, leave not less than 50 percent of the trees required in (c) of this subsection.
Western Washington Riparian Leave Tree Requirements
For exempt 20-acre parcels
| Water Type/Average Bankfull Width |
RMZ Maximum Width |
Ratio of Conifer to Deciduous/ Minimum Size Leave Trees |
# Trees/1000 ft. each side | |
| Gravel/Cobble <10" Diameter |
Boulder/Bedrock | |||
| S or F Water greater than or equal to 75' | 115' | representative of stand | 58 trees | 29 trees |
| S Water less than 75' and F Water greater than or equal to 10' and less than 75' | 86' | representative of stand | 115 trees | 60 trees |
| F Water greater than or equal to 5' and less than 10' | 58' | 2 to 1/12" or next largest available* | 86 trees | 29 trees |
| F Water less than 5' |
29' | 1 to 1/6" or next largest available* | 29 trees | 29 trees |
| * | "Or next largest available" requires that the next largest trees to those specified in the rule be left standing when those available are smaller than the size specified. |
*(2) Eastern Washington riparian management zones for exempt 20-acre parcels. These zones shall be measured horizontally from the outer edge of bankfull width of Type S or F Waters and extend to the line where vegetation changes from wetland to upland plant community, or to the line required to leave sufficient shade as required by WAC 222-30-040, whichever is greater, but shall not be less than the minimum width nor more than the maximum widths described in (c) of this subsection, provided that the riparian management zone width shall be expanded as necessary to include wetlands or ponds adjacent to the stream. When the riparian management zone overlaps a Type A or B Wetland or a wetland management zone, the requirement which best protects public resources shall apply.
(a) Harvest units shall be designed so that felling, bucking, yarding or skidding, and reforestation can be accomplished in accordance with these rules, including those rules relating to stream bank integrity and shade requirements to maintain stream temperature. Where the need for additional actions or restrictions adjacent to waters not covered by the following become evident, WAC 222-12-050 and 222-12-060 may apply.
(b) When requested in writing by the applicant, the department shall assist in preparation of an alternate plan for the riparian management zone.
(c) Within the riparian management zone, trees shall be left for wildlife and fisheries habitat as provided for below. Fifty percent or more of the trees shall be live and undamaged on completion of the harvest. The leave trees shall be randomly distributed where feasible; some clumping is allowed to accommodate operational considerations.
(i) The width of the riparian management zone shall be based on the adjacent harvest type as defined in WAC 222-16-010 "Partial cutting." When the adjacent unit harvest type is:
Partial cutting - The riparian management zone width shall be a minimum of 35 feet to a maximum of 58 feet on each side of the stream.
Other harvest types - The riparian management zone shall average 58 feet in width on each side of the stream with a minimum width of 35 feet and a maximum of 345 feet on each side of the stream.
(ii) Leave tree requirements within the riparian management zones of Type S or F Waters:
(A) Leave all trees 12 inches or less in diameter breast height (dbh); and
(B) Leave all wildlife reserve trees within the riparian management zone where operations in the vicinity do not violate the state safety regulations (chapter 296-54 WAC and chapter 49.17 RCW administered by department of labor and industries, safety division); and
(C) Leave 18 live conifer trees per acre between 12 inches dbh and 20 inches dbh distributed by size, as representative of the stand; and
(D) Leave 4 live conifer trees per acre 20 inches dbh or larger and the 2 largest live deciduous trees per acre 16 inches dbh or larger. Where these deciduous trees do not exist, and where 2 wildlife reserve trees per acre 20 inches or larger do not exist, substitute 2 live conifer trees per acre 20 inches dbh or larger. If live conifer trees of 20 inches dbh or larger do not exist within the riparian management zone, then substitute the 5 largest live conifer trees per acre; and
(E) Leave 3 live deciduous trees per acre between 12 inches and 16 inches dbh where they exist.
(iii) Minimum leave tree requirements per acre for Type S or F Waters. Trees left for (c)(ii) of this subsection shall be included in the minimum counts.
(A) On streams with a boulder/bedrock bed, the minimum leave tree requirements shall be 75 trees per acre 4 inches dbh or larger.
(B) On streams with a gravel/cobble (less than 10 inches diameter) bed, the minimum leave tree requirement shall be 155 trees per acre 4 inches dbh or larger.
(C) On lakes or ponds, the minimum leave tree requirement
shall be 86 trees per acre 4 inches dbh or larger.
| Note: | See the board manual for guidelines for calculating trees per acre and average RMZ widths. |
*(3) Riparian leave tree areas for exempt 20-acre parcels. The department will require trees to be left along Type Np Waters where such practices are necessary to protect public resources. Where such practices are necessary, leave at least 29 conifer or deciduous trees, 6 inches in diameter or larger, on each side of every 1000 feet of stream length within 29 feet of the stream. The leave trees may be arranged to accommodate the operation.
(4) For the purposes of this section RMZ means: A specified area alongside Type S and F Waters where specific measures are taken to protect water quality and fish and wildlife habitat.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 76.09.040, [76.09.]050, [76.09.]370, 76.13.120(9). 01-12-042, § 222-30-023, filed 5/30/01, effective 7/1/01.]
(1) Timber harvest which would result in an area larger than one hundred twenty acres and smaller than or equal to two hundred forty acres harvested by even-aged harvest methods on land owned or controlled by one landowner shall be reviewed by an interdisciplinary team, if the department determines that review is necessary. The area harvested by even-aged harvest methods, for the purposes of this subsection, shall be determined in accordance with subsection (3) of this section.
(2) Timber harvest which would result in an area larger than two hundred forty acres harvested by even-aged harvest methods on land owned or controlled by one landowner shall be prohibited. The area harvested by even-aged harvest method for the purposes of this subsection shall be determined in accordance with subsection (3) of this section.
(3) In calculating areas harvested by even-aged harvest methods, the area harvested by even-aged harvest methods shall include the acreage of that harvest unit and, all contiguous acreage harvested by even-aged harvest methods which is owned or controlled by the same landowner, except that acreage harvested by even-aged harvest methods sharing 10% or less of the common perimeter with the harvest unit under consideration shall not be considered contiguous for the purposes of this section.
(4) Harvest units shall be designed so that each harvest unit meets at least one of the following criteria:
(a) At least thirty percent of the unit's perimeter is in stands of trees that are thirty years of age or older;
(b) At least sixty percent of the unit's perimeter is in stands of trees that are fifteen years of age or older; or
(c) At least ninety percent of the unit's perimeter is in stands of trees that have survived on site a minimum of five growing seasons or, if not, have reached an average height of four feet.
Evaluation of unit perimeters is subject to the conditions specified in subsection (6) of this section.
(5) The requirements of subsections (2), (3), and (4) of this section shall apply only to timber harvest by even-aged harvest methods and shall not apply to timber harvest to salvage timber damaged by wind, disease, insects, fire, or other natural causes or to forest practices involving the clearing of land of brush or understocked hardwoods to convert to managed hardwoods or conifers.
(6) In evaluating the perimeters of harvest units pursuant to subsection (4) of this section, the following conditions shall apply:
(a) The following shall be treated as fully stocked, mature stands that will not be counted as contiguous acreage harvested by even-aged methods for the purposes of subsections (1) and (2) of this section and which will be counted as thirty-year-old stands for the purposes of subsection (4) of this section:
(i) In Western Washington, a wetland management zone that is twice the width required by WAC 222-30-021 and 222-30-023(1) along Type S or F Waters;
(ii) In Eastern Washington, wetland management zone that is the width required by WAC 222-30-022 and 222-30-023(2);
(iii) Designated upland management areas;
(iv) Lands in a shoreline of statewide significance where harvest is limited under RCW 90.58.150;
(v) The portions of a perimeter consisting of land in uses other than forest land, such as land in agricultural or residential use and natural openings, and land not owned or controlled by the landowner who has proposed the harvest unit subject to the application under consideration;
*(vi) Along Type S and F Waters, a continuous buffer meeting the requirements of WAC 222-30-021 and 222-30-022;
*(vii) Along Type Np Waters, a continuous 50-foot wide no-harvest, no-salvage buffer.
(b) A stand of trees other than those described in (a) of this subsection shall be treated as a certain age class only if the stand is at least three hundred feet wide;
(c) Timber harvest units subject to an approved application or a notification for timber harvesting shall be treated as if the timber harvesting operation proposed in the application or notification were completed and regeneration not yet established.
(((7) This section shall not apply to notifications or
applications approved before July 1, 1992, or to one renewal
of those applications, and shall not apply to timber that the
landowner or operator demonstrated to the department is
subject to a cutting right created by written contract before
July 1, 1992, which cutting right would expire before all the
timber subject to it could reasonably be harvested.))
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 76.09.040, [76.09.]050, [76.09.]370, 76.13.120(9). 01-12-042, § 222-30-025, filed 5/30/01, effective 7/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, 76.09.050 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 92-15-011, § 222-30-025, filed 7/2/92, effective 8/2/92.]
(a) No trees will be felled into Type S and F Waters RMZ core zones, sensitive sites, or Type A or B Wetlands except trees which cannot practically and safely be felled outside these areas using techniques in general use.
Such felling and removing in Type S or F Waters shall comply with the hydraulic project approval of the department of fish and wildlife.
(b) Within RMZ inner and outer zones, and wetland
management zones, ((fall)) fell trees favorable to the lead
consistent with safety standards to yard or skid away from the
waters. The use of directional ((falling)) felling, lining,
jacking and staged ((falling)) felling techniques are
required.
(c) Trees may be felled into Type Np Water if logs are removed as soon thereafter as practical. See forest practices board manual section 4 guidelines for clearing slash and debris from Type Np and Ns Water.
*(2) Bucking or limbing along water.
No bucking or limbing shall be done on trees or portions thereof lying within the bankfull width of Type S, F or Np Waters, in the RMZ core zones, in sensitive sites, or in open water areas of Type A Wetlands. Such bucking or limbing in Type S or F Waters shall comply with the hydraulic project approval of the department of fish and wildlife.
*(3) ((Falling)) Felling near riparian management zones,
wetland management zones and setting boundaries. Reasonable
care shall be taken to avoid felling trees into riparian
management zones, wetland management zones and areas outside
the harvest unit.
(4) ((Falling)) Felling in selective and partial cuts.
Reasonable care shall be taken to ((fall)) fell trees in
directions that minimize damage to residual trees.
(5) Disturbance avoidance for northern spotted owls. Felling and bucking within a SOSEA boundary shall not be allowed within 0.25 mile of a northern spotted owl site center between March 1 and August 31 provided that, this restriction shall not apply if:
(a) The landowner demonstrates that the owls are not actively nesting during the current nesting season; or
(b) The forest practice is operating in compliance with a plan or agreement developed for the protection of the northern spotted owl under WAC 222-16-080 (6)(a), (e), or (f).
(6) Disturbance avoidance for marbled murrelets. Felling and bucking shall not be allowed within 0.25 mile of an occupied marbled murrelet site during the daily peak activity periods within the critical nesting season, provided that, this restriction shall not apply if the forest practice is operating in compliance with a plan or agreement developed for the protection of the marbled murrelet under WAC 222-16-080 (6)(a) or (c).
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 76.09.040, [76.09.]050, [76.09.]370, 76.13.120(9). 01-12-042, § 222-30-050, filed 5/30/01, effective 7/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 97-24-091, § 222-30-050, filed 12/3/97, effective 1/3/98; 97-15-105, § 222-30-050, filed 7/21/97, effective 8/21/97. Statutory Authority: Chapters 76.09 and 34.05 RCW. 96-12-038, § 222-30-050, filed 5/31/96, effective 7/1/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, 76.09.050 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 92-15-011, § 222-30-050, filed 7/2/92, effective 8/2/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040. 87-23-036 (Order 535), § 222-30-050, filed 11/16/87, effective 1/1/88. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and 76.09.050. 82-16-077 (Resolution No. 82-1), § 222-30-050, filed 8/3/82, effective 10/1/82; Order 263, § 222-30-050, filed 6/16/76.]
(1) A landowner shall not harvest by clearcut so that more than forty contiguous acres of that landowner's forest land are in a clearcut condition;
(2) Forest land harvested by clearcut remains in the clearcut condition until it has reached canopy closure or it has been reforested for at least ten years;
(3) Clearcut harvest units are contiguous unless separated by a buffer at least two hundred feet wide that has reached canopy closure, has been reforested for at least ten years, or is in a land use other than timber production.
(4) Within two hundred feet of the bankfull width of saltwater timber harvest shall be by selective harvest only, so that no more than thirty percent of the merchantable trees are harvested in any ten-year period: Provided, That other timber harvesting methods may be permitted in those limited instances where the topography, soil conditions, or silvicultural practices necessary for regeneration render selective harvest ecologically detrimental: Provided further, That harvest by clearcut on lands being converted to another use may be approved.
(5) The requirements of this section shall not apply to timber harvest or salvage timber damaged by wind, disease, insects, fire, or other natural causes.
(((6) This section shall not apply to notifications or
applications approved before July 1, 1992, or to one renewal
of those applications, and shall not apply to timber that the
landowner or operator demonstrated to the department is
subject to a cutting right created by written contract before
July 1, 1992, which cutting right would expire before all the
timber subject to it could reasonably be harvested.))
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 76.09.040, [76.09.]050, [76.09.]370, 76.13.120(9). 01-12-042, § 222-30-110, filed 5/30/01, effective 7/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, 76.09.050 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 92-15-011, § 222-30-110, filed 7/2/92, effective 8/2/92.]
OTS-7908.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 535, filed 11/16/87,
effective 1/1/88)
WAC 222-34-010
Required reforestation -- West of Cascades
Summit.
(1) Reforestation - where required.
(a) Unless the harvest application indicates that the land will be converted to another use, or the lands are identified in WAC 222-34-050 as having a likelihood of conversion to urban uses, reforestation is required for forest lands harvested after January 1, 1975 in the following instances:
(i) Clearcutting; or
(ii) Partial cutting where 50 percent or more of the timber volume is removed within any 5-year period, unless the department determines that the live trees remaining will reasonably utilize the timber growing capacity of the soils.
(b) Reforestation is not required where:
(i) Individual dead, dying, down or windthrown trees are salvaged; or
(ii) A tree or trees not constituting a merchantable stand are removed from lands in actual use for other purposes; for example, removal of individual trees from lands used for farming or grazing; or
(iii) Trees are removed under a thinning program reasonably expected to maximize the long-term production of commercial timber; or
(iv) ((A)) An average minimum of 190 vigorous, undamaged,
well-distributed seedlings per acre of a commercial tree
species are established on the area harvested and not more
than 20 percent of the harvested area has ((from 150 to 190))
less than 150 seedlings per acre; or
(v) A minimum of 100 vigorous, undamaged, well-distributed saplings or merchantable trees per acre of a commercial species or combinations thereof, remain on the area harvested.
(2) ((Acceptable stocking. Stocking levels are
acceptable if a minimum of 190 well-distributed,))
Reforestation standards. A harvested area is reforested when
the area contains an average of 190 or more vigorous,
undamaged seedlings per acre of a commercial tree species ((or
such lesser number as the department determines)) that
survived on the site for at least 1 growing season. Up to 20
percent of the harvested area may contain a minimum of 150
seedlings per acre. No portion of the harvested area with
timber growing capacity may contain less than 150 seedlings
per acre. The department may determine that less than an
average of 190 seedlings per acre is acceptable if fewer
seedlings will reasonably utilize the timber growing capacity
of the site((, have survived on the site at least 1 growing
season. "Well-distributed" means that not more than 20
percent of the harvested area contains less than a minimum of
150 seedlings per acre as determined by the department)).
(3) Competing vegetation. Competing vegetation shall be controlled to the extent necessary to allow establishment, survival, and growth by commercial species.
(4) Artificial regeneration standards.
(a) Satisfactory reforestation - clearcuts. Satisfactory reforestation of a clearcut harvest occurs if within 3 years of completion of harvest, or a period of from 1 to 10 years as determined by the department in the case of a natural regeneration plan, the site is restocked to at least the acceptable stocking levels described in subsection (2) of this section: Provided, That regeneration failures from causes beyond the applicant's control will not result in violation of this section, but supplemental planting or reforestation may be required except in riparian management zones (see WAC 222-34-030(4)).
The department may grant an extension of time for planting or seeding if suitable seedlings or seeds are unavailable, or if weather conditions or other circumstances beyond the forest land owner's control require delay in planting or seeding.
(i) Reforestation species. Where the species proposed for reforestation after timber harvesting differs from the removed stand, the department may approve use of the proposed species where the reforestation plan reveals that the proposed species is preferable from any of the following standpoints:
(A) Site data indicates better potential production for the proposed species than the existing species.
(B) Control of forest insects or diseases.
(C) Greater economic return.
(ii) Seedling or seeding standards. Except as approved by the department to qualify as acceptable reforestation, the seedlings or seeds must be from an appropriate seed source zone. The department shall establish seed zones and guidelines for their use.
(b) Satisfactory reforestation - partial cuts. Where reforestation is required in connection with a partial cut, the harvest application shall include a plan for stocking improvement. The plan shall be approved unless the department determines that it will not reasonably utilize the timber growing capacity of the site.
(5) Natural regeneration standards. A natural regeneration plan may be approved as acceptable reforestation if:
(a) A seed source of well formed trees of commercial tree species, capable of seed production is available.
(b) The owner of the seed source agrees in writing not to harvest the seed source for the time period specified in the plan, or until issuance of a satisfactory reforestation inspection report.
(c) The seed source must consist of:
(i) Seed blocks of sizes and locations shown on the plan and satisfactory to the department; or
(ii) An average of at least 8 individually marked, well-distributed, undamaged, vigorous, windfirm seed trees per acre of plantable area and no inadequately stocked area is more than 400 feet from the nearest seed tree; and
(iii) Competing vegetation shall be controlled to the extent necessary to allow establishment, survival, and growth by commercial species.
(6) Any alternate plan for natural reforestation may be approved if it provides a practical method of achieving acceptable stocking levels as described in subsection (2) of this section within a period of 1 to 10 years.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040. 87-23-036 (Order 535), § 222-34-010, filed 11/16/87, effective 1/1/88; 86-21-040 (Resolution No. 86-2), § 222-34-010, filed 10/10/86, effective 12/1/86. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and 76.09.050. 82-16-077 (Resolution No. 82-1), § 222-34-010, filed 8/3/82, effective 10/1/82; Order 263, § 222-34-010, filed 6/16/76.]
(a) Unless the harvest application indicates that the land will be converted to another use, or the lands are identified in WAC 222-34-050 as having a likelihood of conversion to urban use, reforestation is required for forest lands harvested after January 1, 1975 in the following instances:
(i) Clearcutting; or
(ii) Partial cutting where 50 percent or more of the timber volume is removed within any 5-year period, unless the department determines that the live trees remaining will reasonably utilize the timber growing capacity of the soils.
(b) Reforestation is not required where:
(i) Individual dead, dying, down or windthrown trees are salvaged; or
(ii) A tree or trees not constituting a merchantable stand are removed from lands in actual use for other purposes, for example, removal of individual trees from lands used exclusively for farming or cultivated pasture; or
(iii) Trees are removed under a thinning program reasonably expected to maximize the long-term production of commercial timber; or
(iv) ((A)) An average minimum of 150 vigorous, undamaged,
well-distributed seedlings per acre of a commercial tree
species are established on the area harvested and not more
than 20 percent of the harvested area has ((from 120 to 150))
less than 120 seedlings per acre; or
(v) A minimum of 100 vigorous, undamaged, well-distributed advanced regeneration, saplings or merchantable trees per acre of a commercial tree species or combinations thereof, remain on the area harvested.
(2) ((Acceptable stocking. Stocking levels are
acceptable if a minimum of 150 well-distributed,))
Reforestation standards. A harvest area is reforested when
the area contains an average of 150 or more vigorous,
undamaged seedlings per acre of a commercial tree species ((or
such lesser number as the department determines)) that
survived on the site for at least 1 growing season. Up to 20
percent of the harvested area may contain a minimum of 120
seedlings per acre. No portion of the harvested area with
timber growing capacity may contain less than 120 seedlings
per acre. The department may determine that less than an
average of 150 seedlings per acre is acceptable if fewer
seedlings will reasonably utilize the timber growing capacity
of the site ((have survived on the site at least 1 growing
season. "Well-distributed" means that not more than 20
percent of the harvested area contains less than a minimum of
120 trees per acre as determined by the department)).
(3) Competing vegetation. Competing vegetation shall be controlled to the extent necessary to allow establishment survival and growth by commercial species.
(4) Artificial regeneration standards.
(a) Satisfactory reforestation - clearcuts. Satisfactory reforestation of a clearcut harvest occurs if within 3 years of completion of harvest or a period of from 1 to 10 years as determined by the department in the case of a natural regeneration plan, the site is restocked to at least the acceptable stocking levels described in subsection (2) of this section: Provided, That regeneration failures from causes beyond the applicant's control will not result in a violation of this section, but supplemental planting may be required except in riparian management zones (see WAC 222-34-030(4)).
The department may grant an extension of time for planting or seeding if suitable seedlings or seeds are unavailable, or if weather conditions or other circumstances beyond the forest landowner's control require delay in planting or seeding.
(i) Reforestation species. Where the species proposed for reforestation after timber harvesting differs from the removed stand, the department may approve use of the proposed species where the reforestation plan reveals that the proposed species is preferable from any of the following standpoints:
(A) Site data indicates better potential production for the proposed species than the existing species.
(B) Control of forest insects or diseases.
(C) Greater economic return.
(ii) Seedling and seed standards. Except as approved by the department to qualify as acceptable reforestation, the seedlings and seed must be from an appropriate seed source zone. The department shall establish seed zones and guidelines for their use.
(b) Satisfactory reforestation - partial cuts. Partial cuts not meeting the specifications of subsection (1)(b)(iv) or (v) of this section shall have a seed source as required in subsection (5)(c)(ii) of this section.
(5) Natural regeneration standards. A natural regeneration plan may be approved by the department as acceptable reforestation if:
(a) A seed source of well-formed, vigorous trees of commercial tree species capable of seed production is available.
(b) The owner of the seed source agrees in writing not to harvest the seed source for the time period specified in the plan or until issuance of a satisfactory reforestation inspection report.
(c) The seed source consists of one of the following, or combinations thereof:
(i) Seed blocks which total a minimum of 5 percent of the area of each 40 acre subdivision or portion thereof harvested: Provided, That the seed block should be reasonably windfirm, at least 1/2 acre in size, and reserved in locations shown on the plan and approved by the department; or
(ii) A minimum of 4 undamaged seed trees per acre, well distributed over each 40 acre subdivision or portion thereof harvested: Provided, That the distance from seed trees of harvested areas that are not adequately stocked should not be more than 200 feet. Seed trees shall be of commercial tree species, vigorous and of seed-bearing age and size.
(6) Any alternate plan for natural reforestation may be approved if it provides a practical method of achieving acceptable stocking levels as described in subsection (2) of this section within a period of 1 to 10 years.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040. 87-23-036 (Order 535), § 222-34-020, filed 11/16/87, effective 1/1/88; 86-21-040 (Resolution No. 86-2), § 222-34-020, filed 10/10/86, effective 12/1/86. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and 76.09.050. 82-16-077 (Resolution No. 82-1), § 222-34-020, filed 8/3/82, effective 10/1/82; Order 263, § 222-34-020, filed 6/16/76.]