California Code of Regulations › Title 14 - Natural Resources › Division 1.5 - Department of Forestry and Fire Protection › Chapter 4 - Forest Practices › Subchapter 6 - Southern Forest District Rules › Article 3 - Silvicultural Methods › Section 953.1 - Regeneration Methods Used in Evenaged Management

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
The following types of Regeneration Methods are designed
						to replace a harvestable stand with well-spaced growing trees of Commercial
						Species. Evenaged management systems shall be applied with the limitations
						described by this rule:
(a) Timber
					 stands harvested under an evenaged Regeneration Method shall meet the following
					 standards:
(1) Where a regeneration step
					 harvest of evenaged management will occur on stands younger than 50 years of
					 age for Class I lands, 60 years of age for Class II and III lands, or 80 years
					 of age for Class IV and V lands, or equivalent age of trees, based on height as
					 determined according to the appropriate site class, the RPF preparing the THP
					 or SYP must demonstrate how the proposed harvest will achieve MSP pursuant to
					 14 CCR
					 §
													953.11(a) or (b);
					 provided, however, that the Director may grant an exemption from this section,
					 based upon hardship.
(2) The
					 regeneration harvest of evenaged management shall be limited to 20 acres for
					 Tractor Yarding. Aerial or Cable Yarding may be 30 acres. Tractor Yarding may
					 be increased to 30 acres where the EHR is low and the slopes are <30%. The
					 RPF may propose increasing these acreage limits to a maximum of 40 acres, and
					 the Director may agree where measures contained in the THP provide substantial
					 evidence that the increased acreage limit does any one of the following:
(A) by using additional on-site mitigation
					 measures, reduce the overall detrimental effects of erosion thereby providing
					 better protection of soil, water, fish and/or wildlife resources; or
(B) provide for the inclusion of "long
					 corners", or
(C) create a more
					 natural logging unit by taking maximum advantage of the topography;
					 or
(D) will increase Long Term
					 Sustained Yield; or
(E) provide
					 Feasible off-site mitigation measures that can be incorporated in the Plan to
					 restore or enhance previously impacted resource areas or other environmental
					 enhancements that will result in demonstrable net environmental benefits within
					 the Planning Watershed. These measures may include, but are not limited to,
					 Watercourse restoration, soil stabilization, road surface stabilization, road
					 Outsloping, road Abandonment, road reconstruction, enhancement of wildlife
					 habitats and vegetation management.
To qualify for an exemption the Plan submitter is not
						required to demonstrate that other Feasible options are not
						available.
(3)
					 Evenaged regeneration units within an ownership shall be separated by a logical
					 logging unit that is at least as large as the area being harvested or 20 acres,
					 whichever is less, and shall be separated by at least 300 feet in all
					 directions.
(4) Within ownership
					 boundaries, no logical logging unit contiguous to an evenaged management unit
					 may be harvested using an evenaged Regeneration Method unless the following are
					 met:
(A) The prior evenaged regeneration unit
					 has an approved report of Stocking, and the Dominant and Codominant trees
					 average at least five feet tall or are at least five years of age from the time
					 of establishment on the site, either by the planting or by natural
					 regeneration. If these standards are to be met with trees that were present at
					 the time of the harvest, there shall be an interval of not less than five years
					 following the completion of operations before adjacent evenaged management may
					 occur.
(5) Except for the
					 clearcut method, all trees to be harvested or all trees to be retained shall be
					 marked by, or under the supervision of, an RPF prior to felling operations. A
					 sample area shall be marked prior to a preharvest inspection. The sample area
					 shall include at least 10% of the Harvest Area up to a maximum of 20 acres per
					 stand type, and must be representative of the range of conditions present in
					 the area. The Marking requirement may be waived by the Director if the trees to
					 be harvested are easily distinguished from the trees to be retained, when
					 explained and justified by the RPF in the Plan.
(6) Special consideration for aesthetic
					 enjoyment shall be given to selection of silvicultural treatments and Timber
					 Operations within 200 feet of the edge of the traveled surface of any Permanent
					 Road maintained by the County, or the State.
(7) Special consideration for aesthetic
					 enjoyment and protection of adjacent Stand Vigor shall be given to the
					 selection of Silvicultural Methods and Timber Operations within 200 feet of
					 adjacent non-federal lands not zoned TPZ.