Washington Administrative Code › Title 222 - Forest Practices Board › Chapter 222-30 - Timber harvesting › Section 222-30-023 - Riparian management zones for exempt 20-acre parcels

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
Note:
Compliance with this section does not ensure
							 compliance with the federal Endangered Species Act or the Clean Water
							 Act.
On parcels of 20 contiguous acres or less, landowners with
				total parcel ownership of less than 80 forested acres shall not be required to
				leave the riparian buffers described in WAC
				222-30-021 and
				222-30-022. These landowners are
				required to follow applicable watershed analysis riparian prescriptions in
				effect as of January 1, 1999, or if there are no watershed analysis riparian
				prescriptions in effect these landowners are required to follow the riparian
				management zone rules below.
(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 (f) 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)
			 Landowners must meet the following shade requirements in effect January 1,
			 1999, to maintain stream temperature.
(i)
			 Determination of adequate shade. The temperature prediction method in (c)(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.
(ii) Temperature prediction method. In
			 addition to the riparian management zone requirements described in (f) 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.
(iii) Leave tree requirements for shade. The
			 method described in (c)(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.
(iv) 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.
(d) 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.
(e) 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 (f)
			 of this subsection.
(f) 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. Trees left according to (c) 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
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 less than 75' and
							 greater than or equal to 10'
86'
representative of stand
115 trees
60 trees
F Water less than 10' and greater than or equal to
							 5'
58'
2 to 1
12" or next largest
							 available1
86 trees
29 trees
F Water
less than 5'
29'
1 to 1
6" or next largest
							 available1
29 trees
29 trees
1
"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.
Ponds or lakes which are Type S or F Waters shall have the same
				leave tree requirements as boulder/bedrock streams.