Washington Administrative Code › Title 222 - Forest Practices Board › Chapter 222-30 - Timber harvesting › Section 222-30-022 - *Eastern Washington riparian management zones

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
For eastside forests, riparian management is intended to
				provide stand conditions that vary over time. It is designed to mimic eastside
				disturbance regimes within a range that meets functional conditions and
				maintains general forest health. These desired future conditions are a
				reference point on the pathway to restoration of riparian functions, not an end
				point of riparian stand development. These rules apply to all typed waters on
				forest land in Eastern Washington, except as provided in WAC
				222-30-023. RMZs are measured
				horizontally from the outer edge of the bankfull width or channel migration
				zone, whichever is greater, and extend to the limits as described in the
				following section.
Eastern Washington RMZ for streams with bankfull width of
				less than or equal to 15 feet wide
Site Class
Total RMZ
Core Zone Width
Inner Zone
Outer Zone
Width
From outer edge of bankfull width or outer edge of CMZ,
						whichever is greater
Width
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
Core Zone Width
Inner Zone
Outer Zone
Width
From outer edge of bankfull width or outer edge of CMZ,
						whichever is greater
Width
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 board manual
				section 1.
(a)
Core
			 zones.
The core zone extends thirty 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 seventy feet measured horizontally from the outer edge of the core zone on
			 streams greater than fifteen feet bankfull width or forty-five feet measured
			 horizontally from the outer edge of the core zone on streams with a bankfull
			 width of fifteen feet or less.
(B)
			 No harvest is allowed in the inner zone except as described in (b)(i)(C) or (D)
			 of this subsection, and as allowed for stream crossings and yarding corridors
			 as described in this 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 one hundred ten square feet per acre for conifer and
			 hardwood trees equal to or greater than six inches dbh. The harvest must leave
			 at least fifty trees per acre AND subject to (b)(i)(C)(III) of this subsection,
			 a minimum leave tree basal area of at least sixty square feet per acre. The
			 trees to be left shall be selected as follows:
(I) The twenty-one largest trees per acre
			 must be left; and
(II) An
			 additional twenty-nine trees per acre that are 10-inch dbh or greater must be
			 left. If there are less than twenty-nine ten-inch dbh or greater trees per
			 acre, leave the twenty-nine largest trees. If there are more than twenty-nine
			 ten-inch dbh or greater trees per acre, leave twenty-nine ten-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
			 fifty trees per acre are needed to meet the minimum leave tree basal area of
			 sixty square feet per acre, then additional trees greater than six-inch dbh
			 must be left. If the minimum basal area cannot be met with fewer than one
			 hundred trees of at least six inches dbh, then no more than one hundred trees
			 per acre of the largest remaining trees 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 sixty square feet per
			 acre AND there are more than one hundred trees per acre. The thinning must
			 leave a minimum of one hundred trees per acre. The trees to be left must be
			 selected as follows:
(I) The fifty largest
			 trees per acre must be left; and
(II) An additional fifty trees per acre that
			 are greater than six inches dbh must be left. If there are not fifty six-inch
			 dbh or greater trees per acre, then all six-inch dbh or greater trees per acre
			 must be left plus the largest remaining trees to equal fifty trees per acre.
			 Select the additional fifty 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 sixteen inches
			 diameter and twenty feet in length; and
(II) Four pieces greater than six inches in
			 diameter and twenty 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 seventy feet measured horizontally from the outer
			 edge of the core zone on streams greater than fifteen feet bankfull width or
			 forty-five feet measured horizontally from the outer edge of the core zone on
			 streams with a bankfull width of fifteen feet or less.
(B) No harvest is allowed in the inner zone
			 except as described in (b)(ii)(C) or (D) of this subsection, and as allowed for
			 stream crossings and yarding corridors as described in subsection
			 (1).
(C)
Stands with a high
			 basal area:
(I) Harvest is permitted in
			 the inner zone if the combined conifer and hardwood basal area for trees
			 greater than six inches dbh is:
. Greater than one hundred ten square feet per acre on low site
				indexes (site index less than ninety); or
. Greater than one hundred thirty square feet per acre on
				medium site indexes (site index between ninety and one hundred ten); or
. Greater than one hundred fifty square feet per acre on high
				site indexes (site index greater than one hundred ten).
(II) The harvest must leave at least fifty
			 trees per acre AND a minimum leave tree basal area of at least:
. seventy square feet per acre on low site indexes; or
. ninety square feet per acre on medium site indexes; or
. one hundred ten square feet per acre on high site
				indexes.
(III) The trees to
			 be left shall be selected as follows:
. The twenty-one largest trees per acre must be left;
				and
. An additional twenty-nine trees per acre that are ten-inch
				dbh or greater must be left. If there are less than twenty-nine ten-inch dbh or
				greater trees per acre, leave the twenty-nine largest trees. If there are more
				than twenty-nine ten-inch dbh or greater trees per acre, leave twenty-nine
				ten-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.
. If more than fifty trees per acre are needed to meet the
				minimum leave tree basal area for the site index in (b)(ii)(C)(II) of this
				subsection, then additional trees greater than six inches dbh must be left. If
				the minimum basal area cannot be met with fewer than one hundred trees at least
				six inches dbh, then no more than one hundred trees per acre of the largest
				remaining trees 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 the minimum
			 requirements for the site index in (b)(ii)(C)(II) of this subsection AND there
			 are more than one hundred twenty trees per acre. The thinning must leave a
			 minimum of one hundred twenty trees per acre. The trees to be left shall be
			 selected as follows:
(I) The fifty largest
			 trees per acre must be left; and
(II) An additional seventy trees per acre
			 greater than six inches dbh must be left. If there are not seventy six-inch dbh
			 or greater trees per acre, then all six-inch dbh or greater trees per acre must
			 be left plus the largest remaining trees to equal seventy trees per acre.
			 Select the additional seventy 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.
(E) To the
			 extent down wood is available on site prior to harvest, twenty tons of down
			 wood per acre is required to be left following harvest as follows:
(I) Eight pieces greater than sixteen inches
			 diameter and twenty feet in length; and
(II) Eight pieces greater than six inches in
			 diameter and twenty 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
			 (b)(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 forty-five feet measured horizontally from the outer
			 edge of the core zone on streams equal to or less than fifteen feet bankfull
			 width or seventy feet measured horizontally from the outer edge of the core
			 zone on streams with a bankfull width of greater than fifteen 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.
(C) To the extent down wood is available
			 prior to harvest, thirty tons per acre of down wood per acre must be left
			 following harvest as follows:
(I) Eight
			 pieces greater than sixteen inches diameter and twenty feet in length;
			 and
(II) Eight pieces greater than
			 six inches in diameter and twenty 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
			 (b)(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 fifteen feet:
(I) If the edge of
			 the road closest to the stream is seventy-five 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 seventy-five 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 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 will employ site specific management
				activities to replace lost riparian functions that may include placement of
				large woody debris in streams. (See board manual section 7.)
(B) For streams with a bankfull
			 width less than fifteen feet:
(I) If the edge
			 of the road closest to the stream is fifty 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 fifty 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 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 will employ site specific management
				activities to replace lost riparian functions that may include placement of
				large woody debris in streams. (See 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 twenty-one largest trees per
			 acre; or meet the requirement of an additional twenty-nine leave trees per acre
			 as per (b)(ii)(E) of this subsection.
(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 zero to fifty-five 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 - Ten dominant or codominant trees.
(B) Mixed conifer habitat type - Fifteen
			 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 (c)(i) of this subsection may be reduced to five trees per acre
			 in the ponderosa pine zone, eight trees per acre in the mixed forest habitat
			 type and ten trees per acre in the high elevation habitat type, if the
			 landowner voluntarily implements a LWD placement plan consistent with board
			 manual sections 5 and 26. Landowners are encouraged to consult with the
			 department and the department of fish and wildlife while designing the plan and
			 prior to submitting a forest practices application. If this strategy is chosen,
			 a complete forest practices application must include the LWD placement
			 plan.