WAC 222-30-050. Felling and bucking

*(1) Felling along water.

(a) Except when removing or repositioning large woody debris per WAC 222-30-062 , 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 incorporate mitigation measures necessary to achieve no-net-loss of productive capacity of fish and shellfish habitat as follows:

(i) Trees shall not be felled into or across the stream except where approved by the department.

(ii) Trees or logs that enter a stream during felling shall remain where they enter unless parts or all of the trees or logs are specifically approved to be removed by the department.

(iii) If limbs or other small debris enter the watercourse as a result of felling timber, they shall be removed concurrently with each change in yarding road or within seventy-two hours after entry into the watercourse and placed on stable locations outside the stream's influence. Limbs or other small debris shall be removed from dry watercourses prior to the normal onset of high flows. Large woody material which was in place prior to felling timber shall not be disturbed.

(iv) Precautions shall be taken to minimize the release of sediment to waters downstream from the felling activity. See board manual section 5 for technical guidance.

(b) Within RMZ inner and outer zones, and wetland management zones, fell trees favorable to the lead consistent with safety standards to yard or skid away from the waters. The use of directional felling, lining, jacking and staged felling techniques are required.

n to minimize the release of sediment to waters downstream from the felling activity. See board manual section 5 for technical guidance.

(b) Within RMZ inner and outer zones, and wetland management zones, fell trees favorable to the lead consistent with safety standards to yard or skid away from the waters. The use of directional felling, lining, jacking and staged 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, except as necessary to remove the timber from the water, or unless it is part of a proposal to remove or reposition large wood debris per WAC 222-30-062 . Such bucking or limbing in Type S or F Waters shall incorporate the mitigation measures in subsection (1)(a) of this section.

*(3) 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) Felling in selective and partial cuts. Reasonable care shall be taken to 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 1st and August 31st 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

inimize 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 1st and August 31st 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).