# WAC 222-30-050: WAC 222-30-050. Felling and bucking > Washington · Regulations · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_222_30_050 ## Section - **Citation:** WAC 222-30-050 - **Heading:** WAC 222-30-050. Felling and bucking - **Jurisdiction:** Washington - **Kind:** Regulations - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** Washington Administrative Code / Title 222 / Chapter 222-30 / Section 222-30-050 ## Text *(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). ## Nearby sections - [WAC 222-30-010 WAC 222-30-010. Policy—Timber harvesting](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_222_30_010.md) - [WAC 222-30-020 WAC 222-30-020. *Harvest unit planning and design](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_222_30_020.md) - [WAC 222-30-021 WAC 222-30-021. *Western Washington riparian management zones](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_222_30_021.md) - [WAC 222-30-022 WAC 222-30-022. *Eastern Washington riparian management zones](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_222_30_022.md) - [WAC 222-30-023 WAC 222-30-023. Riparian management zones for exempt 20-acre parcels](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_222_30_023.md) - [WAC 222-30-025 WAC 222-30-025. Even-aged harvest—Size and timing](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_222_30_025.md) - [WAC 222-30-030 WAC 222-30-030. Stream bank integrity](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_222_30_030.md) - [WAC 222-30-040 WAC 222-30-040. Shade requirements to maintain water temperature](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_222_30_040.md) - [WAC 222-30-045 WAC 222-30-045. Salvage logging within riparian management zones](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_222_30_045.md) - [WAC 222-30-050 WAC 222-30-050. Felling and bucking](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_222_30_050.md) - [WAC 222-30-060 WAC 222-30-060. Cable yarding](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_222_30_060.md) - [WAC 222-30-062 WAC 222-30-062. *Large woody debris removal or repositioning](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_222_30_062.md) - [WAC 222-30-065 WAC 222-30-065. Helicopter yarding](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_222_30_065.md) - [WAC 222-30-070 WAC 222-30-070. Ground-based logging systems](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_222_30_070.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_222_30_050. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.