Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024
(a) Only the
following Regeneration Methods and Stocking requirements, and those described
in Article 6 of Subchapter 7 of this Chapter, shall apply in the Southern
Subdistrict of the Coast Forest District. Timber Operations shall be conducted
in accordance with paragraphs (1), (2), or (3) below. If the provisions of more
than one subsection will be used within any individual timber operation or
Logging Area, a line separating the areas to be cut under provisions of each
shall be shown in the Plan and clearly defined on the ground by paint or other
means prior to filing the Plan and so as to be readily identifiable during and
after completion of logging.
(1) Leave uncut
a well-distributed timber stand after Timber Operations have been completed on
the Logging Area that is at least forty (40) percent by number of those trees
eighteen (18) inches and more d.b.h. present prior to commencement of current
Timber Operations. Leave trees shall be thrifty coniferous trees which were
dominant or co-dominant in crown class prior to timber harvesting or which have
crowns typical of such dominant or co-dominant trees. They shall be free from
significant damage caused by the Timber Operations. No conifer shall be cut
which is more than seventy-five (75) feet from the nearest leave tree twelve
(12) inches d.b.h. or larger located within the Logging Area. No area may be
cut in excess of the leave tree standards of this rule in any ten (10) year
period. Upon completion of Timber Operations one of the following Stocking
Standards for coniferous trees shall be met:
(A) Basal Area. The average residual basal
area, measured in stems one (1) inch or larger in Diameter at least one hundred
twenty (120) square feet per acre on Site I lands, and at least one hundred
(100) square feet per acre on Site II lands, and seventy-five (75) square feet
per acre on Site III lands, and fifty (50) square feet per acre on Sites IV and
V lands.
(B) Countable Trees. The
area contains a well-distributed stand of trees with an average Countable Tree
point count of at least two hundred (200) per acre on Site I and II lands, one
hundred twenty-five (125) per acre on Site III lands, or one hundred (100) per
acre on Site IV and V lands. The point count to be computed as follows:
1. Each Countable Tree which is not more than
four (4) inches d.b.h. counts one (1) point.
2. Each Countable Tree over four (4) inches
and not more than twelve (12) inches d.b.h. counts two (2) points.
3. Each Countable Tree over twelve (12)
inches d.b.h. counts as four (4) points.
4. Redwood root crown sprouts over one (1)
foot in height will be counted using the average stump diameter one (1) foot
above average ground level of the original stump from which the redwood root
crown sprouts originate counting one (1) sprout for each one (1) foot of stump
diameter to a maximum of six (6) per stump. Any countable redwood root crown
sprout over one (1) foot in height but less than four (4) inches d.b.h. shall
count as one (1) toward meeting Stocking
requirements.
(2) An alternative Regeneration Method may be
approved only if all of the following are met:
(A) The Regeneration Method described in
subsection (a) above is not silviculturally appropriate or Feasible in the
professional judgment of the Director and the RPF who prepared the
Plan.
(B) Cutting Methods
prescribed under the provisions of this section must maintain a
well-distributed tree crown cover of at least fifty (50) percent of the
pre-existing tree crown Canopy. At no time shall the crown cover be reduced to
a level where the productivity of the land is jeopardized or to a level which
would create a threat to soil and/or water resources. Provided the required
crown cover can be maintained, the removal of all trees in Small Groups not
exceeding one-half (0.5) acre in size may be approved as part of the overall
cutting prescription.
(C) The
alternative method shall provide overall protection at least equal to that of
the standard provided by subsection (a) for watershed, wildlife, soil, and
aesthetic resources considering the Silvicultural Method, conditions necessary
for regeneration, tree growth rate, annual rainfall, summer temperature and
length of dry season, critical problems of erodible soils, Unstable Areas, need
for high water quality, increased fire potential, and exposure to more
intensive use.
(D) A Plan agreed
upon between the RPF and the Director is prepared which gives timber stand
information concerning Stocking levels, cutting goals, timber stand growth and
future harvest timing expectations.
(E) The Timber Operator is responsible for
carrying out Timber Operations as described in the Plan. The Plan submitter is
responsible for retaining an RPF to provide professional advice to the Timber
Operator and Timberlands owner on a continuing basis throughout the Timber
Operations. The RPF or the designee of the RPF works closely with the Timber
Operator to help assure compliance with the approved Alternative Prescription
and the terms and specifications of the approved Plan. The RPF or the designee
of the RPF is present on the Harvest Area sufficient hours each week to know
the operations' progress and advise the Timber Operator. The RPF informs the
Timber Operator of potential environmental impacts and the mitigation measures
to be taken to minimize such impacts. The Timber Operator shall sign the Plan
and major amendments thereto, or shall sign and file with the Director a
facsimile thereof, prior to commencement or continuation of operation
thereunder agreeing to abide by the terms and specifications of the Plan. An
RPF may be responsible for the conduct of Timber Operations under contractual
arrangements with the Timber Owner.
(F) The Logging Area shall meet the Stocking
Standards described in
14 CCR
§
913.8(a)(1) within
five (5) years following completion of Timber Operations.
(G) Group B species designated for management
may be counted for Stocking, consistent with
14 CCR
§
912.7(d).
(3) The harvest of dead, Dying or
deteriorating trees resulting from fire, wind, insect, disease, flood, or other
injurious agents as provided in
14 CCR
§
913.3(b) shall be
exempt from
14 CCR
§
913.8(a)(1) and (2)
except for Stocking under
14 CCR
§
913.8(a)(2) provided
there has been a preharvest inspection and a Plan has been
approved.
1. New
NOTE filed 2-21-79 as procedural and organizational; effective upon filing
(Register 79, No. 9).
2. Repealer and new section filed 7-2-79;
effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 79, No. 27).
3.
Repealer of former section 913.8 and renumbering and amendment of section
913.9 to section 913.8 filed
1-11-83; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 83, No. 3).
4.
Amendment of first paragraph and new subsection (d) filed 8-10-87; operative
9-9-87 (Register 87, No. 33).
5. Amendment of subsection (b)(3)
filed 2-11-91; operative 3-13-91 (Register 91, No. 14).
6. Change
without regulatory effect amending section filed 9-7-2017 pursuant to section
100, title 1, California Code of
Regulations (Register 2017, No. 36).
7. Amendment of section and
NOTE filed 6-4-2020; operative 1-1-2021 pursuant to Public Resources Code
section
4554.5
(Register 2020, No. 23).
8. Amendment of subsection (a) and NOTE
filed 6-6-2022; operative 1-1-2023 pursuant to Public Resources Code section
4554.5
(Register 2022, No. 23).
Note: Authority cited: Sections
4551,
4553,
4561.1
and
4562.5,
Public Resources Code. Reference: Sections
4551.5,
4561,
4561.1,
4562.5
and
4562.7,
Public Resources Code.
