California Code of Regulations
Title 14 - Natural Resources
Division 1.5 - Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Chapter 4 - Forest Practices
Subchapter 5 - Northern Forest District Rules
Article 4 - Harvesting Practices and Erosion Control
Section 934.2 - Operations

Universal Citation: 14 CA Code of Regs 934.2

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024

(a) Timber Operations shall be conducted in a manner which complies with 14 CCR § 934.

(b) Heavy equipment which is equipped with a blade, shall not operate on skid roads or slopes that are so steep as to require the use of the blade for braking.

(c) Tractor Roads shall be limited in number and width to the minimum necessary for removal of logs. The RPF may propose exceptions for silvicultural reasons when explained and justified in the Plan.

(d) Heavy equipment shall not operate on Unstable Areas. If such areas are unavoidable, the RPF shall develop specific measures to minimize the effect of operations on slope instability. These measures shall be explained and justified in the Plan and approved by the Director, and must meet the requirements of 14 CCR § 934.

(e) Slash and debris from Timber Operations shall not be bunched adjacent to residual trees required for silvicultural or wildlife purposes or placed in locations where they could be discharged into a Class I or II Watercourse, or Lake.

(f) The following limitations apply:

(1) Except for Tethered Operations, heavy equipment shall be prohibited where any of the following conditions are present:
(A) Slopes steeper than 65%

(B) Slopes steeper than 50% where the Erosion Hazard Rating is high or extreme

(2) Heavy equipment shall be prohibited on slopes over 50% which lead without flattening to sufficiently dissipate water flow and trap sediment before it reaches a Watercourse or Lake.

(3) On slopes between fifty (50) percent and sixty-five (65) percent where the Erosion Hazard Rating is moderate, and all slope percentages are for Average Slope steepness based on sample areas that are twenty (20) acres, or less if proposed by the RPF or required by the Director, heavy equipment, except for Tethered Operations, shall be limited to:
(A) existing Tractor Roads that do not require reconstruction, or

(B) New Tractor Roads at a location that has been shown on the Plan map, flagged by an RPF or Supervised Designee prior to the pre-harvest inspection or, when a pre-harvest inspection is not required, prior to the start of Timber Operations, and approved by the Director.

(4) Non-Tethered Tractor Operations, excluding Yarding, may occur in areas designated for Cable Yarding on slopes up to 50%. Tethered Operations, excluding Yarding, may occur in areas designated for Cable Yarding. The limitations of 14 CCR § 934.2(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f)(2), (g), (h), and (i), and any other applicable limitations on Tractor Operations throughout this Chapter, by District, apply.

(5) The RPF may propose exceptions to the limitations on Tractor Operations described above if the proposed exception will comply with 14 CCR § 934, and if the Plan both clearly explains the proposed exception and justifies how the proposed exception will comply with 14 CCR § 934. The location of Tractor Roads, except for those used in Tethered Operations, to be used under such exceptions shall be flagged prior to the pre-harvest inspection or, when a pre-harvest inspection is not required, prior to the start of Timber Operations.

(g) Where Tractor Roads are constructed, Timber Operators shall use Tractor Roads only, both for Skidding logs to Landings and on return trips.

(h) Timber Operators shall exercise due diligence so that desirable residual trees and seedlings which are required to be retained upon completion of Timber Operations will not be damaged or destroyed by Timber Operations.

(i) Where Waterbreaks cannot effectively disperse surface runoff, other Erosion Controls shall be installed as needed.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 4551, 4551.5 and 4553, Public Resources Code. Reference: Sections 4512, 4513, 4562.5, 4562.7 and 4582, Public Resources Code.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 4551, 4551.5 and 4553, Public Resources Code. Reference: Sections 4512, 4513, 4562.5, 4562.7 and 4582, Public Resources Code.

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