California Code of Regulations
Title 14 - Natural Resources
Division 1.5 - Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Chapter 4 - Forest Practices
Subchapter 6 - Southern Forest District Rules
Article 11 - Coastal Commission Special Treatment Areas
Section 961.3 - Silvicultural Methods

Universal Citation: 14 CA Code of Regs 961.3

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

The objective of this Section is to prescribe silvicultural methods that will protect the long-term productivity of soils and Timberlands in Coastal Commission Special Treatment Areas and protect the natural and scenic qualities of these areas. The following silvicultural methods as prescribed below will be applied in Coastal Commission Special Treatment Areas. 14 CCR §§ 953 through 953.13, defines these methods.

(a) Commercial Thinning or Selection Methods. When the commercial thinning or the selection silvicultural method is used the following standards are required:

(1) In the pine type, after Timber Operations have been completed, at least 50% by number of those trees eighteen (18) inches or larger d.b.h. and at least 50% by number of those trees twelve (12) inches d.b.h., but less than eighteen (18) inches d.b.h. must be left.

(2) In the redwood type, after Timber Operations have been completed, at least fifty (50) percent by number of those trees twelve (12) to eighteen (18) inches, eighteen (18) to thirty-two (32) inches and thirty-two (32) inches or larger d.b.h. must be left.

(3) These leave tree requirements shall be calculated from the timber stand existing prior to the commencement of Timber Operations. Leave trees shall be thrifty, coniferous trees which are Dominant or Co-dominant in crown class prior to timber harvesting or which have crowns typical of such Dominant and Co-dominant trees. They shall be free from substantial damage caused by Timber Operations. No cut conifer tree shall be more than seventy-five (75) feet from a leave tree over eighteen (18) inches d.b.h. located within the Logging Area.

(4) Immediately following completion of Timber Operations, Stocking must meet or exceed Stocking Standards of 14 CCR § 961.4.

(5) A report of Stocking as described in PRC § 4587 shall be filed within six months following completion of work as described in the Plan.

(b) When the Sanitation Salvage Silvicultural Method is used, the following practices are required:

(1) A determined effort shall be made to regenerate any cut area during the first planting season following log removal. Necessary site preparation, planting or seeding shall be completed within the first planting season following logging except where unusual and adverse weather conditions require extending site preparation and planting into the following planting season. Deficiencies in Stocking shall be corrected by planting annually until full Stocking requirements are met.

(2) Operations utilizing the sanitation salvage silvicultural method shall meet the basal area or point count Stocking Standards of 14 CCR § 961.4 within five (5) years after the completion of Timber Operations.

(c) Fuelbreak/Defensible Space. Where some trees and other vegetation and fuels are removed to create or maintain a shaded fuel break or defensible space in an area to reduce the potential for wildfires and the damage they might cause. Minimum Stocking Standards within the timber operating area shall be met immediately after harvest and shall be those found in 14 CCR § 952.7. The RPF shall describe in the Plan specific vegetation and fuels treatment, including timing, to reduce fuels to meet the objectives of a Community Fuelbreak Area or other objectives identified by the RPF with the written concurrence of a public fire agency and determined by the Director to be consistent with the purposes of this section. The Plan shall include RPF recommendations to protect the natural and scenic qualities of the resources that led to the designation of the area as a Special Treatment Area, including, but not limited to, treating slash in areas highly visible to the public from a publicly accessible vantage point.

(d) Variable Retention may be utilized as described within 14 CCR § 953.4(d) to achieve the objectives of this section. The Plan shall include RPF recommendations to protect the natural and scenic qualities of the resources that led to the designation of the area as a Special Treatment Area, including, but not limited to, treating slash in areas highly visible to the public from a publicly accessible vantage point.

(e) An Alternative Prescription shall be included in a Plan when, in the judgment of the RPF, an alternative Regeneration Method or Intermediate Treatment offers a more effective or more Feasible way of achieving the objectives of this section than any of the standard Silvicultural Methods provided above.

(1) The Alternative Prescription shall comply with 14 CCR §§ 953.6(b) and (d), and is subject to Director approval as described within 14 CCR § 953.6(e)

(2) Proposed modifications shall protect the natural and scenic qualities of the Coastal Commission Special Treatment Areas to at least the same extent as otherwise provided in these Rules, in consideration of the resources that led to the designation of the area as a Special Treatment Area.

Note: Authority cited: Section 4551, Public Resources Code. Reference: Sections 4551.5, 4561, 4561.2 and 30417, Public Resources Code.

Note: Authority cited: Section 4551, Public Resources Code. Reference: Sections 4551.5, 4561 and 30417, Public Resources Code.

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