Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024
(a) Commercial Thinning. Commercial thinning
is the removal of trees in a young-growth stand to maintain or increase average
stand Diameter of the residual crop trees, promote timber growth, and/or
improve forest health. The residual stand shall consist primarily of healthy
and vigorous dominant and codominant trees from the preharvest stand.
(1) Post harvest stand Stocking levels shall
be stated in the THP. The level of residual Stocking shall be consistent with
maximum sustained production of high quality timber products. Generally, stands
will develop stand structures with considerably higher levels of basal area
than provided in these minimum standards as stand age increases. In no case
shall Stocking be reduced below the following standards:
(A) Where the preharvest dominant and
codominant crown Canopy is occupied primarily by trees greater than fourteen
(14) inches d.b.h.:
1. On Site I mixed conifer
lands at least one hundred twenty-five (125) sq.ft. per acre of basal area
shall be left, and on Site I land where greater than fifty (50) percent of the
basal area is pine, at least one hundred (100) sq.ft. per acre of basal area
shall be left.
2. On Site II mixed
conifer lands at least one hundred (100) sq.ft. per acre of basal area shall be
left, and on Site II lands where greater than fifty (50) percent of the basal
area is pine, at least seventy-five (75) sq.ft. per acre of basal are shall be
left.
3. On Site III mixed conifer
lands at least seventy-five (75) sq.ft. per acre of basal area shall be left,
and on Site III lands where greater than fifty (50) percent of the basal area
is pine, at least seventy-five (75) sq.ft. per acre of basal area shall be
left.
4. On Site IV and V mixed
conifer lands, at least fifty (50) sq.ft. per acre of basal area shall be left,
and on Site IV and V lands where greater than fifty (50) percent of the basal
area is pine at least fifty (50) sq.ft. per acre of basal area shall be
left.
(B) Where the
preharvest dominant and codominant crown Canopy is occupied primarily by trees
less than fourteen (14) inches d.b.h., a minimum of sixty-five (65) trees per
acre over four (4) inches d.b.h. shall be retained.
(2) Exceptions to these Stocking Standards
may be proposed by the RPF when explained and justified in the Plan, but in no
case will the standards be below those specified in
14 CCR
§
952.7(b)(2).
(3) For stands harvested in compliance with
14 CCR
§
953.3(a)(1)(A), the
trees to be harvested or the trees to be retained shall be Marked by or under
the supervision of an RPF prior to felling operations. For all thinning
proposals, a sample area must be Marked prior to a preharvest inspection for
evaluation. The sample area shall include at least ten (10) percent of the
thinning area up to a maximum of twenty (20) acres per stand type which is
representative of the range of conditions present in the area. The Director may
waive the Marking requirements for the remainder of the THP area when explained
and justified in the THP.
(4)
Within six (6) months following completion of Timber Operations as described in
the Plan a report of Stocking shall be filed as stated in PRC §
4587.
(b) Sanitation-Salvage. Sanitation is the
removal of insect-attacked or Diseased Trees in order to maintain or improve
the health of the stand. Salvage is the removal of only those trees which are
dead, dying or deteriorating, because of damage from fire, wind, insects,
disease, flood or other injurious agents. Salvage provides for the economic
recovery of trees prior to a total loss of their wood product value. Sanitation
and salvage may be combined into a single operation. The following requirements
apply to the use of the sanitation-salvage treatment:
(1) The RPF shall estimate in the THP
expected level of Stocking to be retained upon completion of Timber
Operations.
(2) Immediately upon
completion of Timber Operations, the area shall meet the Stocking Standards of
14 CCR
§
952.7(b) unless
explained and justified in the Plan. If Stocking is to be met immediately
following completion of Timber Operations, a report of Stocking shall be filed
within six (6) months of completion. If this standard cannot be met, the area
must be planted during the first planting season following completion of Timber
Operations and the minimum Stocking Standards of
14 CCR
§
952.7(b)(1) must be
met within five (5) years following completion of Timber Operations.
(3) Trees to be harvested or trees to be
retained shall be Marked by or under the supervision of an RPF prior to felling
operations. When openings greater than one-quarter (0.25) acres will be
created, the boundaries of the Small Group(s) may be designated in lieu of
Marking individual trees within the Small Group areas. A sample area must be
Marked prior to a preharvest inspection for evaluation. The sample area shall
include at least ten (10) percent of the area, up to a maximum of twenty (20)
acres per stand type, whichever is less, which is representative of the range
of conditions present in the area. The Director may waive the Marking
requirement for the remainder of the THP area when explained and justified in
the THP.
1. New
NOTE filed 2-21-79 as procedural and organizational; effective upon filing
(Register 79, No. 9).
2. Repealer and new section filed 1-11-83;
effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 83, No. 3).
3. New
subsection (c) filed 1-23-85; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 85,
No. 4).
4. Change without regulatory effect filed 5-24-89 (Register
89, No. 23).
5. Editorial correction of subsections (a)(2) and
(c)(2)(B) (Register 91, No. 28).
6. Amendment filed 1-7-94;
operative 3-1-94 (Register 94, No. 1).
7. Editorial correction of
subsection (b)(2) (Register 96, No. 50).
8. Amendment of subsections
(a)(3) and (b)(3) filed 11-26-97; operative 1-1-98 pursuant to Public Resources
Code section
4554.5
(Register 97, No. 48).
9. Change without regulatory effect amending
section filed 12-20-2017 pursuant to section
100, title 1, California Code of
Regulations (Register 2017, No. 51).
10. Amendment of subsections
(a)(1)(A)-(B), (a)(3)-(4) and (b)(1)-(3) filed 11-14-2019; operative 1-1-2020
pursuant to Public Resources Code section
4554.5(a)
(Register 2019, No. 46).
Note: Authority cited: Sections
4551
and
4561,
Public Resources Code. Reference: Sections
4582(d),
4582(h)
and
4587,
Public Resources Code.
