Oregon Administrative Rules
Chapter 629 - DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY
Division 630 - HARVESTING
Section 629-630-0920 - Small Forestland Owner Minimum Option; Harvesting on Features Identified in the Slopes Model and Stream Adjacent Failures

Universal Citation: OR Admin Rules 629-630-0920

Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 9, September 1, 2024

(1) Western Oregon, Designated Debris Flow Traversal Areas for harvest type 1, harvest type 2 or harvest type 3 operations. For forestlands in Western Oregon that are managed under the small forestland owner minimum option, operators shall not harvest timber within 50 percent of the length of the designated debris flow traversal area for each harvest type 1, harvest type 2, or harvest type 3 unit. The State Forester will:

(a) Assist small forestland owners in determining designated debris flow traversal areas in a planned harvest unit, prioritizing vegetation retention requirements for Type SSBT streams over Type F streams.

(b) Exempt small forestland owners from the designated debris flow traversal areas requirements for harvest type 4 units.

(2) Operators shall retain all trees within 25 feet slope distance on either side of the active channel identified in OAR 629-630-0920(1), or center of the draw if no channel is present for areas identified by the slopes model as designated debris flow traversal areas.

(3) Changes in stream classification for a stream, based on field surveys for fish-use consistent with OAR 629-635-0200, shall not change the department's maps used for notifications of operations that identify designed debris flow traversal areas.

(4) Operators shall submit a written plan, described in OAR 629-630-0925, for timber harvest units containing designated debris flow traversal areas, except for harvest type 4 units.

(5) Cable yarding, which may require cutting, but not removal, of trees, is permitted through designated debris flow traversal areas, but the number, size, and location of yarding corridors shall be designed to minimize impacts to the integrity of designated debris flow traversal areas. The operator shall not remove trees cut for yarding corridors unless these are deemed safety hazards.

(6) Western Oregon, Designated Sediment Source Areas. For forestlands in Western Oregon that are managed under the small forestland owner minimum option, landowners are exempt from the rule requirements for timber harvesting in designated sediment source areas and slope retention areas.

(7) Statewide, Stream Adjacent Failures. Operators shall extend the riparian management areas, described in OAR 629-643-0100 and OAR 629-643-0120, on all identified stream adjacent failures, as defined in OAR 629-600-0100. The riparian management area shall encompass the perimeter of the stream adjacent failure, defined in OAR 629-600-0100, however, the width of the riparian management area shall only extend to the lesser of:

(a) The distance of 30 feet from the outer edge of the small forestland owner minimum option; or

(b) The distance to the slope break, defined as 20 percent or greater reduction in slope gradient.

(8) The landowner representative shall submit a written plan, described in OAR 629-605-0170(13), for timber harvest units where yarding is planned to occur within stream adjacent failures.

(9) The landowner shall submit a written plan that describes how the number, size, and location of yarding corridors were selected to minimize impacts to the integrity of stream adjacent failures.

(10) Cable yarding, which may require cutting, but not removal, of trees, is permitted through stream adjacent failures, but the number, size, and location of yarding corridors shall minimize impact to the integrity of the feature. The operator shall not remove trees cut for yarding corridors unless these are deemed safety hazards.

(11) The operator shall make all riparian management area width measurements using the slope distance and shall measure them from the edge of the active channel or channel migration zone.

(12) The department shall publish Forest Practices Technical Guidance to assist operators in identifying channel migration zones.

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 527.710, Section 2(1), Chapter 33, Oregon Laws 2022

Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 527.715, 527.765, Section 2(2), Chapter 33, Oregon Laws 2022, Section (10), Chapter 33, Oregon Laws 2022

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Oregon may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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