Current through August 26, 2024
(1) PERMIT.
(a)
Permit issuance. No
person may cut or harvest timber within the riverway without a permit issued by
the riverway board.
(b)
Permit conditions. The riverway board shall place conditions
in permits necessary to assure timber harvest or cutting is conducted in
compliance with this chapter. Additional conditions, as applicable, shall be
included but not be limited to:
1. Cutting
specifications to insure that trees of desirable species and form be retained
on the site after cutting.
2. Roads
constructed for the purpose of harvesting timber shall be visually
inconspicuous from the river during the time when the leaves are on the
deciduous trees.
3. Timber cutting
or harvesting is limited to those times when the ground is frozen or dry and
the leaves are off the deciduous trees.
4. Erosion bars or culverts will be installed
as necessary to prevent erosion.
5.
Harvesting practices shall conform with the "Silvicultural and Forest
Aesthetics Handbook" and the department publication "Forest
aesthetics."
6. Timber harvesting
restrictions necessary to minimize the impact on any known populations of
federally or state designated threatened and endangered species.
Note: The species are listed in ch. NR 27.
(c)
Maps or
diagrams. Landowners desiring to conduct any timber cutting or
harvesting, including road construction shall submit a map or diagram of the
proposed timber harvest area identifying the property boundaries, harvest
boundaries, road locations and other information requested by the riverway
board or county.
(2)
BLUFF ZONE, RIVERVIEW ZONE AND RIVER EDGE ZONE. In addition to other
restrictions established on timber cutting and harvest within the bluff zone,
riverview zone and river edge zone, the following conditions shall be included
but not be limited to:
(a) No timber cutting
or harvest may be conducted at any time other than when the ground is frozen or
dry and the leaves are off the deciduous trees.
(b) Road construction for the purpose of
harvesting or cutting timber on slopes facing the river shall comply with the
following:
1. The permit authorizing the
timber harvest and road construction.
2. The average grade may not exceed a 10%
slope.
3. Grades up to but not
exceeding 15% for no longer than 75 feet horizontal distance are authorized;
however, grades with a slope of 10% to 15% may not constitute more than 20% of
the road length.
4. Road width may
not exceed 12 feet.
5. Switchbacks
are not permitted on slopes facing the river. However, a variance may be
granted allowing switchbacks or grades in excess of the limits established in
subds. 2. and 3. in areas that would otherwise be inaccessible subject to the
visually inconspicuous requirement of sub. (1)(b) 2. and the erosion protection
requirement of sub. (1) (b) 4.
6.Roads, upon completion of the timber
cutting and harvest operation, shall be seeded to establish sod or other
vegetative cover.
Note: A mixture of seed including 10 pounds of white dutch
clover, 5 pounds of perennial rye, 10 pounds of annual rye, and 15 pounds of
creeping red fescue at a rate of 40 pounds per acre has proven effective. One
mile of woods or timber road 12 feet wide will normally equal approximately 1.5
acres.
(4) BLUFF ZONE AND RIVER EDGE ZONE. No person
may cut, harvest or remove timber within the bluff zone and river edge zone
except by selection cutting. After cutting, the residual stand shall be at
least 60 square feet basal area.
(5) RIVERVIEW ZONE. No person may cut,
harvest or remove timber within the riverview zone except as follows:
(a) By small regeneration cuts with
boundaries designed to harmonize with naturally occurring shapes consistent
with the "Silvicultural and Forest Aesthetic Handbook" and the publication
"Forest aesthetics;"
(b) By
shelterwood cuts not to exceed the size, shape, spacing or timing of
regeneration cuts;
(c) By selection
cutting leaving a residual timber stand of at least 60 square feet basal
area.
(6) RESOURCE
MANAGEMENT ZONE. Persons in the resource management zone are encouraged to
conduct timber cutting, harvest or removal operations consistent with these
rules and subch. IV of ch. 30, Stats. The harvest and harvest method should
consider integration of all resource capabilities, including:
(a) Cutting boundaries should be designed to
harmonize with the natural occurring shapes in the area.
(b) Harvesting and thinning should be limited
to when the ground is frozen or dry and the leaves are off the deciduous
trees.
(c) Selection cutting, small
regeneration cuts and shelterwood cuts are preferable harvesting techniques in
this zone.
Statutory exemptions to the timber cutting restrictions in
this chapter.
Chapter 30, subch. IV, of the Wisconsin Statutes provides
various exemptions to timber cutting rules or restrictions. They do not apply
to the cutting of timber if:
1. The landowner and the land involved is subject to a
Forest Crop Law or Managed Forest Land Law by order or contract issued prior to
October 31, 1989. (ss.
30.42(1) (f) and
30.44(3) (c), Stats.)
2. The cutting of timber is necessary for maintenance of
an easement or a right-of-way for a high-voltage transmission line or a utility
facility. (s.
30.44(3) (c) 2m, Stats.)
3. The timber is diseased and a forester has issued a
written determination that the timber is subject to an actual, potential or
incipient infestation or infection by an insect or disease that is harmful to
the timber. (s.
30.44(3) (c) 2r, Stats.)
4. The timber has been damaged by natural causes. (s.
30.44(3) (c) 3, Stats.)
5. The timber is on land more than 75 feet beyond the
ordinary high-water mark of the river and the land is owned or occupied by the
person cutting the timber for use as firewood for the person's agricultural or
household use. (s.
30.44(3) (c) 4,
Stats.)
