1. (1) Operators shall fell, buck, and limb trees in ways that minimize disturbance to channels, soils and retained vegetation in riparian management areas, streams, lakes and all wetlands greater than one-quarter acre, and that minimize slash accumulations in channels, significant wetlands and lakes.

2. (2) During felling operations operators shall:

   1. (a) Whenever possible, fell all conifer trees away from riparian management areas, streams, lakes and significant wetlands, except for trees felled for stream improvement projects.
   2. (b) On steep slopes, use felling practices such as jacking, line pulling, high stumps, whole tree yarding, or stage-cutting as necessary and feasible to prevent damage to vegetation retained in riparian management areas, soils, streams, lakes and significant wetlands.

   3. (c) When hardwoods must be felled into or across streams, lakes or significant wetlands, operators shall:

      1. (A) Buck and yard the trees to minimize damage to beds, banks and retained vegetation.
      2. (B) When it can be done consistently with protecting beds and banks, yard hardwood trees or logs away from the water before limbing.

3. (3) Operators shall minimize the effects of slash that may enter waters of the state during felling, bucking, limbing or yarding by:

   1. (a) Removing slash from Type F, Type SSBT, Type D streams, large or medium Type Np streams, small Type Np streams within the RH Max, lakes and significant wetlands as an ongoing process (removal within 24 hours of the material entering the stream) during the harvest operation.
   2. (b) Not allowing slash to accumulate in Type Ns streams and small Type Np streams upstream of the RH Max, lakes or wetlands in quantities that threaten water quality or increase the potential for mass debris movement.
   3. (c) Placing any slash that is removed from streams, lakes, or wetlands above high water levels where it will not enter waters of the state.

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

History

DOF 7-2022, amend filed 11/21/2022, effective 01/01/2024
DOF 1-2017, f. 6-9-17, cert. ef. 7-1-17
DOF 8-2005, f. 12-13-05, cert. ef. 1-1-06
DOF 6-2005(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 8-2-05 thru 1-27-06
FB 9-1996, f. 12-2-96, cert. ef. 1-1-97, Renumbered from 629-660-0000
FB 3-1994, f. 6-15-94, cert. ef. 9-1-94, Renumbered from 629-057-2610