The Oregon Administrative Rules contain OARs filed through November 15, 2015
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONTENT OR MEANING OF THIS AGENCY'S RULES?
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS RULES COORDINATOR CONTACT INFORMATION
DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY
DIVISION 630
HARVESTING
629-630-0000
Purpose
(1) Harvesting of forest tree species is an integral part of forest management by which wood for human use is obtained and by which forests are established and tended.
(2) Harvesting operations result in a temporary disturbance to the forest environment.
(3) The purpose of the harvesting rules is to establish standards for forest practices that will maintain the productivity of forestland, minimize soil and debris entering waters of the state, and protect wildlife and fish habitat.
(4) OARs 629-630-0000 through 629-630-0800 shall be known as the harvesting rules.
(5) The harvesting rules shall apply to all forest practices regions unless otherwise indicated.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 527.710
Stats. Implemented: ORS 527.715 & ORS 527.765
Hist.: FB 9-1996, f. 12-2-96, cert. ef. 1-1-97
629-630-0100
Skidding and Yarding Practices
(1) For each harvesting operation, operators shall select a logging method and type of equipment appropriate to the given slope, landscape, and soil properties in order to minimize soil deterioration and to protect water quality.
(2) Operators shall avoid ground-based yarding on unstable, wet, or easily compacted soils unless operations can be conducted without damaging soil productivity through soil disturbance, compaction or erosion.
(3) Operators shall locate skid trails where sidecasting is kept to a minimum.
(4) Operators shall locate skid trails on stable areas so as to minimize the risk of material entering waters of the state.
(5) Operators shall avoid excavating skid trails on slumps or slides.
(6) Operators shall limit cable logging to uphill yarding whenever practical. When downhill cable yarding is necessary, operators shall use a layout and system which minimizes soil displacement.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 527.710(2)
Stats. Implemented: ORS 527.630(3), ORS 527.765 & ORS 527.714
Hist.: FB 9-1996, f. 12-2-96, cert. ef. 1-1-97; DOF 12-2002, f. 12-9-02 cert. ef. 1-1-03
629-630-0150
Ground-Based Harvesting On Steep Or Erosion-Prone Slopes
(1) The purpose of this rule is to reduce the potential for erosion from steep or erosion-prone slopes to enter waters of the state.
(2) Slopes over 60 percent are subject to the requirements of Sections (4) through (9) of this rule.
(3) Slopes over 40 percent where soils consist of decomposed granite-type materials, or other highly erodible materials as determined by the State Forester, are considered erosion-prone and subject to the requirements of Sections (4) through (9) of this rule.
(4) Methods that avoid development of compacted or excavated trails are the preferred alternative for operating on steep or erosion-prone slopes. If the operation will result in excavated or compacted skid trails, operators shall apply sections (5) through (9) of this rule.
(5) If skid trails are located on steep or erosion-prone slopes, operators shall locate them at least 100 feet from any stream channels.
(6) Operators shall locate skid trails where water can drain off the skid trail and onto undisturbed soils.
(7) Skid trails shall not be located straight up and down steep or erosion prone slopes for a distance exceeding 100 feet unless effective drainage and sediment filtration can be achieved.
(8) Operators shall install effective cross ditches on all skid roads located on steep or erosion-prone slopes.
(9) Operators shall limit the amount of ground with disturbed soils on steep or erosion-prone slopes as described in Sections (2) and (3) of this rule to no more than ten percent of the steep or erosion-prone slopes within the operation area.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 527.710
Stats. Implemented: ORS 527.710(2) & 527.630(3)
Hist.: DOF 12-2002, f. 12-9-02 cert. ef. 1-1-03
629-630-0200
Landings
(1) Operators shall minimize the size of landings to that necessary for safe operation.
(2) Operators shall locate landings on stable areas so as to minimize the risk of material entering waters of the state.
(3) Operators shall avoid locating landings in riparian management areas. When no feasible alternative landing locations exist, operators shall submit a written plan to the State Forester before locating landings in riparian management areas.
(4) Operators shall not incorporate slash, logs, or other large quantities of organic material into landing fills.
(5) Operators shall deposit excess material from landing construction in stable locations well above the high water level.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 527.710
Stats. Implemented: ORS 527.715 & 527.765
Hist.: FB 9-1996, f. 12-2-96, cert. ef. 1-1-97; DOF 6-2005(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 8-2-05 thru 1-27-06; DOF 8-2005, f. 12-13-05, cert. ef. 1-1-06
629-630-0300
Drainage Systems
(1) The purpose of this rule is to provide and maintain a drainage system for each landing, skid trail, and fire trail that will control and disperse surface runoff to minimize sediment entering waters of the state.
(2) Operators shall construct dips, grade reversals or other effective water diversions in skid trails and fire trails as necessary to minimize soil displacement and to ensure runoff water is filtered before entering waters of the state.
(3) Operators shall drain skid trails by water barring or other effective means immediately following completion of the operation and at all times during the operation when runoff is likely.
(4) Operators shall establish effective drainage on landings during and after use.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 527.710
Stats. Implemented: ORS 527.715 & ORS 527.765
Hist.: FB 9-1996, f. 12-2-96, cert. ef. 1-1-97
629-630-0400
Treatment of Waste Materials
(1) Operators shall leave or place all debris, slash, sidecast and other waste material associated with harvesting in such a manner to prevent their entry into waters of the state.
(2) Where sidecast material or exposed soils are potentially unstable or erodible, the operator shall stabilize it by pullback, spreading out, seeding or other effective means.
(3) Operators shall remove from the forest all petroleum product related waste material associated with the operation including, but not limited to, crankcase oil, filters, grease and oil containers.
(4) Operators shall dispose of all other debris such as machine parts, old wire rope, and used tractor tracks so that such materials do not enter waters of the state.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 527.710
Stats. Implemented: ORS 527.715 & ORS 527.765
Hist.: FB 9-1996, f. 12-2-96, cert. ef. 1-1-97
629-630-0500
Harvesting On High Landslide Hazard Locations
(1) The purpose of this rule is to prevent timber harvesting-related serious ground disturbance and drainage alterations on all high landslide hazard locations, and to reference additional requirements when there is public safety exposure below the high landslide hazard location.
(2) Operators and the State Forester shall share responsibility to identify high landslide hazard locations and to determine if there is public safety exposure from shallow, rapidly moving landslides using methods described in OAR 629-623-0100 through 0300. If there is public safety exposure, then the practices described in OAR 629-623-0400 through 0800 shall also apply.
(3) Operators shall not construct skid roads on high landslide hazard locations.
(4) Operators shall not operate ground-based equipment on high landslide hazard locations.
(5) Operators shall prevent deep or extensive ground disturbance on high landslide hazard locations during log felling and yarding operations.
(6) Operators concerned about the application of these standards to a specific operation may consult with the State Forester to obtain an evaluation of their harvesting plan and its likelihood of compliance with the standards.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 527.710
Stats. Implemented:ORS 527.710, ORS 527.715, & ORS 527.765
Hist.: FB 9-1996, f. 12-2-96, cert. ef. 1-1-97; DOF 12-2002, f. 12-9-02 cert. ef. 1-1-03; DOF 1-2003(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 1-29-03 thru 7-27-03; DOF 2-2003, f. 6-19-03, cert. ef. 7-1-03
629-630-0600
Felling; Removal of Slash
(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) During felling operations operators shall:
(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.
(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.
(c) When hardwoods must be felled into or across streams, lakes or significant wetlands, operators shall:
(A) Buck and yard the trees to minimize damage to beds, banks and retained vegetation.
(B) When it can be done consistently with protecting beds and banks, yard hardwood trees or logs away from the water before limbing.
(3) Operators shall minimize the effects of slash that may enter waters of the state during felling, bucking, limbing or yarding by:
(a) Removing slash from Type F and Type D streams, lakes and significant wetlands as an ongoing process (removal within 24 hours of the material entering the stream) during the harvest operation.
(b) Not allowing slash to accumulate in Type N streams, lakes or wetlands in quantities that threaten water quality or increase the potential for mass debris movement.
(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.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 527.710
Stats. Implemented: ORS 527.715 & 527.765
Hist.: FB 3-1994, f. 6-15-94, cert. ef. 9-1-94, Renumbered from 629-057-2610; FB 9-1996, f. 12-2-96, cert. ef. 1-1-97, Renumbered from 629-660-0000; DOF 6-2005(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 8-2-05 thru 1-27-06; DOF 8-2005, f. 12-13-05, cert. ef. 1-1-06
629-630-0700
Yarding; Cable Equipment Near Waters of the State
(1) Operators shall maintain the purposes and functions of vegetation required to be retained in riparian management areas and minimize disturbance to beds and banks of streams, lakes, all wetlands larger than one-quarter acre, and retained vegetation during cable yarding operations.
(2) Operators shall minimize the yarding of logs across streams, lakes, significant wetlands, and other wetlands greater than one-quarter acre whenever harvesting can be accomplished using existing roads or other practical alternatives.
(3) Operators may use yarding corridors through retained streamside trees as long as the numbers and widths of yarding corridors are minimized. Operators shall submit a written plan to the State Forester when yarding across streams classified as Type F or Type D, any large or medium Type N streams, lakes, or significant wetlands.
(4) When yarding across Type F or Type D streams, any large or medium Type N streams, lakes, or significant wetlands is necessary, it shall be done by swinging the yarded material free of the ground in the aquatic areas and riparian areas.
(5) Cable yarding across streams classified as small Type N or other wetlands greater than one-quarter acre shall be done in ways that minimize disturbances to the stream channel or wetland and minimize disturbances of retained streamside vegetation.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 527.710
Stats. Implemented: ORS 527.715 & 527.765
Hist.: FB 3-1994, f. 6-15-94, cert. ef. 9-1-94, Renumbered from 629-057-2620; FB 9-1996, f. 12-2-96, cert. ef. 1-1-97, Renumbered from 629-660-0010; DOF 6-2005(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 8-2-05 thru 1-27-06; DOF 8-2005, f. 12-13-05, cert. ef. 1-1-06
629-630-0800
Yarding; Ground-based Equipment Near Waters of the State
(1) Operators shall maintain the purposes
and functions of vegetation required to be retained in riparian management areas,
and minimize disturbances to beds and banks of streams, lakes, all wetlands larger
than one-quarter acre, and retained vegetation during ground-based yarding operations.
(2) Operators shall not operate
ground-based equipment within any stream channel except as allowed in the rules
for temporary stream crossings.
(3) Operators shall minimize
the number of stream crossings.
(4) For crossing streams that
have water during the periods of the operations, operators shall:
(a) Construct temporary stream
crossing structures such as log crossings, culvert installations, or fords that
are adequate to pass stream flows that are likely to occur during the periods of
use. Structures shall be designed to withstand erosion by the streams and minimize
sedimentation.
(b) Choose locations for temporary
stream crossing structures which minimize cuts and fills or other disturbances to
the stream banks.
(c) Minimize the volume of material
in any fills constructed at a stream crossing. Fills over eight feet deep contain
such a large volume of material that they can be a considerable risk to downstream
beneficial uses should the material move downstream by water. For any fill for a
temporary crossing that is over eight feet deep, operators shall submit to the State
Forester a written plan that includes a description of how the fills would be constructed,
passage of water, and the length of time the fills would be in the stream.
(d) Design temporary structures
so that fish movement is not impaired on Type F streams.
(e) Remove all temporary stream
crossing structures immediately after completion of operations or prior to seasonal
runoff that exceeds the water carrying capacity of the structures, whichever comes
first. When removing temporary structures, operators shall place fill material where
it will not enter waters of the state.
(5) For stream crossings where
the channels do not contain water during the periods of the operations, operators
are not required to construct temporary crossings as long as disturbances are no
greater than what would occur if structures were constructed. Soil that enters the
channels during the yarding operations must be removed after completion of the operation
or prior to stream flow, whichever comes first. When removing such materials from
the channels, operators shall place the materials in locations where they will not
enter waters of the state.
(6) Operators shall construct
effective sediment barriers such as water bars, dips, or other water diversion on
stream crossing approaches after completion of operations, or prior to rainy season
runoff, whichever comes first.
(7) Machine activity near (generally
within 100 feet) streams, lakes, and other wetlands greater than one-quarter acre
shall be conducted to minimize the risk of sediment entering waters of the state
and preventing changes to stream channels. Operators shall only locate, construct,
and maintain skid trails in riparian management areas consistent with the harvesting
rules.
(8) Operators shall minimize
the amount of exposed soils due to skid trails within riparian management areas.
Except at stream crossings, operators shall not locate skid trails within 35 feet
of Type F or Type D streams. Operators shall provide adequate distances between
all skid trails and waters of the state to filter sediment from runoff water.
(9) Operators shall locate and
construct skid trails so that when high stream flow occurs water from the stream
will not flow onto the skid trail.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 527.710
Stats. Implemented: ORS 527.715
& 527.765
Hist.: FB 3-1994, f. 6-15-94,
cert. ef. 9-1-94, Renumbered from 629-057-2630; FB 9-1996, f. 12-2-96, cert. ef.
1-1-97, Renumbered from 629-660-0020; DOF 6-2005(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 8-2-05
thru 1-27-06; DOF 8-2005, f. 12-13-05, cert. ef. 1-1-06; DOF 2-2013, f. 7-11-13,
cert. ef. 9-1-13
The official copy of an Oregon Administrative Rule is
contained in the Administrative Order filed at the Archives Division,
800 Summer St. NE, Salem, Oregon 97310. Any discrepancies with the
published version are satisfied in favor of the Administrative Order.
The Oregon Administrative Rules and the Oregon Bulletin are
copyrighted by the Oregon Secretary of State. Terms
and Conditions of Use
