Section 927.9 - Silvicultural Methods and Intermediate TreatmentsThe objective of this section is to prescribe silvicultural methods and treatments that will protect the long-term productivity of soils and Timberlands and protect the natural and scenic qualities of the County. The following silvicultural methods and treatments as prescribed below will be applied in the County. 14 CCR §§ 913 through 913.6 defines these methods and treatments.
(a) Commercial Thinning Intermediate Treatment or the Selection Method. When the commercial thinning treatment or the selection silvicultural method is used, the following standards are required.(1) Leave a well distributed timber stand after cutting and logging operations have been completed on the cut area. Leave at least forty (40) percent by number of those trees eighteen (18) inches or more d.b.h. which were present prior to commencement of current Timber Operations and at least fifty (50) percent by number of those over twelve (12) inches d.b.h. but less than eighteen (18) inches or more d.b.h.. Leave trees eighteen (18) inches or more d.b.h. shall be Dominant or Co-dominant in crown class prior to timber harvesting or have crowns typical of such Dominant or Co-dominant trees. All leave trees shall be thrifty coniferous trees which are free from substantial damage caused by Timber Operations. No conifer tree shall be cut which is more than seventy-five (75) feet from the nearest leave tree twelve (12) inches d.b.h. or larger located within the logging area.(2) Immediately following completion of Timber Operations, Stocking must meet or exceed Stocking Standards of 14 CCR § 913.8.(3) A report of Stocking as described in PRC § 4587 shall be filed within six (6) months following completion of work as described in the Plan.(b) Sanitation-Salvage Treatment. When the sanitation-salvage treatment is used, the following practices are required: (1) Restrictions on time periods for subsequent Timber Operations shall not apply to the sanitation-salvage treatment.(2) An effort shall be made to regenerate any cut area during the first planting season following log removal. Necessary site preparation, planting, or seeding shall be completed within the first planting season following logging, except where unusual or adverse weather conditions require extending site preparation and planting into the following planting season. Deficiencies in Stocking shall be corrected by planting annually at least three (3) times if necessary to meet the Stocking Standards in 14 CCR § 913.8.(c) Clearcutting Method. The clearcutting method is not authorized for the County.(d) Recutting of Logging Areas. Timber Operations for removal of trees may only be repeated on a Logging Area within less than ten (10) years after completion of a previous Timber Operation if minimum standards have been met, the reasons for the operation are justified and explained in the Plan, and the scenic and/or natural qualities of a stand would be enhanced by lighter or more frequent tree removal. In no instance shall Stocking be reduced below the standards provided in 14 CCR § 913.8 nor shall more than sixty (60) percent by numbers of those trees eighteen (18) inches and more d.b.h. and no more than fifty (50) percent by numbers of those trees over twelve (12) inches d.b.h. but less than eighteen (18) inches d.b.h. be removed within any one ten (10) year period.(e) On Timber Operations in which cutting has occurred within ten (10) years preceding the current operations, stumps which are the result of cutting trees within the preceding ten (10) years shall be counted as trees cut during the current operation in determining percent of trees cut. Timber Operations conducted under the Sanitation-Salvage Treatment, and the harvesting of minor forest products and incidental vegetation are exempt from the above provision of this section.Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 14, § 927.9
1. New section filed 3-2-84; effective upon filing pursuant to Government Code Section 11346.2(d) (Register 84, No. 9).
2. Renumbering and amendment of former Section 927.10 to Section 927.9 and renumbering and amendment of former Section 927.11 to Section 927.10 filed 5-24-84 as an emergency; effective upon filing (Register 84, No. 24). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL within 120 days or emergency language will be repealed on 9-21-84.
3. Reinstatement of section as it existed prior to emergency renumbering and amendment filed 5-24-84 by operation of Government Code Section 11346.1(f) (Register 84, No. 42).
4. Renumbering of former Section 927.9 to Section 927.8, and renumbering and amendment of former Section 927.10 to Section 927.9 filed 5-31-85; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 85, No. 22).
5. Change without regulatory effect amending section filed 10-31-2017 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2017, No. 44).
6. Amendment of subsections (a)(1)-(3), (b)(2) and (d), new subsection (e) and amendment of NOTE filed 6-4-2020; operative 1-1-2021 pursuant to Public Resources Code section 4554.5 (Register 2020, No. 23). Note: Authority cited: Sections 4516.5 and 4553, Public Resources Code. Reference: Section 4516.5, Public Resources Code.
1. New section filed 3-2-84; effective upon filing pursuant to Government Code Section 11346.2(d) (Register 84, No. 9).
2. Renumbering and amendment of former Section 927.10 to Section 927.9 and renumbering and amendment of former Section 927.11 to Section 927.10 filed 5-24-84 as an emergency; effective upon filing (Register 84, No. 24). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL within 120 days or emergency language will be repealed on 9-21-84.
3. Reinstatement of section as it existed prior to emergency renumbering and amendment filed 5-24-84 by operation of Government Code Section 11346.1(f) (Register 84, No. 42).
4. Renumbering of former Section 927.9 to Section 927.8, and renumbering and amendment of former Section 927.10 to Section 927.9 filed 5-31-85; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 85, No. 22).
5. Change without regulatory effect amending section filed 10-31-2017 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2017, No. 44).
6. Amendment of subsections (a)(1)-(3), (b)(2) and (d), new subsection (e) and amendment of Note filed 6-4-2020; operative 1/1/2021 pursuant to Public Resources Code section 4554.5 (Register 2020, No. 23).