12-002 Code Vt. R. 12-020-002-X

Current through August, 2024

Section 12 020 002 - DIRECTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE USE VALUE APPRAISAL FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FORM

Eligible forest land is any land which is at least 25 contiguous acres exclusive of house site(s) which is under a recorded forest management plan for the purpose of harvesting repeated forest crops in accordance with accepted forest management practices. Land which is not capable of growing 20 cubic feet per acre per year plus open land not to be restocked within two years under the provisions of a forest management plan cannot exceed 20% of the total eligible forest land appraised at use value. The management plan must be approved by the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation and filed with the clerk of the municipality by March 1.

The Department has prepared a sample management plan for filing under Use Value Appraisal. Alternative plans containing at least the following information, may be accepted by the Department.

The forest management plan shall include the following:

1) A management map.

2) Management data.

3) A management schedule.

1) A map, 8 1/2 x 11" (or folded to that size), adequately identified and oriented to show the location of the parcel and sufficiently accurate to permit estimation of acreages. The map should include:

(a) A title block with owner's name, town in which parcel is located and acres in parcel.

(b) Boundary lines and other significant physical features such as buildings, roads, streams, ponds, bogs, power lines, etc.

(c) Management areas delineated by number (to correspond to the forest management plan). Include forest type and site class for each.

(d) A north arrow and indication of approximate scale.

2) The Use Value Appraisal Forest Management Plan form completed according to the following instructions:

(a) Applicant's name and address should be included as it appears on the Application Form.

(b) Town where land is located should be listed.

(c) Photo Number should be listed along with series, if used in preparation of either the map or management plan.

(d) Grand List Description should be included as it appears on the Application Form.

(e) Area Number as assigned on the map.

(f) Acres, an estimation of the number of acres of the specified area.

(g) Site Class, the Use Value Appraisal productivity class or classes of the area specified on the form.

(h) Access Distance, indicate whether the area is greater than one mile from class 1, 2, or 3 road.

(i) Site Class Determination By: soils information, site index or growth calculations.

(j) Stand History, includes such information as date and degree of last treatment or harvest, planting records, etc., if known.

(k) Stand Description, should include the following information:

1. Age Class Distribution (whether stand is currently even- or uneven-aged).

2. Stocking Level (whether stand is understocked, adequately stocked with desirable species or overstocked).

3. Mean Stand Diameter, derived from stocking guides.

4. Forest Type (Society of American Foresters Cover Types or equivalent).

5. Total Basal Area, a sufficient number of sample points should be taken to give a reliable estimate and description of stand conditions. Total basal area should be recorded for all poletimber and sawtimber stands using a recommended minimum of five points or plots per designated stand.

6. Acceptable Growing Stock Basal Area should consist of a tally of all those stems in the basal area plots taken in # 5 which have the potential to meet merchantability standards for those products identified in the long-range objectives stated in the management plan. Where the objective is sawlog production, acceptable growing stock is identified as commercial species which have the potential to produce one 12-foot log or two non-contiguous 8-foot logs.

7. Insect or Disease, include any major pest problem within the stand which may have an effect on the silvicultural treatment recommended within the fifteen-year management period.

(l) Long-Range Objectives - Should include at least the following:

1. Products desired - veneer, fuelwood, etc.

2. Rotation Age (for even-aged).

3. Desired diameter and approximate cutting cycle (for uneven-aged).

(m) Scheduled Treatment - a silvicultural treatment will be prescribed for each stand if needed within the fifteen-year plan period. Prescription of a cutting system will be based on the information used in stand analysis in connection with the appropriate technical publication (referenced) and stocking guide for the forest type.

3) Management Schedule, a fifteen-year work schedule will be submitted with the management plan and will be updated at least every five years. The work schedule should include all prescribed commercial harvest cuttings, non-commercial treatments and any other treatments necessary to comply with the management plan. All supportive data derived from inventory such as stand diagnosis and prescription forms and basal area computation sheets can be attached to the summary sheet for further documentation if desired.

USE VALUE APPRAISAL FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN

APPLICANT'S NAME ....	TOWN WHERE LAND IS LOCATED ....
ADDRESS ....	PHOTO NUMBER ....
....	GRAND LIST DESCRIPTION ....
....	....
....

AREA	ACRES	SITE	ACCESS	STAND DESCRIPTION	LONG-RANGE
NO.		CLASS	DISTANCE		OBJECTIVE
					AND
					SCHEDULED
					TREATMENT
				EVEN AGED .... ALL AGED ....	LONG-RANGE
SITE CLASS DETERMINED BY				STOCKING LEVEL ... M.S.D.....	OBJECTIVE
				FOREST TYPE	SCHEDULED
					TREATMENT
STAND HISTORY				TOTAL BA ACCEPT. GROW. STOCK BA....
				INSECTS OR DISEASE
				EVEN AGED ALL AGED	LONG-RANGE
					OBJECTIVE
SITE CLASS DETERMINED BY:				STOCKING LEVEL M.S.D.
				FOREST TYPE	SCHEDULED
					TREATMENT
STAND HISTORY				TOTAL BA ACCEPT. GROW. STOCK BA
				INSECTS OR DISEASE ....
				....
PREPARED BY: .... CERTIFIED BY: ....
DATE: .... DATE: ....
				EVEN AGED .... ALL AGED ....	LONG-RANGE
					OBJECTIVE
SITE CLASS DETERMINED BY:				STOCKING LEVEL M.S.D.
				FOREST TYPE	SCHEDULED
					TREATMENT
STAND HISTORY				TOTAL BA ACCEPT. GROW. STOCK BA
				INSECTS OR DISEASE ....
				....
				EVEN AGED .... ALL AGED ....	LONG-RANGE
					OBJECTIVE
SITE CLASS DETERMINED BY:				STOCKING LEVEL M.S.D.
				FOREST TYPE ....	SCHEDULED
					TREATMENT
STAND HISTORY				TOTAL BA ACCEPT. GROW. STOCK BA
				INSECTS OR DISEASE ....
				EVEN AGED ALL AGED	LONG-RANGE
					OBJECTIVE
SITE CLASS DETERMINED BY:				STOCKING LEVEL M.S.D.
				FOREST TYPE ....	SCHEDULED
					TREATMENT
STAND HISTORY				TOTAL BA ACCEPT. GROW. STOCK BA
				INSECTS OR DISEASE ....
				....
PREPARED BY: .....CERTIFIED BY: ....
DATE: .....DATE: ....

AREA	YEAR	MANAGEMENT PRACTICES TO BE ACCOMPLISHED WITHIN NEXT 15 YEARS
NO.		(PRIORITY, FOREST TYPE, OPERABILITY, KIND, AMOUNT, LOCATION, WHY)

PREPARED BY: ....	CERTIFIED BY: ....
DATE: ....	DATE: ....

Agency of Environmental Conservation

Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation

Management and Regeneration Standards For Use Value Appraisal

June 1, 1984

Use Value Appraisal Management and Regeneration Standards

In order to insure consistency of conformance with the purposes of the Use Value Appraisal Program, the following minimum requirements must be met:

Management Plans

The landowners shall carry out the activities listed in the forest management plan as approved by the County Forester and filed with the Town Clerk.

All changes or additional activities must receive prior approval from the County Forester and written amendments filed with the Town Clerk.

Where markets or other conditions beyond the control of the landowner make it advisable, activities may be carried out up to three years before or after dates specified in management plan. Changes must be noted on the annual conformance report.

Practices

Prescribed activities must be in conformance with the following minimum standards and be carried out in accordance with appropriate U.S. Forest Service silvicultural or management guides or handbooks.

Regeneration Cutting

For newly regenerated stands, the successful establishment of acceptable species n1 must be not less than 350 stems per acre well distributed throughout the stand three years after the regeneration cut is made or for initial eligibility.

NOTE: Stocking and distribution will be determined by using the U.S. Forest Service 1/700-acre sample plot stocking survey system described in the U.S. Forest Service Handbook, GMNF Supplement No. 4; 1979.

Intermediate Cutting

Under even-aged management, the stocking of acceptable growing stock n2 will not be below the "C" level in the appropriate stocking guide. If no stocking guide is available, the residual stand basal area will not be less than 40 square feet per acre. Under uneven-aged management, the stocking level of acceptable growing stock will not be less than 60 square feet per acre.

n1 Acceptable species is defined as a potential crop tree to be retained and managed to meet management objectives.

n2 Acceptable growing stock is defined as potential crop trees to be retained and managed to meet the long-range objectives identified in the management plan.

Erosion Control

Soil erosion and stream pollution control practices shall follow guidelines as identified in the publication titled "Guides for Controlling Soil Erosion and Water Pollution on Logging Jobs in Vermont" and must be carried out within eight months of use of roads and skid trails.

Inspections for Conformance

All lands entered in the program are subject to periodic inspection to insure conformance with the management plan and appropriate standards. Fairlure to carry out proper practices will result in an adverse inspection report to local assessing officials.

Effectiveness Dates

A new rule for effective dates for "Directions for Completing Form for Use Value Appraisal Forest Management Plan" and "Management and Regeneration Standards for Use Value Appraisal" has been adopted and reads as follows:

1. Landowners who are enrolled in the Use Value Appraisal Program on the effective date of this rule are subject to the standards set forth in "Management and Regeneration Standards for Use Value Appraisal" and must file a revised management plan in accordance with "Directions for Completing Form for Use Value Appraisal Forest Management Plan" prior to any treatment scheduled in the management plan and in no case later than their 1988 filing.

2. Landowners not enrolled in the Use Value Appraisal Program on the effective date of this rule must follow the provisions of "Management and Regeneration Standards for Use Value Appraisal" and "Directions for Completing Form for Use Value Appraisal Forest Management Plan" for this 1985 filing.

12-002 Code Vt. R. 12-020-002-X

Effective Date: June 1, 1984 (SOS Rule Log #84-19)