Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 14, § 913.2 - Regeneration Methods Used in Unevenaged Management

Unevenaged Management is utilized to establish and maintain an unevenaged stand structure. Unevenaged Management attributes include the establishment and/or maintenance of a multi-aged, balanced stand structure, promotion of growth on leave trees throughout a broad range of Diameter classes, and encouragement of natural Reproduction. i

(a) Selection. Under the selection Regeneration Method, the trees are removed individually or in Small Groups sized from one-quarter (0.25) acres to two and one-half (2.5) acres.

(1) Trees to be harvested or trees to be retained shall be Marked by or under the supervision of the RPF prior to felling operations. When openings greater than one-quarter (0.25) acres will be created, the boundaries of the Small Group(s) may be designated in lieu of Marking individual trees within the Small Group areas. A sample area must be Marked prior to a preharvest inspection for evaluation. The sample area shall include at least ten (10) percent of the harvest area up to a maximum of twenty (20) acres per stand type which is representative of the range of conditions present in the area.

(2) Post harvest stand Stocking levels shall be stated in the Plan. The level of residual Stocking shall be consistent with maximum sustained production of high quality timber products. In no case shall Stocking be reduced below the following standards:

(A) Selection System.

1. On Site I lands at least one hundred twenty-five (125) square feet per acre of basal area shall be retained.

2. On Site II and III lands at least seventy-five (75) square feet per acre of basal area shall be retained.

3. On Site IV and V lands at least fifty (50) square feet per acre of basal area shall be retained.

4. Unless the Plan submitter demonstrates how the proposed harvest will achieve MSP pursuant to 14 CCR § 913.11 (a) or (b), the residual stand shall contain trees that are representative of the best phenotypic quality of the preharvest stand.

(B) Group Selection.

1. At least two thirds of the stocked plots must meet the Basal Area Stocking Standards of 14 CCR § 913.2(a)(2)(A).

2. Not more than one third of the stocked plots may meet Stocking Standards utilizing the standards of 14 CCR § 912.7(b)(1). The minimum required age of the trees utilized under these standards shall be ten (10) years old, and shall be based on the percentage of the Plan area harvested by this method in Small Group clearings as described in the table below:

Percentage of stand harvested as small group clearings	Minimum age of trees utilizing the standards of 14 CCR § 912.7(b)(1)
20.0% or less	10
20.1-22%	11
22.1-24%	12
24.1-26%	13
26.1-28%	14
28.1-30%	15
30.1-32%	16
32.1-33.33%	17

3. An RPF or Supervised Designee may offset a certain number of plots per forty (40) plots where those plot centers are initially placed within Small Group clearings created during the current harvest. The maximum number of offset plots shall be based on the percentage of the Plan area harvested by this method in Small Group clearings as described in the table below. Unless substantially damaged by fire, the RPF or Supervised Designee shall not exclude Small Group clearings created by previous timber harvesting from the Stocking survey.

Percentage of stand harvested as small group clearings	Maximum number of allowable offset plots
20.0% or less	8
20.1-22.9%	9
23.0-24.9%	10
25.0-27.9%	11
28.0-29.9%	12
30.0-33.33%	13

4. Unless the Plan submitter demonstrates how the proposed harvest will achieve MSP pursuant to 14 CCR § 913.11(a) or (b), the residual stand shall contain trees that are representative of the best phenotypic quality of the preharvest stand.

(3) Within any Plan, Small Group clearings under the selection method shall be separated by a logical Logging Area.

(4) Following completion of Timber Operations (including Site Preparation) not more than one third of the Plan area harvested by this method shall be covered by Small Group clearings.

(5) Exceptions to Stocking Standards in 14 CCR § 913.2(a)(2) above may be granted only when proposed by the RPF and explained and justified in the Plan, but in no case will the exceptions be less than specified in 14 CCR § 912.7(b)(2). Exceptions may only be granted when the RPF clearly demonstrates that the existing stand will grow substantially less than both the potential site productive capacity and the proposed post-harvest stand.

(b) Transition. The transition method may be used to develop an unevenaged stand from a stand that currently has an unbalanced irregular or evenaged structure. The transition method involves the removal of trees individually or in Small Groups from irregular or evenaged stands to create a balanced stand structure and to obtain natural Reproduction.

(1) Area for determination of preharvest Seed Tree retention levels shall be no greater than twenty (20) acres in size.

(2) This method is to be used to increase Stocking and improve the balance of age classes so as to allow the residual stand to be managed by the selection Regeneration Method. This method shall not be used more than two (2) times for a stand. The RPF shall delineate areas previously treated by the transition method on the Plan map.

(3) Stands suitable for the transition method contain adequate quantity and quality of seed producing trees to provide adequate regeneration for new age classes. Stands suitable for this method shall have no more than fifty (50) sq. ft. of basal area greater than the selection basal area standards.

(4) Trees to be harvested or trees to be retained shall be Marked by or under the supervision of a RPF before felling operations. A sample area must be Marked before the preharvest inspection for evaluation. The sample area shall include at least ten (10) percent of the Harvest Area up to a maximum of twenty (20) acres per stand type which is representative of the range of conditions present.

(5) Immediately following the completion of Timber Operations, the minimum basal area standards in 14 CCR § 912.7(b)(2) shall be met.

(6) The post-harvest residual stand shall contain at least fifteen (15) square feet of Basal Area Per Acre of Seed Trees at least twelve (12) inches d.b.h. or greater for timber Sites I, II or III; or twelve (12) square feet of Basal Area Per Acre of Seed Trees twelve (12) inches d.b.h. or greater for timber sites IV or V., except for timber sites I with coast redwood. For timber sites I with coast redwood, the post-harvest residual stand shall contain sufficient trees to meet at least the basal area, size, and phenotypic quality of the leave tree requirement specified under the Seed Tree method (14 CCR § 913.1(c)(1)(A)). Unless obviously stocked, these basal area requirements will be determined from sampling averaged across each harvested area required in 14 CCR § 913.2(b)(1). Unless the Plan submitter demonstrates how the proposed harvest will achieve MSP pursuant to 14 CCR § 913.11(a) or (b), where present in the preharvest stand, disease free, undamaged Seed Trees eighteen (18) inches d.b.h. or greater shall be retained post harvest until the stand exceeds the minimum Seed Tree requirements of 14 CCR § 913.1(c)(1)(A). The Seed Trees shall be full crown, capable of seed production and representative of the best phenotypes available in the pre-harvest stand.

(7) Following completion of Timber Operations (including Site Preparation) not more than twenty (20) percent of the Plan area harvested by this method shall be occupied by Small Group clearings.

(8) The Plan Submitter must provide the Director sufficient information such as growth and stand description to demonstrate that the standards of the selection Regeneration Method will be met by the third and subsequent entries of Plan areas harvested by the transition method.

(c) Within six (6) months following completion of Timber Operations conducted pursuant to the selection and transition methods as described in the Plan, a report of Stocking shall be filed as stated in PRC § 4587.

(d) In the absence of a Sustained Yield Plan, to maintain and improve tree Species diversity, genetic material, and seed production, trees of each native Commercial Species where present at the time of harvest shall be retained after harvest. These leave trees shall be representative of the best phenotypes available in the preharvest stand. The RPF may propose and the Director may agree to a Species-specific plan in the THP which protects existing regeneration or provides for regeneration in-lieu of retaining trees.

Notes

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 14, § 913.2

1. Amendment of subsection (a) and new NOTE filed 2-21-79; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 79, No. 9).
2. Repealer and new section filed 1-11-83; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 83, No. 3).
3. Change without regulatory effect of subsection (c) filed 5-24-89 (Register 89, No. 23).
4. Editorial correction of subsection (c) (Register 91, No. 28).
5. Amendment of section heading and section filed 1-7-94; operative 3-1-94 (Register 94, No. 1).
6. Amendment of subsections (a)(2)(A)4, (a)(2)(B)2 and 4 and (b)(5) filed 5-16-94; operative 5-16-94 (Register 94, No. 20).
7. Amendment of subsections (a)(2)(B)3. and (b)(3) filed 11-26-97; operative 1-1-98 pursuant to Public Resources Code section 4554.5 (Register 97, No. 48).
8. Editorial correction of subsection (a)(2)(B)3. (Register 97, No. 48).
9. Amendment filed 11-14-2002; operative 1-1-2003 pursuant to Public Resources Code section 4551.5 (Register 2002, No. 46).
10. New subsection (b)(1), subsection renumbering, amendment of newly designated subsections (b)(2)-(7), repealer of former subsections (b)(7)-(b)(7)(A), redesignation and amendment of former subsection (b)(7)(B) as new subsection (b)(8) and amendment of NOTE filed 11-16-2005; operative 1-1-2006 (Register 2005, No. 46).
11. Change without regulatory effect amending section filed 9-7-2017 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2017, No. 36).
12. Amendment filed 11-14-2019; operative 1-1-2020 pursuant to Public Resources Code section 4554.5(a) (Register 2019, No. 46).
13. Amendment of subsections (a)(2), (a)(2)(A)4., (a)(2)(B)1.-4. and (a)(3)-(4) filed 11-30-2022; operative 1-1-2023 pursuant to Public Resources Code section 4554.5(a) (Register 2022, No. 48).

Note: Authority cited: Sections 4551 and 4561, Public Resources Code. Reference: Sections 4561, 4582(h) and 4587, Public Resources Code.

1. Amendment of subsection (a) and new Note filed 2-21-79; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 79, No. 9).
2. Repealer and new section filed 1-11-83; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 83, No. 3).
3. Change without regulatory effect of subsection (c) filed 5-24-89 (Register 89, No. 23).
4. Editorial correction of subsection (c) (Register 91, No. 28).
5. Amendment of section heading and section filed 1-7-94; operative 3-1-94 (Register 94, No. 1).
6. Amendment of subsections (a)(2)(A)4, (a)(2)(B)2 and 4 and (b)(5) filed 5-16-94; operative 5-16-94 (Register 94, No. 20).
7. Amendment of subsections (a)(2)(B)3. and (b)(3) filed 11-26-97; operative 1-1-98 pursuant to Public Resources Code section 4554.5 (Register 97, No. 48).
8. Editorial correction of subsection (a)(2)(B)3. (Register 97, No. 48).
9. Amendment filed 11-14-2002; operative 1-1-2003 pursuant to Public Resources Code section 4551.5 (Register 2002, No. 46).
10. New subsection (b)(1), subsection renumbering, amendment of newly designated subsections (b)(2)-(7), repealer of former subsections (b)(7)-(b)(7)(A), redesignation and amendment of former subsection (b)(7)(B) as new subsection (b)(8) and amendment of Note filed 11-16-2005; operative 1-1-2006 (Register 2005, No. 46).
11. Change without regulatory effect amending section filed 9-7-2017 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2017, No. 36).
12. Amendment filed 11-14-2019; operative 1/1/2020 pursuant to Public Resources Code section 4554.5(a) (Register 2019, No. 46).
13. Amendment of subsections (a)(2), (a)(2)(A)4., (a)(2)(B)1.-4. and (a)(3)-(4) filed 11-30-2022; operative 1/1/2023 pursuant to Public Resources Code section 4554.5(a) (Register 2022, No. 48).