Or. Admin. Code § 629-610-0020 - Reforestation Stocking Standards
(1) The landowner shall increase tree
stocking to a level that meets the applicable productivity-based stocking
standards described in sections (4), (5) and (6) of this rule within the time
limits established by OAR
629-610-0040 whenever
post-operation free to grow tree stocking in all or a portion of the operation
area is below the applicable stocking standards and:
(a) Trees or snags of acceptable species are
harvested; or
(b) Free to grow
tree stocking is reduced as a result of the operation.
(2) Reforestation is not required on those
portions of the operation area:
(a) Where
adequate free to grow tree stocking remains after the completion of the
operation;
(b) That are not
disturbed by operation activities; or
(c) On soils or sites not meeting the minimum
productivity requirements of OAR
629-610-0010.
(3) The State Forester shall
approve a plan for an alternate practice to waive or modify the reforestation
requirements following a stand improvement operation such as a precommercial
thinning, commercial thinning, overstory removal, or other partial cut harvest
if the State Forester determines that the residual stand conditions after such
an operation will result in enhanced long-term tree growth and there is a high
probability the purpose of the reforestation rules will be achieved.
(4) For Cubic Foot Site Class I, II and III
forestlands (capable of producing at least 120 cubic feet per acre per year at
culmination of mean annual increment), the minimum tree stocking standards are:
(a) 200 free to grow seedlings per acre; or
(b) 120 free to grow saplings and
poles per acre; or
(c) 80 square
feet of basal area per acre of free to grow trees 11-inches DBH and larger; or
(d) An equivalent combination of
seedlings, saplings and poles, and larger trees as calculated in section (7) of
this rule.
(5) For
Cubic Foot Site Class IV and V forestlands (capable of producing between 50 and
119 cubic feet per acre per year at culmination of mean annual increment), the
minimum tree stocking standards are:
(a) 125
free to grow seedlings per acre; or
(b) 75 free to grow saplings and poles per
acre; or
(c) 50 square feet of
basal area per acre of free to grow trees 11-inches DBH and larger; or
(d) An equivalent combination of
seedlings, saplings and poles, and larger trees as calculated in section (7) of
this rule.
(6) For
Cubic Foot Site Class VI forestlands (capable of producing between 20 and 49
cubic feet per acre per year at culmination of mean annual increment), the
minimum tree stocking standards are:
(a) 100
or more free to grow seedlings per acre; or
(b) 60 free to grow saplings and poles per
acre; or
(c) 40 square feet of
basal area per acre of free to grow trees 11-inches DBH and larger; or
(d) An equivalent combination of
seedlings, saplings and poles, and larger trees as calculated in section (7) of
this rule.
(7) In both
even-aged and uneven-aged stands, the stocking of residual seedlings, saplings
and poles, and larger trees shall be weighted to determine stand stocking and
potential reforestation requirements. For this purpose, seedlings, saplings and
poles, and trees 11-inches DBH and larger are proportionally equivalent in the
following ratios: 100 free to grow seedlings are equivalent to 60 free to grow
saplings and poles, which are equivalent to 40 square feet of basal area of
free to grow trees 11-inches DBH and larger.
(8) Live conifer trees 11-inches DBH and
larger left standing in harvested areas to meet the green tree and snag
retention requirements of ORS
527.676 shall be counted towards
meeting the tree stocking standards if the trees are free to grow.
(9) For the purposes of determining
compliance with the tree stocking requirements of the reforestation rules, tree
stocking in riparian management areas within an operation area will be
considered separately from stocking in the rest of the operation area.
(10) Landowners may submit plans
for alternate practices that do not conform to the reforestation stocking
levels established under these rules. A plan for alternate practices may be
approved if the State Forester determines that there is a high probability that
the purpose of the reforestation rules will be achieved, or if the plan carries
out an authorized research project conducted by a public agency or educational
institution.
Notes
Stat. Auth.: ORS 527.710
Stats. Implemented: ORS 527.745
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