Or. Admin. Code § 629-643-0000 - Vegetation Retention Goals for Streams; Desired Future Conditions
(1) The purpose of
this rule is to describe the vegetation retention measures for streams, the
measures' purposes, and how the measures shall be implemented. The vegetation
retention requirements for streams, as described in OAR
629-643-0100 through
629-643-0500, are designed to
produce desired future conditions for the wide range of stand types, channel
conditions, and disturbance regimes that exist in Oregon's
forestlands.
(2) Sections (3)
through (6) of this rule, including tables in OAR
629-643-0300, are effective
until replaced by the Board of Forestry as part of the post-disturbance harvest
rulemaking directed by section 6(2)(a), chapter 33, Oregon Laws 2022 that is to
occur no later than November 30, 2025.
(3) The desired future condition for
streamside areas that require forested buffers is to grow and retain vegetation
so that, over time, average conditions across the landscape become similar to
the conditions of mature streamside stands. Oregon has a tremendous diversity
of forest tree species and stand density along waters of the state. The age of
mature streamside stands varies by tree species. Mature stands generally occur
between 80 and 200 years of stand age. Hardwood stands and some conifer stands
may become mature at an earlier age. Mature forests provide ample shade over
the channel, an abundance of large wood in the channel, channel-influencing
root masses along the edge of the high-water level, and regular inputs of
nutrients through litter fall. Mature forests are generally composed of
multi-aged trees of appropriate and varied density, native tree species well
suited to the site, a mature understory, snags, and downed wood.
(4) For the forests specified in (3) above,
the rule standards for desired future conditions and located in Western Oregon
or the inner zone in Eastern Oregon can be developed by using normal conifer
yield tables for the average upland stand consistent with the geographic region
to estimate the conifer basal area for average unmanaged mature streamside
stands (at age 120). For alternative vegetative prescription basal area targets
for catastrophic events, see the tables in OAR
629-643-0300. For site specific
vegetation retention prescriptions basal area targets, see the table in OAR
629-643-0400. These rule
standards provide guidance for operators to implement site specific alternate
plans, described in OAR
629-643-0300, and to develop
site specific vegetation prescriptions, described in OAR
629-643-0400.
(5) The desired future condition for
streamside areas that do not require tree retention areas, as defined in OAR
629-643-0130, is to have
sufficient streamside vegetation to support the functions and processes
important to downstream fish use waters and domestic water use, and to provide
habitat for amphibians and other wildlife across the landscape. Such functions
and processes include but are not limited to:
(a) Maintaining downstream cool water
temperature and other water quality parameters;
(b) Influencing sediment
production;
(c) Stabilizing banks;
and
(d) Contributing nutrients and
organic matter.
(6) In
many cases, the operator may achieve the desired future condition for streams
by applying the standard vegetation retention and small forestland owner
minimum option prescriptions as described in OAR
629-643-0100,
629-643-0105,
629-643-0120,
629-643-0125,
629-643-0130,
629-643-0135,
629-643-0141,
629-643-0142,
629-643-0143, and
629-643-0145. In other cases,
the existing streamside vegetation may not be able to develop into the desired
future condition in a timely manner. In these cases, the operator may apply an
alternative vegetation retention prescription as described in OAR
629-643-0300 or develop a
site-specific vegetation retention prescription as described in OAR
629-643-0400. For the purposes
of these water protection rules, "in a timely manner" means that the trees
within the riparian management area will substantially move towards the desired
future condition more quickly than if the trees are left untreated.
Notes
Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 527.710 & Section 2(1), Chapter 33, Oregon Laws 2022
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 527.765, 527.620 & Section 2(2), Chapter 33, Oregon Laws 2022
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