John Erixson

The forest practices describing appropriate activities that can be conducted on forestland, both legislated and voluntary, are determined by each state. The states of Washington and Oregon have slightly different rules for lands located on the westside and the eastside of the Cascade Range in their states. This article will compare rules applied to the Inland West on the eastside of the Cascade Range for Washington and Oregon and all of Idaho and Montana.

The first noticeable difference among the forest practices in each state is the varied method of printing rulebooks. Washington's documentation is a very specific rules book, compared to Montana's rulebook, which is in the form of a booklet with diagrams and pictures.

The following discussion compares four areas of forest practices: stream classifications, slash disposal, tree retention and reforestation. The differences discussed here are general differences. To determine how these practices and rules affect you as a landowner will require reading the state-specific information and meeting with your local state forest practices forester.

Differences in Stream Classification

Washington has five types of streams along with five types of wetlands. An example of a Type 1 stream (or river) is a large fish bearing body of water, such as the Pend Oreille River. A Class 2 is a slightly smaller fish bearing body of water such as the Palouse River. A Class 3 is a stream that is capable of supporting a fish population, and a Class 4 stream is capable of supporting fish populations, but probably does not. A Class 5 stream is a seasonal stream. The class of stream depends on the width and depth of the water at bank full width.

Idaho has two major stream classifications-Class 1 or 2. A Class 1 stream is one that is used for domestic water or is important for spawning, rearing or migration of fish. A Class 2 stream may be headwater streams or minor drainages.

Oregon has three main classes of streams. A Type D stream is used for domestic water, but has no fish. A Type F stream has fish and domestic water use. A Type N stream has no fish and is not used for domestic water.

Montana also has three classes of streams. A Class 1 stream supports fish or is a stream that flows six months of the year and contributes surface flow to another stream or lake. A Class 2 stream is not a Class 1 or Class 3 stream. A Class 3 stream does not support fish, and either does not flow for six months of the year or contributes to another stream or lake.

Differences in Slash Disposal

Slash disposal requirements may affect the type of harvest a landowner considers. Each state has specific guidelines for treating slash created during harvest.

Washington and Oregon do not have specific laws and requirements for disposing of slash.

Idaho requires that a landowner must have a slash compliance for each timber sale. Slash compliances are obtained from the Idaho Department of Lands field offices. Idaho also withholds $4.00/mbf to insure the slash is properly disposed.

Montana withholds $6.00/mbf to insure that the slash is properly disposed.

Both Idaho and Montana return the majority of the slash monies withheld to the landowner once the slash has been treated and the area is inspected by the state. Each state retains a small portion of the withholding for administrative purposes.

Differences in Tree Retention

Washington has the most restrictive rules concerning tree retention along streams of the four states. There is an inner zone, outer zone and an upland area. The inner zone is an exclusion zone for Type 1 through Type 4 streams and has very limited activity for a Type 5 stream. The outer zone requirements vary by stream type as well. In order to harvest, a landowner must first meet a basal area per acre requirement and a shade requirement. If both these requirements are met, a landowner may harvest a portion of the intermediate size trees. The upland requirements are less restrictive, allowing harvest with some larger reserve trees and wildlife trees. Some counties in Washington have additional requirements that must be met to operate in these areas.

Oregon requires all vegetation within 10 feet of the high water mark and all trees within 20 feet of the bank to be left. There are exceptions for stand improvement, road building and other management activities. Some of the specifications when using exceptions are basal area per acre, tree count and diameter limits.

Montana requires 50 percent of trees 8 inches or more in diameter at breast height (DBH) to be retained along a Class 1 stream (or at least 10 trees per 100 feet) and a Class 2 stream (or at least 5 trees per 100 feet).

Idaho has a 30- to 75-foot streamside protection zone depending on whether it is a Class 1 or 2 stream. Seventy-five percent of the existing shade must be left in these areas.

Differences in Reforestation

Washington lands must be stocked with 150 trees per acre within three years of harvest.

Idaho requires landowners to have a fully stocked stand in five years from harvest.

Oregon requires two years after the completion of harvest for reforestation.

Montana reforestation does not require a landowner to replant, but encourages planting through their voluntary program.

These are some of the major points each state has addressed in their forest practices rules and how they compare. California is the most regulated state for a private landowner to operate. In the western United States, Washington is the next most regulated state followed by Oregon, Idaho and Montana. Obtaining a copy of the forest practices and rules before harvesting and discussing the issues with your consulting forester and/or you state forester will improve forest stewardship and keep your operation in compliance with the guidelines.

John Erixson is a forester for Northwest Management, Inc., a consulting forestry firm based in Moscow, Idaho. He can be reached at john_erixson@consulting-foresters.com.

This article appeared in the Northwest Woodlands Magazine, Summer 2001- Published quarterly by the World Forestry Center as a benefit of membership in the Oregon Small Woodlands Association, Washington Farm Forestry Association, Idaho Forest Owners Association and Montana Forest Owners Association.