OAR 150-321-0700: Minimal Stocking and Species Requirements for Small Tract Forestland Assessment

(1) To qualify, the land must have growing upon it at least the number of established trees per acre according to OAR 629-610-0020(4)–(8) established by the state forester. Also, for the land to qualify, the established trees must be of a marketable species acceptable to the state forester as established in OAR 629-610-0050. (2) If the land does not meet the minimum requirements of subsection (1), the owner must present to the assessor a written plan for establishing trees to meet the minimum requirements for stocking. The plan must contain and meet the following requirements: (a) A description of the area that shows the location, number of acres, ground cover, present stocking, steepness of slope, and direction slope faces. (b) A list of needed site preparation requirements prior to planting. An example would be brush or grass removal, rodent eradication, disease and insect problems, slash disposal, protection from grazing or browsing animals, and tillage of soil. (c) Planting information that lists the species to be planted, time of year that planting will take place, number of trees per acre to be planted, and method of planting. (d) At least one-fifth (20 percent), but not less than two acres, of the area in the plan must be planted by December 31 of the first assessment year that the land is designated as forestland. Each additional year thereafter a minimum of one-fifth (20 percent) of the area must be planted, in addition to the previous year’s requirements. At the end of the fifth year after the assessor approves designation, 100 percent of the area in the plan must be planted. Extensions to planting requirements may be granted by the assessor if a loss of planted stock occurs due to conditions beyond the control of the landowner.