OAR 629-623-0600: Protection Along Debris Torrent-Prone Streams

(1) The purpose of this rule is to reduce or eliminate woody debris loading, and to retain large standing trees in locations where they might slow debris torrent movement along debris torrent-prone streams with substantial or intermediate downslope public safety risk. (2) During timber harvesting operations, operators shall fell and yard trees in a manner to minimize slash and other debris accumulations in debris torrent-prone stream channels where there is substantial or intermediate downslope public safety risk. (3) Operators shall remove logging slash piles and continuous logging slash deposits from debris torrent-prone stream channels where there is substantial or intermediate downslope public safety risk. (4) Operators shall leave, and during felling and yarding activity, protect large standing trees along the likely depositional reaches of debris torrent-prone streams, as determined by the State Forester, in locations where there is substantial or intermediate downslope public safety risk. Leave trees shall: (a) Be larger than 20 inches in diameter breast height; (b) Be within 50 feet of the edge of the active channel along both sides of the stream; (c) Be left for a distance of 300 feet or the depositional length of the channel, whichever is less, as measured from the beginning of the forested portion of the stream reach above the road or structure; (d) Not include trees that pose a greater public safety risk because of windthrow or other risks as determined by the State Forester.