PDFWAC 222-30-060
Cable yarding.
*(1) Type S and F Waters and sensitive sites. No timber shall be cable yarded in or across Type S or F Waters except where the logs will not materially damage the bed of waters, banks of sensitive sites, or riparian management zones. If yarding across Type S or F Waters is permitted, then yarding is limited to cable or other aerial logging methods. Any work in or above Type S or F Waters requires an approved forest practices application. Logs must be fully suspended above the water unless otherwise allowed in the applicable forest practices application. Yarding corridors or full suspension shall be required to prevent damage to the bed, banks, and riparian vegetation. Yarding corridors must be no wider or more numerous than necessary to accommodate safe and efficient transport of logs. Generally, yarding corridors should be located no closer to each other than one hundred fifty feet (measured edge to edge) and should be no wider than thirty feet. Safety is a prime consideration in the location of yarding corridors. Total openings resulting from yarding corridors must not exceed twenty percent of the stream length associated with the forest practices application. When changing cable locations, care must be taken to move cables around or clear of the riparian vegetation to avoid damage to riparian vegetation.
Trees, logs, limbs, and other small debris that enter the water shall be managed as follows:
(a) Trees or logs that enter Type S and F Waters with identifiable bed or banks during yarding shall remain where they enter unless parts or all of the trees or logs are specifically approved to be removed by the department.
(b) Logs transported across Type S or F Waters shall be suspended so no portion of the logs or limbs can enter the watercourse or damage the bed and banks.
(c) If limbs or other small debris enter Type S or F Waters with identifiable bed or banks as a result of yarding timber, they shall be removed concurrently with each change in yarding road or within seventy-two hours after entry and placed on stable locations outside the stream's influence. Limbs or other small debris shall be removed from dry portions of watercourses prior to the normal onset of high flows. Large woody material that was in place prior to yarding of timber shall not be disturbed.
*(2) Type A or B Wetlands. No timber shall be cable yarded in or across Type A or B Wetlands except with approval by the department.
*(3) Deadfalls. Logs which are firmly embedded in the bed or bank of Type S or F Waters shall not be removed or disturbed except with approval by the department.
*(4) Yarding in riparian management zones, sensitive sites, and wetland management zones. Where timber is yarded from or across a riparian management zone, sensitive site, or wetland management zone reasonable care shall be taken to minimize damage to the vegetation providing shade to the stream or open water areas and to minimize disturbance to understory vegetation, stumps and root systems. Where practical and consistent with good safety practices, logs shall be yarded in the direction in which they lie and away from Type A or B Wetlands or Type S, F or Np Waters until clear of the wetland management zone or riparian management zone.
*(5) Precautions shall be taken to minimize the release of sediment to waters downstream from the yarding activity. See board manual section 5 for technical guidance.
(6) Direction of yarding.
(a) Uphill yarding is preferred.
(b) Where downhill yarding is used, reasonable care shall be taken to lift the leading end of the log to minimize downhill movement of slash and soils.
*(c) When yarding parallel to a Type S or F Water channel below the 100-year flood level or within the riparian management zone, reasonable care shall be taken to minimize soil disturbance and to prevent logs from rolling into the stream, lake, pond, or riparian management zone.
(7) Disturbance avoidance for northern spotted owls. The operation of heavy equipment within a SOSEA boundary shall not be allowed within 0.25 mile of a northern spotted owl site center between March 1st and August 31st provided that, this restriction shall not apply if:
(a) The landowner demonstrates that the owls are not actively nesting during the current nesting season; or
(b) The forest practice is operating in compliance with a plan or agreement developed for the protection of the northern spotted owl under WAC 222-16-080 (6)(a), (e), or (f).
(8) Disturbance avoidance for marbled murrelets. Yarding or operation of heavy equipment shall not be allowed within 0.25 mile of an occupied marbled murrelet site during the daily peak activity periods within the critical nesting season, provided that, this restriction shall not apply if the forest practice is operating in compliance with a plan or agreement developed for the protection of the marbled murrelet under WAC 222-16-080 (6)(a) or (c).
[Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040(3). WSR 13-21-032, § 222-30-060, filed 10/8/13, effective 12/30/13. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040. WSR 08-24-011, § 222-30-060, filed 11/21/08, effective 12/22/08. Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 76.09.040, [76.09.]050, [76.09.]370, 76.13.120(9). WSR 01-12-042, § 222-30-060, filed 5/30/01, effective 7/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and chapter 34.05 RCW. WSR 97-24-091, § 222-30-060, filed 12/3/97, effective 1/3/98; WSR 97-15-105, § 222-30-060, filed 7/21/97, effective 8/21/97. Statutory Authority: Chapters 76.09 and 34.05 RCW. WSR 96-12-038, § 222-30-060, filed 5/31/96, effective 7/1/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, 76.09.050 and chapter 34.05 RCW. WSR 92-15-011, § 222-30-060, filed 7/2/92, effective 8/2/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040. WSR 87-23-036 (Order 535), § 222-30-060, filed 11/16/87, effective 1/1/88. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and 76.09.050. WSR 82-16-077 (Resolution No. 82-1), § 222-30-060, filed 8/3/82, effective 10/1/82; Order 263, § 222-30-060, filed 6/16/76.]