(1) Description: Tree felling includes "bucking" or cutting the felled tree into short lengths and limbing the felled tree. Yarding is the process of hauling logs from the cutting area to the landing and includes skidding (dragging the logs across the ground). There are three main kinds of yarding systems: Ground based, cable, and aerial logging.

(2) Fish life concerns: Felling and yarding trees can damage the aquatic and stream bank riparian zone habitat if done incorrectly.

(3) Felling and yarding:

(a) Do not fell trees into or across a Type S, F, or Np watercourse except when approved by the department. Felling into a Type N watercourse is approved if trees are removed as soon as it is practicable to do so.

(b) Trees or logs that accidentally enter a watercourse with identifiable bed or banks must remain where they fall unless the department authorizes the removal of parts or all of the trees or logs.

(c) Use full suspension when transporting logs across a watercourse with identifiable bed or banks, so no portion of the logs or limbs can enter the watercourse or damage the bed, banks, and riparian vegetation including riparian management zone trees.

(d) Use equipment that minimizes the number of cable crossings over the stream to reduce damage or disturbance to RMZ trees. Place cable tailholds across watercourses with identifiable bed or banks, if they minimize the number of new yarding roads needed. When changing roads, a person must move the cable around or over the riparian zone vegetation and banks to avoid damaging the vegetation and banks.

(e) Unless the department approves otherwise, remove limbs or other small debris that enter the watercourse with identifiable bed or banks, with each change in yarding road, or within seventy-two hours after entry into the watercourse or before the onset of high flows if anticipated to occur within seventy-two hours. Place the limbs and other small debris above the anticipated limits of floodwater. Remove limbs or other small debris from dry watercourses before the normal onset of high flows. Do not disturb large woody material that was in place before felling and yarding trees.

(f) Minimize releasing sediment to waters downstream from the felling or yarding activity. Use sediment control methods as needed to avoid releasing sediment downstream. Remove accumulated sediment from above check dams before removing them.

(g) Avoid or minimize skidding, ground lead yarding, or operating equipment within flowing waters in channels with defined bed or banks.