7. BoundaryMarkingGuide.pdf

Timber Sale Unit Boundary Policy – Balloon Timber Sale, Umatilla NF – (Presale Contract)

Tags and Paint on Boundary Trees

• Only boundaries adjacent to RHCAs, property lines, or other resources needing additional protection shall be painted or tagged. All boundaries that do not fit this definition shall be considered discernable or geo-fence.

• All tags should have sale name, unit #, and TS or IRC circled on it legibly. Tag will be placed on trees along the outside edge of the unit. The tag faces into the cutting unit. Tags should be placed about eye level or just above (approximately 6’). Tags will be attached to trees using no less than 5 staples per tag. Every tree that has a tag, will also be painted. RHCA buffers shall be painted only (No tags). All other marked boundary shall have both paint and tags.

• Three orange vertical stripes shall be painted on boundary trees, and 1 stump mark. The vertical stripes shall be between two and three feet long, two inches wide and between four and eight feet above ground level. The center stripe shall face the cutting unit and cross through the tag if present. One stripe shall face the previous boundary tree and the other stripe shall face the next boundary tree. The stump marks will be a concentration of paint two inches wide and up to 6 inches long, touching the dirt at the base of the tree. Place in a crevice if one is available.

Painted boundary trees will be inter-visible.

• The first and last boundary tree in a painted segment shall have a single 3”-5” orange dot above the center strip to denote the ends of a painted segment.

Corner Trees

• Corner trees on tagged boundaries shall have two tags in a “chevron” orientation (see example below)

• Corner trees will be painted with three vertical stripes in the same manner as above. Corner trees will also have a unit number painted on the bole of the tree just below the 3 vertical stripes facing into the unit.

• Corner trees on any untagged boundary do not need tags.

Corner Trees along road

• Corner trees along road will be tagged and painted in the same manner as above except the unit number will face the road.

• Corner trees on any untagged boundary do not need tags.

• Corner trees where discernable or geo-fence boundary intersects with the road do not need paint or tags.

Skips or internal boundaries

• All internal boundaries will be painted in the same manner as external unit boundaries.

Boundary Trees

1 blue flag, 1 boundary tag, 3 vertical stripes, 1 stump mark

Corner Tree

3 blue flags, 2 boundary tags in a chevron pattern, 3 vertical stripes, unit number, 1 stump mark

Road Boundaries When a National Forest System road is the boundary, no boundary trees will be painted or tagged along the road, except for corner trees or where a unit crosses the road. The side of the road next to the unit is the boundary. The corner trees shall be placed on the unit side of the road. Boundary lines on roads that don’t need painted or tagged will be indicated on Task/Work order maps.

Corner tree along road. Painted numbers face the road.

Boundary trees crossing road. No corners. Painted numbers face the road.

One unit crosses the road

Exclusion.

Corner tree along road. Painted unit numbers face the road

Corner tree.

Painted unit numbers face into the unit.

Delineate boundaries in a clearly visible manner that provides unquestionable determination of included timber and the ability to accurately re-establish original boundaries.

A. Boundary trees shall be visible from the previous and next boundary tree and from the unit. Corners shall be visible from the road. Branches, small trees or other obstructions preventing visibility shall be removed to the extent necessary to provide visibility of the boundary trees.

B. Boundary trees shall be inter-visible. The distance between boundary trees should not exceed 100 feet maximum distance.

C. The minimum distance between boundary trees is determined by site conditions.

Boundary trees may exist within a few feet of the next boundary tree when necessary to delineate boundary in a manner that provides unquestionable determination of included timber. See Illustration below.

D. When available select live boundary trees that do not have other merchantable trees between them.

E. When possible, choose boundary trees that are in good health, have good form, and are expected to remain standing for several years. Choose trees of merchantable size over young regeneration. Choose trees of desirable species (DF, WL, PP, WP) over trees of less desirable species (WH, GF, LP) when possible.

F. Avoid marking unnecessary boundary trees. This causes extra work when changes are needed.

G. Stay as close to the flagged boundary as practical. If it is necessary to deviate from the flagged line (by more than 15 feet) in order to have suitable boundary trees, document location and inform supervisor.

Corner tree along road.

Painted numbers face the road.

Unit 2

Unit 1

Two units opposite sides of a road

H. If the GPS’d boundary appears to be different than the painted boundary inform supervisor.

I. Use only tracer paint provided by the government and do not add water or solvent. Do not use paint that is not highly visible when applied.

J. The paint must adhere to the trees. Weather conditions such as ice on trees, snow, or heavy rain can prevent the paint from adhering.

K. Use black tracer paint to correct mistakes. Mistakes need to be blacked out 100%, so that no orange paint can be seen. Inform COR of location of corrections. FS employees note use of black paint in logging plan.

The boundary is from the face of one boundary tree to the face of the next one. Select trees that will prevent questions regarding included timber.

3. Private Property

A. Avoid applying paint to trees, on land that is not managed by the USFS. When painting near “other ownership” locate the survey markers and ensure trees selected for boundary would not cause trees to be cut on land that is not managed by the USFS.