A10. D4. Specifications - Hand Thinning (Exhibit A).pdf

Pre-Commercial Hand Thinning, Release, and Pruning Task Specifications

Exhibit A

1. Leave trees shall generally be in dominant or codominant crown position, and those of tallest height, largest crown, and straightest boles that are free of damage due to insect, disease, physical and mechanical causes (in that order). The operator shall select leave trees using the following priorities:

2. Select leave trees from healthy, undamaged conifers as necessary to achieve average spacing of 20 feet (6.1 meters), depending on the unit (approximately 100 TPA). Spacing may be varied up to 25 percent to select the most desirable tree. However, spacing control, using the original guides, shall be maintained whenever possible. The number of trees per acre shall not be materially increased or decreased.

3. The order of crop tree species preference will be:

a. Healthy, blister rust free sugar pine/western white pine

b. Incense cedar

c. Douglas-fir

d. Ponderosa pine

e. White fir

f. Knobcone pine

g. Grey pine

Unless specified by the Project Manager

4. All retained conifer will be released and cleared of competing vegetation and hardwoods to a distance of 5 feet (1.5 meters) from the bole or to the drip line, whichever is greater.

5. All retained conifer will be pruned to a maximum height of 6 feet (1.8 meters) but no more than 1/3 of the tree shall be pruned.

All pruned debris will be cleared 5 feet (1.5 meters) from the bole or to the drip line, whichever is greater

6. Multi-stemmed madrones (stems emanating from the root crown) shall be thinned back, leaving only the two or three most dominant stems.

7. No black oak or disease free sugar pine/western white pine shall be cut.

8. If no healthy, undamaged trees exist at the required spacing interval, leave a tree with the least amount of defect. If no healthy trees with minor damage exist, leave tree with no sign of disease (e.g. mistletoe, white pine blister rust).

9. Generally, all trees that are greater than 10 inches (25.4 centimeters) DBH shall not be cut, but they will be released, pruned, and cleared to 5 feet (1.5 meters). This is contingent upon the size of the trees in the unit.

10. Cut all sanitation trees that are greater than 12 inches (30.5 centimeters) in height. Porcupine damaged trees shall not be selected as crop trees. A porcupine-damaged tree with a healthy top, however, may be counted as a crop tree if no other satisfactory trees are available.

11. Stump height shall be no more than 6 inches (15.2 centimeters) on the uphill side. Boles shall be completely severed from the stump.

12. Activity created slash will be lopped and scattered to a depth not to exceed 18 inches (45.7 centimeters), where possible. If 18 inches (45.7 centimeters) in slash depth cannot be achieved in a given spot, then the slash should be piled. All cut trees will be limbed.

13. No slash/debris is to be left within 15 feet (4.6 meters) of roadways, on cut banks, or around or near culverts.

14. All cut trees shall be bucked into 3 foot sections (0.9 meters) to aid in preventing insect infestations, and aid in drying and curing.

15. Operator shall not leave any hung-up trees.

16. No thinning activities shall occur within 15 feet (4.6 meters) of perennial streams.

17. Thinning can occur within Intermittent (Seasonal Streams) Ephemeral (Rain-dependent Streams) shall be removed/cleared to 15 feet (4.6 meters) from drainage.

18. Hardwood dominated areas greater than 25’ x 25’ (7.6m x 7.6m) shall be skipped over and left unthinned for wildlife use.

19. No refueling, oiling, or maintenance can occur on power saws or other tools within 50 feet (15.2 meters) of all streams.

SELECTION OF CROP TREE SPECIFICATION

Characteristics of Acceptable Crop Trees Characteristics of Cut Trees

1. Dominance - Trees are taller than others of the same age class.

1. Suppressed trees, shorter than others.

2. Foliage - Dark green color, thick over entire tree.

2. Tree crown has yellow or reddish color, sparse foliage.

3. Straight bole. 3. Bent, crooked, or forked.

4. Single branch terminal.

4. Two or more leaders of approximately equal length.

5. Free from physical damage.

5. Shows damage caused by rolling rocks, falling trees, frost cracks, and animals.

6. Free from insect or disease damage.

6. Shows insect or disease damage, stream of pitch, deformities of tree.

The contractor is responsible to follow the Project Activity Levels (PAL’s) daily for fire weather conditions as they arise.

A voice recorded message is updated at the end of each day for the following day’s PAL at 866-242-9941 PAL Area 4.

In the event that a marijuana grow is encountered, all contracting operations should stop immediately and contractors shall leave the area. Please notify the COR within 24 hours with the details of the area in which the growing activity was discovered. Acreage may be substituted for units lost due to this activity.