Exhibit_A_Specifications.pdf

Pre-Commercial Hand Thinning Task Specifications

Exhibit A

1. Leave trees shall generally be in dominant or co-dominant 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 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 trees species preference will be:

1) healthy, blister-rust free sugar pine

2) healthy, blister-rust free western white pine

3) Douglas-fir

4) ponderosa pine

5) incense cedar, and

6) white fir

7) knob-cone

8) grey pine

Unless specified by the Project Manager or Inspector.

4. Multi-stemmed (stems emanating from the root crown) madrones shall be thinned back, leaving only the one or two most dominate stems.

5. No black oak or disease free sugar pine shall be cut.

6. 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).

7. Generally, trees that are greater than 10 inches DBH shall not be cut. This is contingent upon the size of the trees in the unit.

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

9. Stump height shall be no more than 6 inches on the up-hill side. Boles shall be completely severed from the stump.

10. Activity created slash will be lopped and scattered to a depth not to exceed 18 inches, where possible. If 18 inches in slash depth cannot be achieved in a given spot, then the slash should be piled. Plies created in green pre-commercial thinning areas do not require covering.

11. All Cut Trees shall be bucked into 3 foot sections to aid in preventing insect infestations and aid in drying and curing.

12. Operator shall not leave any hang-up trees.

13. No thinning activities shall occur within 15 feet of streams.

14. Hardwood dominated areas greater than 25’x25’ shall be skipped over and left un-thinned for wildlife use.

15. No refueling, oiling or maintenance can occur on power saws or other tools within 50 feet of all streams.

SELECTION OF CROP TREE SPECIFICATION:

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

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

Characteristics of Acceptable Crop Tree Characteristics of Cut Trees

1. Dominance - Trees are taller than others of 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, animals.

6. Free from insect or disease damage.

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