🚀 go-pugleaf

Attn People interested in Sonoma County Rules

YOUR RESPONSE NEEDED URGENTLY 
(sorry for shouting)

from 	Fred Euphrat.
	707 433 5544
	woodrat@igc.org






The following is a SUMMARY of proposed Sonoma County Local Forest Practice Rules... They have been approved at the straw poll level by the Sonoma Forest Tech. Advisory committee, of which I am vice-chair.  They include input on fisheries and biodiversity, and attempt to create a reasonable atomosphere for both forestry and fisheries in Sonoma.  Remember, according to Brown and Moyle, Sonoma is the hardest hit coastal county in terms of coho - an 86% reduction in producing streams.

These rules are up for approval by the Board of Supervisors in the next month.  Environmental input was strong and influential over the last two years, BUT last meeting, in front of the Supervisors, strong and articulate industry opposition came from statewide and a well-organized, recently formed coalition of West County folk.  

We need to get back in the consciousness of the Supes.  PLEASE call or fax your supervisor and/or Tim Smith, the chair.  Flood the voice mail with support!  707 527 2241.

Local forest practice rules are important in Sonoma County because its forests are owned 80% by small landowners (who can't plan at the ecosystem scale) and has virtually no government forest lands for habitat reserves.  The proposed rules will develop old growth corridors along all flowing streams in the county, and define significant environmental effects as 'less than 15% of the watershed in late seral stage'.  The rules will require stream monitoring and riparian restoration.  The rules functionally eliminate clearcutting and herbicides from the forest landscape.  

THIS IS an important opportunity for sonoma county, the redwoods, the coast ecosystem and local environmental battles.  

The following is a summary of the rules.  Please call the supes with your support for specific rules and the general idea of county control.

Let's grow old growth in Sonoma County!

Thanks, 

fde
________________________________________________________________________
* Riparian Protection
 - 50' wlpz on all class III's
 - 75' minimum on all class II and I
 - 50' no-cut on all class II and I 
 - remainder of wlpz land limited to 30% cut of basal area per decade,
  not to exceed selection standards.
 - monitor water temperature w/ data loggers for 2 months prior to
  summer operation and 2 summers following

* CEQA monitoring
 - requires monitoring of stream habitat prior to harvest and after 
  significant storm/flood.
 - requires accredited professional for implementation

* Restoration
 - require replanting of historic canopies, as determined by CDF
 - evaluation of stream system as 'stressed' by DFG will received treatment
  to improve habitat structure
 - CDF will give recognition to slide restoration as part of cumulative 
  impact mitigation

* Cumulative Impact
 - "significant" watershed effects are defined as present in watersheds
  with less than 25% late successional stage remaining (compared
  to original) forest cover

* Roads & Skid Trails
 - trails must be EITHER covered w/ lopped slash or mulched and seeded.
 - repair old slides by planting 
 - all substandard culverts that are within a THP or its appurtenant road 
  system will be brought up to standards.

* Steep Slopes
 - No exceptions to machinery on steep slope rules
 - Evaluate erosion hazard at 5 acre resolution (down from 20)

* Maintenance
 - Increase road & trail maintenance period from 1 to 5 years.

* Slash Reduction & Hardwood Management
 - all hardwoods killed in place are considered slash.
 - all slash will be reduced to 24", burned or chipped.
 - no broadcast burning of slash within WLPZs

* Silviculture
 - Max cut is 50% per decade by basal area with basement standards of:
  thinning from: 	site   	basement sq ft
    above  		2-5		100
    below 		 2-5		75
    above  		1		150
    below 		1		125

 - Thinning from below means >=60% of trees are from sub- or
  co-dominant trees.
 - ALL trees, not just list A & B species, are under these rules.
 - Patch cuts may not exceed 1/2 acre.
 - Clearcuts are limited to 10 acres, doug-fir type, north slopes, and 
  one per ownership per decade.
 - Doug-fir type is >=60% doug fir by basal area
 - North slope is from NE to NW

* Sanitation Salvage and Emergency Exemption
 - The cumulative cut from Salvage or Emergency will not exceed 10%
  per decade.

* Private Roads
 - Mandatory notification of all easement holders.
 - Roads must be assessed for present condition along route.
 - Roads may not left in damaged condition by harvest activities, 
  particularly in terms of surface and drainage facilities.

* Residential setback
 - 70% leave (30% max cut per decade) within 150' of existing, bona-fide 
  residences.
 - This may be waived by adjacent owner.

* Herbicides.
 - No aerial application.
 - Only on invasive alien spp. within 1000' of WLPZ.

* Public Review
 - public has 45 days, as in So. Subdistrict

* Implementation
 - RPF or representative must be on site during operation, as per So.
  subdistrict.
 
* Incentives
 - In Sonoma, a THP will be considered the equivalent of a Federal
  SIP, FIP, or Legacy document or California CFIP plan.  This
  applies only to owners normally eligible for these cost-share
  funds.

* No Grandfathers or 'Mothers
 - These rules will apply to NTMP's and SYP's in Sonoma County


*****************************************************************