WAC 222-30-060   Cable yarding.  *(1) Type S and F Waters and sensitive sites. No timber shall be cable yarded in or across Type S or F Waters except where the logs will not materially damage the bed of waters, banks of sensitive sites, or riparian management zones. If yarding across Type S or F Waters is permitted, then yarding is limited to cable or other aerial logging methods. Any work in or above Type S or F Waters requires a hydraulics project approval (HPA). Any work in or above a Type Np or Ns Water may require a HPA. Logs must be fully suspended above the water unless otherwise allowed in the applicable HPA. Yarding corridors must be no wider or more numerous than necessary to accommodate safe and efficient transport of logs. Generally, yarding corridors should be located no closer to each other than 150 feet (measured edge to edge) and should be no wider than 30 feet. Safety is a prime consideration in the location of yarding corridors. Total openings resulting from yarding corridors must not exceed 20% of the stream length associated with the forest practices application. When changing cable locations, care must be taken to move cables around or clear of the riparian vegetation to avoid damage to riparian vegetation.

     *(2) Type A or B Wetlands. No timber shall be cable yarded in or across Type A or B Wetlands without written approval from the department and may require a hydraulic project approval from the department of fish and wildlife.

     *(3) Deadfalls. Logs which are firmly embedded in the bed or bank of Type S or F Waters shall not be removed or disturbed without hydraulic project approval from the department of fish and wildlife. Such activities in Type Np or Ns Waters may require a hydraulic project approval.

     *(4) Yarding in riparian management zones, sensitive sites, and wetland management zones. Where timber is yarded from or across a riparian management zone, sensitive site, or wetland management zone reasonable care shall be taken to minimize damage to the vegetation providing shade to the stream or open water areas and to minimize disturbance to understory vegetation, stumps and root systems. Where practical and consistent with good safety practices, logs shall be yarded in the direction in which they lie and away from Type A or B Wetlands or Type S, F or Np Waters until clear of the wetland management zone or riparian management zone.

     (5) Direction of yarding.

     (a) Uphill yarding is preferred.

     (b) Where downhill yarding is used, reasonable care shall be taken to lift the leading end of the log to minimize downhill movement of slash and soils.

     *(c) When yarding parallel to a Type S or F Water channel below the 100-year flood level or within the riparian management zone, reasonable care shall be taken to minimize soil disturbance and to prevent logs from rolling into the stream, lake, pond, or riparian management zone.

     (6) Disturbance avoidance for northern spotted owls. The operation of heavy equipment within a SOSEA boundary shall not be allowed within 0.25 mile of a northern spotted owl site center between March 1 and August 31 provided that, this restriction shall not apply if:

     (a) The landowner demonstrates that the owls are not actively nesting during the current nesting season; or

     (b) The forest practice is operating in compliance with a plan or agreement developed for the protection of the northern spotted owl under WAC 222-16-080 (6)(a), (e), or (f).

     (7) Disturbance avoidance for marbled murrelets. Yarding or operation of heavy equipment shall not be allowed within 0.25 mile of an occupied marbled murrelet site during the daily peak activity periods within the critical nesting season, provided that, this restriction shall not apply if the forest practice is operating in compliance with a plan or agreement developed for the protection of the marbled murrelet under WAC 222-16-080 (6)(a) or (c).



[Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 76.09.040,[76.09.]050 , [76.09.]370, 76.13.120(9). 01-12-042, § 222-30-060, filed 5/30/01, effective 7/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 97-24-091, § 222-30-060, filed 12/3/97, effective 1/3/98; 97-15-105, § 222-30-060, filed 7/21/97, effective 8/21/97. Statutory Authority: Chapters 76.09 and 34.05 RCW. 96-12-038, § 222-30-060, filed 5/31/96, effective 7/1/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, 76.09.050 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 92-15-011, § 222-30-060, filed 7/2/92, effective 8/2/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040. 87-23-036 (Order 535), § 222-30-060, filed 11/16/87, effective 1/1/88. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and 76.09.050. 82-16-077 (Resolution No. 82-1), § 222-30-060, filed 8/3/82, effective 10/1/82; Order 263, § 222-30-060, filed 6/16/76.]