Ohio Timber Harvest Planning Program

Ohio Department of Natural Resources,

Division of Soil & Water Conservation

 

In cooperation with

 

Ohio’s Soil & Water Conservation Districts 

 

Program Purpose:  This voluntary program is designed to assist woodland landowners, loggers and foresters with the pre-planning of logging activity.  The program is designed to help the responsible parties select Best Management Practices (BMPs) that will reduce soil erosion and maintain the harvest site to state standards found in the Agricultural Pollution Abatement Rules and Standards (Ohio Administrative Code-1501:15-5-01 to 1501-5-18).

 

Timber Harvest Notice of Intent (NOI)

(For Voluntary Submittal)

 

 

Landowner Name(s):_____________________________________________________________________________

Mailing Address: _________________________________________________________________________________

                             _________________________________________________________________________________

Telephone No.:    ________________________________Cell No: __________________________________________

E-mail Address:  __________________________________________________________________________________

 

Logging Company Name: _________________________________________________________________________

Mailing Address: _________________________________________________________________________________

                             _________________________________________________________________________________

Contact Person:  __________________________________________________________________________________

Telephone No.:  _________________________________Cell No: __________________________________________

E-mail Address:  __________________________________________________________________________________

Certified Master Logging Company?                                Yes           No

Has logger attended BMP training within last 5 years?     Yes           No

 

Forester Name(s): ________________________________________________________________________________

Company or Organization Name:_____________________________________________________________________

Mailing Address: _________________________________________________________________________________

                          ___________________________________________________________________________________

Telephone No.: __________________________________Cell No: _________________________________________

E-mail Address: __________________________________________________________________________________

 

Name of individual submitting the NOI: _____________________________________________________________ 

 

Implementation Schedule:   

                                      

Number of Acres to be Harvested: ____________________________________________________________________

Number of Stream Crossings Needed: _________________________________________________________________

Proposed Starting Date: ____________________________________________________________________________

Proposed Completion Date: _________________________________________________________________________

 

Location of logging operation

County_______________________ Township_________________________ Section___________________________

Name of public road where haul road/landing is located: __________________________________________________

Latitude & Longitude of site/job entrance (Optional, indicate if known)_________________˚ W _______________˚ N

                       

Timber Harvest NOI

 

If you wish to file a “Timber Harvest Notice of Intent (NOI)”, complete only pg. 1 of this document and submit the entire document to the Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) in the County where logging is to occur.  

 

The Timber Harvest NOI form serves only as a voluntary notification and Does Not provide affirmative defense in the case of a Civil Suit as described in the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC), rule #1501:15-5-15, section (A), (1).

 

Timber Harvest Plan

 

If you wish to file a complete “Timber Harvest Plan” for approval by the local SWCD, please complete all 4 pages of this document and return the entire, completed document to the SWCD in the county where logging is to occur.

 

*Note:  Any person owning or responsible for a silvicultural operation who is managing such an operation in accordance with a “Timber Harvest Plan” currently approved by the SWCD shall be considered in compliance with the state rules for agricultural pollution abatement.

 

In a private civil action for nuisances involving agricultural pollution, it is an affirmative defense if the person owning, operating, or otherwise responsible for agricultural production or silivicultural operations is operating under and in substantial compliance with an approved Timber Harvest Plan.

Text Box: Guidance for completing the “Timber Harvest Plan”
 
The Timber Harvest Plan is based on the guidelines found in the book “BMPs for Erosion Control for Logging Practices in Ohio”.  The management practices detailed in the book form the standards used to determine compliance with Ohio’s Agricultural Pollution Abatement Rules and Standards.  For your convenience, chapter and page number references are provided on the Timber Harvest Plan form.  By referring to these pages, you can see photos and/or diagrams as well as written descriptions of the recommended BMPs.  To obtain a copy of the BMP book, please contact the local SWCD, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Soil & Water Conservation at (614) 265-6610 or go online at http://ohioline.osu.edu/b916/index.html

Timber Harvest Plan

                 

A.     Nature and scope of logging activity___________________________________________________

                 

                       Acreage of operation: _______Acres

 

                       Harvest type:     ____ Thinning                        

                                                  ____ Timber Stand Improvement (TSI)                                              

                                                  ____ Clear-cut

                                                  ____ Shelterwood cut

                                                  ____ Selection cut - (single tree or group)

                                                  ____ Diameter limit             

                                                  ____ Other: (Please specify): ____________________________________________________

 

                       Type of harvesting system to be utilized:

 

                                                Manual (Chainsaw felling and skidder)

____ Rubber tire skidder with   ____ Grapple ____ Cable

____ Tracked skidder/dozer

 

                                Mechanized

                                                _____ Cut to length (harvester/forwarder)

____ Feller-buncher w/ rubber tire skidder _____Grapple _____ Cable

_____ Feller-buncher w/ tracked skidder      _____Grapple ______ Cable

 

Other 

_____ Horse skidding  _____ Farm tractor skidding   _____ Farm tractor w/ forwarding trailer

B.     Maps:  ___________________________________________________________________________

 

All Timber Harvest Plans submitted must include a complete and legible plan map.  Attach a copy of a U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) topographic map and/or a USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service soils map that encompasses the proposed logging site.  On the map, indicate the following: Proposed road systems (haul and skid roads), stream crossings, log loading area(s), property boundaries and the boundaries of the logging operation. 

(Note: If you need assistance in obtaining or completing map(s), contact the local  SWCD office)

 

C.     Watershed information______________________________________________________________

 

Indicate the name of the nearest river or stream that the logging site drains to. 

(Example: Unnamed tributary flowing to Salt Creek): _______________________________________________________     ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

D.   Best Management Practices__________________________________________________________

 

Circle Yes or No; If No, explain the proposed alternative to be used or why the BMP is not applicable.

 

Yes   No  1.  Leave a filter strip between perennial streams and roads, landings, etc.  (Sect. VII, pgs. 46-48).

 Explain alternative: _______________________________________________________________________________________

 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Yes   No  2.  Construct skid trails at grades of 20% or less.  (Sec. IV, pg. 29) Explain alternative: __________________________________

                  ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Yes   No  3.  Haul road entrances will be graveled up to 200’ from the public highway when necessary to reduce mud on the road.  

                 (Sec. III, pg. 28)  Explain alternative: _________________________________________________________________________

                  ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Yes   No  4.  Log landings will be constructed as small as practical, be adequately drained and constructed outside of any filter strips. 

                 (Sec. II, pg. 7) Explain alternative: ___________________________________________________________________________

                  ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Yes   No  5.  Put dips in all approach roads and skid trails that are upslope of landings to prevent water from running onto the landing  

                 Sec. II, pg. 7) Explain alternative: ____________________________________________________________________________       

                _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Yes   No  6.  When roads cannot be out-sloped, ditch water off the road and use properly sized culverts at intervals specified in the BMP handbook(Sec. III, pgs. 17-25) Explain alternative: _____________________________________________________________

                _________________________________________________________________________________________________________                             

Yes   No  7.  On non-ditched roads, use broad-based dips and/or grade breaks at intervals specified in the BMP handbook.  (Sec. III,

                 pgs. 19-20) Explain alternatives: _____________________________________________________________________________

                _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Yes   No  8.  Temporary water bars or turn-outs will be placed on skid trails to control potential erosion during any temporary shut down        

                 periods.  (Sec. IV, pgs. 31-35)  Explain alternative: ______________________________________________________________

                 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________            

Yes   No  9.  Permanent water bars will be installed at specific intervals as described in the BMP handbook (Sec. IV, pgs. 31- 35 and

               Sec. VIII, pgs. 49-50) Explain alternative: ______________________________________________________________________

                _________________________________________________________________________________________________________                                                                                    

Yes   No  10.  Stream crossings for Haul and Skid roads shall be avoided when possible. (Sec. VI, pgs. 37-45)

·          Streams should be crossed at right angles (90°). Divert water from road prior to the crossing with a water diversion device or break in grade.

·          Portable bridges will be used when practical, and culverts used when necessary.

·          Streams to be forded shall have banks and stream bottom armored.

·          All stream crossings shall be restored

  Explain alternative:  ______________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Yes   No  11.  Logging slash greater then 6” diameter shall be removed from the channel of perennial streams as identified on U.S.G.S. 7.5 minute quadrangles.  Slash shall be pulled back from channel and bank. (Sec. VII, pg. 47) 

                Explain alternative: ________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Yes   No  12.  Harvest (sale) closeout procedures shall be completed.  (Sec. VIII, pgs. 49-57).

Water bars will be built on skid trails and haul roads that will not have vehicular traffic.

The following areas will be seeded and    mulched using the liming, fertilization, seeding and mulching guidelines found in the BMP handbook: landings, roads within filter strips, stream crossings, haul roads and skid trails. 

Indicate the seed mixture that will be used: _____________________________________________________________________

Explain alternative: _______________________________________________________________________________________

  ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

                               

Yes   No  13.  All trash, such as used oil filters, equipment, parts and other items will be removed from the harvest site.  (Sec. II, pg. 7.)

                 Explain alternative: _______________________________________________________________________________________

                 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

E. Signatures of Responsible Parties______________________________________________________

 

I am aware of the erosion control requirements of Ohio’s Agricultural Pollution Abatement Rules and Standards.  I agree to conduct all logging activities on this site in a manner that will reduce the potential for damage to waters of the state and maintain compliance with all state laws.

 

                Landowner Signature _______________________________________________      __________________                                                                                                                                                                                                              (Date)

                               

                Logger Signature: __________________________________________________      ­­­__________________

                                                                                                                                                                                   (Date)

 

                Forester Signature: __________________________________________________      _________________

                                                                                                                                                                              (Date)

               

 

     Date that the Timber Harvest Plan was received by the SWCD: ___________________________________

 

     Form reviewed by: _________________________________________      __________________________

                                                      (SWCD Technical Representative)                                        (Date)                                                  

 

     Was a site review conducted by the SWCD staff     _______Yes           _______ No

 

     Site reviewed by:   __________________________________________     __________________________

                                                      (SWCD Technical Representative)                                             (Date)  

 

    The Timber Harvest Plan was reviewed at the __________________________________ meeting of the

                                                                                                                        (Date)

     ___________________________ SWCD Board of Supervisors and was:

 

     ______ Approved

 

     ______ Disapproved for the following reason(s): ______________________________________________________                           

 

     ______________________________________________________________________________________________

 

   Signed: _________________________________________________              ___________________________

                                        Chair, SWCD Board of Supervisors                                                          (Date)