Specifications include, but are not limited to: This is a 170 acre thinning unit. Only hand thinning is accepted. It is heavily stocked with some clumpy areas and presents a concern of future infestation of mountain pine beetle, fuel management, and tree growth. Conditions are quite similar throughout this unit as it includes areas of extremely tight spacing in smaller size classes. Boundary portions of this unit must be handpiled after pre-commercial thinning has been done. This area would be 100 feet in depth. Areas inside that boundary piling area shall be bucked and limbed to within 18 inches of the ground throughout the remainder of the unit. Total acreage of the piling would be approximately 15.25 acres. This treatment will remove overstocked understory trees, remove poor quality trees, decrease ability for beetle outbreaks, and reduce the fuel ladder concerns. The general spacing between the understory leave trees will be around 18.5 x 18.5 foot spacing in areas with multiple leave trees . Overstory trees will not be used in the spacing above, this applies to pre-commercial sized trees. Please see Attachment D for an example of spacing and piling.; FELLING REQUIREMENTS – All Projects: Cut trees shall be completely severed from the stump. No “lazy straps" will be permitted.; All felled trees shall be severed below the lowest live limb.; (C) The maximum stump height shall be 6.5 inches above ground level, as measured on the uphill side of a tree.; (D) Cut trees shall be felled parallel to each other and not criss-crossed or jack-strawed.; (E) Cut trees shall be felled away from unit boundaries, roads, established trails, wildlife trails, fencelines, established land corners, and streams. Any trees felled on such areas shall be removed.; (F) Dead standing trees of the thinning size MUST BE CUT.; (G) Bearing, section-line, or trail-blazed trees shall not be cut.; SLASH REQUIREMENTS – NOTE THIS PROJECT CONTAINS SLASH REQUIREMENTS: Thinning slash created within 100 feet of southern and western ownership lines shall be piled. All piles must be at least 15 feet from standing trees. The approximate acres to be piled is 15.25 acres. A map is included within this contract.; (B) Thinning slash shall be bucked and limbed to within 18 inches of the ground throughout the remainder of the thinning unit. Treatment with other mechanical methods that is approved by the Contract Supervisor will satisfy this requirement.; (C) Thinning slash shall be confined within unit boundaries.; (D) Thinning slash shall be removed from all ephemeral and intermittent stream channels and wet areas that carry seasonal water.; (E) The Contract Supervisor may approve salvage of thinning slash.
