Specifications include, but are not limited to: Thinning and Felling Specifications: Unit 277 Cut nearly all trees 9” and smaller dbh. Trees 9” dbh or less to retain are rare but may include: The rare well-formed WL and occasional very nice DF (long and broad crowns, pointy tops) where not acting as ladder fuels or directly competing with a neighboring higher quality tree. Buck felled trees to 10’ lengths to include in excavator piles. In areas of heavy dead and down fuel, buck downed trees to 10’ lengths such that material less than 5” on small end can also be included in piles. Some PP were noted on the west aspect. PP greater than 18” DBH with no visible insect or disease issues can be daylighted by cutting all trees less than 12” DBH for a 30 foot radius around the tree. Well formed trees are defined as follows: “Those with straight stems with long broad single stem crowns with pointy tops, that are not growing into the crown of a larger more desirable tree.” Trees designated for removal shall be cut below the lowest live limb, except when prevented by natural obstacles. All live limbs below the cutting point shall be removed. Trees shall be completely severed from the stump. Stumps shall be cut at or below 6 inches above ground level on the uphill side and shall be cut horizontally, not slanted. Designated cut trees shall be felled away from unit boundaries, roads, established trails, fence lines, land corners wet areas and streams. Any trees falling on such areas shall be removed. All thinning slash shall be placed on or near the ground surface, so that it is not leaning against or suspended by an uncut tree, stump, log, or any obstacle. Protect all survey monuments. Bearing, section-line, or trail-blazed trees shall not be cut. Any tree designated for retention that poses a safety hazard may be felled by the contractor without prior approval of the DNRC. All such hazard trees felled to provide for safe work conditions will remain adjacent to the stump. Buck fuels created through thinning activities into lengths less than 10 feet, and buck the top from the remainder of the tree at a 4 inch diameter. Buck pre-existing downed fuels into lengths less than 10 feet, up to a diameter of 9 inches, and leave the remainder of the tree larger than 7 inches diameter unbucked. 4.2.4 Excavator Piling Requirements: Acceptable equipment for slash piling is an excavator equipped with a bucket and thumb approved by the Forest Officer. Excavator Piling shall include piling of all fuel concentrations generated by slashing and natural accumulations of fuels within the unit boundary. A slash concentration is defined as an area where the amount of slash in a 50-foot radius area or smaller, is sufficient to build a pile that meets contract specifications. Piles shall be constructed to facilitate full consumption when they are burned.
