Forest Practice

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) enforces the laws that regulate logging on privately-owned lands in California. The Forest Practice Act was enacted in 1973 to ensure that logging is done in a manner that will preserve and protect our fish, wildlife, forests and streams. The State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection enacts and enforces additional rules to protect these resources.

CAL FIRE ensures that private landowners abide by these laws when harvesting trees. Although there are specific exemptions in some cases, compliance with the Forest Practice Act and Board rules apply to all commercial harvesting operations for landowners of small parcels, to ranchers owning hundreds of acres, and large timber companies with thousands of acres.
The Timber Harvesting Plan (THP) is the environmental review documents submitted by landowners to CAL FIRE outlining what timber he or she wants to harvest, how it will be harvested, and the steps that will be taken to prevent damage to the environment. THPs are prepared by Registered Professional Foresters (RPFs) who are licensed to prepare these comprehensive, detailed plans. THPs can range from about 100 pages to more than 500 pages.

CAL FIRE does not have the authority to deny a THP that is in compliance with state and federal rules and laws, simply because the logging plan is unpopular with the public. The Department reviews and approves between 500 to 1400 THPs each year. A THP that does not comply with all forestry and environmental regulations is returned to the RPF. It is only approved after the RPF and landowner agree to make the changes necessary to ensure compliance with all laws. CAL FIRE follows-up on approved THPs with site inspections and can shut down operations, cite or fine RPFs, Licensed Timber Operators (LTOs), and landowners if illegal operations are found.

What's New

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REVISED ASP Q and A Document Available with Class II-L Changes

The document titled "Anadromous Salmonid Protections Rules: Revised Interpretive Questions and Answers for RPFs and Landowners" has been posted at the following: calfire.ca.gov/resource_mgt/downloads/ASP QA doc with revised language 06_16_14 (final revision).pdf This revision of the document that was produced in April of 2010 reflects changes made by the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection when they passed the "Class II-L Identification and Protection Amendments, 2013" rule package, which went into effect January 1, 2014.

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Important Information On Townsend's Big Eared Bat And Timber Operations

A petition to list Townsend’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii) (COTO) as Threatened or Endangered under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) was received by the California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) on November 1, 2012. On June 26, 2013, the Commission voted to designate COTO as a candidate for listing. Starting on the date it officially becomes a candidate, COTO will receive the same legal protections under CESA as a threatened or endangered species, including the general prohibition on “take” of such species. You may consider including an analysis and appropriate mitigation measures in your timber harvesting plan (THP) prior to the date it officially becomes a candidate in order to avoid amendments to your THP in the future.

The range of the COTO extends throughout the State. COTO primarily roosts in caves, mines, abandoned dwellings, and large basal hollows of trees. The Biological Impacts section of your proposed harvesting plan should include a discussion of COTO (life history, threats, available habitat and appropriate mitigation) if the proposed timber operations may result in a significant adverse impact, cumulative impact, or take, once the species candidacy is formally announced. Proposed avoidance and mitigation measures should be included under Section II, Item 32a of the Plan if appropriate.

For more information; the evaluation of the petition to list, a life history account, and a range map can be viewed by going to the following web site and searching for “Townsend’s big-eared bat”.
https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/documents/docviewer.aspx

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Timber Operations in Areas Substantially Damaged Due to Wildland Fires

Please see the following link for a letter to Registered Professional Foresters, Licensed Timber Operators, Review Team Agencies and the Interested Public regarding timber operations in areas substantially damaged due to wildland fires: downloads/Timber_Operations_in_Areas_
Substantially_Damaged_Cover_Letter_101012.pdf.

The link references an attached memorandum, which can be found at the following: downloads/Timber_Operations_in_Areas_
Substantially_Damaged_Due_to_WildlandFires_101012.pdf.

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Non-industrial Timber Management Plans: Information for Registered Professional Foresters related to Water Quality and Cumulative Impacts

CAL FIRE has posted a memorandum, which is intended to provide clarification regarding the difference in noticing requirements described in the Forest Practice Act and Rules under PRC § 4594(g) and 14 CCR § 1090.7(h) and (i) for notices of timber operations under a non-industrial timber management plan, and how the cumulative impact assessment evaluation area melds with the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board's waste discharge requirements and waivers of waste discharge requirements when considering the beneficial uses of water (http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/northcoast/water_issues/programs/timber_operations/). Understanding this relationship is important to avoid confusion by registered professional foresters, the public, and review agency staff. The memo is found at: downloads/NTMP_Information_for_RPFs_
Related_to_WaterQuality_andCumulativeImpacts_100512.pdf.

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