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Wetlands Section). Although forestry activities are allowed, this Zone has significant timber harvesting restrictions, and varies in width from 35 to 200 feet per side, depending on the type and size of the waterbody (see Appendix 1 and Application of SMZs). The Primary Zone provides water quality protection to adjacent waterbodies by maintaining shade, and by reducing the disturbance to ground cover vegetation and leaf litter. In addition, this Zone also provides important wildlife habitat values particularly for those species that require snags, cavities, tall trees and other characteristics generally associated with older and less disturbed forest conditions.
Selective timber harvesting and other forestry operations are allowed in the Primary Zone, subject to the specific management criteria listed below. However, selective harvesting within this Zone is intended to be conducted in conjunction with harvesting of a specific adjacent area. In addition, forestry operations, particularly harvesting and skidding, within the Primary Zone should exercise special precautions to maintain as much of the natural forest condition as possible. A decision not to harvest at all within this Zone may provide additional natural resource benefits.
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| Primary Zone • Management Criteria |
A) Clearcut harvesting is prohibited in the Primary Zone except for special conditions described in Appendix 11.
B) Clearcut harvesting is always prohibited within 35 feet of all perennial waters and within 50 feet of all waterbodies designated as OFW, ONRW or Class I Waters. No exceptions apply.
C) Selective harvesting may be conducted to the extent that 50% of a fully stocked stand is maintained. The residual stand should conform to the following:
- Trees should be left to maintain the approximate proportion of diameter classes and species present prior to harvesting, except that oaks (other than water oaks) and den trees may be favored.
- Repeated entry into a harvested Primary Zone in short time intervals for additional harvesting is prohibited.
- No trees will be harvested in stream channels or on the immediate stream bank.
D) Special emphasis should be given to the following, within the Primary Zone of the SMZ:
- Protection of very large trees and/or old trees.
- Protection of snags and cavity trees.
- Protection of trees where any part of the canopy overhangs the water.
E) The following forestry activities are prohibited within the Primary Zone of the SMZ:
- Mechanical site preparation.
- Aerial application or mist blowing of pesticide or fertilizer.
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