About the Oregon Forest Practices Act (FPA)
The Oregon Forest Practices Act (FPA) sets standards for all commercial activities involving the establishment, management, or harvesting of trees on Oregon’s forestlands.
Oregon law gives the Board of Forestry primary responsibility to interpret the FPA and set rules for forest practices. ODF is responsible for enforcing those requirements by:
- Reviewing pre-operations plans
- Overseeing operations
- Ensuring reforestation
- Investigating complaints
- Enforcing corrective actions when violations occur
ODF works with landowners and operators to help them comply with the requirements of the FPA.
Senate Bill 1602
New and developing laws: Helicopter pesticide spraying, Siskiyou stream buffers, neighbor notifications, and mediated discussions about possible changes to Oregon's Forest Practices Act.
Helicopter pesticide application
Effective Dec. 15, 2021, new procedures for helicopter pesticide applications and neighborly communications will start.
The Oregon Department of Forestry will provide training about how to use E-Notification to:
- Notify for helicopter pesticide applications
- Register to receive updates about the operations
Training videos
Siskiyou SSBT stream protection rules
View the final adopted rules. Rules become effective Jan. 1, 2021.
Background
More information on the
proposed laws and rules page.
Wildlife food plots rule
View the final adopted rule.
Background
Oregon House Bill 3013, which took effect in January 2016, allows forest landowners to have wildlife food plots. The statute that arose from the bill is Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 527.678. This statute requires the Board of Forestry to adopt rules to allow wildlife food plots to be an approved activity under the Forest Practices Act (FPA).
A wildlife food plot is defined as a small area of forestland that, instead of being used to grow and harvest forest trees, is planted in vegetation for wildlife nutrition. Small forestland is defined as ownerships greater than 10 acres and less than 5,000. Maximum food plot sizes on those ownerships range from a quarter acre to 50 acres.
Draft rules were developed with input from the Committee for Family Forestlands, the Tribal Cultural Resources Cluster and the three Regional Forest Practices Committees. Staff also consulted with Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Input from these groups has been consolidated in the final language by the Board of Forestry. The rules took effect on Sept. 1, 2020.
Resources
Compliance
The Forest Practices Monitoring Program continually reviews the effectiveness of the FPA and its rules through monitoring and research. The goals of the monitoring program are:
- To provide scientific information for adapting regulatory policies and management practices
- To provide education and training on the FPA rules
- To assess whether the rules and guidance are sufficient in protecting natural resources on forestland
- To evaluate if the FPA laws, rules, and strategies are complied with and if voluntary measures are implemented
Monitoring and research are conducted in the following areas:
- Compliance
- Fish passage and stream crossings
- Forest roads
- Storm impacts and landslides
- Headwater protection
- Salmon and watersheds
- Pesticide use
- Riparian function and structure
- Riparian function and stream temperature
- Shade quality
- Stream temperature
Stewardship agreements
Stewardship agreements are voluntary land management agreements available to landowners under Oregon’s Forest Practices Act rules. They were established by the Oregon Legislature in their current form through House Bill 2114-B in 2007.
Under a stewardship agreement, a landowner agrees to exceed ODF regulatory requirements designed to protect natural resources, such as water quality and fish and wildlife habitat, in exchange for long-term regulatory certainty under Forest Practices Act rules.
For questions or interest in applying, email Nate Agalzoff.
ODF has entered into a stewardship agreement with Port Blakely, a family-owned company based in
Seattle whose roots in forestry go back five generations. This stewardship agreement assures long-term operational flexibility for Port
Blakely while providing for the long-term needs of fish and wildlife.
The agreement
covers about 30,000 acres of Port Blakely forestland in Clackamas County. Prior to this latest project, ODF
had 13 existing stewardship agreements with different forest landowners
covering a total of about 3,500 acres in Oregon.
Materials
Key elements
The FPA and associated rules apply to activities that are part of the commercial growing and harvesting of forest trees. Most forest practices fall into one of the following general categories:
- Road construction and maintenance
- Harvesting
- Site preparation by treating slash
- Reforestation
- Use of pesticides or fertilizers
Before conducting an operation or forest practice, landowners and operators need to inform the Oregon Department of Forestry of their planned operation by completing a Notification of Operation.
- Notifications must be submitted at least 15 days prior to the start of the operation.
- Failure to file is violation under the Forest Practices Act and Rules.
- A Notification of Operation can be filed electronically via E-Notification.
See Oregon Administrative Rule Chapter 629, Division 605 for more information.
Well-designed and maintained road systems are a necessity for safe timber operations. Landowners are encouraged to consider water and fish protection when planning, siting, and constructing roads.
Key elements
- The location, construction, maintenance, use, and drainage of forest roads must prevent sediment from getting into streams. Rules encourage roads to be built way from streams.
- The number and times a road crosses a stream must be minimized. Where crossings do occur, use bridges and culverts to allow for fish passage.
- Log trucks may not use some forest roads during wet weather.
Resources
See Oregon Administrative Rules Chapter 629, Division 625 for more information.
Timber harvesting is an integral part of forest management and important to Oregon's economy. The forest practices harvesting rules establish standards for forest practices that will maintain the productivity of forestland, minimize soil and debris entering waters of the state, and protect wildlife and fish habitat.
Key element
- Clearcuts cannot exceed 120 acres within a single ownership, including the combined acreage of any clearcuts within 300 feet of each other.
See Oregon Administrative Rule Chapter 629, Division 630 for more information.
A large portion of the FPA rules are aimed at the protection of water sources. Regulations require landowners to leave forested buffers and other vegetation along streams, wetlands, and lakes to protect water quality and fish and wildlife habitat.
Key elements
- Timber harvesting, road building, and chemical use are restricted near streams, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
- Trees and other vegetation must be left along streams in which fish live. Stream buffers provide the following benefits:
- Shade, helping keep the water cool
- Good fish habitat, as logs that fall across or into the stream provide pools of slow water and hiding places for young fish
- Nutrient input in the form of leaf litter fall -- important to the food web
- The location, construction, maintenance, and use of roads to assure should ensure that muddy water is not delivered into forest streams from roads or ditches.
- Roads should be built away from streams. However where a new or improved road must cross a stream, it must not block fish passage. Typically, either a bridge or a properly size culvert will be installed.
- Spraying pesticides and herbicides near streams is prohibited where they might kill vegetation along the banks, get into the water, or harm insects and fish. Spraying must always follow stringent state and federal rules concerning careful application.
- Heavy log truck use on forest roads during storms or other extremely wet weather is carefully managed—or curtailed—to ensure that the roads do not create muddy water that enters fish streams.
Resources
See Oregon Administrative Rule Chapter 629, Divisions 635, 642, 645, 650, 655, and 660 for more information.
Woodland owners provide key habitats for Oregon´s wildlife and fish. Often landowner objectives include enhancing and protecting fish and wildlife habitat. These goals are commonly integrated with other management objectives such as healthy forests and recreation.
Key elements
- Operations must be timed to avoid excessive disturbance to certain wildlife species.
- Operators must leave at least two standing live trees or snags per acre of harvest. These retained trees or snags should be at least 30 feet tall and 11 inches in diameter. These provide important nesting sites and habitat for bids, bats, squirrels, and many other animals.
- Operators must leave at least two logs per acre on the ground, each at least 10 cubic feet. This downed wood is important to amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, and insects, as well as plants and fungi.
- If sensitive wildlife sites are present in a proposed harvest area, harvest activities may have to be modified to protect these sites. Sensitive sites include areas actively used by bald eagles, osprey, northern spotted owl and other species identified as sensitive, threatened, or endangered.
Resources
See Oregon Administrative Rule Chapter 629, Division 665 for more information.
Road side buffers enhance the appearance of Oregon's roadways. Specific requirements are in place for designated scenic highways.
Key elements
- Operators must retain a screen of trees along certain state and federal highways. The Oregon Department of Transportation may make exceptions to this rule for highway safety.
- Major debris from harvest must be removed quickly from roadways.
- Replanting of a harvest site along designated scenic highway must occur within one year of harvest, rather than the usual two years.
See Oregon Revised Statute 527.755 for more information.
Timber harvesting and road construction can increase the likelihood of landslide occurrences. It is important that the risk of landslides in minimized to protect public safety and reduce negative impacts to streams from excess sediment that can affect fish habitat.
Key elements
- Harvesting and road construction on steep slopes above homes or roads are regulated to minimize the risk of landslides to public safety.
- Trees may be required to be left near some smaller stream channels. If a landslide occurs these trees can reduce the amount of sediment that enters a steam and, if carried downstream, will create large wood in the stream channel to help improve fish habitat.
Resources
See Oregon Administrative Rule Chapter 629, Division 623 for more information.
The forest practice rules allows slash treatment and burning for site preparation as long as soil, air, and water are protected. Following a harvest, slash (or tree tops, limbs, and defective wood) is often left on site and may require treatment to make the site ready for successful reforestation (site preparation), to reduce wildfire hazards, or both. Piling, burning, and chipping are examples of slash treatments and may be done in combination with site preparation or separately.
See
Oregon Administrative Rule Chapter 629, Division 615 for more information.
Reforestation goes hand-in-hand with timber harvest planning. Reforestation rules are intended to make sure new trees are replanted and successfully growing after an area is harvested.
Key elements
- Landowners must complete replanting of harvested ground within two years of a harvest.
- Within six years of harvest, the young trees must be "free-to-grow", meaning they are vigorous, well-distributed, and ready to grow into successfully into a young forest.
- Depending on site productivity, a minimum of 100 to 200 trees per acre must survive following replanting.
- A landowner may be required to replant additional seedlings to ensure a sufficient number of trees per acre following selective harvest or thinning.
Resources
See Oregon Administrative Rule Chapter 629, Division 610 for more information.
The forest practice rules recognize that chemicals including, fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides, are valuable management tools in controlling unwanted vegetation and forest pests. There are restrictions to where and how these chemicals are applied to protect water quality and other natural resources on forestland.
Key elements
- It is illegal to spray herbicides in or near streams where they might impact vegetation or insects which are food sources for fish.
- Helicopters must not spray within:
- 75 feet of fish- and domestic-use streams. The buffer is wider for some streams.
- 50 feet of other streams with surface water present
- 300 feet of a school or inhabited dwelling
- 300 feet of a qualifying water intake
- Ground spraying requires staying at least 10 feet away from fish and domestic use streams.
- Chemicals may not be applied if weather might carry them offsite.
- Landowners must notify state officials of chemical use and keep daily records.
- Federal and state laws and label directions must be strictly followed.
Resources
The Oregon Department of Agriculture, Pesticides Program (ODA) administers rules relating to applicator licensing, proper application, and pesticide labeling. Contact ODA if you think pesticides have drifted or moved across property lines and have damaged human health or property.
See
Oregon Administrative Rule Chapter 629, Division 620 for more information.