Specifications include, but are not limited to: 1. Mark all stands according to specifications listed in the Timber Marking Specifications, and specific details obtained at the pre-work meeting. 2. All cutting and payment boundary paint lines are to be painted by the contractor in the approximate locations as shown on the map. The exterior line adjacent to state land will be painted in red. The unit lines are to be painted in yellow paint. 3. Area determination must be done for all units by contractor for the treatment area. When establishing paint lines: • Contractors are responsible for obtaining landowner permission before crossing private land. • Avoid using dead or badly damaged trees – boundary trees must last for the duration of the timber sale (up to 5-6 years). • Favor the use of reserved species such as hemlock, oak, or lesser occurring species. • Avoid using small (fast-growing) stems and those exposed to direct sunlight. • Mark Payment Unit lines so they can be seen from all sides. • Stand 30, 31 & 39: Push lines hard to adjacent stands. Need to capture spruce/fir around edges, especially west, even if maple stocking is light and walk-through marking. • Stand 64: Push stands along the west edge until maple becomes too sparse. Some areas with merchantable spruce/fir can be included, but overall, a strip along the west edge will be excluded from this harvest. Management Objective: Northern Hardwoods (Mark to Cut) When marking, prioritize selection of trees to be cut in the following order: 1. Mark trees to be cut. Favor the best future crop tree in place, regardless of species. 2. Leave den and nest trees. 3. The objective is an all age stand structure with a max diameter of 18" DBH in hardwood stands. 4. Retain all hemlock, oak, cedar and pine unless removal is needed for operability. 5. Release oak on three sides to a residual BA of 60 sq ft. Favor mast producing black cherry. 6. Further guidance will be discussed at presale meeting. 7. Selectively thin hardwoods to 70-90 sq ft of BA. Favor to leave: oak, hemlock, mast producing black cherry, white pine and cedar where present. Follow all guidelines set forth in "The Complete Marker". 8. In accordance with ‘Interim Guidance – Increased Minimum Gap Size and Regeneration Accountability for Uneven-aged Management’, install one 50-ft radius gap per acre or one 75-ft radius gap per two acres, driven by the presence of well-stocked desirable advanced regeneration or adjacent to seed-bearing trees of uncommon desirable species. Prescriptions • Stand 24 / PU 10; Stand 30 / PU’s 8 & 9; Stand 64 / PU’s 1 & 2: Mark stand to 70 - 90 BA. Focus on improving quality and creating / maintaining canopy gaps for regeneration. Remove all merchantable spruce/fir. L eave some large future snag trees for wildlife. Leave cedar, hemlock, and pine. Favor species diversity while marking. • Stand 31 / PU’s 3-6; Stand 39 / PU 7: Mark stand to 70 - 90 BA. Focus on improving quality and creating / maintaining canopy gaps for regeneration. Remove all merchantable spruce/fir. Leave some large future snag trees for wildlife. Leave cedar, hemlock, pine, and yellow birch. Favor species diversity while marking.
