Specifications include, but are not limited to: 1. Thinning Specifications: a. Remove all trees 8 inches and less at Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) growing within the driplines of living overstory conifers, or where tree crowns overlap. b. Trees less than 8 inches DBH with no overstory conifers, will be spaced 15-20 feet between stems. c. Species selection criteria: Priority will be placed on retaining 1. Douglas fir, 2. Ponderosa pine and 3. lodgepole pine. d. Trees with poor growth form, and less than 30% live crown ratio should be targeted for removal. e. Trees with a Hawksworth dwarf mistletoe rating of four or greater will be targeted for removal. f. If an overstory (greater than 8” DBH) tree is dead or dying, leave desired understory species if available. g. Residual stems should attempt to fall between 120-160 stems per acre, higher end of range in areas of small trees and lower end in areas of medium to large trees. 2. Pruning Specifications: a. No pruning is required on trees less than 6 feet tall. b. Prune trees 10 feet high, leaving at least 60% live crown. c. Cuts shall be at the branch collar according to ANSI A300 Standards – not too close (flush), and not too far away (stub) d. The cut limbs will be chipped or masticated on site. 3. Brush Control Specifications: a. Brush will be cut and chipped or masticated where it poses a significant threat as a ladder fuel to a leave tree. Brush is not counted towards the residual stems per acre and not more than 1/3 of brush can be cut and chipped or masticated. 4. Slash Disposal Specifications: a. All brush will be cut and chipped or masticated on site unless islands are predesignated or agreed to in writing by the DNR Project Manager or designees. b. Chips will be dispersed evenly over the site, not exceed a depth greater that 4 inches, unless the DNR Project Manager or their designee specifically states in writing otherwise. c. Dead and down material up to 8 inches in diameter will be chipped or masticated and the material scattered over the work site. d. The limbs of dead and down trees will be removed and chipped or masticated and the remaining trunk will be left in place unless several trees have created a piled concentration. In this case, the remaining tree trunks will be separated by at least 10 feet from any other logs and left on site. e. Chipping and mastication mean grinding, shredding, chopping, cutting, or breaking of trees, logs, slash, and vegetative material to no greater than 4” x 4” x 12”. Ninety percent (90%) of this material must be no larger than the stated dimensions, and 100% must be below 6” x 6” x 24” in size. f. No burning is allowed. 5. Standing dead trees less than 8” DBH shall be felled and treated using the slash disposal specifications. 6. Contractor will not cut any green trees on the premises that are greater than 8-inch diameter at breast height without prior written approval from the DNR Project Manager or designee. 7. Cut stump heights for all vegetation will be made as close to the ground as possible, not to extend more than 4 inches above closest terrain. Flat cuts will be made so that it does not create a sharp stump. 8. Ground disturbance from equipment shall not cause ruts or berms greater than 4 inches as measured from the natural ground line. Operator-caused ground disturbance will be smoothed out to original contours before leaving the immediate work area.
