Item 11Lahontan Region

2014 Timber WaiverApril 10, 2014

Douglas Cushman P.E.Nonpoint Source Unit Chief

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Lahontan Timber Waiver Renewal Presentation Outline1. TW Renewal Process Chronology

2. 2014 TW improvements

3. 2014 TW Application and form example

4. Staff Recommendation To Water Board

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November 2013 Board Meeting Informational Item

• Stakeholder engagement• Key Issues to address in TW renewal

– Operable soil conditions for equipment use– Slash piling and burning in sensitive areas– Basin Plan prohibition exemptions– Consistent approach to MRP– Updated forms

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Timber Waiver Renewal Stakeholder Outreach by Staff

• Four Listening Sessions in Lake Tahoe, Susanville, and Bishop in December and January

• “Tentative” review January 24--February 24

• “Proposed” review March 14-28

• Continued engagement during April

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Proposed Improvements to the Timber Waiver

1. Operable Soil Conditions off roads2. Slash Piling and Burning in Lake Tahoe Stream Environment Zones (SEZs) and Basin Plan Prohibition 3. Monitoring and Reporting Program consistency4. Application and Monitoring Form revisions

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1. Operable Soil Conditions2009 Waiver

Soil Testing

Prescriptive

2014 Waiver

No significant rutting

Outcome based

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2. Slash Piling and Burning in SEZs

Current Waiver Pile Size

BP prohibition exemption needed for each project

Prescriptive

Proposed WaiverBurn scar vegetative recovery

BP prohibition granted with Waiver adoption

Outcome based

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SEZ/WBBZ Burn Scar Performance Measures

• Option 1– Rake native duff or

organic mulch post burning

– Submit report

• Option 2– Monitor vegetative

recovery by end of 2nd growing season

– Report on vegetative recovery

– If not re-vegetated rake native duff or organic mulch

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3. Monitoring and Reporting Program Efficiency

• All enrollees required to use Board adopted forms.

• Timber Waiver monitoring forms were revised to best address Water Board and project implementer needs

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Timber Waiver Application and MRP Forms

• Added sections to address SEZ/WBBZ slash piling and burning

• Forms will be designed for electronic submission

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Stakeholder concerns• Inadequate water quality protections

• Options for burn scar amelioration

• Invasive species

• Additional monitoring and reporting

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TW Category 6 Application Form Slash Pile Section Example

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8.f. Please provide a description of fire operations in SEZ and WBBZ areas including: i. Methods of treatment Hand cutting and piling, pile burning ii. Approximate acreage of SEZ/WBBZ treatment area within the Project boundary20 acres iii. Approximate percent of SEZ/WBBZ treatment area to be covered in piles (circle one): 0-

10% 10-20% 20-30% iv. Anticipated Option to be employed per Attachment Q, Item d. (circle one): Option 1

Option 2 v. If using Option 2 (Attachment Q, Item d), provide methods or criteria (qualitative or

quantitative) for determining vegetative recovery of burn scars as compared to pre-treatment conditions. Vegetation recovery will be documented using a rapid qualitative assessment form developed by our agency, during peak growing seasons (July-August). This form will document the types and relative abundance of non-bare ground cover (e.g. shrub understory with sparse grasses and forbs) within the project prior to burning as well as in the second year after the burn. We will document type and relative abundance of non-bare ground cover, including presence of invasive plant species, within a representative sample of burn scars within the project

vi. Identify treatment areas (e.g. Units) where greater than 40% percent of material in piles is expected to exceed 9” diameter at the time the piles are built. Unit 3

vii. Anticipated schedule for burn pile placement and burning placement in Fall 2014, up to two years to cure and burning in Fall/Winter 2017, ground and weather conditions permitting

viii. Water quality related design features or mitigation measures to protect SEZ/WBBZ other than those required in Attachment Q pile size will be limited to 15 foot diameter

Questions/Comments?

• Douglas Cushmandcushman@waterboards.ca.gov(530) 542-5417

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2014 Timber Waiver

Staff recommends the Board adopt the Proposed Timber Waiver with late revisions.

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