Joan Miniken, Timber, Fish and Wildlife Biologist for the Nisqually Indian Tribe, spoke about timber harvesting trends and riparian area buffer compliance within the Nisqually Watershed. She presented at the March 2015 NRC meeting.

1. Status and Trends of Timber
Related Activities in the Nisqually
Basin
Fish Protection: Buffers

2. Actual and Forecasted Price Trend 2004-2017, and Trends in
Volume Extracted by County and by Nisqually Basin
0
50000
100000
150000
200000
250000
300000
350000
400000
450000
1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011 2014 2017
Year
VolumeHarvestedinThousandBoard
Feet(MBF)andPriceinDollarsper
MillionBoardFeet(MMBF)
Price/MMBF
Washington State DNR’s Economic and Revenue Forecasts, November, 2014

3. Actual and Forecasted Price Trend 2004-2017, and Trends in
Volume Extracted by County and by Nisqually Basin
0
100000
200000
300000
400000
500000
600000
700000
1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011 2014 2017
Year
VolumeHarvestedinThousandBoard
Feet(MBF)andPriceinDollarsper
MillionBoardFeet(MMBF)
Price/MMBF
Lewis County MBF

4. Actual and Forecasted Price Trend 2004-2017, and Trends in
Volume Extracted by County and by Nisqually Basin
0
100000
200000
300000
400000
500000
600000
700000
1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011 2014 2017
Year
VolumeHarvestedinThousandBoard
Feet(MBF)andPriceinDollarsper
MillionBoardFeet(MMBF)
Price/MMBF
Pierce County MBF
Lewis County MBF

5. Actual and Forecasted Price Trend 2004-2017, and Trends in
Volume Extracted by County and by Nisqually Basin
0
100000
200000
300000
400000
500000
600000
700000
1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011 2014 2017
Year
VolumeHarvestedinThousandBoard
Feet(MBF)andPriceinDollarsper
MillionBoardFeet(MMBF)
Price/MMBF
Pierce County MBF
Lewis County MBF
Thurston County MBF

6. Actual and Forecasted Price Trend 2004-2017, and Trends in
Volume Extracted by County and by Nisqually Basin
0
100000
200000
300000
400000
500000
600000
700000
1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011 2014 2017
Year
VolumeHarvestedinThousandBoard
Feet(MBF)andPriceinDollarsper
MillionBoardFeet(MMBF)
Price/MMBF
Pierce County MBF
Lewis County MBF
Thurston County MBF
Proposed Nisqually Basin MBF

7. • Spatial distribution Proposed 2007-2014
– Harvest Units
– Roads Constructed
– Water Crossings

8. 2007

9. 2008

10. 2009

11. 2010

12. 2011

13. 2012

14. 2013

15. 2014

16. 2007

17. 2008

18. 2009

19. 2010

20. 2011

21. 2012

22. 2013

23. 2014

24. 2007

25. 2008

26. 2009

27. 2010

28. 2011

29. 2012

30. 2013

31. 2014

32. All Activities 2007-2014

33. Fish Protection: Standard Rules
Wetland
Area
Determines
Size of
Buffer
F Stream
Site Class
and Stream
Width
Category
Determines
Size of Buffer
Np Size of
Buffer = 50
feet (for some
x distance

34. • Spatial distribution By Region, All Years
– Wetlands
– F Buffers
– Np Buffers

35. Lowland Water Buffers, 2007-2014
Fish Bearing
Non-Fish Bearing

36. Mashel-Ohop Water Buffers
• Non-Fish Bearing
Fish Bearing
Non-Fish Bearing
DNR HCP Buffers

37. Glacial Water Buffers
Non-Fish Bearing
DNR HCP Buffers
Fish Bearing

38. All Water Buffers 2007-2014
Generally, Good
Compliance
CMER Studies to
determine Rule
Effectiveness

39. 20 Acre Exempt RMZ

40. Lowland 20 Acre Exempt RMZs

41. Mashel-Ohop 20 Acre Exempt RMZs

42. Glacial 20 Acre Exempt RMZs

43. 20 Acre Parcel Exempt
Reduced Buffer Size
More Complicated to Review

44. • *(3) The rules provide for the conversion and/or treatment of riparian forests which may be understocked,
overstocked or uncharacteristically hardwood dominated while maintaining minimum acceptable levels of
function on a landscape scale. The diversity of riparian forests across the landscapes is addressed by
tailoring riparian prescriptions to the site productivity and tree community at any site
To be approved an alternate plan must provide protection for
public resources at least equal in overall effectiveness to the
protection provided by the Forest Practices Act and Rules.
Alternate
Plans
Overstock Hardwood Conversion
Fixed Width Buffer

45. Lowland Alternate Plans
Fixed Width
Buffers
Hardwood Conversion

46. Fixed Width
Buffers
Hardwood Conversion
Overstock

47. Overstock
Hardwood Conversion

48. Alternate Plans
Fixed Width Buffers
Hardwood Conversion
Overstock
More Complicated
Reduced Buffers

49. Identifying other Features in the Field
Vegetated Western Washington
• CMZs
• Perennial Initiation Point
• Off-Channel Habitat
• Unstable Slopes
• Np Sensitive Features
– Headwall Seeps
– Sideslope Seeps
– Np Intersections
– Headwater Springs
– Alluvial Fans

50. Conclusion
• Trend Toward More Timber Harvest
• FPAs are Generally in Compliance
• Always Room For Improvement
– Exempt Parcels and Alternate Plans: Shade and
Stand Requirements are met
– Identifying and Mapping Sensitive Areas for buffering
– CMER Participation to assure Rule Effectiveness
– Site Specific Adaptive Management