Cowlitz County Assessor's Office …

                              Cowlitz County Assessor's Office
                          Guidelines for Timber Management Plans



Under the provisions of 84.34. RCW, each application for an Open Space Timber Land classification must provide
certain information, including a Timber Management Plan. The management plan is the basis for the covenant into
which property owners enter with the citizens of the county when they sign a Current Use (Open Space) Timber Land
Taxation Agreement. Classification of property as Open Space Timber Land represents a shift of taxes and a greater tax
burden for small landowners throughout the county. Each application submitted will be reviewed and used to determine
if the property will be managed for commercial production and harvest of timber. Application and management plans are
evaluated for compliance with state laws, the County comprehensive plan, and resource management regulations. An
application must demonstrate that quality management of commercial grade timber will occur. The County Assessor
reviews applications, and reports and recommendations are forwarded to the Board of Commissioners for public hearing.

The Timber Management Plan must include the following information:

A. APPLICATION: Name, mailing address, daytime telephone number, tax parcel number, Section, Township, Range
   for subject property, address for subject property, number of total acres in property and number of acres to be
   classified as Timber Land, and signatures of ALL owners of record.

B. LANDOWNER'S GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: Each Timber Management Plan must include a statement that
   identifies the landowner's goals and objectives for managing timber and nurturing trees on the property for
   commercial production and harvest. The statement may include written affirmation that the owner will produce
   commercial quality timber and wood fiber, and manage the forest to protect water quality, minimize soil erosion,
   slow storm water runoff to reduce flooding and storm damage, provide habitat for wildlife and/or other actions that
   will maintain or enhance the natural ecological equilibrium.

C. HISTORY, MAPPING, INVENTORY, AND SITE PLAN CONTENT: In addition, the applicant must provide
   information about the property, the timber crop and management details. Using an aerial photograph, good quality
   photocopy of an aerial photograph, or line map: a) Show legal property lines, roads or other physical features, and b)
   Number and outline the different commercial timber management stands on the site. The text of the management
   plan should reference and describe acreages, percent of commercial species, age of crop trees, stocking levels of crop
   trees per acres, identify the soil information and soil productivity in each stand/unit. If the timber has recently been
   harvested, identify replanting schedule and stocking plans and schedules. Be specific about the date and year for
   these schedules. The plan must also answer the following series of questions:

               Will there be livestock or wildlife grazing allowed within the crop stand? When (crop years)?
               Has the land been subdivided or platted?
               What plans do you have for dividing the property? Is the property currently part of an
               application for subdivision, short subdivision, or large lot subdivision?
               Do you pay forest fire protection assessments to Dept. of Natural Resources for the subject
               property?
               Is the timber crop in compliance with restocking levels, forest management, fire protection,
               insect and disease control, weed control, and forest debris control requirements of Title 76 RCW
               (Forest practices act and regulations) or applicable administrative rules authorized under Title 76
               RCW?
               Are there any easements, leases, or options affecting the property? If so, what kind of
               easements? Show these areas and the acreages of the easements on the site plan.
               What are your experiences and activities in growing and harvesting commercial grade timber?
D. COMMERCIAL SPECIES AND TIMBER STOCK DENSITY: For purposes of the Current Use Open Space
   Timber Land agreement, the following are considered to be commercial species:
           CONIFEROUS TREES
           Douglas Fir, Western Hemlock, Sitka Spruce, Grand Fir, Noble Fir, Western Red Cedar, Lodge Pole Pine
           DECIDUOUS TREES
           Red Alder, Big Leaf Maple, Black Cottonwood, Hybrid Cottonwood, Other (upon DNR approval)

    Except for "leave trees" as defined in DNR Forest Practices Regulations, crop trees are those that will be
    harvested during commercial thinning, periodic harvest, or final harvest. Stocking levels vary widely depending
    on species, site conditions, and landowner objectives. However, to remain qualified for Current Use Timber Land
    taxation status, the minimum stocking levels listed below must be maintained for units being managed as even-
    aged stands as defined by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.


                                 MINIMUM COMMERCIAL TIMBER STOCK/ACRE

                     Commercial Crop Age (Years)                                     Minimum Commercial Crop
                                                                                          Trees per Acre*
                               Younger than 5                                                   190
                                     5 ­ 40                                                           175
                                    41 ­ 80                                                           100
                                 Older than 80                                                     75 ­ 50
                   * For uneven-aged stands, timber stocks must be maintained at or above 190 trees per acre at all times.
                      For both even-aged and uneven-aged stands, trees must be uniformly distributed over the land.



E. ACTION PLAN: Each management plan must include and identify the actions and timber management practices
   that will be used in the production and harvest of the commercial timber stand. These actions/practices should
   include schedules for regeneration, brush and plant control, insect and animal control, pre-commercial thinning,
   pruning, commercial thinning, fertilizing, and harvesting for even-aged stands, and anticipated periodic harvest
   dates and management schedules for uneven-aged stands. Be specific in identifying the steps that will be taken
   and the timetable for demonstrating active management of the property for commercial timber production and
   harvest.

      NOTE: In all cases a comprehensive Timber Management Plan must be prepared by a professional forester
      or agency or by someone with sufficient knowledge of timber management practices to prepare such a plan.
      An approved "forest stewardship plan" as part of the Department of Natural Resources' Forest Stewardship
      program, or a "conservation plan" developed by the Soil Conservation Service, will meet the requirements for a
      Timber Management Plan if it answers the above questions. Otherwise, the applicant will have to submit
      supplements to commercial forest stewardship or conservation plans that answer all the questions.


PUBLIC HEARING
A public hearing is required after notice is published in the county's official newspaper at least ten days prior to the
hearing. THE APPLICANT MUST EITHER: a) attend this public hearing, OR b) return a signed letter to the
board explaining that you cannot attend, and asking the board to act on your application in your absence. The
County Assessor will recommend approval, approval with conditions, or denial based on the application, site
conditions and content of the management plan. When the Board approves an application, the property owner is
mailed an Open Space Taxation Agreement for signature(s) and return to the Board within 30 days. The agreement is
binding, and property will be removed from the program if the owner fails to manage the property in conformance
with the approved management plan, or approved amendment to the plan.
APPLICATION CHECKLIST
This checklist is provided to assist the applicant in submitting a complete application. A complete Current Use Open
Space Timber Land application will include the following:

                   Completed application, including Assessor's map showing tax parcel numbers,
                   signatures of all owners of record, total contiguous acreage owned, and the acreage
                   proposed for reclassification.
                   A Timber Management Plan prepared by a professional forester, including:
                            Aerial photograph of the property showing property lines and timber
                            management units.
                            Table showing timber stock inventory of various timber management
                            units/stands.
                            Soil type information and timber productivity rating.
                            Site plan (to scale) showing location of buildings, yards, roads and driveways,
                            fences, ponds, streams, location and dimensions in feet of all easements,
                            leased or optioned areas, and property boundary.
                            Forest fire protection assessment/payment verification.
                            Answers to each question in preceding sections of this guideline.
                            Copy of recorded deed or contract of purchase.
                   Application fee, currently $51.00. Checks should be made payable to Cowlitz County.


SOURCES OF ASSISTANCE:
The following organizations may be able to assist you in preparation of a comprehensive Timber Management Plan:

      The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages public funds available to provide one-on-one
      assistance for landowners through its Forest Stewardship Program. The DNR regional office for Cowlitz
      County is located in Castle Rock and can be reached at (360) 577-2025. You can also visit the state DNR web
      site at www.wa.gov/dnr/ (click on "education and Assistance"). You can purchase DNR photos and/or maps by
      contacting DNR at (360) 902-1234.
      A list of recognized Consulting Professional Foresters for Cowlitz County is on the back of this publication.
      You are free to select your own forester to prepare your management plan, as long as he or she has adequate
      knowledge of timber management practices. In this case, the forester's qualifications must be included as part
      of the management plan.
      Washington State University Cooperative Extension has a web site that has a wealth of forest management
      information, including how to select a consulting forester and a list of consulting foresters for the Northwest
      Region. The Natural Resource Sciences Coop Extension homepage is http://ext.nrs.wsu.edu/.
      Other possible sources of information include the Association of Consulting Foresters, Society of American
      Foresters, Cowlitz Conservation District, and USDA Natural Resources Soil Conservation Service. The
      Washington State Department of Natural Resources in cooperation with USDA Natural Resources Conservation
      Service (NRCS) may have programs offering technical assistance and cost sharing in applying environmental
      and economic resource management principles and practices for non-industrial, private forest landowners,
      through the Forest Incentive Program (FIP). You can contact the NRCS Conservation District at (360) 425-
      1880.

  If you have other questions or concerns regarding your Current Use Open Space Timberland application, please
  contact the Cowlitz County Assessor's Office at (360) 577-3010.
                         COWLITZ COUNTY
           RECOGNIZED CONSULTING PROFESSIONAL FORESTERS
This list is not intended to be a recommendation nor is it exclusive; it is simply a list of those foresters
who have submitted management plans that either met or exceeded the requirements for approval of
classification as Open Space Timber Land. Applicants are free to select their own forester to prepare the
management plan, as long as he or she has adequate knowledge of timber management practices. In this
case, the forester's qualifications must be included as art of the management plan.

 Niemi Forestry                                    Department of Natural Resources
 P.O. Box 239                                      601 Bond Road
 1600 S. 13th Avenue                               Castle Rock WA 98611
 Kelso WA 98626                                    (360) 577-2025
 (360) 578-3817

 Robert Burns, Forester                            Halme Forestry Inc
 3315 NE 163rd Street                              Timothy D. Halme
 Ridgefield WA 98642                               P.O Box 517
 (360) 576-1914                                    Amboy, WA 98601
                                                   (360) 263-5255 or (360) 600-2342
                                                   www.halmeforestry.com

 Ecological Land Services, Inc.                    Chilton, Inc
 1157 3rd Avenue, Suite 220                        John Thomas ­ Forester
 Longview WA 98632                                 PO Box 470
 (360) 578-1371                                    Ariel, WA 98603
                                                   (360) 225-0427 or (360) 957-0039


 Steve Pedersen, Forester                          Natural Resources Conservation Service
 Forest Resources Inc                                & Cowlitz Conservation District
 289 Chehalis Valley Dr                            2125 8th Avenue
 Chehalis, WA 98532                                Longview WA 98632
                                                   (360) 425-1880
 360-748-0717                                      (Two agencies with foresters able to assist
                                                   with timber management plan information)


 Timber Management Plan Checklist                        Re:
   Name, mailing address, phone number                         Statement of owner's goals and objectives
   Tax parcel number                                           Text should include:
   Section-Township-Range                                         Description of acres in each stand
   Site Address (if assigned)                                     Percentage of commercial species
   Total number of acres                                          Age and stocking level of commercial trees
   Number of acres to be (re)classified                           Schedule for regeneration
   Signature of ALL OWNERS                                        Thinning, pruning, harvesting schedule
   Aerial photograph showing:                                     Soil information including productivity
     Property lines, roads, physical features                     Livestock or wildlife grazing?
     Numbered & outlined tree stands                              Has land been or will it be platted or subdivided?
   Table showing timber stock inventory                           Forest Protection Assessment paid?
   Site plan (to scale) showing any improvements                  Easements, leases, options affecting the property?
   Copy of recorded deed or contract                              Insect / disease / animal control
                                                                  Management of competing vegetation