A. 
Harvesting of forest trees species is an integral part of forest management by which wood for human use is obtained and by which forests are established and tended. It is recognized that during harvesting operation there will be temporary change in the forest environment. It is the purpose of these guidelines to establish harvesting standards which will maintain the productivity of land for continuous forest crops, improve wildlife habitat, and minimize negative environmental impact.
B. 
It is further recognized that a diverse ecosystem includes woodlands, fields and meadows. This regulation is not intended to prevent the creation or maintenance of such diversity. When a woodland is being cleared to create or maintain a pasture or meadow, a permit will be required under this article to ensure that the clearing is done in an environmentally responsible manner.
A. 
It is unlawful for a person to harvest forest tree species without a permit, except as follows:
(1) 
Land used for agricultural purposes and cultivation of crops other than forest products;
(2) 
Land used or being developed for residential, recreational or other non-woodland commercial purposes;
(3) 
Thinning and clearing in connection with public improvements;
(4) 
Land used for access to abutting land; and
(5) 
Cultured Christmas tree area.
B. 
The application for a permit shall consist of a plot plan showing the applicant's property and the abutting property owners, a cutting plan indicating the nature of the operation, and a certification of the cutting plan by a public or consulting forester indicating the plan's conformance with the minimum standards set forth herein.
A. 
Stream protection.
(1) 
All possible care will be taken to protect continuously flowing streams and other water bodies from siltation and other damage during harvest operation.
(2) 
Streams are defined as perennial streams indicated on USGS topographic maps, scale 1:24,000.
(3) 
Partial cuttings, designed to create uneven-aged stands, will normally be used within 50 feet to 100 feet of these watercourses. No more than 50% of the merchantable volume will be removed, taking care in the selection of leave trees to minimize water temperature increases and visual impact.
(4) 
Care should be taken not to fell trees into or across streams. Logging debris accidentally dropped into streams and ponds shall be promptly removed.
(5) 
All stream crossings will be as close to a right angle as possible. Stream channels shall not be altered unless necessary to stabilize a stream crossing. Except for planned crossings, harvesting equipment should avoid entering or crossing streams.
(6) 
After the completion of a harvest operation, banks at stream crossings will be graded and restored to approximately their original condition. Reseeding with an appropriate grass mixture may be required.
(7) 
Any and all temporary structures in or across streams will be removed upon completion of operations.
B. 
Logging roads and trails. Careful consideration should be given to the planning and location of main haul or skid roads. All road locations, including alternate routes where advisable, will be planned prior to harvesting operations. Logging shall be timed to occur during the dry part of the year, or when the ground is frozen. If unusual rainfall occurs after the start of logging, all operations shall cease for such period of time as is necessary for the ground to dry out. The use of log forwarders is encouraged as opposed to skidders. Forwarders are in general less damaging to the environment and remaining trees along the logging trails. Outstanding considerations are as follows:
(1) 
Location so as to minimize construction or use impact on the land.
(2) 
Grades in excess of 10% (steep slopes) or 0% (flat) gradients will be avoided except for short distances.
(3) 
For each road, landing or skid trail, drainage control systems or stabilization shall be provided and maintained to control water flow.
(4) 
Unless otherwise stipulated, all roads, main skid trails, landings and sawmill sites will be stabilized. Temporary culverts will be removed, water bars installed where necessary, ruts filled or graded out and gutters cleaned.
(5) 
Where required for erosion control or where desirable from a wildlife standpoint, major skid roads, landings and/or sawmill sites will be limed, fertilized and seeded with an appropriate mixture of native grass and legumes.
C. 
Aesthetic considerations.
(1) 
Border strips.
(a) 
Within approximately 100 feet of any automobile road, recreation trail or other recreation area on public land, or boundary line in proximity to any dwelling, harvesting of trees will be partial cuttings. Not more than 50% of the merchantable volume should be removed except in salvage operations, to open up scenic vistas, or in forestry demonstration areas. In high-visibility areas, it will be desirable to create uneven-age stands to provide change and variety in scenery.
(b) 
Special attention will be given to leaving unique tree specimens, flowering shrubs and trees, or those species that have value as food producers or den sites for birds and wildlife.
(c) 
Brush control. Undesirable sprout growth or brush, including non-native invasive species, should be controlled using approved herbicide treatments. Chemicals used in performing this practice must carry a federal registration and be applied strictly in accordance with authorized uses, label directions, and federal and state regulations.
(d) 
Special consideration shall be given to those border strips in the following situations:
[1] 
Screen clear-cuts, shelterwood cuttings or other heavy cuts that would be deleterious to the landscape aesthetics.
[2] 
Screen yards and loading areas. Debris removal or control is especially important in these locations.
(e) 
Management of slash.
[1] 
No slash will be left within 25 feet of any automobile road, established recreation trail, pond, lake or stream.
[2] 
Within the remaining width or a border strip, all slash will be chipped or lopped and scattered so that it does not exceed four feet in height.
[3] 
On all other harvest areas, slash, severely bent, or broken trees shall be dropped and/or lopped to a height not to exceed six feet.
D. 
Harvest methods.
(1) 
Because of the wide variation in forest types, stand size classes, stocking levels and timber volumes which exist in Connecticut woodlands, there are a variety of methods that can be used either singly or in combination in harvesting and reforestation to meet the stated purpose. These methods include clear-cutting with natural reproductions, direct seeding or planting, seed tree cutting, selection cutting, including diameter limit harvesting, shelterwood cutting, and such other methods as shall be consistent with good forestry practice.
(2) 
Although even-age management is an accepted silvicultural practice, particularly with hardwood species, its use should be practiced judiciously. A clear-cut area presents a severe visual impact to those unfamiliar with this harvest method. Therefore, clear-cutting will have the following restrictions:
(a) 
Maximum of five acres in size.
(b) 
Irregular in shape; avoid linear cutting bounds.
(c) 
Soften edges by partial cutting within 50 feet to 100 feet of clear-cut boundaries.
(d) 
Screen clear-cut areas with border strips along roads, trails or other areas of heavy public use.
(e) 
Leave ridge tops uncut, as identified by the ZEO; these areas are the most visible.
(f) 
In most cases, even-aged management may be accomplished through shelterwood cuttings rather than clear-cutting.
E. 
Wildlife considerations. Virtually any cutting in forested areas will provide wildlife benefits. Emphasis will be placed on creating the maximum edge effect and maintaining as much browse and cover as possible, consistent with overall management goals.
F. 
Regeneration. Harvest procedures, properly applied and executed, should provide for adequate tree reproduction. However, there will be instances where regeneration may be deficient or result in undesirable tree species. In these cases, steps should be taken to provide the desired stocking.
G. 
Fire control considerations. Access roads and fire lanes will be left clear of slash when a cutting job is completed. Designated roads will be graded so as to be passable by fire suppression equipment. Where access road construction is included in a harvest operation, considerations should be given to construction of loading docks and fire water holes at strategic locations.