Timber Harvesting

  
     
  Slash Management  
 

Timber harvesting is only one step toward managing your resources. Upon completion of harvest, you may need to take steps to prevent soil erosion, reduce fire risk and insect & disease problems. Leaving logging debris on the ground provides many benefits. Excessive slash can cause many problems. Treating slash can be accomplished by hand, mechanical or burning treatments. Proper slash treatment should allow for:

  • Adequate regeneration/reforestation
  • Nutrient cycling
  • Soil stabilization
  • Fire hazard reduction
  • Insect & disease risk reduction
  • Recreation & aesthetics

 

  
   
  Ensure adequate slash disposal and treatment through the use of fire and/or mechanical means. Here, the slash has been lopped and scattered leaving branches and foliage within a foot or two of the ground. Slash treated in this manner can be left to aid in nutrient cycling and provide protection for regeneration.

  
   
  Untreated slash: Reduction of slash to decrease fire hazard is recommended. This photo shows
unacceptable slash treatment.

  
 
  Slash produced from timber harvesting activities should never be cast, piled or burned in the streamside management zone.