AB 2575 Summary

• Requires the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to implement pilot projects protecting and restoring riparian zones in watersheds containing listed anadromous salmonids, with transparent public participation by industry, agencies, and the public.

• Mandates pilot projects develop guidelines for cumulative effects evaluation on a planning watershed scale using reproducible, quantitative methods to assess timber harvesting impacts on physical, chemical, and biological parameters.

• Specifies pilot project goals to include restoring fisheries and wildlife habitat, reducing wildfire risk, recovering high-quality timber production, reducing sedimentation, achieving carbon sequestration, and restoring unique watershed attributes.

• Requires all documents forming the basis for pilot projects to be posted on the department's Internet website and ensures pilot projects are consistent with state and federal mandates for coho recovery and impaired water body restoration.

• Directs the board or a technical advisory committee to develop recommendations for electronic public access to all relevant documents used in administering timber harvest regulations at the planning watershed scale.