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IN HB1155
Bill
Status
1/7/2016
Primary Sponsor
Mike Braun
Click for details
AI Summary
HB 1155 Summary
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Department of Natural Resources must designate at least one old forest area in each state forest comprising at least 10% of the forest, with designated areas preferably at least 500 acres where possible, before January 1, 2017.
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Defines "timber management" to include harvesting, planting trees, fertilization, thinning, and weeding; prohibits the department from conducting or allowing any of these activities in designated old forest areas.
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Department must produce and maintain maps and legal descriptions of all designated old forest areas beginning January 1, 2017.
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Designations must be guided by seven purposes including retaining trees across natural lifespans, providing wildlife habitat, protecting ecologically sensitive areas, protecting water resources, enabling recreation, maintaining aesthetic value, and establishing control areas for forest comparison and sustainable logging research.
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Old forest area designations do not affect hunting, fishing, trapping, recreational uses, access road maintenance, emergency services, search and rescue, fire suppression, or existing property access rights as of January 1, 2017.
Legislative Description
Designation of old forest areas in state forests. Requires the department of natural resources, before January 1, 2017, to designate as an old forest area at least one undivided area comprising at least 10% of each state forest. Provides that, wherever possible, the size of a designated old forest area must be at least 500 acres. Sets forth certain purposes that are to guide the department in designating the old forest areas. Prohibits the department from conducting or allowing timber management in the old forest areas. Requires the department to produce and keep on file maps and legal descriptions of
Last Action
First reading: referred to Committee on Natural Resources
1/7/2016