Fish and Wildlife are Dependent on Habitat
The space that animals depend on for food, water, and shelter to live and grow is an animal's habitat. Different fish and wildlife species have different requirements, which may vary over the course of a year. Maintaining a variety of habitats generally benefits wildlife. Forest practices can affect fish and wildlife habitat. For example, timber harvesting and road construction can affect fishhabitat by altering watershed processes such as erosion, large wood recruitment, shade and hydrology. Private forest landowners are taking important steps to create and maintain healthy fish and wildlife habitatwithin their working forests.
New Wetland Protections and Identification
The Forests & Fish Law has special rules for protecting sensitive sites, such as seeps, bogs, springs and many different forms of forested wetlands. The law recognizes that timber harvest has a potential for influencing the delicate interaction between wetlands and fish habitat waters which are complex and not yet fully understood. It also contains specific recommendations for improved mapping of wetlands and clarifies existing rules for wetland protection.
Large Woody Debris Provides Resting Pools and Good Gravel for Spawning
Downed trees, logs and snags -- what scientists call "large woody debris" -- play a critical role in healthy streams by providing pools for fish to rest and feed. Pools slow a stream's rush to the sea and keep gravel which is necessary for spawning beds from being washed away.
Forest practices rules regulate practices concerning large woody debris. Riparian retention rules were added to the forest practices rules in 1987. Large woody debris is provided by retaining larger conifer trees in stream-side riparian areas and by minimizing disturbances in the stream and the riparian area. Past direction from regulatory agencies emphasized the removal of woody debris because it was thought that it blocked fish passage. In fact, research has shown that the opposite is true.
Required Riparian Management Zones Have
Several Functions
State law also requires Riparian Management Zones (RMZs), or buffer zones, along fish-bearing streams to protect these sensitive areas. Retention of riparian vegetation, including large conifer trees, is required along fish-bearing waters and some non-fish-bearing waters. Additional trees are retained in riparian areas for shade. The riparian management zone requirements specified are designed to provide protection to water quality, fisheries, and wildlife habitat by ensuring the presence of large organic debris and snags.