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Eagle Lake Harvest RulesMany town have rules that regulate timber harvesting and other activities. This is especially true around water sources. These rules are taken from the Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Eagle Lake. Before implementing these rules, check with the town manager or code enforcement officer to make sure these rules have not changed. Also check the zoning map for protected area locations. If you are clearing vegetation for development, read the appropriate section (Section P. Clearing of Vegetation for Development). O. Timber Harvesting 1. Within the strip of land extending seventy-five (75) feet inland from the normal high-water line in a shoreland area zoned for Resource Protection abutting a Great Pond there shall be no timber harvesting, except to remove safety hazards. 2. Except in areas as described in Paragraph 1 above, timber harvesting shall conform with the following provisions: a. Within the shoreland zone for Stream Protection, the Planning Board may allow selective cutting of no more than sixty (60) percent of the total volume of trees four (4) inches or more in diameter measured at 4 1/2 feet above ground level on any lot in any ten (10) year period, as long as the following criteria are met: i. A forest management plan signed by a Maine licensed Professional Forester is developed for the selective cutting area and submitted to the Planning board. ii. A written statement is obtained from the Maine licensed Professional Forester that such an exemption is necessary for good sound forest management. iii. The selective cutting is carried out in accordance with the provisions of this ordinance and all other applicable regulations; and iv. The forest management plan is approved by the Planning Board. b. Selective cutting of no more than forty (40) percent of the total volume of trees four (4) inches or more in diameter measured at 4 1/2 feet above ground level on any lot in any ten (10) year period is permitted, except as noted in a. above. In addition: i. Within one-hundred (100) feet, horizontal distance of the normal high-water line of a Great Pond or a river flowing to a Great Pond, and within seventy-five (75) feet, horizontal distance, of the normal high-water line of other water bodies, tributary streams, or the upland edge of a wetland, there shall be no clearcut openings and a well-distributed stand of trees and other vegetation, including existing ground cover, shall be maintained. ii. At distances greater than one-hundred (100) feet, horizontal distance, of a Great Pond or a river flowing to a Great Pond, and greater than seventy-five (75) feet, horizontal distance, of the normal high-water line of other water bodies or the upland edge of a wetland, harvesting operations shall not create single clearcut openings greater than ten-thousand (10,000) square feet in the forest canopy. Where such openings exceed five-thousand (5000) square feet they shall be at least one hundred (100) feet apart. Such clearcut openings shall be included in the calculation of total volume removal. For the purposed of these standards, volume may be considered to be equivalent to basal area. c. No accumulation of slash shall be left within fifty (50) feet of the normal high-water line of a water body. In all other areas slash shall either be removed or disposed of in such a manner that it lies on the ground and no part thereof extends more than four (4) feet above the ground. Any debris that falls below the normal high-water line of a water body shall be removed. d. Timber harvesting equipment shall not use stream channels as travel routes except when: i. Surface waters are frozen; and ii. The activity will not result in any ground disturbance. e. All crossings of flowing water shall require a bridge or culvert, except in areas with low banks and channel beds which are composed of gravel, rock, or similar hard surface which would not be eroded or otherwise damaged. f. Skid trail approaches to water crossings shall be located and designed so as to prevent water runoff from directly entering the water body or tributary stream. Upon completion of timber harvesting, temporary bridges and culverts shall be removed and areas of exposed soil revegetated. g. Except for water crossings, skid trails, and other sites where the operation of machinery used in timber harvesting results in the exposure of mineral soil shall be located such that an unscarified strip of vegetation of at least seventy-five (75) feet in width for slopes up to ten (10) percent shall be retained between the exposed mineral soils and normal high-water line of a water body or upland edge of a wetland. For each ten (10) percent increase in slope, the unscarified strip shall be increased by twenty (20) feet. The provisions of this paragraph apply only to a face sloping toward the water body or wetland, provided, however, that no portion of such exposed mineral soil on a a back face shall be closer than twenty-five (25) feet from the normal high-water line of a water body or upland edge of a wetland. Other Land Use Standards If you are planning activities that are included in the following list, you will need to go to the town office in Eagle Lake and read the ordinance. You may also need a permit or need to ask for guidance from the code enforcement officer. A. Minimum Lot Standards B. Principal and Accessory Structures C. Piers, Docks, Wharfs, Bridges, and Other Structures and Use Extending Over or Beyond the Normal High-Water Line of a Water Body or Within a Wetland. D. Campgrounds E. Individual Private Campsites F. Commercial and Industrial Uses G. Parking Areas H. Roads and Driveways I. Signs J. Storm Water Runoff K. Septic Waste Disposal L Essential Services M. Mineral Exploration and Extraction N. Agriculture O. Timber Harvesting P. Clearing of Vegetation for Development Q. Erosion and Sedimentation Control R. Soils S. Water Quality T. Archaeological Sites
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