Section 1536.70  Site Preparation for Natural Regeneration

The purpose of this practice is to create site conditions, including adequate light conditions reaching the forest floor, favorable for the establishment, development and/or release of desirable regeneration.

a)         Cost-share is not authorized for areas totaling less than one acre.

b)         Cost-share may be authorized for planting seed or planting seedlings should natural regeneration fail to become established to the desired stocking level within 4 full growing seasons after site preparation for natural regeneration has been implemented.

c)         This practice should only be prescribed within 15 years prior to a scheduled harvest or post-harvest as prescribed in the Plan.

d)         Cost-Share Rates/Specifications

1)         Tree/Shrub Removal.  The flat rate payment for this practice is a variable amount ranging from $75 to $270 per acre.  The base cost is a variable amount ranging from $100 to $360 per acre.  The Plan preparer shall conduct a careful field inspection of current vegetative cover on the site to determine the appropriate category and cost-share rate.

A)        Cost-share Categories and Cost-share Rates

B)        Target plants will be removed by cutting, girdling and/or herbicide treatment.  Undesirable species must be treated with an appropriate herbicide to prevent resprouting.  Treatment must address all target species and result in a minimum mortality or effective control rate of 85%.

C)        Prescribed burning and/or soil scarification may be used in conjunction with this practice.

D)        The goal of this practice is to obtain a 40-60% stocking level in the stand canopy composed of well-distributed, desirable, dominant and/or co-dominant trees.

E)        Post-harvest regeneration openings must have a radius, in feet, equal to or greater than the average height of adjacent dominant forest trees.  All undesirable live stems necessary to meet practice objectives should be eliminated in regeneration harvest openings.

F)         Site preparation for natural regeneration may require treatment of woody shrubs and light infestations of woody exotic shrubs, along with undesired trees and tree species, in order to establish adequate light levels to achieve the practice objective.

G)        Site preparation for natural regeneration under subsection (d)(1)(A)(iii) and (iv) may require killing undesirable stems of small size to adequately meet the practice objective.

2)         Soil Scarification.  The flat rate payment for this practice is $75 per acre.  The base cost is $100 per acre.

A)        The purpose of this component is to expose mineral soil to enhance the establishment of oak and other desirable species.

B)        This practice shall be performed in the fall of an abundant seed crop prior to leaf drop.

C)        A timber harvest, prescribed fire or tree/shrub removal may be needed in addition to scarification to enhance the survival, growth and development of newly established seedlings.

3)         Prescribed Fire.  The flat rate payment for this practice is $1,500 plus $50 per acre.  The base cost is $2,000 plus $67 per acre.  The maximum allowable payment to any timber grower in any one fire season is $7,000.

A)        The objective of this practice is to reduce the density of forest competition and leaf litter to stimulate growth and regeneration of desirable species.

B)        Cost-share may be authorized for up to 3 fires in the same area within a 10 year period, if prescribed in the Plan.  A detailed prescribed fire plan must be prepared and approved, prior to any burning, in accordance with IDNR policy and procedures.

C)        Prescribed fire must burn forest floor fuels to result in an 80% complete combustion of the target area and fuels.

(Source:  Amended at 41 Ill. Reg. 4272, effective March 31, 2017)