Draft Tier II analysis report

Under the Forests and Fish Agreement, Ecology has the responsibility to determine whether the Board’s proposed rule will protect water quality. To do this, we conducted an analysis (called a Tier II analysis) to determine if the rule is likely to cause warming of water and if it is necessary and in the public interest to allow it. 

While our analysis is not part of the Board’s formal rulemaking materials, we are holding our public comment at approximately the same time as the Board’s proposed rule public review period. Visit our Forestry webpage to learn more. 

Forest Practices Board proposed a new buffer rule to reduce warming in non-fish bearing perennial streams in western Washington. To protect cool water and prevent temperature pollution, the proposed rule would reduce harvest of trees around these streams. The widths of the proposed buffers vary from 50 to 75 feet, depending on site conditions.

To read the draft rule and learn more about how to comment, information is on the Forest Practices webpage.