Steep‑slopes pilot: how DDFTAs, DSSAs and SRAs shape field sampling

Emily Martin, covering steep‑slopes in Sarah Siefkin’s absence, told the group the pilot focuses on Division 6.30 features: designated debris‑flow travel areas (DDFTAs), designated sediment source areas (DSSAs) and slope retention areas (SRAs). She said the pilot combines desktop reviews with field measurements, and that at least 50% of DSSAs within a unit must be retained as SRAs per the selection rules used for field sampling.

"For operations harvesting on steep slopes, we're looking at both the written plan requirements and on‑the‑ground protections," Martin said, summarizing the two‑part approach. She described field‑day training completed May 28, the use of GIS features for plan review, and a workflow that saves annotated written plans with a second reviewer to check for consistency. Martin said the field component will run in fall 2026–27 with analysis and reporting in 2027.

The update included that the pilot sample pool changed (only two of four minimum‑option sites qualified under initial criteria) but the broader target sample (about 111 relevant operations) will provide adequate sites for technique validation. No regulatory changes were proposed; the discussion focused on methods and readiness for the upcoming field season.