San Carlos Woodland Regulations

Section 1: General Provisions

Introduction

The San Carlos Apache Tribal Reservation roughly consists of 1.8 million acres and is situated in the southeastern corner in the state of Arizona. The reservation primarily consists of five major (5) biomes: Riparian/Wetlands, Desert Sonoran Scrub, Grasslands, Woodlands, Interior Chaparral, and Ponderosa pine Forest. Approximately 574,000 acres of the reservation consists of juniper/oak, and other woodland species. The woodland species are harvested by the local tribal members and are used for "Home Use" or "Commercial Resale" wood products. The following woodland guidelines and regulations help identify their usage and terminology for the above practices.

Purpose

According to the federal government, the Code of Federal Regulations (25 CFR, Part 163) requires that the consent of Indian owners must be given before any forest products may be harvested from Indian lands. The Indian owner is the Tribe as a whole, as represented by the Tribal Council. The CFR also requires that the Indian owners specify species, products and prices of products to be harvested under permits. These regulations constitute the consent of the Indian owners; as well as the other specifications. The approved regulations allow the Tribal Council to give Indian owner consent for forest product harvest on the reservation. Furthermore, the San Carlos Apache Tribe adopted Ordinance No. 90 04 to regulate forest and woodland harvesting on the reservation, (see page 32 for further information).

General Permit Information

The San Carlos Apache Tribe has authorized the Natural Resources, Forestry Program to issue Home Use permits and Commercial Resale permits for the harvest of the following forest and woodland trees, (see attached Tribal Ordinance 90 04, page 32).

List of Regulated Tree Species

(See tree species pictures in Section 8, page 13 16.)

Table 1: Regulated Tree Species

❖ Ponderosa Pine

❖ Douglas Fir

❖ Miscellaneous Hardwoods

❖ Pinyon pine

❖ Juniper species

❖ Mesquite

❖ Salt Cedar

The San Carlos Apache Tribe reserves the right to regulate the use of all other types of vegetation not listed in Table 1.

Discussion of Harvest Areas

Harvest areas will be marked out on the ground; or bounded by natural or man made features. Maps will be supplied with those permits that allow or require cutting in Harvest Areas. The type and color of mark on the trees that can be cut will be indicated on the permit. Trees that are allowed to be cut are called “cut trees”. A designated area will usually (but not always) be an area outside of any existing harvest areas.

Non Tribal Members

Non tribal members asking for a wood permit need approval from the Tribal Chairman (or his designated official) is required. This applies to Commercial Resale or Special Use permits. Product costs and limits will be determined at the time of authorization. Campers/ Visitors can utilize small gathered dead and down fuel wood amounts for campfire usage, only.

The Four Types of Permits

There are four types of permits: Home use, Commercial Resale, Special Use, and Hauling (transport) Permits. This subsection discusses the intended use and some of the restrictions for each type of permit.

Home Use Permit: This is a free permit which is available to all tribal members; who are over 18 years of age and living on the reservation. The Home use permit is to be used for gathering forest product for use by the family at their home. It is permissible for relatives or friends of a family to gather products for the family under the Home Use permit. Tribal members will be allowed to gather/cut Home Use firewood one cord at a time, and haul only one cord at a time, up to ten cord within one harvest year. You must return your white hauling receipt to Forestry enabling you to get another hauling tag for another cord of wood, up to ten cords within one year. You have one week to go up and get the cord of wood and five days to renew it if for some unforeseen reason you couldn't get your wood, i e. rain, snow, inclement weather condition

Products harvested under Home Use Permits are not to sold

• Product limits under Home Use Permits are 10 cords of wood, which can be of mixed species, for example, 6 juniper cords and 4 oak cords, which adds up to 10 cords; harvesting one cord at a time.

• The harvest locations will be indicated on the permit and a map location, (see maps in Sections 9, pages)

• Gathering of dead and down wood can be harvested anywhere on the reservation except in the closed areas, i.e. Cutter Airport, Goodwin Wash, Seneca Lake, Ash Creek Ceremonial, Bonita Creek, Deer Horn, and Bronco Gulch, which are acorn picking areas.

• Ceremonial cutting and recreational use only is allowed in the area surrounding Ash Creek ceremonial grounds

• Cutting of live green or standing dead trees can be harvested in Harvested Wood Block Areas only. Exception, cutting live green trees for ceremonial or wakes is the only exception outside the designated wood block areas, but not allowed in closed/restricted areas.

Commercial Permit: This permit was previously called a Resale Permit. This is a permit which is purchased by the permittee. The owner of a Commercial Permit can sell products harvested under the permit to anybody.

• Allowed harvest areas will be listed on the permit and a map location, located in Section 9, page 17 29.

• Product prices are listed in Table 2, "Commercial Permit Forest and Woodland Product Prices", see page 8

• Product limits are listed in Table 4, "Product and Time Limits for Commercial Permits", see page 10.

Special Use Permits: This is usually a free permit which will be issued for special purposes or situations. Special use cutting permits for government, tribal, cattle association, school, church, non tribal member individuals, non member groups, or other tribal groups will be issued provided prior approval is given by the Tribal Chairman or his designated official.

• A Special Use Permit is required for harvesting of any forest product that is not covered under any of the other types of permits. This applies to all vegetation, including any not listed in Table 1, page 1.

• Products obtained under Special Use Permit are not to be sold or compensated in any form or manner.

• Product limits will be determined when the permit is issued.

• Special Use permits will be restricted to designated areas listed on the permit.

Hauling Permit: A Hauling Permit is not the same as the other three types of permits. A Hauling Permit is needed to haul or transport any forest, woodland, or desert product off of the reservation. Failure to have a Hauling Permit could result in confiscation of products being hauled outside of the reservation by off reservation agencies. To get an additional or new hauling permit, the first permit's stub needs to be returned with buyer's signature and wood cord amount bought; then a new hauling tag may be issued. Also, one white hauling tag will be issued per one cord of fuel wood for home use, up to ten hauling tags for up to ten cords of fuel wood.

No Permit Required: None of the above permits will be required for the following individuals or situations; but it is highly recommended that you have a home use permit, or a Tribal ID card or CIB with you to prove tribal membership.

• Tribal members living on the reservation do not need a permit to cut down Christmas trees for home use (tribal members living off the reservation do not need a cutting permit to cut Christmas trees but they must obtain a hauling permit to transport a Christmas tree off the reservation for home use). It is highly recommended that you have a home use permit, or some kind of tribal identification.

• No permit is required for tribal members to cut willow or cottonwood to construct shade houses.

• No permit is required for tribal members to cut wood for wakes or ceremonials. Leftover products harvested for wakes or ceremonials cannot be sold. It is highly recommended that you have a home use permit when harvesting products.

• No permit is required for tribal members to collect driftwood.

• Tribal members and non tribal members, users of the forest, such as campers, fishermen, hunters, and trappers, etc., may use dead and down firewood without having a permit.

• They are prohibited from removing any forest product from the reservation.

• It is highly recommended that you have a form of tribal ID, your CIB card or CIB letter. The Game Rangers, Policeman and Forestry personnel will need to identify tribal members from non tribal members out in the field.

• Note, see provision for cutting poles under Section 2 & 3 for poles, must have blue markings to be cut, also see mapped out areas for pole cutting, see Maps Section 9, page 17 29.

Where to get Permits?

A copy of these regulations will be included with each permit issued, you will sign receipt of regulations booklet and it will be retained for legal matters. Also, a copy is available upon request at any time. You can obtain all the listed permits above at the Natural Resources Forestry Program office during office hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, at no cost.

Who Can Get Permits?

The following individuals, groups, organizations, governments, or any of the following listed below can get a permit or require prior approval form the Tribal Chairman or his designee.

• Home Use: Any tribal member 18 years and older may get a home use permit. The permittee must be in at the forestry office to sign for his or her permit. Those tribal members who are incapacitated, and cannot physically go out in the field, can have their non tribal member spouse or young adult (13+ yrs. old, at their own risk and parents' permission), may go and collect or cut fuel wood for their household. They must always have with them their tribal spouse's or parents wood permit when cutting or gathering wood.

• If a tribal spouse's wife or husband is deceased, the non tribal member can no longer cut or collect firewood for his or her home.

• Special Use: Permits will be written for government, tribal businesses, cattle association, school, church, or other similar groups. These permits must be approved by the Tribal Chairman or other designated official, through Forestry, before the permit can be written. Cutting of forest products not covered elsewhere in these regulations requires a Special Use Permit.

• Special Use and Commercial Permits: Non tribal individuals or groups, who live off reservation and are not married to a tribal member or affiliated with the tribe, require approval of the Tribal Chairman or his designated official before being issued.

A copy of the permit must be in the possession of the individual gathering forest products, at all times while forest products are being gathered.

Section 2: Product Definition

This section contains the definitions of the seven forest products discussed in these regulations: poles, house logs or saw logs, firewood/fuel wood, Christmas tree, fence posts and staves.

Poles: Ponderosa pine trees (juniper may be used if desired); with a diameter of less than twelve (12) inches diameter at breast height (dbh). It is the point on the tree where the diameter measurement is taken and is a distance of four and one half (4%) feet from the ground surface on the uphill side of the tree. Only trees that have been marked by Forestry with blue paint in designated areas may be cut for poles.

House logs or saw logs: Ponderosa pine trees; with a diameter of twelve (12) inches dbh and over. Only trees that have been marked by Forestry with blue paint in designated areas may be cut for logs. Tribal members can buy a commercial resale permit to purchase saw logs at a flat rate of $10.00 per thousand bd. ft. and $1.00 per thousand bd. ft. for poles. There are no free use saw logs. Saw logs may not be harvested in active timber sales.

Firewood/fuel wood: Wood used for heating or cooking. Firewood is measured in cords and a cord is a lightly packed stack of wood that is eight feet long, four feet wide and four feet high (8'x4'x4'). Multiplying length times width, times height of a cord of wood gives a result of 128 cubic feet. To determine how many cords of wood you have, multiply the length, width, and height of your stack of wood, and divide the result by 128. Gathering of timber harvest or thinning slash is not allowed in active harvest or thinning areas; only after timber sale or thinning has been completed and is designated for firewood harvesting. Tribal members can gather fuel wood six months after a wildfire has burnt through the area and only if the standing tree has fallen down and is dead.

Christmas tree: The most popular choice is usually Pinyon pine. Do not use Douglas fir or Ponderosa pine for Christmas trees. Do not cut trees over twelve (12) feet in height for Christmas trees. Do not cut the top off of a tree for a Christmas tree.

Fence Posts and Staves: Staves are stems or branches up to three (g) inches in diameter at the large end. Line posts are stems or branches over and up to seven (O) inches in diameter at the large end. Corner Posts or Brace Posts are stems or branches over seven (72) inches in diameter at the large end.

Permit Year: The permit year will coincide with the Calendar Year, January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017.

Harvest Season: Harvesting firewood for home use and commercial resale permits is open year round. Wood harvesting will be closed down for bad weather. If it is raining or snowing the Forest Manager/Woodlands Forester will recommend to the Chairman to close wood harvesting for the safety of the people and damaging of the natural resources. You may gather dead and down fuel wood in the surrounding community areas of San Carlos, Peridot and Bylas. Radio announcements, newspaper articles, flyers, and signs will be posted during these fuel wood closures and re openings.

Section 3: Species Harvest Restrictions

This section discusses restrictions for each species or species group listed in Table 1: Regulated Tree

Species, see page 1. They are Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, Miscellaneous Hardwoods, Oak species, Pinyon pine, Juniper species, Mesquite, and Salt Cedar. There are no restrictions for wakes or ceremonials, they are allowed to cut green standing wood but not in the closed restricted areas.

Ponderosa pine: Dead and down Ponderosa pine (except thinning or timber harvest slash) may be taken under Home Use permits only. Standing Ponderosa pine, dead or alive, is not to be cut down except if there is a permit for poles or logs. Only those cut trees that have been marked with blue paint by Forestry in a designated area can be cut. Pre commercial thinning slash or timber harvest slash may be available for poles or firewood; or for Home Use or Commercial Resale permits.

Douglas fir: Dead and down Douglas fir may be taken under Home Use permits. Live Douglas fir is not to be cut except where needed for wakes or ceremonial purposes.

Miscellaneous Hardwoods: Miscellaneous hardwoods are the broad leaf trees such as cottonwood, willow, and walnut (the oaks are not included in this category). Most of the hardwoods grow in the drainages where there is a lot of soil moisture. Dead and down hardwoods may be harvested under Home Use permits. Cutting of live hardwoods is prohibited except as noted below.

Oak species: Oak species includes, Gamble oak, Arizona white oak/Grey oak, and Emory oak (Acorn tree). Do not cut live Acorn trees; unless designated as a cut tree in harvest areas. Acorn trees will be designated as a cut tree only; when diseased and dying. Dead and down oak trees may be bucked up under Home Use permits only. Cutting of live or standing dead oaks may be allowed in firewood harvest blocks only.

Pinyon pine: Do not cut tops off of large Pinyon pine trees. Cutting of live or dead standing Pinyons for firewood may be done only in firewood harvest block areas. Cutting or taking dead Pinyon is allowed in any area for home use.

Juniper species: Cutting of live or laid down dead junipers may be done only in firewood harvest block areas unless otherwise allowed on Special Use permits. Collecting dead and down juniper for home use is allowed in any area, except not in closed areas.

Mesquite: Live mesquite is not to be cut except where needed for wakes or ceremonials. Dead and down mesquite may be cut for Home Use. Dead branches on live mesquite may be cut for Home Use. No mesquite is allowed to be taken off the reservation for any reason.

Salt Cedar: There are no limits or restrictions on the harvesting of salt cedar at no cost.

Section 4: Permit Limit

This section discusses the limits of each type of product and species for each type of permit: Home Use, Commercial Resale, Special Use, Hauling, and No permit.

Home Use Permits

Firewood: Dead and down fuel wood of any species may be taken anywhere except in closed areas. Tribal members will only be allowed to gather or cut Horne Use firewood one cord at a time and transport or haul only one cord at a time with one hauling tag, but they may get up to ten cords within one year. You Wii! be given one week to cut one cord of home use firewood. You will then turn in your hauling tag to get another tag to haul another cord of wood up at the Forestry office, up to ten tags in on? year. Cutting, loading, hauling wood must all be accomplished during the daylight hours, from sun up to sun down. The cutting of live trees may be done only in Harvest Area/Block.

• Ponderosa pine: Only dead and down wood may be taken (including thinning and timber harvest slash). Do not cut standing dead trees. Live trees may be cut if marked for fuel wood by Forestry.

• Miscellaneous Hardwoods and Douglas fir: Only dead and down trees may be cut. Do not cut dead standing trees, unless for wakes and ceremonials.

• Oak, Pinyon, and Juniper: In a Harvest Area/Block, live trees and standing dead trees may be cut if designated as cut trees. In al! other areas, only dead and down trees may be taken. Do not cut standing dead trees outside of the Harvest Area/Block. If you are utilizing juniper trees to build your ceremonial camps, cut and utilize the entire tree. Ensure the stump is flush with the ground, then limb the branches for your building materials. Do not cut any orange painted trees.

• Mesquite: Only trees that are dead and down or have dead branches on live trees may be cut. Do not cut live trees or live branches. You can cut live standing trees only for wakes and ceremonials. No mesquite can be taken off the reservation.

Poles: Each household is allowed 100 live Ponderosa pine poles per year for home use. Standing live Ponderosa pine must be marked (with blue paint) by Forestry before cutting. Only trees less than or under 12" dbh will be marked as poles. If larger trees (house logs) are wanted, they may be purchased at the appraised price. There is no limit for deed Ponderosa pine pre commercial thinning slash, where available, see Timber Sales Officer or Forest Manager for mapped areas.

Fence Posts and Staves: Each household is allowed 500 juniper staves per year for home use. There is no limit on salt cedar staves that can be cut for home use. Salt cedar staves may be cut anywhere and at no cost. Each household is allowed 200 juniper line posts and 50 juniper corner posts (or braces) per year for home use. Juniper staves and posts can be cut only designated areas. These cutting areas will be designated on the permit at the time the permit is issued.

Commercial resale Permit

Any tribal member may purchase up to $10,000 worth of paid Commercial Resale permits per year; for Commercial Resale permits (over $10,000 requires a formal contract). See Table 2 below for a list of prices. Products for Commercia! Resale permits must be harvested in designated areas only. Product amounts will be specified on the permit when issued. Commercial Resale Permits must be paid in advance.

SpeciesProduct

Juniper, Pinyon, Oak

Firewood

Saw-logs or House-logs (12" dbh and over)

Live Ponderosa Pine (marked pine only)

Ponderosa pine Slash

Ponderosa Pine(marked pine only)

Unit Price

$5.00per Cord $5.00per Cord FREE

$10.00per thousand bd ft.

Poles (trees under 12" dbh) Ponderosa pine (marked pine only) $1.00per thousand bd ft.

Poles (<12" dbh)

Juniper

Fence Staves (up to 3in. at the lare end) Salt Cedar Juniper up to 5feet (<3" top)

Line Posts Corner Post

Christmas Trees

Tribal Tax @4%

Juniper (3.1" to 5'top)

Juniper (5.1" to 7" =top)

Pinyon Pine (for sale)

$0.50each FREE $0.02each $0.25each $0.50each

$2.00each

• Ponderosa pine: Live trees are not to be cut unless marked by Forestry for firewood harvest in designated areas. Thinning slash or timber harvest slash may be harvested anywhere if it is available and after the thinning or harvesting operations have been completed

• Hardwoods and Douglas Fir: They cannot be cut for commercial resale

• Oak, Pinyon pine, and Juniper: They may be cut if marked as “cut trees” or if they are dead and down in a harvest Area/Block

• Mesquite: It cannot be cut for commercial resale. Mesquite is to be used for Home Use, ceremonials and wakes only; due to its limited supply and not to be taken off the reservation.

• Orange/Blue painted trees: Any trees species marked with orange paint is a “leave “tree do not cut orange painted trees within the harvest wood block. Blue painted trees are “cut” trees. You can cut these trees down. If there are no tree paint markings check with the Woodland forester before cutting.

• Tribal members will be allowed to gather or cut Home Use firewood one cord at a time and transport or haul only one cord at a time with one hauling tag. You will be given one week to cut one cord of home use firewood. You will then turn in your hauling tag to get another tag to harvest and haul another cord of wood, up to ten tags in one year, get at Forestry. Cutting, loading, hauling wood must be accomplished during the daylight hours, from sun up to sun down.

• Poles: There is no limit for Ponderosa pine thinning slash (where available). Standing live Ponderosa pine must be marked with blue paint by Forestry before cutting. Only trees less than 12” dbh will be marked by Forestry and may be cut. Do not cut Douglas fir.

• Saw logs or House logs: Ponderosa Pine house logs are trees 12 inches dbh and larger. Only live or standing dead trees that have been marked by Forestry may be cut. Do not cut Douglas fir.

• Fence Posts and Staves: Juniper posts and staves must be cut only in areas designated on the permit, (see mapped areas in Section 9, pages). There is no charge for Salt Cedar fence staves and ay number of staves may be cut. Cutting may be done anywhere Salt Cedar is found at no cost.

• Christmas Trees: Only pinyon pine may be cut as a Christmas tree. An area may be designated for Christmas tree cutting, if so, the designated area will be marked on the permit. Do not cut the tops off of ta tree to use as a Christmas tree. Do not cut Douglas fir trees for Christmas tree.

Table 2: Commerical Permit Forest and Woodland Product Prices

Special Use Permit

(see Table 3, page change) Species, product amounts, limitations and harvest areas will be determined when the permit is approved and will be listed on the permit.

Hauling Permit

(see Table 3, page change) This type of permit is needed only for hauling any species or product off of the reservation. This permit is for the protection of the permittee. It informs outside agencies that the permittee has obtained the products which are being hauled legally. A hauling permit should be obtained if products will be hauled off of the reservation, even if no permit is required to cut or gather the product on the reservation.

Exception

Home Use permit: white hauling tag is used to transport or haul only one cord at a time. You will be given one week to cut one cord of Home Use firewood. You will then turn in your hauling tag to get another one (tag) to harvest and haul another cord of wood, up to ten tags in one year, get at Forestry. Cutting, loading, hauling wood must be accomplished during the daylight hours, from sun up to sun down.

No Permit

(see Table 3, page changes)

Home Use Christmas Trees: Each household is allowed one Christmas tree per year for home use. Only Pinyon pine may be used for Christmas trees. Do not cut Douglas fir trees!

• Tribal members may cut willow or cottonwood for shade houses without a permit.

• Tribal members may cut wood for wakes and ceremonials without a permit. Excess wood from wakes and ceremonials cannot be sold but can be given away to a tribal member.

• Tribal members may gather driftwood without a permit.

• It is highly recommended that you utilize your Home Use permit and take it with you to identify you as a tribal member, for the above products/items.

Table 3: PRODUCT LIMITS AND INFORMATION FR OTHER PERMITS

Permit Limits and Information

Special-Use Species, product amounts, limitations, and harvest areas will be determined when the permit is approved, and will be listed on the permit.

Hauling For hauling home use firewood up to ten cords from the forest to your home. Also, for hauling any species or product off of the reservation. This permit is for the protection of the permittee. It informs outside agencies that the permitte has obtained the products legally. A hauling permit should be obtained if products will be hauled off of the reservation, even if no permit is required to cut the product.

No Permit (Although recommended)

Home Use Christmas tree One tree per household and one tree per tribal department. Willow or cottonwood for shade for shade house No limit. Wood for wakes and ceremonials No limit. Driftwood No limit

Section 5: Permit Time Limits

Home Use Permits: There is a time limit for Home Use permits. Tribal members will only be allowed or gather cut Home Use firewood one cord at a time and transport or haul only one cord at a time with one hauling tag, but they may acquire up to ten cords within one year. You will be given one week to cut one cord of Home Use firewood. You will then turn in your hauling tag to Forestry to get another tag to haul another cord of wood, up to ten tags in one year. Cutting, loading, hauling wood must be accomplished during the daylight hours, from sun up to sun down. The permit is good until the product limit is reached; or at the end of the harvest Year, December 31, 2022

Commercial Permit (Resale): Table 4 shows the time limits for each type of forest product.

Table 4: Product and Time Limits for Commercial Permits (Resale)

Time Limit

Days

4

to

to

to 12

more than 12

A longer permit period can be given if the permittee has a justifiable reason for needing more time. This must be done at the time the permit is issued. Commercial permits already in effect will receive consideration for extension of the expiration date if weather conditions, extenuating circumstances, or the permittee’s past performance justify such. In order for a permit to be renewed, the permittee must request an extension within five working days of expiration date, permits renewed only once.

Special Use Permit: Time limits will be set at the time the permit is issued. For most permits, the table for commercial use permits Table 4, see page (change). It will govern time limits for Special Use permits unless other arrangements have been made when the permit is issued.

Section 6: Utilization Standards

All trees cuts (live or dead) will use the following standards:

• Stumps should be flush with the ground or no more than 12 inches (1 foot) or less in height, this reduces waste of the resource.

• All felled trees are the responsibility of the permittee. All stems and branches greater than 3 inches in diameter must be removed from the cutting site at the time of felling. This applies to cutting of standing trees for all types of products.

• All limbs and tops of trees will be lopped and scattered so that slash depth (the depth of lopped and scattered branches and tops) is 24 inches (2 feet) or less. This will help reduce erosion by slowing down water flow during rain storms and by helping grasses become established. It will also speed up the break down and recycling of the stems and slash back in the natural ecosystem.

Section 7: Other Restrictions and Information

Off Road Driving: Wood permittees will not be permitted to drive off existing roads when deep rutting may occur. During extended periods of wet soil and road conditions, all wood cutting activities will be recommended by the Forest Manager/Woodlands Forester to the Tribal Chairman for road closures, if such activities result in severe damage to existing roads or rangelands. During monsoon season, off roading should not be done immediately after a storm. Wait several hours until the soil has absorbed the water enough that it is no longer soft and erodible. Creating ruts (gullies) on the reservation land is grounds for citation for damage to tribal property.

Non Member Spouse: The permittee or members of the permittee's immediate family (spouse, father, mother, son or daughter) may harvest wood with the permit, if the tribal member is incapacitated and cannot accompany their spouse/children, as long as they have the permit in their procession while harvesting wood.

Riparian Areas: Cutting of trees (except willow or cottonwood) within 400 feet of lakes, live streams, stock ponds or springs is prohibited.

Recreational Sites: Cutting of trees within 400 feet of picnic grounds, or developed recreational sites is prohibited.

Monitoring and Enforcement: Personnel from the Tribal Natural Resources Program will monitor cutting practices. The Tribal Recreation and Wildlife and Tribal Police Department will enforce the regulations. Tribal ordinances for handling violations of permit system will be enforced by the Tribal Court. The San Carlos Apache Tribe authorizes the Forest Manager to suspend the privileges of those permittee who are found to be in violation of the regulations for an indefinite period of time.

Trash: Wood permittees are responsible for the removal! of all of their garbage. Do not leave trash in the forest or out on the ground. This includes food wrappers, oil/fuel containers, and any other material brought into the area.

Gates and Fences: Permittees must close all gates which they open and follow the rules left behind for gate protocol. Please do not cut fences to get into the wooded areas.

Damage to Facilities: All existing facilities including but not limited to fences, livestock traps, roads, pipelines, erosion dips, barriers, drainage facilities. survey markers, government or tribal equipment, recreation facilities, archaeological sites, etc., if damaged by the permittee, it will be replaced, repaired, or compensated for by the permittee at his/her own expense.

Closed Areas: Seven areas have been closed to all Home Use and Commercial Resale permits fuel wood cutting, see pages 17 24. Area 1 is in the vicinity of Cutter Airport, and includes the area south of Highway 70, west of 700 road and north of 702 roads. Area 2 is in the vicinity of Goodwin Wash. It includes all the area south of the 90 road and east of Brushy Wash. Area 3 surround the Seneca Lake recreation area. Area 4 surround the Ash Creek ceremonial grounds. Area 5 is a one mile buffer strip on either side of Bonita Creek from Horse Camp to the reservation boundary. Area 6 surrounds the Dehorn Acorn Gathering area. Area 7 the beginning of Bronco Guich/Canyon and up towards Boni Tank. Ceremonial cutting and recreational use only is allowed in the area surrounding Ash Creek, Area 4

Violations: Any permittee found to be violation of these regulations may be subject to loss of his/her permit, seizure of products in possession, and may be issued a citation by the tribal Recreation and Wildlife Department or other authorized law enforcement, i.e. Tribal courts.

Signed Receipt: The last page of the booklet will require you to sign the booklet receipt. You are expected to read and understand what the rules and regulations are for harvesting fuel wood. By signing the receipt, it is your acknowledgement you will adhere to the above guidelines. This will enable law enforcements to enforce rules and regulations through the SC Tribal Court system.

Taxes: They will be enforced according to the percentages set by the Tribal Government and must be paid in full.

Section 8: Tree Species

Description: An evergreen tree having groupings of three long needles. It has yellowish orange bark that peels off in odd shapes, like puzzles pieces. The Arizona variety has shorter cones and slender needles of five. Ch0’o[ Douglas Fir Pseudotsuga menziesii

Description: It looks like a Christmas tree; it has single needles that are blunt and flat. The cones face downward and have a 3 lobed bract extending from each scale and are facing downwards to the ground.

Nilch7’ Ponderosa Pine Pinus ponderosa

Description: An average to large evergreen tree with needles over an inch long in bundles of two. The pinyon nuts are highly prized food amongst the southwest Native Tribes. Used for Christmas trees.

Mesquite Tree

Description: The Mesquite tree is a thorny shrub and has sets of compound leaves and yellow pods. The bark is a deep reddish brown with resin. Mesquite wood is a hard wood that produces red hot coals for barbequing.

Description: Emory Oak is the Apache’s Acorn tree. We gather acorns in the summer for our use in adding to our meat/soup dishes. The top leaves are very shiny underneath they are dull with black leathery looking bark.

Chich’i[baiy4 Arizona White Oak/Gray Oak Quercus arizonica

Description: Oak leaves are dull bluish green and the undersides are densely matted with short fuzzy and light brown hairs. They produce and edible acorn for wildlife. The wood is harvested mainly for fuel wood or post.

Chich’il

Description: A shrubbery dark greenish tree. It is a cousin to the Utah Juniper, its hard to tell apart. Its shaggy brown bark, hangs in strips from the tree trunk and has one seed berries/cones. Male flowers and berries are on separate trees. Alligator Juniper Tree

Description: A shrubbery evergreen tree with thick, deep furrowed bark in square like plates, like an alligator’s skin. They produce edible berries for wildlife. The wood is utilized for fuel wood and posts.