Timber & Logging
There is a Forest Exemption for land owners who manage forested land, which lasts as long as you own the property. You must fill-out and file it with the Kootenai County Assessor’s Office before December 31st of the year you purchase your property for the exemption to qualify for that tax year. Here is the application:
Kootenai County Timber Exemption Form
SLE homeowners may on their own accord clear dead, diseased and/or less desirable trees (like lodgepole) FOR NON-COMMERCIAL PERSONAL USE such as firewood as long as they are abiding county restrictions during fire season, which advise on when/if chainsaws can be used: LINK HERE.
Commercial logging (selling your timber to a mill) in SLE is a different process and must be approved by the Timber Committee. Homeowners must follow state + county laws/regulations, which can be accomplished by first working with a forester to develop a plan in accordance with our CC&Rs, which allows for selective cutting only, then applying for review/approval of plan + application with the SLE HOA.
Before moving forward with any logging, you must complete the below application and send your forester’s logging plan to timber@spiritlakeeast.org. Once the SLE HOA Timber Committee has your application and logging plan, they’ll contact you with questions, and work with you on approvals.
See the illustrations below from Idaho Dept. of Lands (IDL), which visually define cutting styles, and establish agreed upon language. Make sure your forester’s plan and trees marked for removal adhere to the approved style. Then confirm that your logger understands the scope before work commences.
Please note, there is NO CLEAR CUTTING ALLOWED in SLE, and understand that clear cutting is NOT removal of every single tree. So, in other words, it is not ok to simply cut most and leave just a few trees to remain in compliance.
IF YOUR LOGGER SAYS, we can’t do that, we need to fell them all in this or that area because it’s too difficult, then FIND ANOTHER LOGGER. Do NOT allow them to domino-fell trees because it’s easier than what was approved. You AND your logger could be LIABLE for damages including to property values of neighbors.
The only exceptions: If you’re clearing trees to build your single home or barn/shop (these must be applied for and approved by the Architectural Committee separately on this page) or if trees in a distinct designated area are severely diseased and removal of the entire area is recommended by a forester.
You must also BE PRESENT during commercial logging operations on your SLE property to be sure all is going according to plan including agreed-upon removal and/or mulching of all debris, which homeowners should confirm is in the contract with their commercial logging company to avoid creating fire hazards in SLE. In other words, don’t leave on vacation to avoid the disruption of commercial logging you’ve scheduled.
Below is the form for commercial logging approvals. PLEASE SEE THE ILLUSTRATIONS FROM IDAHO DEPT. OF LANDS (also below) FIRST so we’re on the same page about the definition of Selective Cutting, for example.
Again, THERE IS NO CLEAR CUTTING. The illustration of Clear Cutting is only provided to show you WHAT IS PROHIBITED in Spirit Lake East as others have done this in violation of our CC&RS.
The Timber Committee will do its best to respond in a timely manner. If you don’t hear from us, do not assume your application is approved or simply needed to be submitted. You need to wait for us to approve it and stay in touch about any proposed updates including change of plan, logger, etc.
If you need a solid third-party forester, see the following list of highly-qualified degreed consultants recommended by Kootenai County Forestry Dept. From that list, we recommend Rathdrum-based Jesse Close of Timber Mountain Forestry, if he’s available. His number is 208.255.9885.
HERE IS THE COMPLETE LIST OF COUNTY APPROVED FORESTERS.
If you also need a reputable logger, we suggest you consider local Next Generation, based out of neighboring Athol. Here is their link for more information (CLICK HERE).
Again, please see below for IDL illustrations of cutting styles first, so we are in agreement on terms used in your application. The first three styles are acceptable, the fourth example (Clear Cutting) is NOT ACCEPTABLE. Again, contact the Timber Committee with any questions at timber@spiritlakeeast.org.
Thank you for responsibly managing your forested land here in Spirit Lake East!
Commercial Logging Form
IMPORTANT: Clear Cutting is PROHIBITED in Spirit Lake East. Clear Cutting is NOT removal of every tree, it is removal of every tree in ANY GIVEN AREA. If you're needing to clear an area to build a single home on a lot in SLE, that's the only exception. OTHER THAN THAT, LOGGING YOUR PROPERTY USING THIS METHOD IS AGAINST THE LAW. Loggers have taken advantage and clear cut in SLE after only "selective cutting" or "thinning" was approved. Even if they know it is PROHIBITED IN SLE, and isn't outlined in the plan, they'll do it anyway because it's easier, and many will take as much as they can. If they say it's too hard to just fell some in an area, we'll need to fell them all, get another logger. Be sure your third-party forestry consultant AND your logger have seen these IDL images/terms, and understand what's been approved. Only SLE Timber Committee may approve the application. The IDL images are our common language when it comes to defining "selective cutting," for example. We hear all too often from loggers there is a wide interpretation of what is clear cutting or selective. NO THERE IS NOT and your logger should know this. IDL has clearly established the definitions in these visuals/terms. Use them to describe in your plan what you're wanting to do. All eyes involved must be on the approved style + image then you still need to be onsite to closely manage it as you + logger ARE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES to property values, etc. This Clear Cutting image is featured only as an example of what CANNOT BE DONE.