[Vision2020] FW: Robinson Park Timber Project

[melyndahuskey at earthlink.net]

Forwarded with permission--Visionaries may be interested.

> [Original Message]
> From: Andy Grant <AGrant at moscow.com>
> To: <melyndahuskey at earthlink.net>
> Date: 7/12/2005 3:58:14 PM
> Subject: Robinson Park Timber Project
>
> Dear Ms. Huskey
>
> Thank you for you interest in Latah County Parks system.  The current
timber
> project's goal is to improve the overall forest health.  Basically the
site
> is too crowded and can not support the all trees.  The main limiting
factor
> is annual precipitation and specifically seasonal precipitation during the
> summer.  The trees get stressed during the long, dry summers and become
> prone to disease and insect infestation.  This has become increasingly
> apparent in the loss of several large diameter Ponderosa pines due to bark
> beetle infestations.  Many frequent nature trail users have noticed the
> large trees that have been stripped of bark by woodpeckers trying to get
at
> the beetles.
>
> The solution to the overcrowding stress is simple to have less trees.  If
we
> do nothing, insects and disease will thin out the forest for us.  However,
> we will not get to choose which trees are taken out and which are left. 
The
> beetles killed many large pine which is very unfortunate.  With the timber
> management we can choose to leave the best and biggest trees by removing
> smaller trees crowding them.  
>
> There are some trees 'marked' near the amphitheater and picnic area that
> will not be taken out.  The marks will be painted over with a black or
> brown.  They were marked but are out of the area being thinned--this has
> been discussed with the crew cutting the trees.
>
> The main goal of the timber project is forest health not financial
revenue.
> The best trees on the site are being left which is the opposite of most
> logging operations.  The whole project will take about a year.  Removing
> trees this month, cleaning up debris later this summer and fall,  and
> planting seedling of under represented species like White Pine and Larch
> next spring.  Park users will have to be a little patent, but the end
result
> will be a healthier and more diverse forest.  I hope this answers your
> questions.  I do not have a vision 2020 account to post this answer, but
> feel free to do so.
>
> Andrew Grant
> Latah County Parks