There is park in my city that surrounds the local water supply. Over the winter, a forestry management company was contracted to remove several acres of hemlocks that were infested with woody adelgid. The trees were starting to show signs of stress and dying, and the decision was made to select harvest while the lumber was good. I don't believe that hemlock is a high value lumber around here. The area reopened and residents had a chance to go back and see what was completed. There was a furor when the changed landscape met their eyes. I have mountain biked and walked this area for over 20 years. The woods were predominantly hemlock with oak and a few other species mixed in. On the hottest days the shade from the trees made the trails cool and pleasant. It was not possible to see through the woods from the top of the hill to the bottom at the lake. I have meaning to get up there to see what has been done, and I made a short hike this evening with the family. The trails that were tree shaded, that I had hoped to take my kids through some day on bikes, are gone. I can understand why this area tugged so emotionally to many residents. But I keep an open mind to what needs to be done, and this will be an ecological journey for my kids to see what develops over the next 10-20 years. I took these pictures as a record so we can see how it changes year to year. Here is the first view looking up the trail from the bottom near the lake. This area of the forest was so dense that you could not see the top of the hill. I will say, the view has opened up and it should be interesting to see what is growing here in 10 years. There are fiddlehead ferns everywhere and areas of low wildflowers starting to bloom. The area is quiet now with little wildlife. Very few birds, no chipmunks or squirrels. There were some deer tracks in the mud though. This old giant of a gem can really stretch out now. It is situated on the right of the trail heading up. You can't miss it. Unknown species. I will know when it buds out more in a few weeks. This lower area had the stumps removed. It may turn into a small meadow. I like it, as it will be an ecologically diverse area. This view of a small valley shows the cut on the right and the stand as it would have looked before. Sorry about the sun glare. The mark of the cutter maybe? Awesome looking stump. This view is looking across the little valley. The acreage in the back is I believe next winter's cut area. This is at the top of the hill. This area seems to be the neatest and best cut. Lots of mature hardwoods up here. It is opened up and plenty of room for the trees to grow. Overall, I was surprised to say the least at the scope of the cut. The city has touted that this area will develop naturally and become ecologically diverse. I see many areas for wildlife to take a foothold and use this land as it grows back. So by walking through and getting a better understanding of what the intentions are, it will all be good.
Sometimes a change like this is needed. . . In the end it will help the overall ecosystem. Good looking pics.
I'm surprised they didn't to a patch cut. Level everything and then let it regenerate. That way you get a true younger aged forest coming up behind it and with it you get some true diversity. I would hazard a guess that that forest is rather even aged and as old as that resevoir. We recently did patch cuts our land in 3 areas totaling 10 acres (with a USDA grant footing the bill). This was in old Vermont farmland that had returned to forest 100+ years ago and been selectivity cut a few times since. Leveling a patch change it dramatically. The animals immediately came right back in. Watch that place, look at the differ to birds that show up and what is munching on what grows and you will be amazed.
Sorry for the tough news. Different communities are waging wars and their own battles with bugs and fungi as tree populations are affected by the thousands. Just in the city of Worcester (ma) the Asian longhorn beetle forced thousands of trees to be cut in order to regain control. So sad
Looks like they did a real nice job cleaning it up. It looks bare right now, but once spring/summer rolls in it will fill in. The woods look like that here... "bare". All the junk underbrush dies off in winter. It's nice to work in the woods then, don't feel like your in the Amazon rainforest trying to move around! No one it picking the fiddleheads? Nom Nom Nom!
The hemlocks here are getting g the WA. It will have a detrimental effect on fruit streams by causing the water temp to increase. I dont work in an area with hemlock in anywhere but a planted yard maybe. But if I remember from school it is a "brash" wood which is technical forestry talk for brittle and prone to breakige ,, it may well be sawn but I thought it would always be for visual stuff like interior panelling or go for "pup wood" as the pronounce it around here. Birds and mammals will return fast as will your ground cover now that light hits the floor. Deer around here walk in our logging areas at night...actually walking in skid trails and areas thar just had equipment running g on it a few hours earlier, it does not cause them to leave an area, a small portion of it yeas but there still there.
Interesting about patch cutting. I believe that the hemlocks were planted back in the 1930's. The lake is natural and spring fed. There is a lot of slash left. I imagine it will decompose making a nice amendment to the soil.
