Saturday, May 13 - Timber Harvest Overview Part Two Woodlot Tour in State Forest Land near Pine Grove Furnace State Park

Saturday, May 13 - Timber Harvest Overview Part Two Woodlot Tour in State Forest Land near Pine Grove Furnace State Park

On Saturday, May 13, John Schwartzer, PA DCNR Bureau of Forestry Service Forester, will lead a tour to look at timber harvest and forest management practices in State Forest land near Pine Grove Furnace State Park.   This workshop/tour will encompass “before the sale, during the sale, and after the sale” aspects of sustainable forest management.  Those participating will meet at 12:30 pm at Pine Grove Furnace State Park Fuller Lake “day use” parking lot.  This is the big lot on the little lane just off Pine Grove Road used to access the day use/swimming area on Fuller Lake. 

The group will then carpool to 4 stops within a 12 mile loop then return to the parking area at 3:30 pm.  Driving will all be primarily on unpaved State Forest Roads open to the public. Turning around may be required in a grassy retired log landing.  Those driving low profile cars or cars with low profile “street” tires may want to consider carpooling into larger/higher vehicles.  There will be minimal walking at each stop with approximately 300 feet at the farthest. This walking will be over possibly rough forest haul roads/trails with very little through the woods.  Hiking boots and long pants are always advised.  Workshop is "rain or shine" unless dangerous weather conditions or heavy rain is forecast.  If the weather is questionable, contact Mike Waldron 698-8046 (cell) 677-7317 (home) for updates.  You do not have to be a member and there is no cost to attend. 

Pine Grove Furnace State Park is at 1100 Pine Grove Road, Gardners, PA 17324. Directions to Pine Grove Furnace State Park:  From I-81, take Exit 37 to PA 233 south then travel for eight miles.  -OR- From Rt. 30, turn onto Pine Grove Rd/PA-233 N for 13.5 miles.  A map of the park is available at: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/pinegrovefurnace/.

The tour will show the steps of a sustainable timber harvest and what a harvest based on regeneration following a silvicultural prescription (vs. high grading) can do for a timber sale’s success rate.  The first stop will be a marked and sold yet unharvested section of a sale. We will look at the regeneration data and look at the marking guidelines and how the stand is marked for harvest.   The second stop will be a recently or currently being harvested sale block and maybe the log landing of a sale to see the harvesting in action. The logger may even be on site when we are there.  Third stop will be a sale a few years post-harvest. We will talk about planting, fencing, herbicide/invasives, prescribed burning.  Fourth stop will be a sale 5-15 years after harvesting to see what the regeneration of a prescription based sale turns into with a little time. We will talk about the new forest’s tending steps to continue it to conditions similar to stop #1. 

The Cumberland Woodland Owners Association is an organization of forestland owners and others interested in forestry issues in south central Pennsylvania.  For more information about the meeting or the Cumberland Woodland Owners Association, contact Mike Waldron, at 717-677-7317 (email:  mdwald57@yahoo.com).