Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009

The attributes of forestry

by Clarke Davis

Nearly 200 people strolled over the pastures and through the colorful timberland on the Danny and Deb Barrow ranch west of Valley Falls last Thursday attending the annual Fall Forestry Field Day.

Danny Barrow extended a welcome to the ranch and later, along with his son, Charlie, demonstrated how to estimate board feet in a walnut log and how they cut down a walnut tree to get the maximum amount of usable lumber.

Teaming up with the Forest Service was the Delaware Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy, there to encourage landowners to use trees as the best thing to stabilize stream and river banks to stop erosion.

Marlene Bosworth, Delaware WRAPS coordinator, said there are now federal funds available to help stabilize creek banks. She said the banks are usually shaved back to about a 3 to 1 slope and riprap is used in those areas where the water is cutting away the bank. Riprap is also placed upstream to help deflect the water away from the curve.

Once the work is done, she said the best practice to hold the soil is to plant trees. A stream trailer, which models hydrologic behavior, was used to teach how different factors effect streambank stabilization.

Sedimentation of Perry Lake has been identified by the Delaware WRAPS as the greatest water quality concern. The lake is a public water source and sedimentation has significantly reduced its storage capacity.

District Forester Dave Bruton provided a portable sawmill for the logging and milling demonstration.

A direct seeding project to re-establish timber on the Barrow ranch provided a demonstration for the field day. Rural forestry coordinator Bob Atchison talked about proper seed collection, storage, seed stratification, planting, and weed and grass control techniques.

The Wildlife and Parks Department also participated with fisheries biologist Kirk Tjelmeland using his shock boat to inventory the fish populations in one of the Barrow ponds. He helped landowners understand what they can do to successfully manage farm ponds.

The 2009 Forest Stewardship Tree Farmer of the Year Award was bestowed upon Wilford Sinclair, Rantoul. The award recognizes members of the American Tree Farm System who are practicing good forest stewardship.

Wilford has improved the health of 46 acres of forestland on his tree farm by thinning and releasing desirable trees. He has also planted 10 acres to oak and black walnut. He received a $350 gift certificate from STIHL, and a walnut plaque.

Dinner was catered by Steve’s Thriftway, Valley Falls.