Who cares what they're doing on THEIR private property?
While I agree...EVERY NF I have been in in the last 30 years, the private (including SPI) is far better maintained than the public land.Everyone should care what SPI is doing if they are creating more fuel on purpose within the NF as fires have been, you know, totally out of control over the last 5 years. We need less fuel not more. Not saying that’s what they are doing, but that picture is concerning.
I care because these piles of dead trees are less than a mile from my home and I don't want my place burnt to the ground because they didn't clean up their mess. Just like any where else, it's the neighborly thing to do.Who cares what they're doing on THEIR private property?
Yes, I agree with this assessment, but it is disconcerting to see that kind of slash left laying there all summer. We had lightning last night..this area has had its share of fires but this section has the potential to burn down a lot of homes. Seems they would want to get that stuff out of there expeditiously.You should call a Registered Professional Forester and ask them about what you are seeing. The State of California employs a bunch as does SPI and all the other private timber companies. There are also RPFs that teach at Cal Berkeley, Humboldt State, and Cal Poly. I bet they will have a great explanation for you. If you PM me, I will help get you in touch with the specific forester responsible for the area where you are concerned. SPI is usually not irresponsible with their land because they have a vested interest in it.....unlike the agencies that run our public lands. SPI does not make money burning up their future trees and the thinning that you see is likely in attempts to promote the growth of the best, strongest trees. I bet they are planning a chipping operation in the future where the biomass you see will be used to fuel one of their cogeneration plants that run their mills and provide power to northern California communities. ------SS
Professional Foresters Registration
bof.fire.ca.gov
As I have stated, this stuff is within walking distance of my home and many others. That is my problem with what I see. I see the irony of a company closing their land due to wildfire danger while they let tinder-dry dead trees and slash lie around like nothing. I agree *most* timber companies do a better job than the government..that goes without saying, the government does absolutely nothing at all. Just seems in our current fire-conscious times they wouldn't leave that stuff.You sure the real problem here is that they closed their land and you can’t hunt where you would like? Do you complain about the rancher with a dry field that should have been disced under. The timber company owned lands can be managed in any way they see fit. We all know they do far more fire prevention managing their lands than other govt agencies. They are also under no obligation to ever open their land to the public. Yet they do as conditions allow.
I really think you should call them and express your concerns. Maybe this area is an oversight? Maybe they have a plan that they can share with you? Call 530-378-8000 and ask for a manager in the Forestry Division. -----SSAs I have stated, this stuff is within walking distance of my home and many others. That is my problem with what I see. I see the irony of a company closing their land due to wildfire danger while they let tinder-dry dead trees and slash lie around like nothing. I agree *most* timber companies do a better job than the government..that goes without saying, the government does absolutely nothing at all. Just seems in our current fire-conscious times they wouldn't leave that stuff.
Call a landowner and express concerns about what they're doing with their property? Jesus Christ.I really think you should call them and express your concerns. Maybe this area is an oversight? Maybe they have a plan that they can share with you? Call 530-378-8000 and ask for a manager in the Forestry Division. -----SS
Call a landowner and express concerns about what they're doing with their property? Jesus Christ.
At least it's in the California section of the forum.This thread is getting more California by the post!
I agree with much of what you have said in your post including the idea that sportsmen need to be more involved in the THP process. However, I think the statement quoted above is a massive oversimplification of the truth about habitat created by even-age timber production management and the picture posted by Calbuck illustrates that there are browse species present even in plantation areas that are being actively managed.The bad news for hunters is that nothing lives in an even-aged stand of pine from which every other source of food has been removed. Not even squirrels, until they reach cone-bearing age.
I agree with much of what you have said in your post including the idea that sportsmen need to be more involved in the THP process. However, I think the statement quoted above is a massive oversimplification of the truth about habitat created by even-age timber production management and the picture posted by Calbuck illustrates that there are browse species present even in plantation areas that are being actively managed.
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I can tell you from years of personal experience that MANY species of wildlife use timber production areas during all phases of harvest and regrowth. Back in the 90's, I helped with a project led by Humboldt State University where it was discovered that Pacific Fishers actually thrive in replanted units just like you describe above. We trapped and tagged many Fishers up to the point where the state biologists started relocating them to other areas on National Forest and Tribal lands in attempts to re-establish populations across their historic range.
I will agree that Timber Production practices don't always promote the 'best' habitat potential of the land, but certain phases of the process provide excellent habitat for different types of species. The best part is that timber companies are severely restricted in the size of the the even-age units that they can harvest creating a collage of different aged forest and diversity of habitat. This is illustrated by the attached picture of a managed forest section near Viola, CA.
The ultimate testament is the amount of game found on managed forest land. Thousands of deer, bears, elk, Turkeys, and other game species are taken on managed forest land each year. I personally have killed dozens of deer on lands managed by SPI, Roseburg, and other private timber companies in northern California and southern Oregon. Most of these were taken in recent harvest units or plantations that were less than ten years old. In my observation the worst, most sterile, wildlife habitat is created by mature old growth timber stands that create a dense, light-blocking, canopy. -------SS
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Bullskin and Sparks Shooter Have excellent points and I agree with much of what is stated. But I would add the a ton of public land is managed just like Bullskin's example until it comes to thinning the replant in burn or harvested areas creating a thick impenetrable pine or fir forest of stunted trees that has no feed either. And it creates hot fire when burned that creates a moonscape.
There is tons of mismanagement blame to go around and I agree with holding landowners responsible. But most of the examples I have seen show much more concerning (from a fire standpoint which is the stated concern of the OP) misbehavior from government property managers than the private.
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