Woodswise Wire
These standards became effective May 5, 2014 in Presque Isle and March 17, 2014 in Moose River. Any timber harvest notified and started after the effective date is subject to statewide standards. Timber harvests notified and started prior to the effective dates may continue to operate under the old rules.
Maps of shoreland areas in Presque isle and Moose River are available at: http://www.maine.gov/dacf/mfs/policy_management/water_resources/sws/sws_maps.html
The first edition of the Forestry Rules of Maine is currently available in electronic format on the Maine Forest Service website here: http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/attach.php?id=623259&an=1 A print version of the publication is available to loggers and foresters, and will be distributed by the Forest Policy and Management Division’s District Foresters. A $3 dollar fee will be charged for multiple copies. For multiple copies, contact the Maine Forest Service office in Augusta at 207-287-2791 or (in-state) 1-800-367-0223.
The Forestry Rules of Maine provides a summary for most of the regulations that pertain to forestry in Maine. It was produced through a collaborative effort between the Maine Forest Service, the forest products industry, and the University of Maine. The content was prepared mostly by Maine Forest Service staff with significant input from members of the forestry community. Forester, loggers, and landowners will find the Forestry Rules of Maine to be a useful tool to help navigate the forestry regulations in Maine.
The Maine Forest Service and the Maine Sustainable Forestry Initiative will be holding a skidder bridge construction workshop on July 18th at the Maine Forest Service Ashland office.
The workshop will take place Friday July 18th from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
This will be a hands on workshop where participants will construct a set of wooden skidder bridge mats. There will also be a brief discussion of Best Management Practices for protecting water quality on timber harvests.
The session is approved for CLP credits Licensed Forester Credits Pending approval.
For more information contact Keith Kanoti at 278-1073 or Dave Rochester at 441-3817.
The full report can be downloaded here: http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/attach.php?id=622582&an=1
Since 2005 the Maine Forest Service has conducted regular monitoring of the implementation and effectiveness of forestry Best Management Practices using the Northeast Regional BMP Monitoring Protocol. The 2013 Report summarizes data from 101 timber harvests randomly selected from Maine’s Timber harvest notifications. A few highlights from the report are summarized below.
- 83% of sites had stream crossings and approaches with BMPs applied appropriately or crossings were avoided. Stream crossings and their associated approaches represent a high risk area for sedimentation of surface waters. MFS BMPs emphasize planning harvests to minimize the number of crossings by avoiding crossing streams whenever practicable. When stream crossings are needed, properly applying BMP principles (such as minimize and stabilize exposed soil, control water flow, protect the integrity of the waterbody) when installing BMP practices (such as much and seed, slash stabilization, water diversions etc.) will minimize risk to the waterbody.
- BMPs were not applied on 8% stream crossings and approaches. When BMP principles and practices are not applied the risk of damage to waterbodies greatly increases. Monitoring in Maine and elsewhere has shown that if BMPs are not applied sediment reaches waterbodies much more frequently than when BMPs are applied.
- 91% of opportunities evaluated for sediment input found no sediment entered a waterbody. A major goal of BMPs is keeping sediment from reaching waterbodies. It is essential that the BMPs chosen effectively achieve this goal. In other words, the outcome is more important than the BMP practice used.
- There was no evidence of chemical spills on any of the harvests evaluated. Large amounts of potentially toxic chemicals, including fuel, hydraulic and lubricating oils and greases are often present at logging operations. Properly securing and storing these chemicals and being prepared with a plan and the proper equipment if a spill occurs is an important BMP.
- When applied appropriately BMPs were effective at preventing sedimentation from entering waterbodies. Sedimentation events were strongly correlated with inadequate application of BMPs, or lack of BMPs. When BMPs were applied appropriately the risk of sediment entering a waterbody was very low, this finding is consistent with many studies from around the country.
- The number of haul road stream crossings that spanned the bankfull width of the stream channel has steadily increased since 2005. Improving installation of haul road crossings to permit fish passage through the crossing has been a major focus of training over the past several years. Crossings that are at least as wide as the natural stream channel are much more likely to permit passage of fish than ones that constrict the channel.
- 95% of sites had no haul road or landing in the waterbody buffer/filter strip. Active haul roads and log landings typically have large amounts of exposed soil associated with them. BMPs call for an unscarified filter strip along waterbodies where the forest floor is kept intact and mineral soil is not exposed. Keeping new haul roads and log landings out of these areas is an important BMP. Relocating legacy roads and landings when possible away from waterbodies is also important.
- Wetlands were either avoided or effective BMPs were used to cross. Wetlands are very common in many parts of Maine. Crossing wetlands risks compromising their natural hydrology if not done properly. 91% of sample sites had no wetland crossing. Avoiding wetland crossings when at all possible is an important BMP. The majority of wetlands that were crossed had BMPs used to limit rutting to less than 6” deep, indicating effective use of BMPs. Wetland crossing BMPs focus on increasing the bearing strength of the soil by techniques such as limiting operations to frozen conditions and the use of corduroy, slash, timber mats or other measures.
AUGUSTA – Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry officials have received several inquiries recently regarding the extensive early “casting” of white pine needles. Callers have stressed that the white pine crowns of affected trees have turned from the dull winter green to a yellow-straw color and then quickly to tan and brown. Heavy rains resulted in the near complete removal of the affected needles from the trees, leaving crowns appearing thin. With many trees now having only the current-season needles left to photosynthesize, concerns have been raised prompting this informational bulletin from the Department.
The white pine needle disease epidemic has been occurring in Maine, and in most other areas of New England and New York, for at least eight consecutive years. Above-average spring and summer precipitation patterns experienced in the Northeast for the past decade are believed to be a primary factor causing needle infection, caused by the development of one or more of several pathogenic fungi.
Fungi infect needles early in spring and develop through the needles during summer and fall. The following year, when the weather warms, the symptoms on infected one-year-old needles first appear during early to mid-June. The progress from symptom development through needle casting occurs over a very short period of time – usually about three or four weeks. The symptoms appear as a rapid flare-up of needle yellowing and casting, which has occurred throughout Maine over the past two weeks. This year’s blight is adding to the stress caused by the reduction in foliage and loss of photosynthetic efficiency.
The Maine Forest Service (MFS) Forest Health Division is collaborating with neighboring states and the U.S.D.A. Forest Service. In Maine, a survey of damaged trees is currently underway and results will be compared with defoliation estimates from previous years. Early indications are that the relative severity of disease is similar to past years, but that the long-term effect of many consecutive years of the loss of the one-year-old needles has weakened some trees to the point where mortality is now occurring. Other secondary insect and disease problems have also appeared in many stands where sustained and severe damage from the needle disease complex has occurred, but these effects are not yet well-understood. It appears that for the foreseeable future, white pine will remain vulnerable to this threat, unless the needle disease epidemic abates, either from a break in the weather and moisture patterns, or from some other as yet unknown reason.
Woodland owners are encouraged to contact their licensed forester to help assess the actual impact of the blight on their woods. For yard and ornamental trees, contact a licensed arborist. Control or management recommendations are limited, and MFS professionals urge caution before conducting thinning operations. As this season progresses, current-season foliage will develop that will help to “mask” the thin appearance of the crowns. Heavily infected stands and trees in stands where mortality is believed to be the result of needle diseases may be salvaged. Thinning efforts need to be carefully considered, as operations may cause additional stress and result in an increase in mortality and stand collapse. Woodland owners should consult with a professional before conducting any thinning or salvage operations.
If you need help finding a resource professional, contact the Maine Forest Service at 1-800-367-0223 (in state) or (207) 287-2791, or by e-mail at forestinfo@maine.gov
For more information about the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, go to: https://www.maine.gov/dacf/
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