Woods Wise Wire
AUGUSTA – The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry's Maine Forest Service (MFS) has entered into an administrative settlement agreement with Wagner Forest Management, Ltd. (Wagner). Based in Lyme, NH, Wagner agreed to pay a $6,000 civil penalty and institute staff training to reduce the risk of future violations. The settlement resolves Wagner's violation of Maine's rules governing timber harvesting activities on property owned by Bayroot, LLC, in Parkertown Twp. (T5 R3 WBKP), in Oxford County, ME.
During a 2019 timber harvest, Wagner failed to adequately stabilize exposed soil on skid trails, harvest landings, and land management road ditches. Also, Wagner failed to utilize water control structures and provide required vegetated filter strips between exposed soil and protected water resources. As a result of a heavy rain event in October 2019, a significant amount of sediment was deposited into several small streams and Lincoln Pond Brook, a major tributary to Aziscohos Lake. Wagner stabilized exposed soil in road ditches and installed water control structures at the direction of MFS.
"Our goal is to improve the management of Maine's forests," said Patty Cormier, MFS Director. "We focus on educating and informing landowners to reduce the possibility of such violations. When violations do occur, however, we have a responsibility to uphold the law. We take this and our other responsibilities very seriously."
"Wagner was cooperative and took full responsibility for the violation," said Adam Cates, MFS Regional Enforcement Coordinator. "These violations resulted from inadequate harvest planning and a failure to review the forestry rules before the operations began."
MFS strongly recommends checking with the town or municipality about any local ordinances and being familiar with all rules that apply before beginning harvest operations. MFS rules and regulations for timber harvesting and related activities are found on maineforestservice.gov.
Regional Enforcement Coordinator Adam Cates conducted the investigation and settlement negotiations with the assistance of MFS staff.
The WoodsWISE Incentives Program currently offers financial assistance for forest management planning. This particular type of plan, known as a Woodland Resource Action Plan (WRAP), will provide a good description of the current and potential values of your woodland, and a blueprint of activities to reach your objectives to maintain and improve your woods. A WRAP can help you meet the requirements of the Tree Growth Tax Law, and also follows the standards for American Tree Farm System certification.
The current reimbursement rate for a WRAP is 50 % of actual cost, not to exceed $250 per plan for parcels between 10 and 50 wooded acres, or $5/wooded acre for parcels greater than 50 acres.
To get more information about WoodsWISE Incentives, including a list of private consulting foresters eligible to prepare WRAPs, contact the Maine Forest Service’s Landowner Outreach Forester at (207) 287-8430. You can also visit the WoodsWISE Incentives page on the MFS website.
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As part of his work with the Forest Resources Association, Innovative Natural Resource Solution’ Eric Kingsley helped develop a chart and text that help explain the forest industry supply chain. You can download the 2-pager here, and it is great to use with policy makers, or on woodlot and mill tours to help members of the public understand how interconnected the forest industry is, and why what happens in one sector can have impacts across the forest economy.
On Friday, August 21 the Western Maine Chapter of Maine Woodland Owners and the Oxford County SWCD will hold an in-person educational meeting at the Tenmile River Demonstration Forest in Brownfield from 9 until noon.
Mike Richard, District Forester with the Maine Forest Service, and Merle Ring, retired District Forester and consulting forester, will discuss different forest management strategies on timber stands around the demonstration forest and the benefits of using consulting foresters to assist woodland owners in managing their woodlands.
The Tenmile River Demonstration Forest is a 300-acre parcel owned and managed by the Oxford County SWCD for education about forests, wildlife habitat and water resources. It is open to the public for hiking, snowshoeing and skiing, with over 6 miles of marked trails. It is located off Notch Road on the Hiram/Brownfield town line. From Fryeburg, travel south on Rt. 5 through Brownfield center. About 6 miles south of the intersection of Rt. 160 and Rt. 5, take a right on the Notch Road. At about 2.5 miles you will see a big green gate on the right. That is it.
Pre-registration is required by emailing Michele Windsor at oxfordcountyswcd@outlook.com. Masks and social distancing are required for the safety of our guests.
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