The Indiana Division of Forestry (DoF) recently released two new Resource Management Guides (RMGs a.k.a. logging plans) for public comment.
These RMGs can be found at this link.
One RMG announces six tracts to be logged in Jackson-Washington State Forest.
The other RMG is for a prescribed burn on 481 acres in three tracts in Pike State Forest. The discussion in this RMG indicates that much of the area to be burned is more moist or “mesic” forest on north slopes, lower slopes and valleys that will not burn naturally. In some areas herbicides will be used afterwards on saplings and pole timber sized trees (of 10 inches or less in diameter at breast height) The intent is to reduce native biodiversity, i.e., kill sugar maple, American beech, tulip poplar and other native trees that compete with oak preferred by private timber buyers. The RMG mischaracterizes the history of fires in the area stating that settlers suppressed fires that had been set by Native Americans when authoritative studies of fire rings in post oaks indicate the opposite – that fires were a rarity in the Ohio Valley’s pre-settlement hardwood forests until settlers used them frequently to clear forests for farming.
All of the Jackson-Washington SF tracts are located on or adjacent to extremely steep slopes which are characteristic of the hills and knobs of Jackson-Washington SF. In addition to the tragic loss of scenic, recreational and habitat value, logging on these slopes will cause serious erosion and pollute streams with sediment contravening the DOF’s own best practices for timber harvests.
Public comments on these RMGs will be accepted until Dec. 12.
All of these tracts are in addition to current logging operations in Jackson-Washington SF in the heart of IFA’s proposed Starve Hollow State Wild Area (SWA) pictured below.
(Upper – Photo of the Turkey Roost Trailhead in Jackson-Washington SF. Zoom in to see the logging truck lurking in the background. Lower – A fully-loaded logging truck parked on the trail now converted to a gravel road. Photos by: Evan Robbins)
(Upper – Active logging site deep in the heart of IFA’s proposed Starve Hollow Wild Area in Jackson-Washington SF. Lower – This scenic vista is viewed from the logging operation. Photos by: Evan Robbins)
(Beyond the direct damage of the logging itself, logging operations like this one in Starve Hollow also cause collateral damage to many other trees from skid trails and leave deep ruts from the use of heavy machinery. Photos by: Evan Robbins)
The logging in Starve Hollow is destroying one of the most pristine areas of the Jackson-Washington State Forest that IFA had proposed as a Wild Area due to its high scenic and recreational value. This is yet another reminder of the needless losses logging causes to Indiana’s limited public lands and why we need public comments on these RMGs and to the Governor and state legislators whose laws govern the management of our state forests.
(Upper – A large knobstone outcrop above the active logging operation at Starve Hollow. Lower – Steep slopes on the Vista Trail, which runs from the other side of Starve Hollow lake to the tract being logged. Photos by: Evan Robbins)
Please use this link to view the current RMGs and submit your comments before the Dec. 12 deadline. Send copies of your comments to your state legislators, who you can find at this link, and to Governor Holcomb at this link.
Governor-elect Braun does not have an official communications portal set up yet and his Senate office is required to keep state business separate. When you send your comments to Gov. Holcomb, ask them to ensure Governor-elect Braun sees your comments once he assumes office.
Contact IFA Communications and Policy Director Evan Robbins at evan@indianaforestalliance.org for questions.
