The U.S. Forest Service recently announced that they will conduct a “salvage harvest of storm damaged trees,” consisting of approximately 15 acres of National Forest System land adjacent to Forest Service Road 69E in Suches, south of Deep Hole Recreation Area.
Storms on January 11 of this year resulted in uprooted, broken and thrown trees due to heavy winds.
The harvest is expected to “enhance forest health conditions substantially damaged by ... wind throw or other catastrophes” per the Chattahoochee Oconee Land and Resource Management Plan.
It is also expected to reduce the risk of pest and insect outbreaks as well as mitigate “hazardous fuel conditions as a result of the storm damage.”
Standing, undamaged trees will be retained, and after the harvest, the area will be monitored for its progress.
All applicable Forest Plan Standards and State Best Management Practices will be followed.
Letters to spread awareness were mailed to “the forest-wide scoping list” and landowners in the vicinity of the project February 27, 2020.
The letter proposed a commercial salvage harvest of approximately 40 acres.
15 comments were received during the scoping period.
Learn more about this project by contacting Kevin A. Bridges with the Blue Ridge Ranger District at 706-745-6928.