Rain continued to plague contractors at Geneva in October, hampering both the mulching operations and delaying site preparation treatments on the cutover sites. Bids were solicited on the site preparation work as either a phased bid or a lump sum “lock and key” job. Only one bid was received and it was judged excessive, exceeding the total allotted for this project. The management plan was rewritten and rebid, resulting in the receipt of acceptable bids for site preparation, seedlings, and planting. An additional small firm, M&W Forestry Services, was low bidder and they then subcontracted with a firm specializing in aerial herbicide application to apply the chemicals. The herbicide was aerially applied on October 22 and 23. The cost of the site preparation work done on the site totaled $31,232 for the treatment of 131 acres.
During October, invoices were received and paid in the amount of $25,461 for the mulching of approximately 89 acres. Cone collection was instigated during the month with both seed orchard and wild cones being collected. Mulching was concentrated on areas with dry ground and heavy cone production to optimize success of this operation. This site was visited by USFS Liaison Glenn Gaines, AFC Assistant State Forester Patrick Glass, management staff from the agency and Rhett Johnson during the month to assess progress and discuss future actions.
Kudzu was treated on several small sites by another small firm for a total of $835.00. Two longleaf academies were held during October with 12 “scholarships” being used by consultants at a cost of $9,600. As of October 31, Geneva had received a total of 82 inches of rainfall during 2009, about 20 inches more than the long term average for the site for an entire year.
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