Monthly Update July - December 2011

July-December

            All silvicultural practices have been completed at Geneva.  The remaining mulched areas had herbicide applied with a skidder in September.  The herbicide site prep was completed at the same time.  Oust was added to the tank mix for early spring weed control.  The sites were burned and planted in early December by Ketchum Land Timber. 

            Choccolocco herbicide site prep was applied aerially in mid October.  As with Geneva, Oust was added in the tank mix for early spring weed control.  Tanyard Timber has installed the fire lines and the site is ready to burn.  Depending on rainfall, planting will likely be completed in early January by Timberland Silvicultural Services.  The planting will conclude the longleaf restoration projects at Choccolocco.

            Perry Malone Forestry is scheduled to control burn Baldwin in December.  The site was previously burned early in 2011.  The mulched area was sprayed in October and the longleaf planting area was released in November.  The understory demonstration area will be disked this winter following the control burn. 

            The newest and final project is developing a seed production area at the Hauss Nursery near Atmore, AL.  The site will be prepared this winter and planted in the spring with two native understory species (Smooth Indiangrass and Tall Ironweed).  This project will be a joint effort between LLA, Alabama Forestry Commission, and Creek Indian Enterprises.

Monthly Update February - June 2011

February – June

            March wound up the final 262 acres of mulching at Geneva.  The dry conditions allowed the contractor to extend complete some areas they were unable to operate in last year.  The sites are being allowed to resprout and will be ready for a fall herbicide application.  

            Stands with harvest completed are scheduled for herbicide site prep at Choccolocco.  CPS was awarded the bid for the site prep and containerized trees have been secured from International Forest Co.  The acres at Choccolocco were about half of the original plan so additional planting acres have been added at Geneva.  CPS was awarded the site prep and trees have been secured from Blanton’s Tree Nursery.

            Work continues at Baldwin.  Interpretative panels have been installed at the kiosk.  The third cogon grass control was applied.  The cogon grass areas have been reduced substantially and gallberry and other native plants are beginning return to the site.   During June and into July a demonstration area will be prepared for native understory planting.  Later this fall, herbicide will be applied to last year’s mulched area, the planting area and the understory demonstration area.

            Three signs were designed and printing describing the work on the forests, they have been installed at Little River, Geneva, and Choccolocco.

Monthly Update -December 2010 & January 2011

            Construction of the pavilion, kiosk, and state forest sign were completed at Baldwin.  The kiosk will contain four panels describing the restoration activities at Baldwin, including longleaf pine restoration, fire driven habitats, life cycle of longleaf pine and examples of flora and fauna that can be seen there.

            The final 250 acres are currently being mulched at Geneva and expected to be completed this spring.

            The site prep burning and planting at Choccolocco were completed.  Tanyard Timber and the Commission spent several days burning the individual parcels.  Given fuel load and weather conditions, the burn was adequate.  Ketchum Timber was scheduled to start planting January 10^th; however the winter storm delayed the start for several days.  Planting was completed January 21^st.

            During the next two months we will continue mulching at Geneva and complete the 2^nd prescribed burn at Baldwin.  The interpretative panels to be installed at the kiosk should also be completed and installed.