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.