GEORGIA FORESTRY TODAY Volume 12, Issue 3 May | June 2016
A LEGACY REMEMBERED A TRIBUTE TO CHARLES COX
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May | June 2016
Georgia Forestry Today
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On the Cover:
GEORGIA FORESTRY TODAY Printed in the USA PUBLISHER: A4 Inc. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alva Hopkins ahopkins@a4inc.com
EDITORIAL BOARD Wendy Burnett Alva Hopkins Stasia Kelly Sandi Martin Roland Petersen-Frey
PRODUCTION MANAGER Pamela Petersen-Frey p.frey@a4inc.com
The legacy of the Cox timberland in Dodge County, Georgia, began when O. W. Cox Sr. took a job as a laborer in the turpentine woods of north Florida. Although he had only a third grade education, he refused to allow that to become a deterrent in the pursuit of his dream, which was to own his own turpentine business. To read more, turn to page 8.
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GEORGIA FORESTRY TODAY is published bi-monthly by A4 Inc., 1154 Lower Birmingham Road, Canton, Georgia 30115. Recipients include participants of the Forest Stewardship Program and the American Tree Farm System. Opinions expressed by the authors are not necessarily those of the publisher, A4 Inc., nor do they accept responsibility for errors of content or omission and, as a matter of policy, neither do they endorse products or advertisements appearing herein. Part of this magazine may be reproduced with the written consent of the publisher. Correspondence regarding changes of address should be directed to A4 Inc. at the address indicated above. Advertising material should be sent to A4 Inc. at the e-mail address: p.frey@a4inc.com. Questions on advertising should be directed to the advertising director at the e-mail address provided above. Editorial material should be sent to A4 Inc. or to Alva Hopkins. GEORGIA FORESTRY TODAY 1154 Lower Birmingham Road, Canton, Georgia 30115
May | June 2016
Volume 12, Issue 3
Georgia
MAY | JUNE 2016
FORESTRY TODAY P.08 P.12 P.16 P.18 P.19 P.20 P.21
A Legacy Remembered
Planting longleaf for wildlife It’s Not About the Trees
Thirsty Eucalyptus: Warnell Researchers Play Detective on Water Source
P.22 P.26
Traveling the Circuit for Tree Care
The Outdoorsman | May-June: The Best Time to Fish
Dr. Pete Bettinger Wins UGA Creative Research Medal
Forestry Calendar
GFC News
Gorgia Teacher Conservation Workshop Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center Mansfield, Georgia Contact: Carla Rapp, 478-992-8110, carla@gfagrow.org
Weyerhaeuser to Sell Cellulose Fibers Pulp Mill to International Paper for $2.2 Billion in Cash Message from the GFC Director
JUNE 20-24
JULY 23-25 2016 Annual Conference & Forestry Expo Westin Jekyll Island Jekyll Island, Georgia
If you have a forestry event you’d like to see on our calendar, please contact Alva Hopkins at ahopkins@a4inc.com with the subject line ‘Calendar Event.’
Georgia Forestry Today
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May | June 2016
LIST OF ADVERTISERS American Forest Management ...............................................30 Beach Timber Company Inc...................................................30
International Forest Company................................................. 6 LandMark Spatial Solutions......................................................4
Blanton’s.........................................................................................3 Bodenhamer Farms & Nursery...............................................28
Lanigan & Associates ...............................................................15
Canal Wood LLC......................................................................30
Meeks’ Farms & Nursery ...........................Inside Front Cover
Cantrell Forest Products Inc. ..................................................30
Outdoor Underwriters.............................................................10
Davis - Garvin ............................................................................25 F4 Tech........................................................................................11
Plum Creek ...................................................................................5
Farm Credit Associations of Georgia....................................11
Rivers Edge Forest Products....................................................30
Flint Equipment Company.....................................................29
SuperTree Seedlings.....................................................................7
Forest Resource Services Inc. ..................................................30
Weyerhaeuser .............................................................................23
F&W Forestry Service..............................................................28 Georgia 811 ...............................................................Back Cover HEI...............................................................................................30
Georgia Forestry Today
Whitfield Farms & Nursery....................................................10 Yancey Brothers ............................................Inside Back Cover
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COVER STORY
A Legacy Remembered By Charles E. Cox
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o say that my father was a determined person is almost an understatement. Although he had only a third grade education, he refused to allow that to become a deterrent in the pursuit of his dream, which was to own his own tur-
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pentine business. With the recommendation of a relative who was a turpentine producer, Dad obtained a loan from a large naval stores company, built a turpentine still in the community of Gresston, Georgia, and began buying what most people referred to as
worthless farm land. Slash pine seedlings were set out in the open areas of this newly-acquired property. Slash pines were his choice because of their excellent gum producing ability. There were those who questioned his buying this type of land as well as his setting out pine seedlings, but he was not to be deterred. He knew that his worthless land, some of which he bought for two dollars per acre, would grow pine trees. The seedlings that he planted were obtained from beneath excellent specimens of mature slash pines. He actually began setting out pine seedlings in 1925, nearly a decade before I was born. From that meager beginning came the sixteen hundred acre O. W. Cox estate. The eight hundred ďŹ fteen acres, which I now own, was a part of that original sixteen hundred acres and was leased to Plum Creek Timber Company. During 2014, the ďŹ nal year of the lease, May | June 2016
family’s desire to reestablish a longleaf pine ecosystem for the next generation of Cox descendants. A thorough study of the land revealed that it was highly compatible with the establishment of longleaf. Gopher tortoises, a keystone species for a longleaf ecosystem, were found to be present on the land. The sandy soil and the presence of small areas of wiregrass indicate that the property was once a likely longleaf habitat. The whole tract could sustain
Today, the legacy of the O. W. Cox timberland continues with over the land was clear-cut, and Plum Creek was set to fulfill the final requirement of the contract, which called for the reforestation of the property. As the time for the reforestation drew near, the family met with Plum Creek representatives, Rich Haddock and Scott Weaver, to finalize the reforestation plans. In the course of the meeting, our daughter-in-law, Claire Cox, brought up the subject of planting longleaf seedlings on the land. Owning land on which longleaf pines could be grown was a dream that both she and our daughter Cindy Garrard shared. That simple yet provocative inquiry led us into a new and exciting venture for our Dodge County property. We, as a family, decided to plant as many longleaf seedlings as possible on the land. Because of my dad’s love for slash pines and my memory of them growing on the land, slash seedlings would be set out in areas where the terrain was less desirable for longleaf. In the following weeks, several significant events occurred. To provide for uninterrupted care of the land from one generation to the next, responsibility for the property was turned over to Georgia Forestry Today
three hundred thousand pine seedlings now growing on what was once regarded as worthless farmland. Of the three hundred thou-
sand seedlings, approximately two hundred twenty-four thousand are longleaf seedlings. Perhaps it is only fitting that my father’s
legacy is honored by the family’s desire to keep strong the legacy of the stately longleaf pine.
our son and daughter. Our son Charles, Jr., an attorney, established a timber management company owned by him and his sister to oversee the reforestation effort and establish a long-term timber management plan for the land. To honor their grandfather, the company was named O. W. Cox Naval Stores, LLC. Working with groups and agencies such as The Longleaf Alliance, Georgia Forestry Commission, and National Resources Conservation Services (NRCS), Claire learned about longleaf pines, their importance, and the best practices to help restore this lost ecosystem to our state. Plum Creek, through their representatives, Rich Haddock and Scott Weaver, worked closely with the family to comply with the stipulations of the existing timber lease, while also accommodating the
longleaf, but to maintain a connection to my dad’s vision and for diversity of investment, we chose to bed and plant slash in the lower areas of the land near wetlands. Another highly significant event in the reforestation process was the decision to engage the services of a professional forester, Rick Hatten of Fort Valley, Georgia. His experience and hands-on work have been immeasurable and deeply appreciated. Under his guidance, with the close cooperation of Plum Creek foresters and assistance from the Dodge County unit of the Georgia Forestry Commission, site prep work was completed, and the land was made ready for seedlings to be planted. In December, a thirteen-man work crew set out over three hundred thou9
hundred fifteen acres is made up of protected hardwood and wetland areas. The integrity of those protected areas is not to be compromised. Today, the legacy of the O. W. Cox timberland continues with over three hundred thousand pine seedlings now growing on what was once regarded as worthless farmland. Of the three hundred thousand seedlings, approximately two hundred twenty-four thousand are longleaf seedlings. Perhaps it is only fitting that my father’s legacy is honored by the family’s desire to keep strong the legacy of the stately longleaf pine. v
sand seedlings. Four hundred fifteen acres were hand-planted with containerized longleaf seedlings. One hundred forty-one acres were devoted to slash seedlings. The remaining two hundred fifty-nine acres of the eight 10
May | June 2016
Georgia Forestry Today
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DNR NEWS
Planting longleaf for wildlife
IT’S NOT ABOUT THE TREES By Nathan Klaus with Alan Isler and Joyce Klaus
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any landowners are considering planting longleaf pine, and there are a lot of good reasons for doing so. Longleaf can tolerate fire when it’s young, it lives a lot longer than most other southern yellow pines, it is less susceptible to many forest pests, handles droughty soils better, and yields a greater variety of products—some much more valuable than from other southern yellow pines. It’s also supposed to be great for wildlife. But why is longleaf great for wildlife? The superior wildlife value of this pine species is a long-embraced mantra, but few ask why. And if you don’t know why, then
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Georgia Forestry Today
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you probably are missing the boat on improving wildlife habitat on your land when you plant longleaf. The main reason—one too often overlooked in the rush to site prep and plant—is the groundcover. That’s right, all those grasses, legumes, and forbs (wildflowers!) growing beneath your longleaf are the backbone of your wildlife population. They matter more than the trees. From deer and turkey to brownheaded nuthatches and Palamedes swallowtails, those hundreds of kinds of ground-hugging plants that most of us can’t name are driving wildlife populations; planting longleaf is a great way to manage and perpetuate this groundcover. Longleaf litter makes great fuel for controlled burns, longleaf can be burned throughout its life cycle, and a longleaf forest lets a lot more light through its canopy than other yellow pines—all characteristics that make longleaf ideal for groundcover conservation. But here’s the rub: the chemicals that most land managers are using when they plant longleaf destroy the groundcover. In my job as a senior wildlife biologist with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Nongame Conservation Section, I helped conduct herbicide trials on a dozen different site-prep treatments between 2009 and 2012. My coauthors and I experimented with the chemicals most frequently used by forest managers. We applied them using recommended rates and even tried rates far below what most land managers use. Our study included three sites that represented the range of conditions where longleaf pine might be planted: sandhill habitats, rocky montane longleaf sites, and the richer soils of the Red Hills; specifically, Fall Line Sandhills, Sprewell Bluff, and Silver Lake wildlife management areas. Our research examined groundcover response to hexazinone, glyphosate, imazapyr, metsulfuron, and triclopyr— herbicides common to brand-name products used widely by foresters, as a check of ingredient labels on favored herbicides will show. (Note that metsulfuron is not 14
labeled for use in longleaf pine; however, using metsulfuron in longleaf is not a violation of the label. Bayer, one manufacturer of metsulfuron, recommends testing metsulfuron on any species offlabel for damage to desirable species before proceeding with large-scale use. In our experience, metsulfuron causes considerable damage when it comes into contact with the foliage of longleaf pine but it causes no issues when used prior to planting longleaf or when used as an understory spray under overstory longleaf pine.) What we found in our research surprised us. The herbicide combination we had
been using for most of our plantings – imazapyr or a tank mix of imazapyr and glyphosate – was the most damaging to groundcover. Even seven years after application and at rates far below what DNR typically used, the groundcover has not recovered on our study sites. Nearly all native grasses, an important fuel input for our prescribed burns, were substantially reduced or totally eliminated. In their place was a greatly reduced number of species more tolerant of these chemicals, such as dogfennel, blackberry, and pokeweed. Although these species do have value they are not significant components of a healthy lon-
gleaf pine forest and they do not carry fire. This was confirmed twice when we burned our study areas. Plots that were treated with imazapyr or glyphosate did not carry fire, and seven years later these plots are still difficult to burn. As a result, their wildlife habitat has degraded over time. The good news is there were chemicals that did a better job of preserving important groundcover plants. According to our findings, the best was metsulfuron, followed closely by triclopyr and hexazinone. These are products less commonly used for site prep or often used in tank mixes to enhance control in combination with imazapyr or glyphosate. Our research found that these products achieved reasonably good hardwood control for most species, and some had good longleaf pine survival, though even our ‘best’ performer gave lower longleaf pine survival than the gold standard of the imazapyr/ glyphosate tank mix. In hindsight we shouldn’t be surprised. Land managers are constantly forced to choose between competing values. In this situation, we had to ask ourselves what is more important in our case, getting the best possible survival rate for seedlings or maintaining the greatest wildlife value on our lands? May | June 2016
With any tradeoff it’s important to know what you are going to have to give up when you make your decision. Since we conducted this research, we have applied and refined our findings. For several years now, I’ve used a mixture of metsulfuron (2 ounces/acre) and triclopyr (48 ounces/acre) and have been pleased with the results, achieving planting survival rates in the 70- to 85-percent range under most conditions. Sites treated with imazapyr seem to achieve a higher planting survival, usually 15-20 percent higher than the preferred mixture, and imazapyr probably gives better initial growth rates as well, though we did not quantify this in the study. While giving up this difference in survival, what has been gained on sites where this approach has been used are understories covered in grasses and wildflowers instead of briars (something hunters greatly appreciate), stands that burn very well under a wider array of weather conditions, and robust wildlife populations. What do I mean by robust wildlife? Well, for one thing I mean that we’ve had many rare species return to lands they had abandoned, species like Bachman’s sparrow have shown up on tracts like Joe Kurz Wildlife Management Area near Woodbury. The birds had been absent from Joe Kurz for years. We’ve also seen increases in populations of other species, such as gopher tortoises, that were struggling. Recent surveys have documented young tortoises on Fall Line Sandhills WMA near Butler for the first time in a decade. Best of all, I usually get the thrill of flushing a covey or two of quail when we burn on these properties, something that is sadly absent from most of Georgia these days. You may not experience the same results our study reported with these chemicals. Soils, climate, and other factors can dramatically change the way herbicides behave. I’m not suggesting you do what we did, but if you are considering planting longleaf pine, I encourage you to thoroughly consider the full range of reasons why. If one of your reasons is ‘It’s Georgia Forestry Today
you will not achieve a fully diverse wildlife community. Establishing and keeping your groundcover are the keys to keeping your wildlife. Download a brochure on this research, ‘Is Your Site Prep Helping or Hurting Your Longleaf Pine Restoration’ at www/georgiawildlife.com/conservation/publications-reports. Click ‘Publications and Reports.’ The brochure is under ‘Forest Management.’ v
good for wildlife,’ then my recommendation is you give much thought to the small plants that grow beneath your pines and how your tree management decisions will affect those species. If the grasses and weeds in your longleaf pine forest are not thriving, then
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May | June 2016
THIRSTY EUCALYPTUS: WARNELL RESEARCHERS PLAY DETECTIVE ON WATER SOURCE By Sandi Martin | Public Relations Coordinator | Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources
There’s a tree out there that can produce 200 percent more biomass than pine trees. But eucalyptus trees come with two catches: they’re widely known for being water guzzlers, and they don’t like cold weather. If scientists are successful in creating hybrids that can survive colder temperatures, eucalyptus trees could start being grown north of Florida, possibly displacing native tree crops. But where would these thirsty trees get their water? Warnell researchers are in the midst of a project that could answer that question, studying the stable isotopic signatures of water being used by eucalyptus plots planted near Aiken, South Carolina. By identifying the isotopic composition, researchers will be able to identify if the trees are getting water from soil water like pines typically do, or if they can access deeper groundwater with their roots which can grow to 15 meters below the surface. Eucalyptuses are considered to be efficient water users, said Seth Younger, a graduate research assistant working on his Ph.D. under Drs. Rhett Jackson and Doug Aubrey. But, he said, they still use more water than other biomass crops, like loblolly pines. “If they can access groundwater, they could lower water tables and reduce streamflow,” he said. The team is studying the water use of Georgia Forestry Today
loblolly pine and eucalyptus plots, some located in deep groundwater and others in shallow groundwater. The trees were planted around three years ago, but the pines are just now large enough to start measuring, Younger said. “In the water cycle, the concentration of different hydrogen and oxygen isotopes varies due to evaporation and by mixing with isotopically different water,” Younger said. “This means that different water sources have different isotopic signatures. To help us understand where trees get their water, we will monitor the isotopic composition of precipitation, soil water, groundwater, and tree xylem water. Combining the isotopic signatures with information about sapflow in the tree stems will allow us to quantify the total amount of water used from each source.” The eucalyptus genus contains more than 700 species around the world. Native to Australia, they are excellent for bioenergy, producing 200 percent more biomass than loblollies. They are also used for pulpwood and Eucalyptus oil, among other products. But the trees are not without controversy. Some argue that they are an invasive plant, and their water guzzling ways have caused concern about the hydrologic cost of growing them. In California, for instance, debates have raged over whether the drought-stricken state should remove eucalyptus and other non-native trees. Because eucalyptus are intolerant to frost, they are therefore limited to the lowermost Southeastern United States and California. Because of their biomass potential, there has been a push to develop frost-tolerant eucalypts that can be grown further north. With the amount of water they use, Younger said, where they get this water will become an important question should scientists succeed in creating cold tolerant hybrids. v 17
DR. PETE BETTINGER WINS UGA CREATIVE RESEARCH MEDAL
By Sandi Martin | Public Relations Coordinator | Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources Dr. Pete bettinger is just one of five faculty members at the University of Georgia to be named the winner of a Creative Research Medal, which recognizes outstanding research or creative activity within the past five years that focuses on a single theme identified with the University of Georgia. UGA is recognizing all award winners this week during UGA Honors Week. e Creative Research Medal is awarded by the University of Georgia Research Foundation to faculty as recognition of outstanding accomplishment in research and creativity for a research project or creative activity with a single coherent theme. Faculty at the University of Georgia are nominated for the Creative Research Medal by their colleagues and chosen by a committee of distinguished faculty representing both the humanities and sciences. Each year, individuals who have carried out a research project or creative endeavor of truly outstanding quality are honored this way. e Creative Research Medal is part of a large set of awards from the Research Awards Program, sponsored by the University of Georgia Research FoundationInc. (UGARF). UGARF recognizes excellence in UGA research and scholarly creativity. Awards are given annually to honor outstanding faculty and graduate students. UGARF is a nonprofit corporation created to serve the University of Georgia and enhance its excellence as a research institution. UGARF holds the university’s intellectual property, including patents, and serves as the official grantee of all contracts, grants, and gifts for the conduct of sponsored research at UGA.v 18
May | June 2016
WEYERHAEUSER TO SELL CELLULOSE FIBERS PULP MILLS TO INTERNATIONAL PAPER FOR $2.2 BILLION IN CASH STRATEGIC REVIEW OF LIqUID PACKAGING AND PUBLISHING PAPERS FACILITIES IS ONGOING
On May 2, Weyerhaeuser Company announced an agreement to sell its Cellulose Fibers pulp mills to International Paper for $2.2 billion in cash. Weyerhaeuser expects to use a substantial portion of the estimated $1.6 billion after-tax proceeds for repayment of term loans issued in conjunction with the company’s previously announced $2.5 billion share repurchase program. The transaction includes five pulp mills located in Columbus, Mississippi; Flint River, Georgia.; New Bern, North Carolina, Port Wentworth, Georgia, and Grande Prairie, Alberta, with a combined total capacity of nearly 1.9 million metric tons. The sale also includes two modified fiber mills in Columbus, Mississippi, and Gdansk, Poland. The announcement completes the first phase of the company’s strategic review of the Cellulose Fibers business. The transaction with International Paper does not include Weyerhaeuser’s liquid packaging board facility or newsprint and publishing papers joint-venture. Weyerhaeuser's review of those assets is ongoing. “This transaction delivers compelling value for Weyerhaeuser shareholders and further focuses our portfolio as we work to be the world’s premier timber, land, and forest products company,” said Doyle R. Simons, president and chief executive officer. “I want to thank the employees of the Cellulose Fibers pulp mills for continuing to operate safely, and for delivering an exceptional customer experience throughout the strategic review process,” said Simons. “Our mills are world class producers of pulp, and the assets and people are among the finest in the industry. This transaction will position the mills to Georgia Forestry Today
achieve their full potential as part of an industry-leading pulp and paper manufacturer.” The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory review and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2016. The Weyer-
haeuser pulp business and International Paper will continue to operate separately until the transaction closes. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC acted as financial advisor to Weyerhaeuser in the transaction.v
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GFC News The invasive Hemlock Wooly Adelgid (HWA) has been discovered at the state arboretum, Thompson Mills Forest, in Winder. The insect was first found in Georgia in 2013, and has now spread throughout the entire native hemlock range. The Georgia Forestry Commission has been releasing predator beetles and assisting in chemical control of HWA, working closely with the U.S. Forest Service in their Hemlock Conservation Areas, with Georgia State Parks, and now the state arboretum to protect their hemlock trees. e
People from 22 mostly coastal Georgia counties recently got a better understanding of tree risk management strategies to use in their communities. More than 60 participants gathered for a GFC Sustainable Community Forestry Program (SCFP) tree risk management workshop in Savannah that covered the importance of being proactive in dealing with tree liability. International urban forestry consultant Mark Duntemann of Natural Path Urban Forestry in Vermont shared reasonable, practical, and defensible strategies designed to demystify the complex nature of working with trees and to make them safer for the general public. The March session was very well received and may be repeated in the future as community needs dictate. e
The GFC’s Reforestation Department will begin taking orders on June 1 for the upcoming 2016-2017 bare-root tree seedling planting season. In order to meet the needs of our landowners and to stay current with changing markets, the GFC Reforestation program will offer some new varieties of seedlings, including Super Premium Slash, which produces 58 percent more volume per acre over unimproved slash at age 15 and has superb fusiform rust resistance. In addition to other pine varieties, two new high quality hardwoods will be available. Scarlet oak is valuable for wildlife and aesthetics, and willow oak is a popular shade tree for more urban settings. Visit gatrees.org/reforestation for more information. e
Sky Valley is Georgia’s newest, highest elevation Tree City USA! The GFC was recognized at a city council meeting in March for assisting Sky Valley in fulfilling application requirements to be named a Tree City, and GFC foresters planted a deodar cedar on the grounds of city hall to mark the community’s first Arbor Day in the program. Sky Valley is considered the highest point in the state, at 3500 feet. There are 135 Tree City USA’s in Georgia. e
Invasive Hemlock Wooly Adelgid 20
GFC Sustainable Community Forestry Program
Tree City USA May | June 2016
Georgia Forestry Commission
Message from the Director
Robert Farris
Dear GFT Reader,
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f “April showers bring May flowers,” what do May flowers bring? For some Georgia landowners, the answer is trouble. From a distance, cogongrass is rather attractive; fluffy white flowers atop green, grassy stalks that bend in the breeze and look harmless enough. But this invasive species is just one the Georgia Forestry Commission is monitoring and treating, with the spring-into-summer window providing ideal detection times. Georgia’s cogongrass epicenter is southwest Georgia, where Decatur, Early, Thomas, Stewart and Mitchell were the top five counties among 58 counties reporting new detections in 2015. The average cogongrass site is less than a quarter-acre, and the largest was about four acres in size. (Visit http://gatrees.org/forest-management/forest-health/cog ongrass/Co gongrass%20in%20Georgia%20Winter%2 02016%20update.pdf for the 2015 update on cogongrass in Georgia.) Keep an eye out for this invasive plant’s flowers into July, and
Georgia Forestry Today
contact your local GFC forester if you suspect an outbreak. Remember, too, that the Georgia Forestry Commission will spray all cogongrass detections at no cost to the landowner. The Southern Pine Beetle (SPB) got an early jump on things this year as well. Following some quiet SPB years, three infestations were discovered in March in coastal Georgia. The timber has been harvested and the outbreak is under control, yet this serves as a good reminder for landowners who may have overstocked stands to closely inspect their timber. A lack of prolonged cold temperatures this past winter has opened the door for increased SPB and other pine beetle activity, especially in loblolly stands. Two other pests are on the move in Georgia; the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) and the gypsy moth. Forest Health professionals from the GFC have been busy placing about 1,000 traps in the Chatham County area for the annual gypsy moth survey. New technology will aid in monitoring
activity and gleaning information about the pest’s activity through the summer months. The HWA continues its attack on native hemlock trees, with a new infestation dropping southward into the UGA state arboretum at Thompson Mills Forest, likely moved by birds. Again, GFC professionals have been monitoring the situation and have applied treatments to the affected trees. Our forest health team is available to provide equipment and advice about HWA treatments as we work together to slow the decline of this beautiful species. As forest landowners, you are valuable eyes and ears for our team. Please visit our website at GaTrees.org for more information about invasive species, and contact our Forest Health Department if you suspect cogongrass or other outbreaks near you.
Robert Farris GFC Commissioner e 21
TRAVELING THE CIRCUIT FOR TREE CARE By Stasia Kelly
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May | June 2016
In the 1800s, when America was young, many miles separated towns and people. The arrival of a stranger caused a stir, especially when that person was delivering or selling a product or idea. Clergymen, public officials, and health care workers often traveled a given territory, or circuit, to provide their services. Those people became known as “circuit riders,” and they were vital to communities that didn’t have the means to support individual services full time. Today, finances more than distance can create a need for circuit riding professionals. When budgets are small and services include only those most essential, public leaders have to get creative about enhancing their communities through outside partnerships. That’s one of the reasons why the Georgia Forestry Commission’s Circuit Rider Arborist project is gaining traction all across the state. “A lot of communities don’t know the Georgia Forestry Commission and they don't know trees,” said Joan Scales, Coordinator for the GFC’s Sustainable Com-
Georgia Forestry Today
munity Forestry Program. “We want to make small cities more aware of the importance of caring for their trees and how we can help.” Through the federally funded ‘Community Forestry Assistance Program,’ 12 arborists certified by the International Society of Arboriculture have been contracted by the GFC to engage communities statewide. Scales said their mission is three-fold. “We want to build awareness of the GFC and its services. We’re encouraging Tree City USA certification, and helping them understand the importance of storm mitigation plans,” she said. Mark Wiles is a retired GFC forester who is working with the circuit rider arborist team in north Georgia. “These communities have a lot of money invested in their trees, many of which are historical in nature,” said Wiles, “and they need guidance. When trees begin to fail, whether it’s wind bringing down limbs, roots declining or tops getting damaged, that can become a liability for cities.”
Wiles said the primary benefit of the circuit rider program is that it provides professional arboricultural advice to towns and cities that otherwise may not have access to this service. Numerous towns and cities across northeast Georgia have expressed interest in the Tree City Program, and will be certified as Tree Cities in 2016. In the tiny historic town of Maxeys in Oglethorpe County, City Council Member Beth Andrews understands the challenges of keeping the tree canopy healthy. “We don’t have any employees in our town,” she said. “and most of the tree cutting is done by the power line people. It’s a huge thing for us to communicate the importance of trees to all our citizens.” Wiles had established a relationship with the town of Maxeys in 2015 when he guided it toward enrollment in the Firewise Communities program. Firewise helps residents take proactive measures to protect their property from wildfire. When Wiles called Andrews back to talk trees, Andrews felt certain the town would benefit. The requirements for becoming a Tree
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Circuit Rider Arborist Gretchen Musser leads a tree care training workshop.
City USA form an excellent foundation for communities seeking to improve their trees’ sustainability. The organization requires the municipality have a detailed tree care ordinance, and to have a tree board or designated member of the staff to deal with tree issues, and spend $2 per person on tree care. In addition, Tree City USAs are required to formally recognize Arbor Day. “We have a new tree ordinance in place,” said Andrews, “and we’ve utilized the circuit rider arborist to help us identify diseased and leaning trees that can be a liability. We intend to put on some education programs and use our community center Web site to get the word out.” Education and training are integral to the GFC’s Circuit Rider Arborist project. They’re offerings that help Certified Arborist Gretchen Musser get her foot in the door in her territory's northwest Georgia towns. 24
“I usually start with the city clerks in towns of about a thousand or more people," Musser said. “I like to stop in for a personal visit and may hit five or six cities in one day.” In places such as Cedartown, Cartersville, Dalton, Griffin, and Acworth, the outgoing Musser shares her mission in an informal way. She finds out about city staffing and leaves printed information for consideration by the appropriate contacts. “It’s mostly positive reaction,” Musser said. “Most of these people are not aware of the services we offer and most don't have arborists on staff. It’s the public works people who are usually in charge of tree care.” Tree Training is Key Two primary training classes are offered by GFC: a tree care workshop and an ISA preparation class. Musser explained that the tree care
workshop is designed for municipal workers and others assigned to tending a community’s trees. Often, they have little knowledge about the tasks necessary to keep a tree in good health. “It’s a hands-on class that covers a lot of the basics,” said Musser. “We explain how trees grow, how to properly plant them, and the correct pruning techniques.” Musser said trees that are properly pruned are less likely to develop problems as they mature. The ISA prep class is a two-day session for those planning to take the test to become certified by the International Society of Arboriculture. Participants generally have more experience with tree care and receive copious amounts of information that can show up on the final ISA exam. Scholarships for municipal tree care workers may be obtained through the GFC to cover the cost of this training. May | June 2016
Lessons learned in the classroom are important, but it’s on-the-job experience that helps solidify them. That’s especially true when it comes to identifying specific hazards with trees that can cause costly problems. “Recognizing tree hazards is really important,” said Scales. “There are lots of signs that a tree is struggling, like fungus, signs of decay—especially on root systems, splits or cracks in the trunk, and tree tops that have die-back.” Conducting an inventory of a town's trees and doing a tree hazard assessment are two services circuit rider arborists offer. The tree risk assessments are a central part of storm mitigation plans, which all communities are encouraged to develop. First, emergency routes are mapped. Hospitals, police precincts, and public works facilities that require access are plotted, and tree risk assessments are performed along vital travel corridors. A priority task list can be developed so that immediate hazards are addressed. In addition, communities are urged to think ahead to ‘after the storm’ complications. Debris removal after a wind or ice storm can be a difficult task. The GFC urges communities to put memorandums of understanding in place with tree companies that can guarantee quicker service when debris is blocking important passageways.
paying for itself. We went from a $15,000 a year tree budget to $33,000 this year by building tree programs, getting grants, and proving the savings.” One of the software tools on which Russell relies is i-Tree from the USDA Forest Service. It provides urban and community forestry analysis and benefits assessments by quantifying the environmental services that trees provide and the structure of the urban forest. In addition, i-Tree Hydro is an application designed to simulate the effects of changes in tree and impervious cover characteristics within a watershed on stream flow and water quality. The latest version of i-Tree Hydro offers users options for qualitative scenario
modeling at the county or city scale. In Jefferson, a strong link to trees is forging new formulas for other billing systems as well. ‘Tree-bates’ are given as utility bill credits to people who plant trees, and developer fees help manage storm water costs. “We know trees are pretty and they provide oxygen,” said Russell. “But they can also save your city money, and you're the taxpayer. The key is to look at trees as infrastructure. Look at the investment and see the gain.” To learn more about the circuit rider arborist project and the many benefits of trees, visit GaTrees.org/CommunityForests. v
Tree Health = Bottom Line Gains City Arborist for Jefferson, Georgia, Susan Russell, relishes her role as a Circuit Rider Arborist because she can help people understand the real value of trees. “Through city clerks, garden clubs, and civic organizations, I can get people engaged and then connect them to resources. I push the idea that blue collar trees have a job and pay the city back.” Russell said with state of the art software tools such as i-Tree and i-Tree Hydro, she can document the financial benefit of trees’ environmental services to the community. And she acknowledges that, ‘money talks.’ “In Jefferson I can put a monetary value on what we’ve planted and how it’s Georgia Forestry Today
25
The OUTDOORSMAN
MAY-JUNE By John Trussell
THE BEST TIME TO FISH
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May | June 2016
his has been a cool, wet spring and the fishing has been challenging, but it’s about to get much better. May and June are usually the best times to put fish in the cooler, and this month we will look at some of the better fishing reservoirs around the state. Up in North Georgia, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) operates 3,290-acre Blue Ridge reservoir on the Toccoa River near Blue Ridge. In addition to Georgia's more common reservoir fish such as bluegill, largemouth bass, and white bass, anglers have the opportunity to catch smallmouth bass, walleye, and even the occasional rainbow trout or yellow perch. If you find yourself in the area on vacation, this lake is well worth a visit. Largemouth bass abundance will continue to hover around historic levels this year, which means the largemouth fishing should be good. The average largemouth will be roughly 1 1/4 pounds in size, but a three-to-four pound fish will not be uncommon. Blue Ridge is also known for producing a few nine and 10 pound largemouth every year, and this year should be no exception. Blue Ridge Lake is perhaps best known as the last stronghold for smallmouth bass in Georgia. Anglers from around the state travel to Blue Ridge for a chance to catch a Georgia smallmouth. However, the illegal introduction of non-native Alabama spotted bass now threatens the existence of this unique fishery. In addition to bream, catfish and walleyes continue to be an attraction to this lake. Walleye reproductive success has been poor in recent years, following the illegal introduction of blueback herring to the reservoir. Bluebacks are known to prey on walleye eggs and young fry. This has resulted in a walleye population increasingly dominated by older, larger fish, with few young fish recruiting to the fishery each year. Another good bet for north Georgia is to try some stream trout fishing. You can do it yourself and fish in many of the regularly stocked trout streams, but if you want to have a great day on the water, drop into Unicoi Outfitters in Helen, Georgia. If you always wanted to try fly fishing, but were not sure where to start, they have a three hour ‘Gilligan’s Special’ which includes one hour of fly fishing instruction and two hours on a trophy trout stream. Lake Oconee continues be one of the best fishing lakes in Georgia. Lake Oconee is located mainly in Greene County, near Madison and Greensboro. The 19,050-acre reservoir is operated by the Georgia Power Company with Lake Sinclair as a pump-storage (pump back) hydropower generation facility. This unique operation, in combination with the lake’s long, narrow shape, produces noticeable water current throughout the lake during power generation and pump back. Fish tend
T
Jimmy Harris, of Unicoi Outfitters in Helen, bring a nice rainbow trout to the net on a beautiful North Georgia mountain stream. Georgia Forestry Today
Jack Trussell, age 8, caught a nice shellcracker on a cricket from a small Houston County pond with his father, Brandon Trussell.
to be more active and feed more aggressively when water is moving through the dam. A 14-inch minimum length limit regulation is currently in effect on largemouth bass. The new regulation went into effect in September 2014 and replaces the old 11 to 14-inch slot limit regulation. Oconee is a very productive reservoir and it's popularity with both recreational and tournament anglers is a great indication of the quality bass fishery it supports. Anglers can once again expect to see good numbers of fish in the twoto-three pound range, with several in the four-to-five pound range as well. Expect hybrid bass fishing to be consistent with last year's catch. Similar numbers and sizes were seen in the 2015 fall gill net survey, and a number of five-to-ten pounders are available. Results from an angler input meeting (2012) disclosed that most lineside anglers at Lake Oconee prefer to target and catch hybrid bass more often than striped bass, so the transition to more hybrid bass will continue. Catfishing in Oconee has been very good lately. Expect plenty of smaller to medium size channel catfish throughout, but the catfish populations have shifted towards the introduced blue catfish. Blue catfish numbers and sizes continue to expand. Fish in the 15 to 25 pound range are very common, however fish in the 35 to 45 pound range also are available. Over the past several years, many fish over the 40-pound mark have been caught. Flathead catfish populations continue to be stable and numbers of 10 to 15 pound fish are common with some over 40 pounds. Crappie in Oconee average half-pound, but many bigger fish are available in the spring. Down in southwest Georgia, Lake Walter F. George, offers great fishing. Operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, this 45,180-acre Chattahoochee River reservoir encompasses 640 miles of Georgia and Alabama shoreline and 85 river miles between Columbus and Ft. Gaines. Expect average catches of 27
This is Jaci Skipper with a 10-pound striper from Lake Eufaula, also called Walter F George, caught late 2015 with her dad John and author John Trussell. At right: A big seven-pounder hit surface shad crankbait. The two bass on the right hit dark Texas rigged worms along edge of grass beds.
largemouth to be around 13-16 inches and 2-3 pounds. Although numbers of eight-plus pound bass have declined in recent years, 2016 should produce excellent numbers of three-to-four-pound fish. There is a 14-inch minimum length limit on the reservoir, but there are good numbers of legal-sized fish for tournament anglers as well. Fish consistently are caught through the warmer months by using crankbaits and Carolina-rigged worms adjacent to abundant channel ledges. Rattle-baits fished near the top of hydrilla stands can be highly effective. Top-water lures such as Pop-Rs and buzzbaits can be good producers, especially during mornings of warmer months. The numerous creeks and coves are the most productive areas for catching largemouth bass. Popular fishing areas include the three branches of Cowikee Creek—Grass, Rood, and Pataula Creeks, Sandy Branch, and the 28
Highway 82 causeway area. Among southwest Georgia reservoirs, hybrid fishing in Walter F. George is as good as it gets, with excellent numbers of threeto-five-pound fish and some up to eight pounds. Although not near as numerous as hybrids, stripers are periodically stocked in the reservoir and fish less than 10 pounds are harvested annually. There are no big lakes in Southeast Georgia, but the river fishing can be very good. The Altamaha River flows from the confluence of the Ocmulgee and Oconee rivers, forming the largest free flowing river in Georgia. Once a major thoroughfare for steamboat traffic, the Altamaha now hosts a variety of sporting activities, ranging from bank and boat fishing, to canoeing and leisure boating, to tournament angling. The diversity of recreational opportunities along with the natural beauty of this wide, meandering river make it a primary resource for freshwater recreational activity in southeast Georgia. In the spring, for bass, target oxbow lakes and slack water areas containing overhanging willows and woody structure. During summer, fish in the mainstream concentrating on eddy pockets, the downstream end of sandbars, and heavy cover along the banks. Lures should be presented as close as possible to cover for best results. The Altamaha also offers an excellent opportunity for those seeking catfish. Anglers will find plenty of channel
catfish, with many of them weighing greater than three pounds. The Altamaha is still one of the premier flathead catfish rivers in the southeast. Anglers targeting flatheads should see good numbers of fish in the four-to-ten lb. size range and an occasional trophysized fish exceeding 30 lb. Blue catfish numbers and average size have been increasing in recent years and anglers should encounter decent catches, particularly below Jesup. To try something really different, try mullet fishing in the river. Anglers can load the boat with mullet in late summer, and they are very tasty! May you see your cork sink many times on your next fishing trip! v
May | June 2016
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May | June 2016
GEORGIA FORESTRY TODAY DIRECTORY OF PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Georgia Forestry Today
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Georgia Forestry Today