WOAM newsletter - Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine

Maine Woodlands
A Monthly Publication of the Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine
Volume 39 Number 1
SWOAM is a Member-Supported Organization
January 2014
Mike Dann Chosen to Join SWOAM Board
Mike Dann, former SWOAM forester and a longtime member, was named to the Board of Directors at
the board’s November meeting.
Dann was on the SWOAM staff as forester from
2007-2011. He earned a B.S. in forestry from the
University of Maine in 1968, then spent three years on
active duty in the U.S. Naval Reserve. In 1971, he joined
Seven Islands Land
Company as a forester,
and spent the last 15
years of his career there
as woodlands manager.
He retired in 2008. Dann
currently works part-time
as forest management
consultant and chainof-custody auditor for
Scientific
Certification
Systems.
Dann said that his
work with the SWOAM
staff helped him become involved with several aspects
of the organization, including the Land Trust. “I look
forward to seeing if I can contribute some more to
SWOAM, ” he said of his appointment, which runs
through May 2016.
Mike Dann
Executive Director Tom Doak said, “I have known
Mike for many years, having met him on a harvest
operation when we were both foresters working in
Aroostook County. He is one of the most knowledgeable
and highly regarded foresters in Maine. In the time he
worked for SWOAM, Mike did a great job assisting
with our land trust program, and is a fine addition to
the SWOAM Board.”
New Year, New Name
As you can see above, this month’s issue features
a new name for the publication that’s been known
for 35 years as “SWOAM News.” The renaming to
“Maine Woodlands” was approved in November by
the Board of Directors, and reflects changes both in
the newsletter and in the organization.
At one time, this publication functioned in large
part as a way for members and the chapters to keep
in touch, with a heavy emphasis on activities and
events. In recent years, it has changed to provide
numerous articles and columns of broad interest. We
continually hear how valuable the newsletter is to our
readers. We work hard to bring you an interesting
and informative publication every month. While
of course we will continue to include all SWOAM
activities, the new name better reflects the growth
of the publication from a newsletter to a monthly
publication with a breadth of information of interest
to small woodland owners. We’re striving to improve
the reading experience, and welcome your comments.
Annual Meeting Program
Inside
President’s Message ..................... 2
Legislative Report ......................... 3
EAB Watch Begins ........................5
Tree Growth Downeast ................ 6
Bill Weary’s Woodlands ................8
Lots of Winter Work..................... 10
Exotic Larch’s Growth ................... 11
No Sunday Hunting........................ 12
See page 4 for the complete
program of SWOAM’s biggrest
indoor event Jan. 8, as well as
information about the popular silent
auction.
Page 2
January 2014
Maine Woodlands
A Monthly Publication of the
Small Woodland Owners
Association of Maine
January 2014
Volume 39 Number 1
153 Hospital Street, P. O. Box 836
Augusta, ME 04332-0836
Telephone: (207)626-0005
Toll Free: 1-877-467-9626
E-mail: info@swoam.org
Website: www.swoam.org
Staff
Tom Doak, Executive Director
Bill Williams, Deputy Executive Director
Debra L. Ladd, Administrative Assistant
Douglas Rooks, Editor
Board of Directors
Executive Committee
President: Richard Merk, Otisfield
1st Vice-President: Richard Nass, Acton
2nd Vice-President: Jessica Leahy, Orono
Secretary: Douglas Baston, Alna
Treasurer: William Towle, Raymond
Members at Large
Gary Bahlkow, North Yarmouth (2015)
Mike Dann, Dixmont (2016)
Jane Eberle, South Portland (2014)
Peter Lawrence, Portland (2015)
James Norris, Winthrop (2015)
Regional Representatives
John Cashwell, Penobscot/Aroostook (2014)
Patty Cormier, Franklin/Somerset (2016)
Paul Sampson, Midcoast counties (2016)
Kenneth Smith, Washington/Hancock (2014)
Jeffrey Williams, York/Cumberland/Oxford (2014)
Chapter Leaders
Central Maine: Peter Robinson, Dover-Foxcroft
Down East: Ken Smith, Lamoine
Midcoast: Paul Sampson, Lincolnville
Northern Maine: Larry Park, Presque Isle
Penobscot Valley: Larry Beauregard, Brewer
Southern Maine: Robert Bond, Portland
St. Croix: Michael Heath, Calais
Two Rivers: Jon Tyler, Augusta
Upper Kennebec Valley: Patty Cormier, Farmington
Western Maine: Rich Merk, Otisfield
Your current address is essential.
Opinions expressed in Maine Woodlands do not
necessarily reflect a SWOAM position
unless expressly stated.
Maine Woodlands is mailed bulk rate
and will not be forwarded.
Maine Woodlands
President’s Message
By Rich Merk
E-mail: mqh@fairpoint.net
Change
You may have noticed the new name for the monthly
SWOAM publication – Maine Woodlands. It is one of the first
obvious changes to take place at SWOAM recently. We think
it’s time to reinvent the monthly publication since it’s perceived
by our members as one of the best benefits of membership in
SWOAM. In fact, for the past several years I have written in
this column about the efforts of the Board and staff to make
changes at the SWOAM organization so it can continue to
be relevant for the present and future woodland owners of
Maine.
In the past few years we have changed the staff and
their functions as needed to stop the financial losses we were
suffering during the recession. We have refined how we help
influence state rulemaking and legislation to achieve the best
advantage for woodland owners.
We have broadened our interactions with other natural
resource-focused groups in Maine to increase the scope
of our impact on issues that involve the state’s lands and
resources. We have begun to expand the number of subjects
we include in our discussions and publications to serve those
members who are interested in activities other than timber
management.
As I mentioned recently, we have 14 standing or
special committees right now working on plans to improve
various areas of SWOAM. You will see many of the ideas
implemented during 2014. This is an exciting time to be a
member. It is also an interesting time because we must make
these needed changes while holding onto what has made
SWOAM such a special organization in the past.
SWOAM is very well regarded by many other similar state
organizations around the country. That regard was earned
through the efforts of a lot of volunteers and staff members.
As we go forward, I hope you enjoy and benefit from the
changes that will result from our New Year’s resolutions and
goals, and wish you and your family a wonderful 2014.
Page 3
January 2014
At the
State House
Maine Woodlands
Unsure whether to keep, sell
or conserve the family forest?
Decide with confidence.
By Tom Doak, Executive Director
E-mail: tom@swoam.org
Lawmakers Ready to Return
The Legislature will reconvene on Jan. 8. This being
the short session, there will likely be fewer than 200 new
bills to consider, counting those submitted by legislators
and state agencies. By contrast, the first year of a twoyear legislative session often sees 2,000 or more bills
proposed.
All we know now is the title and a very brief
description, so until the bills are printed we won’t
know for sure which ones might affect small woodland
owners. And the relatively low number of new bills to
consider can be deceiving, because often the more
difficult legislation is held over from the first session
until the short session.
One of the more polarizing carry-over bills this
session is the bill to arm forest rangers. The Criminal
Justice and Public Safety Committee met recently to hear
from the governor’s panel that worked over the summer
to develop recommendations for the committee. After
some debate two decisions were reached. It seems
clear the majority of the committee is still in favor of
training rangers to be armed. However, the committee
wanted to confer with the chairs of the Agriculture
Conservation and Forestry Committee. Final action will
take a vote of the full legislature and funding through
appropriations. The issue is far from settled.
The subcommittee of the State and Local Government
Committee that has been reviewing the laws around
discontinued and abandoned roads is developing a list
of options for the full committee to consider when it
meets in January. I expect the full committee will have
several sessions to discuss possible changes and may
even hold a second public hearing on this issue that is
so important to many woodland owners.
Because action in the Legislature often happens in
an unpredictable manner, it is difficult to keep members
up to date in a monthly column. You can check our
website for updates, and on certain key issues watch
for an e-mail alert from us. As always, if you have a
question or concern about any legislation, please get
in touch with me or Bill Williams, our deputy director.
Experienced brokers
specializing in the sale of
timberland and rural estates
(603) 435-7428 ext. 230
www.fountainsland.com
Page 4
January 2014
Maine Woodlands
Annual Meeting Program Jan. 8 Includes Silent Auction
SWOAM’s 39th annual meeting and program at
the Agricultural Trades Show Jan. 8, from 8:30-3:30
at the Augusta Civic Center, will include a wide variety
of presentations, beginning with a look at Maine
politics with former state Sens. Ethan Strimling and Deb
Plowman. Al White and Drew Barton will talk about
their book, The Changing Nature of the Maine Woods,
humorist Gary Crocker will perform, and there’s advice
on wood markets from Chip Bessey, a guide to insect
and tree diseases with Allison Kanoti, and information
on NRCS cost-share programs with Buster Carter.
Just before lunch, the 2014 Outstanding Maine
Tree Farmer will be announced, and door prizes will be
presented throughout the day. The complete program
appears on this page. Everyone is welcome.
Returning after a successful run
at last year’s annual meeting is the
silent auction, featuring a variety
of products and gifts. Bids will be
accepted throughout the day, with
the bidding closing at 2 p.m. You
do not have to be present to be
the successful bidder. If you win,
you can pick up the item at the end
of the meeting, or it will be held
for you at the SWOAM office in
Augusta.
Among this year’s offerings:
• One pair of snowshoes donated by Maine Guide
Snowshoes
• An eight-foot fiberglass pole saw donated by Ben
Meadows
• A gallon of boundary marking paint
• Wood bricks, donated by Paul Sampson
• Wooden oyster platter, donated by Paul Sampson
Several pairs
of Portland
Sea Dogs
tickets
Program Schedule
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Augusta Civic Center
North Wing, Augusta Room
• 8:30 – Coffee and Informal Discussion with
SWOAM Board and Staff
• 9:00 – Annual Meeting. Update of SWOAM
activities, reports from the Land Trust, Treasurer,
upcoming Legislative session, and election of
Officers and Board members.
• 9:50 – Adjourn Annual Meeting, Door Prizes
• 10:00 – What’s Ahead for Maine Politics.
Former senator and political commentator
Ethan Strimling and former state senator Deb
Plowman give their take on all the big upcoming
races and issues.
• 10:45 – The Changing Nature of the Maine
Woods. Authors Al White and Drew Barton,
along with Charlie Cogbill have written a very
interesting book about the Maine forest, past
and present. Al and Drew will be on hand.
• 11:45 – Maine Tree Farm Committee Awards
• Noon – Lunch on your own
• 12:50 – Door prizes
• 1:00 – Gary Crocker, Maine Humorist and
Unregistered Maine Guide, with some new tales
• 1:20 – What Small Woodland Owners Should
Know About Wood Markets. Chip Bessey,
President, E.D. Bessey and Son
• 2:00 – Current Insects and Tree Diseases.
Are Your Woods at Risk? Allison Kanoti,
entomologist, Maine Forest Service
• 3:00 – Cost-share Management Assistance
Programs for Small Woodland Owners; How
Can You Benefit? Buster Carter, resource
conservationist, Natural Resource Conservation
Service
• 3:20 – Questions, Comments, Door Prizes and
Wrap-up
• 3:30 – Adjourn
• One pair of turned salt and pepper shakers,
donated by Dailey Woodworking
Page 5
January 2014
Maine Woodlands
Woods-goers should keep eyes peeled for ash borer signs
The Maine Forest Service and other
regional agencies are asking hunters and
others taking treks into the woods to stay
alert for signs of the tree-killing emerald
ash borer. “A lot of people will go in the
woods this season,” said Colleen Teerling,
an MFS entomologist. “We’re asking them
to keep their eyes open for any signs
of emerald ash borer, in particular any
woodpecker activity on ash trees.”
“While the leaves are off the trees,
this is a great time of year to look for signs
of EAB infestation left by woodpecker
marks,” said New Hampshire Forest Health
Manager Kyle Lombard.
Forest entomologists survey an infected white ash in the
Woodpeckers peck at the bark of
trees, often stripping chunks off the Concord, N.H. area.
darker outer layers to search for insects
underneath. Noticeable “blonding” or yellowing of
North America. The beetle is responsible for killing
the bark can result as layers of lighter-colored bark
millions of ash trees across 22 states and two Canadian
underneath are revealed. “This time of year, those fresh,
provinces so far and currently threatens the entire
cream-colored wood pecks really stand out against the
North American ash family.
darker outer bark of the tree,” said Nate Siegert, a
U.S. Forest Service entomologist. “In heavily-infested
ash trees, there will be a lot more bark removed and
Whether it is maximizing your timber
the signs will be more noticeable.”
investment or improving woodlot
Forest health managers last March detected a
significant EAB infestation in Concord, N.H., when they
looked for signs of woodpecker activity on ash trees
in the vicinity. It was the first time the insect, which can
kill trees within three years of infestation, had been
spotted north of Worcester, Mass., where an outbreak
has affected over 5,000 acres. EAB was first reported
around Great Lakes ports, probably having arrived in
furniture shipments, in 2002, and has spread rapidly
since then.
Ash trees can be identified in two ways: their
bark has a distinctive diamond-shaped pattern and is
deeply furrowed (see photo); and their twigs branch
opposite each other.
“What we’re looking for is severe woodpecker
activity on ash that lacks any deep excavation,” said
Lombard. People who see similar woodpecker activity
on ashes should contact a state forest health manager.
EAB is native to Asia and is considered the most
destructive invasive forest pest currently affecting
productivity, we can help you reach
your management goals!
Offering Services in:
Management Plans
Timber Harvests
Forest Consultation
Timber Marketing
Regulatory & Taxation
Assistance
Forest Certification
Sappi Fine Paper North America Sustainable Forestry Program –
Working Together for Maine’s Forests
Sappi Fine Paper North America’s Sustainable Forestry Program provides highly trained forest professionals, reliable
and competitive pulpwood markets, as well as an extensive
network of marketing resources to generate the most income
from your timber. The program also offers Forest Stewardship
Council® Group Forest Management Certification.
GIS/GPS Capabilities
Wildlife Habitat
Management
Providing professional
timberland and woodlot
management regardless
of the property size.
www.sappimeforestry.com
Sappi Fine Paper North America
165 North Avenue, Suite 1
Skowhegan, Maine 04976
Office: (207) 858-4201
Fax: (207) 858-4220
Page 6
January 2014
Maine Woodlands
Tree Growth Downeast – Waldo, Hancock and Washington
By Lloyd C. Irland
(Fifth in a Continuing Series)
The three counties covered here share
an orientation along the Downeast coast
of Maine. The principal communities stretch
along Route 1 near the coast or the St.
Croix River. Past farming and settlement
was concentrated near the coast, close to
markets for products and to transportation.
In Thoreau’s time, the Downeast
coasting schooners hauled fuelwood to
Boston and “kilnwood” to the lime kilns
at Rockland. After construction of the mill
at Bucksport in the 1930s, pulpwood was
brought there by water for many years.
The rocky coasts offer few beaches, and
the water is cold. But its stark beauty has
drawn visitors and cottage owners since
the 1880s.
It’s surprising to learn that as of 1880,
Waldo shared with York County the
distinction of being the most thoroughly
deforested county in Maine. Even though
York County was on the doorstep of the
busy ports from Portland to Boston, Waldo
was basically just one step beyond in an
age of water transport.
More recently, the trend of tourism
and development has spread eastward
beyond Mount Desert Island, helping
support a notable revival of land markets
in view lot areas, and a significant boost
to Eastport’s downtown. The distinctive
crop, blueberries, supplies the ingredient
for classic Maine recipes.
In Hancock and Washington counties,
the past few decades have seen significant
parcelization of formerly industry land,
to pieces 41 acres and larger. Much
of this can be considered poised for
development at some point in the future.
In fact, Washington County saw a notable
increase in Tree Growth parcels from
1977-2011, likely the fastest increase in
the state. This reflects a significant degree
Page 7
January 2014
of ownership fragmentation in the wake of the sell-offs
of lands in the 2000s.
This region is larger than we might realize – it
contains 1.7 million acres of forestland in its organized
towns, of which 38% are in Tree Growth. Participation
is low in Waldo County, at only 15%, and highest in
Washington at 50%. Average parcel sizes under TGT
have always been small in Waldo, and have come
down significantly in both Hancock and Washington.
The number of parcels does not match the number of
individual owners, as some owners may have holdings
across the region including many separate tax parcels.
So we cannot say, without considerable additional
research, how many of these parcels reflect individual
woodlot owners.
The forested towns and plantations in this region,
especially away from Route 1, in many instances are
75% or more owned by larger landowners under
Tree Growth. The small communities have fairly small
amounts of property for their tax bases, and hence
discontents over the low tax yield of Tree Growth
property are commonly felt.
Comparing full value tax rates for this region is
complicated by the diverse economy. The high property
values associated with the Ellsworth-Bar Harbor area
are more similar to several prosperous enclaves in the
mid- and southern coasts than the forested portions of
these counties. From the mid-1990s to about 2003, all
of these counties had higher full value rates than they
do now – higher property values enabled rates to fall.
Not surprisingly Hancock’s rate is the lowest of the
three, by far; in 2010, Waldo was below the state
average, and Washington only a bit higher. Hancock is
further benefited by the fact that a significant amount
of the property in its organized towns is in seasonal use
and therefore not generating school costs.
Wadsworth Woodlands Inc. is
a diverse
consulting forestry company supplying economical service to landowners in all aspects of forest
land management.
•Forest Management
Plans, Tree Growth
Plans & Simple Plans
•Timber Harvesting
•Excellent product
markets for maximum return to landowner
CALL US
207-625-2468
35 Rock Crop Way
Hiram, Maine
Professional, Licensed Foresters serving Maine & New Hampshire
www.wadsworthwoodlands.com
Your best source for:
•
•
TRY US
AND
SAVE
10%
Flagging
Paint
•
Pruning
Equipment
•
•
Safety
Fire Gear
Save 10% on your next
order from Ben Meadows!
Here’s how to place your order:
1. Call 1-800-241-6401—weekdays: 7 to 7; Saturday: 7 to 5
2. Or visit benmeadows.com to order at your convenience
3. Use key code SASWN14 at checkout
Offer expires December 31, 2014.
Use key code
SASWN14
1-800-241-6401 benmeadows.com
Add item BENSHIPDEAL to your order and
shipping for the rest of the year is on us!
That’s like FREE ground shipping for 365 days
Unlimited orders—no need to consolidate orders
Use for up to five people at one location
Eliminate shipping costs from your next
order! Buy Ben’s Shipping Deal for $39!
s s s
Lloyd Irland has served in the Department of Conservation
and as State Economist. He now divides time between
consulting and college teaching.
MANAGING YOUR FOREST
IS OUR BUSINESS
s
In discussing the Tree Growth Tax program, it is
common to focus only on the large tracts of investor
and institutionally owned lands, and on the high-value
real estate along the coast. This region of three counties
offers perhaps the strongest contrast between these
two extremes. But the large number of woodlot owners
in between these extremes should not be overlooked in
assessing the issues.
Maine Woodlands
*Call for full details or visit our website at
benmeadows.com/benshipdeal
Hurry—this discount offer expires December 31, 2014. Valid only for the intended recipient and is not transferable. Offer is
valid one time per customer and does not apply to previous purchases and cannot be combined with other discounts, orders or
promotions. Discount is off catalog “Each” price and does not apply to tax and freight, special or custom products. Discounts
do not apply to GARMIN® products, NITESTAR® Distance Measuring Instruments, Haglof Mantax Calipers and the Spiegel
Relaskop® Tool.
Page 8
January 2014
Maine Woodlands
Woodlands under Tree Growth Provide Lifetime Benefits
By Douglas Rooks, Editor
If you were looking to document the long-time
benefits of the Tree Growth tax program, you might
well want to visit the woodlands managed by Bill
Weary. On the 250 acres in North Newcastle where
he lives, the abundance of timber and the variety of
species is still amazing to him, even after more than 50
years experience with the land.
Weary, who has spent
most of his professional
career as an educational
consultant, both in teaching
and administration, finds
the work of managing
his woodlot, if anything,
even more stimulating. But
he’s quick to give credit
to others. “I couldn’t have
done anything like this on
my own,” he said.
the Maine Forest Service. Consulting forester Ancyl
Thurston helped with the first management plans. Later,
in 1972, David Schaible took over as a consulting
forester, “and he’s still my forester today.”
Another piece of advice the family took up early
was to join the Tree Farm program. In 1958, the acreage
became Maine Tree Farm No. 330, and remains in
the program today. Tree Farm became a big part of
Gerald Weary’s life. He
was twice named Maine
Outstanding Tree Farmer,
in 1980 and 1999. He
died at age 92 in 2002,
just a week before his
wife, Alma, passed away.
Like many Mainers,
Weary’s father was
inspired by the Bowdoin
Pines, which he saw on
his early trips to Maine,
when Route 1 was the
main
highway
and
Interstate 95 wasn’t even
on the drawing board.
Growing big, majestic
trees became another
goal.
First in line is Weary’s
father, Gerald, who
Bill Weary stands along the banks of the Sheepscot
bought the land in the
River, where he provided a conservation easement
1950s, well before the
in 2009 to SWOAM.
“back to the land” boom
of the 1970s that swelled
Maine’s population and made rural acreage a hot
item in real estate portfolios. Like most of Midcoast
But there’s an irony there, too, Weary observed.
Maine, the land had been cleared for farming, but was
The Bowdoin Pines, from a silvicultural perspective,
growing back to timber in a big way.
are now over-mature and some are literally falling
over. The human desire to maintain a picture-perfect
forest runs up against nature’s patterns that emphasize
His father was a Unitarian minister who was born
growth and decay, not stasis.
in 1910 in Nebraska, and became fascinated by the
densely forested rural parts of Maine, so different from
the landscapes he knew growing up in the Midwest.
So Weary has gradually adopted a different
approach to management since inheriting the property.
When his forester told him cutting would be beneficial,
And Gerald Weary was definitely an oak man.
he listened. In recent years, cuttings have been more
“He loved the oaks, and how they grew,” Bill says of his
frequent. “There were areas where there were literally
father. “I can remember collecting wheelbarrows full of
thickets of fir that had stopped growing,” he said.
acorns to plant.” But oaks are only one species among
Clearing them out not only rejuvenated the remaining
many on the woodlot, which appears to have just about
trees, but transformed the landscape. “Suddenly, you
all the trees, both hardwood and softwood, that are
could see all the big, magnificent trees that had been
known to grow in the region.
there all along,” he said.
Gerald Weary was also quite conservative when it
Weary doesn’t keep precise records of harvest
came to harvesting. “He did do some cutting, but not
volumes, but over the last decade hundreds of cords
nearly as fast as the trees were growing,” Bill said. Early
have come off his woodlot. “And the amazing thing
on, the Weary family benefited from the assistance of
Page 9
January 2014
Maine Woodlands
area, despite its rising real estate values,
because he’s only paying taxes on the trees, not
the land’s potential development value. Not all
of his neighbors use the program, but he thinks
all of them could benefit.
Owning forested acreage on even this
relatively small scale incurs responsibilities, he
believes. So having a management plan isn’t
a burden, it’s just common sense about being a
steward. As Weary looks to the future, he foresees
that land maintained in its natural conditions will
become even more valuable than it is today.
He’s donated a conservation easement to the
An old stone wall bisects a recently harvested section of the Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association, and
Weary woodlot.
is considering another to SWOAM, for instance,
to maintain the work that two generations of the family
is that after all those truckloads leave the woodlot,
have been proud to undertake.
there’s still so much growth left behind,” he said. The
timber “bank” he inherited is now paying dividends.
The 10-year management plan written in 2012 is
the fifth that’s been prepared under the Tree Growth
Tree Growth has long been part of the family’s
program, and Weary is fairly confident it won’t be the
strategy. The Maine Forest Service was promoting the
last. “It’s extremely unusual to be able to maintain the
program for small woodland owners, and the Wearys
same timber management philosophy over such a long
signed up right at the beginning. Weary said it’s made
period,” he said. “The woodlot as it is today is a real
it possible for him to live comfortably in the Midcoast
demonstration of my father’s personality.”
Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) is a program that provides a convenient way
to ask questions regarding specific forestry activities.
SFI commits to:
 Include public concerns in the
management of industrial forestlands
and foster the same philosophy on
non-industrial forestlands.
Forestry Hotline:
Do you have questions about a forest
harvest in your neighborhood? If so, we
invite you to call 1-888-SFI-GOAL (1-888734-4625).
Inform the public about sound forestry
practices already in place. This
program is important for all of us:
loggers, landowners, wood buyers
and the public.
This call-in service, although not an
enforcement program, will help Maine’s
SFI companies better understand issues
of public concern and identify problem
areas for improvement.

For more information on The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)
www.sfimaine.org
www.sfiprogram.org
Page 10
January 2014
Maine Woodlands
Winter Opportunities Abound for Landowners
By Maxwell McCormack
Winter. No bugs. Leaves-off conditions provide
greater visibility. Frozen ground provides improved
mobility, especially on poorly drained sites needing
only periodic assessments.
Practical Snowshoe travel over a good
Silviculture snowpack covering low brush
and uneven, rocky ground is
relatively comfortable and leaves a visible record of
where you have walked. Snow sled travel provides
an additional advantage. Also, look for snow cover
patterns that accentuate trails and old roadways that
are not readily apparent during periods of full foliage
cover.
A routine chore facilitated by winter conditions is
property line maintenance and marking. Management
compartment borders can be refurbished as well.
Property corner monuments such as rebar, pipes, or
concrete markers are easily moved to desired locations
by skidding them across the snow surface on a toboggan
or small skid.
Early winter, especially after a first snowfall, is an
ideal time to observe and mark out developing beech
thickets because their retention of brown, crisp leaves
makes them so obvious. Sometimes, in the wind, you can
hear them rattling. Oak leaves are not as persistent
as those of beech, but following an early snow there
is a surge of late leaf drop from the oaks that leaves
a definite “shadow” indicating their presence. This is a
useful aid for spotting oaks in young hardwood thickets.
Bare stems and crowns of valuable hardwoods
such as sugar maple, ash, and yellow birch are clearly
visible and easier to appraise. Defects, deformities,
and disease indicators are easier to spot. This allows the
best stems to be identified as possible crop trees. Some
softwood crowns can be evaluated more thoroughly,
and advanced regeneration of softwoods is more
obvious in a snow-covered understory. Be cautious,
however, when observing understory brush cover, since
the absence of leaves makes some tough situations look
less competitive than they really are.
Another condition to watch for is seeds, like those of
birches and hornbeam, as they are wind-driven across
the snow crust. This can be beneficial when you are
hoping to regenerate a patch cut or forest opening.
But, if it’s only gray birch seed, it might be the early
stage of a future problem.
Winter is an ideal time to prune trees. On
snowshoes, a good depth of snow can provide an
extra foot or more of reach with your pruning saw.
When pruning, our focus usually is on removing lower
branches to improve the quality of future wood growth
on butt logs. Keep in mind that such pruning should be
done on trees that are small enough in diameter that
there will be sufficient growing seasons before harvest
to fully gain the potential increased values of clear
wood increment.
I am an avid pruner, always carrying my hand
clippers to remove small limbs (less than 1 inch) and,
usually, a folding hand saw for reaching up to prune
limbs from the first half-log. But I do not dwell as much
on the potential wood quality gain as I do on some
other results of pruning.
When I wander through a patch of young growth,
I start to envision future crop trees from which I prune
lower branches to mark them for future reference. In
doing this, one must be careful not to be sucked into
pruning too many trees. Be selective in this process,
developing your thinking for future silviculture decisions.
Removing bulky lower limbs opens up understory
space for establishing advanced regeneration and
other ground cover. Pruning also improves mobility
for walking as well opening up trail margins for small
equipment travel.
Viewsheds can be selectively opened, providing
depth to your visibility through the woodlot. In this
process, the lower limb contributions to the forest floor
occur in advance of harvesting. This process helps to
facilitate conduct of early intermediate treatments
such as first thinnings, and has been known to reduce
harvesting costs.
Take advantage of winter conditions to carry out
tasks such as those outlined here, but remember to
maintain management plan priorities so your objectives
are accomplished in an orderly, step-by-step process.
Effectiveness is compromised when you allow yourself
to get spread out, jumping around from task to task.
Max McCormack is research professor emeritus at the
University of Maine. E-mail him at: mlmcc34@gmail.
com
Page 11
January 2014
Maine Woodlands
Exotic Larch Trial Shows Impressive Results
By David Maass
Last fall, on a seasonably cold October day.
Brian Roth, University of Maine, Michael Greenwood,
professor emeritus, grad student Vance Brown, and I remeasured a trial of exotic larches that Dr. Greenwood
had established in 1992 near Parlin Pond. He told me
that a week hadn’t gone by when he didn’t think about
the trial. Sentimentality and curiosity inspired us to remeasure the trial. After 21 years, the best families grew
to 66 feet and averaged 10 inches in diameter. They
were 23% taller than nearby hybrid larch. Even the
poorest performing tamarack families were outgrowing
the native birch, maple and balsam fir that surrounded
the trial. Again, interest in larch has been piqued. My own interest in larch came from planting 500
Japanese larch on my family’s tree farm in Susquehanna
County, Pennsylvania in the 1960s. It was a rocky,
wet steep sidehill, where nothing else seemed to grow
except hawthorn, scraggly red maples and black birch.
The service forester suggested to my dad, “Here, try
this.” The Japanese larch survived the first summer and
winter. By the second fall, their bright yellow needles
stood out against the maples’ red. When I went off to
forestry school, there was a stand of young poles where
little grew before. I measured the stand in the 1980s
and found trees nearly 80 feet tall and 12 inches in
diameter.
At Scott Paper in the 1970s and ’80s, I was
delighted to find there had been 1930 plantings of
European larch on Parkman Hill in Brighton. These had
been part of extensive plantations established by S.
D. Warren on old fields of farms they’d purchased in
the 1920s. Most plantations were white spruce, but
several exotic species, including Douglas fir and even
hardwoods, had been planted. Studies in the white
spruce plantations showed growth about one cord per
acre per year. There weren’t many acres of European
larch, but we conducted a study and found that they
had grown to well over 100 feet tall over 50 years.
As the spruce budworm was devastating softwood
across Canada and New England in the 1980s, industrial
landowners looked for alternative sources of softwood,
which could grow more rapidly than native species. We
had the “budworm gap” to fill. Oscar Selin who was
managing the St. Regis (later Georgia-Pacific) lands
established several larch plantations, based on his
familiarity with Finland’s species. International Paper
also developed an interest in Japanese larch and
Vance Brown (left) and Mike Greenwood measure a
21-year-old exotic larch trial in Johnson Mountain
Township.
established a seed orchard in Howland. In the early
1980s Scott Paper joined with other companies in the
Larch and Hybrid Poplar Cooperative in Appleton,
Wisc. A hybrid seed orchard was established in Unity,
with plantings across Scott Paper’s (then S. D. Warren)
land base. Carl Haag continued with innovative
breeding strategies, defined proper planting sites, and
developed appropriate management strategies.
Seedlings produced from the orchard also went to
landowners in south central Maine, including SWOAM
members. Paul Memmer and Marc Johnson were
advocates for this fast-growing species to fill in old
fields and address silvicultural problems. Recalling
Dr. Greenwood’s larch trial, I’m curious how those
plantations turned out. If you have one, I’d love the
opportunity to cruise it. Please contact me at: dmaass@
maine.rr.com
David Maass, a licensed forester, is a semi-retired chainof-custody and forest management certification auditor.
He served as research forester for Scott Paper Co.
Page 12
January 2014
Maine Woodlands
Hunt on Sunday? It’ll Never Happen in Maine
By George Smith
Sunday hunting was banned in Maine on Feb. 28,
1883, and I don’t think we’ll ever hunt on Sundays
here because – well, because we haven’t since
1883. Only six states prohibit
Around and Sunday hunting, and in one
of those, Virginia, Safari
About
Club International recently
filed a lawsuit challenging the ban, arguing that it is
unconstitutional under both the U.S. Constitution and the
Virginia Constitution that includes a right to hunt.
“Sunday hunting bans should be a thing of the past,”
said SCI President Craig Kauffman. “Hunters have to
work during the week, and young hunters are in school,
making weekends the primary time they can hunt. The
unconstitutional ban on Sunday hunting robs hunters
of half their potential time afield, and has absolutely
no basis in science or conservation.” What Kauffman
failed to note is the opposition to Sunday hunting from
the non-hunting public and from private landowners. In
Maine, even many hunters oppose it.
The Maine Legislature has rejected all Sunday
hunting bills in the past, including at least two that
would have established a right to hunt in the state’s
Constitution. However, in last year’s legislative session,
a constitutional right to hunt and fish fell just three votes
short in the Senate of the 2/3 vote necessary to send
the issue to the voters. The Senate vote on LD 1303 was
20-15 in favor. The proposal lost in the House, although
65 Representatives voted for it while 84 voted against.
hunt. And as much as I believe I should have the right to
hunt on Sundays on my own land, I recognize the impact
even that would have on my neighbors and others,
and believe it would be a mistake for sportsmen to
pursue this goal. As I asked a news reporter during last
November’s hunting season, is there any other activity
that causes the public to fear for their lives to the extent
that they wear fluorescent orange just to retrieve their
mail from the roadside box?
We have lost the privilege of access to a lot of land
in Maine, and that trend will continue until all sportsmen
understand that their relationships with – and respect
for – private landowners is the most important element
in our hunting heritage. If that means giving up on
Sunday hunting, we must do it.
George Smith, former executive director of the
Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine and a SWOAM member,
offers more outdoor news at www.georgesmithmaine.
com.
Annual Appeal
I was the public face for Sunday hunting for 18
years, working hard to get it for the board and members
of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine – but even at
SAM, 40% of our members opposed Sunday hunting.
The closest we ever got to victory was when Gov. John
Baldacci put a Sunday hunting proposal in his budget
one year. But at the Appropriations Committee hearing
on that provision, every major group representing
sportsmen – except for SAM – stood with SWOAM and
other landowner groups to oppose it.
Boy, did I feel alone and abandoned! It took a year
to rebuild our damaged relationships, and I never made
another significant effort to enact Sunday hunting.
I can tell you now that it never mattered to me
personally because I get plenty of opportunities to
We’re nearing our goal, but we need your help.
Donations can be sent to the SWOAM office, or online
at www.swoam.org.
www.twotreesforestry.com
Page 13
January 2014
Maine Woodlands
Choosing Your Advisors
SWOAM is committed to helping small woodland owners
develop succession plans so they can know their life’s
work will be passed to someone who will continue their
stewardship efforts. Here’s another topic to stimulate
landowner efforts to develop and improve their plans.
Management
planning
During my career in business, I looked at many
“advisors” with suspicion – while others I looked to
for direction, advice and technical information. I don’t
believe it would be prudent to
Succession develop a succession plan for
Planning your woodlands without using
good advisors. I have listed below
some types of advisors you may want to enlist when
formalizing your plans and putting them into action.
Two Trees produces management
plans that address the needs of
both the owner and the property.
• Attorney: Perhaps the most important advisor for
your effort. Can help with the estate planning,
business structure (if any), real estate or easement
conveyances, and is able to make everything legal
to your best advantage.
• Tax Accountant: May be needed to plan how to
avoid. or at least minimize, income or estate taxes
or find ways to use tax credits that might arise from
the gifting of a conservation easement or piece of
land to a land trust to fit your financial situation and
your wishes.
• Consulting Forester: May be needed to provide
technical information about the inventory and future
growing plans of your woodlands as you develop
your succession plan.
• Family Counselor: May be needed to facilitate
conversations about the proposed succession plan
among family members. This advisor may be able
to help the family members deal better with each
other.
• Real Estate Appraiser: May be needed to supply
information and values if a conservation easement
or gift of land is being considered in the succession
plan.
– Rich Merk
Next Month: Why have a succession plan.
v Tree Growth, WoodsWISE,
and NRCS-CAP plans, GPS and
ArcView mapping.
a Green cemetery - a Better way
175 Boothby Rd., Limington, ME 04049 - Peter McHugh - 207.637.2085
CBBG@MaineGreenCemetery.com
http://mainegreencemetery.com/
v Review of the owners’
interests and the natural
history of the land.
v Complete assessment of
opportunities and liabilities.
Harold Burnett, owner
(207) 377-7196
harold@twotreesforestry.com
www.twotreesforestry.com
January 2014
Page 14
Maine Woodlands
Chapter Notes
Chapter meetings are open to all members of
SWOAM, as well as the public. It’s a great way to
meet other woodland owners and exchange ideas.
Check the SWOAM website for updates.
Western Maine
Harvest Standards and Legislative Matters
Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School,
Room E118
Thursday, Jan. 16, 7 p.m.
Are you still confused about all the recent changes in
Shoreland Zoning? Do you wonder who to contact with
questions or concerns about harvesting in a shoreland
zone? Keith Kanoti of the Maine Forest Service will talk
at the Western Maine Chapter’s January meeting. A
legislative update will also be presented. The public is
welcome, and there is no charge. For more information,
contact Rich Merk at 415-1628.
The Penobscot Valley Chapter turned out for a recent
planning meeting. From left. (back row) are Casey
Elmer, Larry Beauregard, Nolan Steele, Colton
Burgess, Mike Pounch, and Barbara Beauregard. In
front is Cooper (the dog) and Drew Poole.
Penobscot Valley
Mapping Your Woodlot with GPS
Beauregard Woodlands and University of Maine
Saturday, Jan. 25 and Saturday, Feb. 1, 10 a.m.
The Penobscot Chapter will join with the University
of Maine Student Chapter of the Society of American
Foresters to host a two-part training session based on
GPS usage for SWOAM members. This training would
be best suited for someone who has some entry level
experience with a GPS but who would like to learn some
more advanced applications. You are encouraged to
bring your own GPS unit and computer connection cord.
Upon registration, it would be helpful if you provided
the make and model of the GPS unit you plan to bring.
There may be access to a few spare units. Registration
will be limited to 10 participants who are expected to
attend both parts.
SWOAM Members can place new one-year subscription
orders to Northern Woodlands at a discounted rate! Please
subscribe online at: northernwoodlands.org.
Click: subscribe; click: Subscribe: New; complete the
contact fields; INCLUDE PROMOTIONAL CODE:
SWOAM13 just below the comment field; click: Next;
complete your payment transaction.
One Year Orders: SWOAM Domestic Rate: $14.00
SWOAM International Rate: $19.00
Part One, “Collecting and Organizing Data in the
Field,” with be held Jan. 25, 10 a.m. at Beuregard
Woodlands on Old Stagecoach Road in Old Town.
Part Two, “Data Analysis and Map Preparation: will
be held Feb. 1, 10 a.m., at the University of Maine’s
Wheatland Laboratory, Nutting Hall, on the Orono
campus. Directions for Part One: Take Route I-95 north
or south to Old Town Exit 197 (Route 43). Travel 3.2 miles
and turn right onto Old Stagecoach Road. Travel 0.5
miles to the Beauregard Woodlands access road on the
right. Look for SWOAM sign. Registration is required by
Jan. 20, and will be limited to 10 participants. Please
respond by e-mail to Larry Beauregard, Penobscot
Valley Chapter Leader, at redspruce@fairpoint.net
January 2014
Page 15
Maine Woodlands
New Members - Dec.
Central Maine
Peter Dupont
St. Croix
Valerie Aponik and
Paul Reinstein
Ronald Estes
William and
Chris Kolodnicki
Timothy W. Maupin
Mid Coast
Stephen Hall
Martha Leavitt
Arline Sampson
Richard D. Warren
Northern Maine
Nason Donahue
Michael Giangiordano
Judith Kinson
Jeffrey Page
Out of State
Bailey Bolen
Alan Carlsen
Edward O’Donnell
Robert Swain
Penobscot Valley
John Manter
Southern Maine
Dale Clock
Julie Fernee
Chris Hayes
William Potvin
Emma Sampson
Taylor Sampson
Patricia R. Sawyer and
Dorothy Sawyer
Two Rivers
Thomas Burgess
Michael Clewley
Christopher and
Kathy Leone
Thomas P. Peters II
Richard Watson
Upper Kennebec Valley
David Bourassa
Danny Couturier
Christopher and
Rebecca Fortunato
Richard King
Marcel Langlais
Donald Whittemore
Western Maine
Daniel A. Dube
Jacques Dupuis
Clarice Hodges
Eugene G. Nichols II
Robert Richard
Timber Marking, Sales & Administration
Forest Management Plans - Timber Inventory & Appraisal
Tree Growth Tax Law Assistance - GPS & GIS Services
Forest Mapping - Boundary Maintenance
Conservation Easement Monitoring & Baseline Documentation
Donald E. Feeney
656 Route 232
Bryant Pond, ME 04219
207-665-2475
dfeeney@megalink.net
Gregory M. Seamans
23 Whittemore Road
Oxford, ME 04270
207-539-8968
gregseamans@gmail.com
Certified Resource Managers
Sherman R. Small
P.O. Box 621
Bethel, ME 04217
207-824-6122
sherms@megalink.net
Join SWOAM!
Receive 12 monthly issues of the popular SWOAM
News and other member benefits by joining the only
statewide organization devoted solely to the interests of
Maine small woodland owners. You’ll find it’s one of the
best investments you’ve ever made.
(
(
(
(
(
)
)
)
)
)
Dues ( ) New ( ) Renewal
Basic $35
Contributor $50
Sponsor $100
Sustainer
$250
Lifetime $1000
Name: _____________________________________
Address: ___________________________________
( ) I don’t own land. ( ) I own ______ acres in
____________________________________ (Town)
Please send newsletter by mail (
)
online (
)
E-mail address: _______________________________
Fleece Lined Waterproof Jacket
Limited number
of jackets in stock
and available
for immediate
shipment. We
have 2 medium,
2 large and 2
extra large jackets
in stock. We also
have 2 women’s
medium jackets.
Special orders will
take 4 weeks for
delivery.
Jackets are $49, which includes tax and
shipping. Send a note with your order along with
payment to SWOAM, PO Box 836, Augusta, ME
04332.
Be sure to check out www.swoam.org for a
complete list of available SWOAM merchandise.
Small Woodland Owners
Association of Maine
Nonprofit
Organization
US Postage Paid
Permit No. 129
Augusta, ME
153 Hospital Street
P. O. Box 836
Augusta, ME 04332-0836
January 2014
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
Stumpage and Silvicultural Reports Available
The Maine Forest Service has recently published its annual Stumpage Price and Silvicultural Activties Report.
They can be downloaded at:
2012 Stumpage Price Report: http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/attach.php?id=607752&an=1
2012 Silvicultural Activities Report: http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/attach.php?id=608301&an=1
MAINE BOUNDARY CONSULTANTS
STRATEGIC VISION y SOUND ADVICE y PERSONAL ATTENTION
Providing legal solutions for woodland owners…
Jack Erler and his firm work with
woodland owners to solve legal
problems in forest operations,
property taxation, estate planning
and environmental land use matters
at the State or local level.
Jack Erler
Jack has been counsel to SWOAM
Land Trust since its inception 20
years ago. He assisted SWOAM in
organizing and qualifying the Land
Trust. He represents the Land Trust
in acquiring all of its woodlands and
conservation easements.
Contact him at (207) 774-9000 or jerler@curtisthaxter.com
One Canal Plaza, Portland, Maine 04101 207-774-9000/207-775-0612 (Fax)
www.curtisthaxter.com
Robert A. Yarumian II, PLS
Professional Land Surveyor
Providing Quality and Reliable Land Surveying Services
Established 1988
Specializing in:
Land Boundary Surveys
Estate, Land Trust and Family Divisions
Large - Complex - Complicated Surveys
Historical Deed Research Investigations
Finding Lost Lands or Unknown Boundaries
Right of Way and Access Issues
Expert Witness & Litigation
Resolving Boundary Problems
Second Opinions on Existing Surveys
GPS Surveys & GIS Mapping
State Wide Services
8 River Road, Buxton, Maine 04093
207-727-5359
www.maineboundary.com