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Garrett County Forestry Board News

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Bark & Bites March 2007 -

GARRETT COUNTY
Forest Conservancy District Board
1728 Kings Run Road
Oakland, MD 21550
301-334-3296

Barks 'n Bites
Of Your Garrett County Forest Conservancy Board
www.gcforest.sailorsite.net. Chairman Chuck Hoffeditz,
301-387-5144; Ernie Metz, County Forester 334-3296;
Reported by Paul Shogren

At the March meeting of the Board the following issues were discussed and are of interest
to county residents:

Gypsy Moth Infestation and Spraying

The State Department of Agriculture (MDA) officials reported that 15,000 acres of mostly state forest land will be sprayed in the spring within the county. There is about 2000 acres of private woodlands needing to be sprayed at a cost of about $15/acre. Funding for the program is from the county, state and federal sources.

A workshop for private forest land owners is scheduled for 24 March, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at the Lake House, at New Germany State Park, with lunch provided, for a fee of $10/person. Kurt Guttschalk of the U.S. Forest Service will be the featured speaker dealing with management efforts to decrease losses from Gypsy moth.

Arbor Day

County residents should be aware that Arbor Day is celebrated on the first Wednesday in April, (April 4, 2007), and on 27 April nationally. The first Arbor Day was begun by J. Sterling Morton of Nebraska, in 1872 when 1,000,000 trees were planted that year within the state of Nebraska.

Window Display

During April there will be a forestry display at the Oakland Ruth Enlow Library. Information on Gypsy Moth, the state forestry centennial, and Arbor Day will be presented. It’s free, take a look!

On 10 April, at 10:30 a.m. at the Hutton Tract of Potomac – Garrett State Forest along Fingerboard Road, there will be a re-dedication of that tract. This was the first tract given by the Garrett Brothers to the state to begin “forestry” in Maryland in 1906. The public is invited. John Denning, Forest Manager, Potomac – Garrett State Forest is the contact for this program. John’s office number is 301-334-2038.