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 its Monday, 10 September meeting at the Mt. Nebo DNR Work Center, the Garrett Forestry Board wants the citizens to know about the following:

Gypsy Moth Problem

For two years now, the non-native Gypsy Moth has been defoliating the oak hardwood stands in the county. Some locations have recorded over several thousand egg masses per acre meaning next spring increased defoliation is expected. Last spring the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA), sprayed Insecticides to kill caterpillars feeding on the forest hardwood leaves. About 15,000 acres were sprayed in Garrett County.

From the 2007 fall surveys of egg masses, the prediction is that many more acres will probably need to be sprayed to just contain the spread of the moth, but initial indications are that there could be a significant shortfall of monies available for spring 2008 spraying from the traditional sources MDA and the U.S. Forest Service. For sometime now the board has been contacting various county, state and federal politicians to alert them of the need for spring spraying to reduce losses from defoliation. So far the county has responded positively to a cost share the spray program but without state and federal assistance, large scale spraying is not expected.

The Board is encouraging all citizens to contact their local, state, and federal politicians to include monies for the spring 2008 spraying against the Gypsy Moth larvae. Point of contact for the Forestry Board is Charles Hoffeditz, Chairman, 301-387-5144. Further information is also available by visiting the Forestry Board’s webpage at www.gcforest.sailorsite.net and clicking on GYPSY MOTH ANNOUNCEMENTS.

Natural Resources Careers Conference

The 2007 Natural Resources Careers Conference was held at the Hickory Environmental Education Center, July 22 – 28, 2007. This annual conference is planned to be held again next year, the last full week of July 2008, at the Hickory Environmental Education Center near Accident, MD. This conference is designed for high school students who are considering careers in the field of natural resource’s. The Forestry Board has two full scholarships available for county high school students enabling them to attend the week long conference at no cost. More information can be obtained by going to our web site http://www.gcforest.sailorsite.net/ and clicking on “FORESTRY WEEK AT HICKORY.

2008 Envirothon

Plans are being made to conduct the competition at the 4 H Center in May 2008. This competition is sponsored by the County Soil Conservation Districts of the state. The competition is open to teams from local high schools. Training for the competition will be scheduled for this fall.

Forestry Advances

Satellite imagery and other technology has enabled foresters to monitor the health of the forest, target management activities, map fire outbreaks, and indentify fish and wildlife habitat for protection. Nowadays foresters are much more than “stump jumpers.”