Double G Timber Sale
Agreement Narrative: Double G Stewardship Project
Primary Funder: USDA Forest Service
Location: Tellico Ranger District, Cherokee National Forest
Innovation: The purpose of this stewardship project is to improve habitat conditions for ruffed grouse and other wildlife species, and to achieve the Cherokee National Forest’s Forest Plan objectives. There is a need to increase the amount of desired hardwood trees to provide quality forage for wildlife. In addition, trees and shrubs are encroaching on the existing grassy and herbaceous openings that occur within the area. There are also opportunities to enhance foraging and watering sites for bats and other wildlife and breeding sites for amphibians with constructed ephemeral pools, to improve transportation infrastructure that would also reduce sediment input and thus improve water quality to associated drainages of Tellico River, and finally to improve trout habitat by restoring stream channels to their proper condition. Populations of ruffed grouse and other species requiring these types of young forest habitat have declined in recent years. Habitat can be improved with active forest management using stewardship principles. The Tellico area is an important landscape for grouse along with American woodcock, and a broad suite of at-rick songbirds.
Impact: The project will accomplish the following outputs: 135 acres of commercial timber harvests to create young and open forest conditions across seven cutting units, 125 acres of site preparation treatments to promote natural regeneration of desired tree species, 1.05 acres of linear wildlife opening creation (roadside daylighting), and road reconstruction to repair a landslide and facilitate access to additional timber sale areas.
Partners and Chapter Contributions: We will collaborate closely with Cherokee National Forest staff on implementation. RGS chapters in Tennessee will have the opportunity to assist with wildlife opening maintenance as volunteers. The total project value (timber value) is $80,589 and RGS & AWS will provide $21,596 in nonfederal in-kind matching contributions.
Local contractors will be utilized for implementing the treatments on the ground.
A specific logo is not needed to recognize funders or partners.
Deliverables:
- RGS & AWS successfully sold the Double G Timber Sale to Frerich’s Sawmill. The logging contractor is currently cutting the first harvest unit from the timber sale.
- Logging contractor completed 15.6 acres of commercial timber harvests in the first cutting unit to create young and open forest habitats.
