Rhododendron State Park Forest MAnagement PRoject

June 4, 2020

Work on the timber sale wrapped up at the end of January. On June 3-4 the log landing (off Rhododendron Road) was smoothed, fertilized and seeded. Once established the timothy and clover mix will provide food for white tail deer, snowshoe hare and other wildlife.

For more information on this this project and timber harvesting in State Parks and State Forests, contact Project Forester, Inge Seaboyer at 603-464-3453 or Regional Forester, Scott Rolfe at 603-227-8741.

January 23, 2020

Moving cut wood from Unit 2 along the Park entrance road, and in the “island” of the entrance road cul-de-sac is completed. Trail access from the Parking Lot re-opened. Skidding bundles from Unit 2 continues. Remember do not approach any logging equipment. Never assume that the operator can see you.

For more information on this this project and timber harvesting in State Parks and State Forests, contact Project Forester, Inge Seaboyer at 603-464-3453 or Regional Forester, Scott Rolfe at 603-227-8741.

January 17, 2020

Cold night temperatures have allowed work on the timber harvest to resume. Due to the weather delay, it will still be several more days before the work to moving wood from Unit 2 along the Park entrance road, and in the “island” of the entrance road cul-de-sac is completed. Trail access from the Parking Lot is still closed – continue to watch for updates.

For more information on this this project and timber harvesting in State Parks and State Forests, contact Project Forester, Inge Seaboyer at 603-464-3453 or Regional Forester, Scott Rolfe at 603-227-8741.

January 13, 2020

Due to the unseasonably warm temperatures this past weekend, work on the timber harvest is suspended until ground and road conditions improve. This will delay work to complete moving wood from Unit 2 along the Park entrance road, and in the “island” of the entrance road cul-de-sac. Trail access from the Parking Lot is still closed. We anticipate work will resume later this week – continue to watch for updates.

For more information on this this project and timber harvesting in State Parks and State Forests, contact Project Forester, Inge Seaboyer at 603-464-3453 or Regional Forester, Scott Rolfe at 603-227-8741.

January 2, 2020

Work has resumed on the timber sale at Rhododendron State Park. On January 1st the “feller-buncher” (which cuts the trees) moved back on to the project, and to assure its completion this winter, the contractor began work in Unit 2 immediately. This included cutting the area along the Park entrance road, and in the “island” of the entrance road cul-de-sac. As previously, announced, Public access will be restricted during work in Unit 2. Trail access from the Parking Lot is currently closed - until the wood in and around the access road has been skidded to the log yard. We anticipate this begin happen as soon as the skidder returns (in a week or so) – it will take some time to skid the wood, so watch for updates.

For more information on this this project and timber harvesting in State Parks and State Forests, contact Project Forester, Inge Seaboyer at 603-464-3453 or Regional Forester, Scott Rolfe at 603-227-8741.

October 28, 2019

Work has temporarily stopped on the timber sale at Rhododendron State Park has started. On 10/24/19 the logging contractor had to move the “chipper” (which chips tree tops for biomass fuel) off the Park for repairs. With rainy weather predicted they chose to temporarily move to another job. So far about half of the timber sale has been cut; some of the cut trees remain in the woods in “bundles” where the feller buncher cut and stacked them. These bundles will be skidded to the log yard and processed when the equipment returns. The return will depend on weather and ground conditions and may not occur until after December 15th when Unit 2 – including the cutting around the parking lot and Park access road – can occur.

October 1, 2019

Since the last update in April the foresters have marked the sale, hosted a community site walk and contracted the project. This week the contractor moved forestry equipment onto the property and will build the log yard and upgrade an old farm road on the Old Meserve Tract to provide access. One piece of equipment being used is a feller-buncher which cuts trees and piles them in bunches. The trees are then be skidded to a log yard where they are process before being loaded on trucks.

Work on Unit 1, the western 2/3rds of the project area, has started and will continue as long as weather and ground conditions allow. Unit 2, including the cutting around the parking lot and Park access road, will occur after December 15th. Public access will be restricted when Unit 2 begins.

For more information on this this project and timber harvesting in State Parks and State Forests, contact Project Forester, Inge Seaboyer at 603-464-3453 or Regional Forester, Scott Rolfe at 603-227-8741.

April 10, 2019

The Division of Forest and Lands is in the planning stages of a forest management project to improve forest health, wildlife habitat and reduce high risk trees on 84 acres of Rhododendron State Park starting in the fall of 2019. Foresters will soon be marking the trees to be removed.

Much of the forested area is in poor health due to the high density growing conditions, needle cast disease, blister rust fungus as well as broken tops. The results can be seen in the poor crown densities and small crown size throughout the area.

The goal of the harvest is to remove unhealthy trees individually as well as in groups. This will create gaps of light that will allow new tree seedlings to establish as well as existing trees more crown space to thrive. It will also improve species diversity within the project area thus increasing forest resiliency to insects and disease.

The area along the Park entrance road, and in the “island” of the cul-de-sac will also be treated as many of the trees are at high risk to breakage, windthrow or diseased. The project operations in this area will be restricted to winter only and the area will be closed for a short time during the winter while the crew completes the work.