Any kind of recourse for land getting logged behind me?

[forgeblast]

The Clearcutting Controversy -- Myths and Facts is a good article,
I was in a class on forest management, we traveled to a few different logging sites. The loggers were working with a forester and the forester would discuss
their practices. Leaving "tree waste" ie the tops of the trees etc will allow the seedlings to have some protection from white tail deer. Around us they eat everything down, if you do not fence them out you have to add some type of protection.
It may look like a mess but it also might be the best way to grow the forest back.

 

[DHD]

The land (15-20ac) directly behind me is getting logged. We (neighbors and I) found out today they are just cutting pines, but that the loggers doing the work are notorious in this area for leaving the jobsite without replanting or cleaning up.

Obviously, this is going to be a huge eyesore as well a ding our property values (we were planning on selling in the next few years).

Is there any kind of approach to this situation that could help us out? I'm not trying to start a war, or be a lousy neighbor, but I feel that I need to do something to prevent this operation from leaving the property in such a mess.

Is there any kind of law in Virginia that says they have to clean and replant? How would you guys approach the situation?

Could you post some photos of the mess this logger is leaving ?

 

[joecoin]

Good god, I'm not trying to tell him to do what he wants with his land. I'm trying to see if I have any recourse to make sure the logger cleans up his mess.

I agree, his land, do what he wants with it. But I feel as if the logger should clean up his mess, and from what I've heard about this particular one...it sounds like he wont, hence my question.

Who are you to try and tell the logger how to run his business?? Just kidding.

Maybe check up on the logger, Better Business Bureau (I know), State/Local Agencies that handle complaints? It seems as though all you have is hearsay about the logger. Try to contact some of his previous victims (errr, customers) and find out how bad he really is.

 

[teg]

Good god, I'm not trying to tell him to do what he wants with his land...

They can leave the area a mess... Are there streams or watersheds? Those can be protected... I would contact these guys and find out what they say...
Forestry | Roanoke County | Virginia |

 

[Walkin Horse]

The land (15-20ac) directly behind me is getting logged. We (neighbors and I) found out today they are just cutting pines, but that the loggers doing the work are notorious in this area for leaving the jobsite without replanting or cleaning up.

Obviously, this is going to be a huge eyesore as well a ding our property values (we were planning on selling in the next few years).

Is there any kind of approach to this situation that could help us out? I'm not trying to start a war, or be a lousy neighbor, but I feel that I need to do something to prevent this operation from leaving the property in such a mess.

Is there any kind of law in Virginia that says they have to clean and replant? How would you guys approach the situation?

I don't think he is trying to be a nosey neighbor or butt in. He is asking if there are some guidelines that need to be followed BY LAW to ease the mess that is enevitably going to be left behind. Whether it's to protect his " pristine views" or to watch out for his 90 yo nieghbor.
I read some of the code that was posted and it's hard to figure out what applies in this situation without more info. If there is a law that protects the land from scalping then it needs to be enforced just like a BUILDING CODE should be enforced. ( see other posts as to why they should be enforced).
If any of you have ever actually seen how terrible a logger can treat the land and surrounding areas, and I knoww there's some of you who have seen it. Then I think you would understand his question without the bs.

They logged right across from my drive 4 years ago. Made a big ugly mess cutting a road in. I went over and ask them if they could push the stumps back to the slash pile out of site somewhat. Nope we do exactly what the state makes us do.
Now when I see loggers on our road I watch. If they track mud out I call. If they don't put gravel down 50 feet back I call. I once caught a guy driving a dozen on the freshly paved road. I saw a log truck several times take signs out. Why should we have to drive thru their messes while they and some absentee owner enjoy the profits without having to fix anything they tear up.

 

[DennisArrow]

This is another example of folks that move to a rural setting who expect others to perform up to their citified standards. All must look like a country club golf course or else it is ruined. These folks, including the OP, have no right to try to change things to meet THEIR wants or needs. Glad that so many folks on HERE are standing up to what is right and that the OP is back pedaling as fast as he can to try to fit in with the STANDARDS here..........

Totally burns me up for the yups to move in and try to change things to their way. Even trespassing to "clean things up" onto property that is left alone by absentee property owners..........
One of these kind of folks near me for awhile did neighbors a "favor" by bush hogging their 10 acres that he was next to..........made it look like a golf course like he kept his place. Maybe even all one piece of land...HIS..............THEN folks wondered what happened to the critters that used to use the pond and water on that property...........lolol........now, this person has been stopped from doing that by the owner and the quail, turkey, and deer are back now that there is cover............God bless......Dennis

 

[ShowroomShine]

The "mess" I'm referring to would be rutting, mud, brush piles that haven't been chipped etc. I've taken a forestry course at State, and I'm well aware of the general idea of how a logging site should be left. I also work with loggers in my job (I sell tree chippers among other heavy equipment), so I've got that insight as well.

I'm also not an idiot, a yankee, an HOA lover, nosy or any of the other things I've been called in this thread (nor am I backpedaling Dennis). I'm merely concerned about the damage and unkept nature of the adjacent land after a fly-by-night logger tears it up. In no way am I trying to control the loggers, or what happens on his land, I'm simply looking at the options I have *if* the logger leaves a giant mess (see above for definition of mess).

You guys think this is a joke, I feel the opposite. This is serious, I bought a home in the Virginia mountains specifically for the view, and yes I'm upset that view is about to become more barren and cut. You guys are the ones that must be joking if you think you wouldn't feel some sort of emotion same if the land beside you suddenly became a barren logged tract. Yes it may be great for deer, and yes I know it will grow back, but in the meantime a logged tract is by no means as pleasing to look at vs. a forested tract.

Thank you to the few that have provided clear and educated responses.

 

[oosik]

When I had my land selectively logged they left what could be called a "mess" - I guess. Large, deep ruts from tires & tracks - brush piled here/there - I was, at first, upset. Then my property when thru an entire season and - you know what - the ruts began self healing, the brush piles became homes for the many flocks of quail on the property, young pines began growing where the old were fallen. I went out with my tractor and graded/leveled/filled all the remaining ruts and now - many years later - mother nature has repaired all of this and all is well once again.

ShowroomShine - - You have seriously misled yourself if you think all the land surrounding yours will forever be like a park. People have needs that will require the land be harvested and if you want to live in a park - - well, I guess you better be prepared to purchase more land.

It really grinds on me when folks from the city come to the country and expect country folks to bend to their wishes. If you don't like country ways - - PLEASE, stay in the city.

And - I don't thinks that this is any kind of a joke either - - I'm dead serious!!

 

[Silvic]

I am not an expert on a state that is 3000 miles away but would think with the woodlands you have that there is an equivalent to DNR (Dept. of Natural Resources)
We have different forestry management practices that apply to all forestry operations. They come in different divisions/type of practice, so to speak, depending upon what a land owner is planning to do. Type I to IV.

You may have the same. I did not review the provided links as they are not my state standards.

Here the FMP's detail pretty well lots of stuff on logging ops and unless you are developing the land it must be replanted IAW a specified practice in a set period.

Look/contact your equivalent DNR state folks for details on what standards must be followed and bring violations of those standards to the attention of said state foresters, They should be pretty proactive if there are violations.
Other than that not much more you can do.

 

[EddieWalker]

Okay folks, the OP has responded not to clarify, but to restate his question which was and still is "Does he have any recourse if the logger, who has a reputation for doing sub standard work, leaves a mess" (paraphrased).

From what I read, He isn't trying to stop the neighbor from logging the property. Probably enough piling on has been done telling him to mind his own business about what the neighbor wants to do with his land.

What is sub standard? If you hire a logger to cut down and sell the timber on the land you own, then it is up to the land owner to decide as to what degree the logging company cleans up the land after they are done. Not the neighbor. If you want to make as much money as possible on "your" land, then you let the logging company do it how they want. If your goal is to thin the timber, open up a pasture or whatever it is that you want to do, then you tell the logging company that realizing the check you get from your timber is going to be less depending on the additional work you ask of them. This is all pretty basic stuff which has nothing to do what the neighbor wants.

How many of you who want to tell the neighbor what to do will be willing to make less money on your timber so the guy next door gets to have the view he wants of your land?

As for the OP, if you are planning on living there long term, then this is just a temporary thing and in a year or two, the land will start growing back and probably offer a nicer view then you already have. The best part is you will be past this and not have to deal with it for the rest of your life.

All this is assuming that the logging company does not violate any laws. If they cross the fence, or do some environmental damage, then that's a different animal all together. Worrying about what might or might not happen before it happens just causes a lot of stress that doesn't need to be there.

Eddie