loggers are coming to clear the land behind us

[bigballer]

I didn't run away. I have a day job with no time to check the site. With 60+ responses it will take a while to get through them but will read beginning to end tonight. Looking forward to more commentary.

 

[beppington]

For the record, I am definitely sympathetic: I wouldn't somebody choppin' down all the trees just on the other side of the property line. That's why I offered my long-term buffer strip lease idea.

 

[edlegault]

I grew up in a logging family in Western Washington (I am not a logger). When I see a clear cut, I see beauty. I see the future new trees, the wildlife and the natural changes. Used to be able to slash burn the clear cut area after logging before replanting in new baby trees. That pretty much went away. Now there is a mess and it is ugly, but it is the fault of the environmentalists and the EPA. Log, burn, replant and beauty again in a few years.

BTW, a few years ago I was visiting my mom & dad in western Washington and the next door neighbor was a large timber company. Guess what... they had just clear cut the 6000 adjoining acres to my folks'. Was it ugly? Kinda. But you could sure see the natural topography in a way I had never seen it in all the years I spent growing up there. Now it is all overgrown and needs to be thinned. Then it will make bigger trees and in 20 years or so they will cut it again. The real cycle of life... Remember, timber is a renewable resource.

 

[MikeD74T]

One thing to remember about buffer trees. They all grew up with the other trees & are dependant on the other trees for wind protection also. Often a narrow buffer just gets blown over in a couple of years & no one comes back to clean that mess up because there's not enough to bother with. MikeD74t

 

[Tractor Seabee]

found out today that surveyers were here to mark trees on the forest land adjacent to me. the last cut was 30-35 years ago so i guess the trees are mature enough now to take them to market. i am really upset because the trees are beautiful fir and cedar and they protect us from the strong north and east winds year round as well as runoff and prvide alot of privacy. not to mention we use the trails in the woods all the time for hiking and horseback riding. it's irritating because they own roughly 20,000 acres of land and there are many other areas they could harvest before taking these. don't get me wrong i am not against logging but this time it's too close for comfort! so i am looking for ways (legally) to deter them from moving forward. luckily they are not planning on doing the work until next summer (2013) so i have some time to formulate a plan! does anyone have ideas on how to handle this, is there any upside to this? looking for any advice you can provide or personal experiences with this type of event.

I am one of those WA State timber farmers like your neighbor. I have a logging contract that will start on 18 AC as soon a we get the county permit to install the haul road access off the county road. In WA you are now required to replant (250$/AC out of my pocket) to ensure 250 future nature trees per AC and have a explain how it will be nurtured. The permit requires a 110' buffer along the year round creek which means about $15 K of profit I lose. I have also applied for a timber land tax exemption from the county. That is a 10 year set aside from any other development or use. That app requires a comprehensive timber management plan for the 10 year period and has to be updated upon re-application. That process takes 2 years and is iffy on approval or re-do. Any required changes set you back another year as the review board only meets once a year. In the mean time I am paying taxes on the highest possible use not what it really is used for. I can plan on a lot of loss in that creek buffer area as a lot of those mature trees, standing alone, will probably blow down in the next wind storm.

The previous owners bought this 21 acres for their retirement nestegg when they could have subdivided and sold off housing lots at a lucretive price. Guess what, "Growth Managent Plan" stopped them cold. Now zoning only allows one more dwelling. They had to sell at a loss to get out from under the rising taxes on land not consuming any public resources. I was able to buy it bargin basement pricing when the recession hit.

Growing timber is a business and you want to cut me off from my resource. We work hard at this stuff, spend money, and reap the benefits of the fruits of our labor, and try to be responsible stewards of the enviornment also.

With your attitude you need to work for the government and drone along with the rest of them, you would fit right in helping deny my property rights.

This is what makes us Americans; Free Enterprise.

 

[farmfun]

I must say that I agree with the majority here and glad to know that I'm not alone in my observations.

I've seen way too many situations in which "newbees" attempt to interfere, and in some cases succeed, in changing neighbor land operations that were there first, BEFORE any closing on the new homes. Home buyers usually check on the surrounding land before they buy, but still attempt undue control.

Runoff is a valid concern - but the "HOA Think" is unfortunately yet another thing I look forward to getting away from.

 

[chopped]

A few years ago I faced the same thing.But I relized that It was what it was. The guy logged just onder 100 acres, and what a mess. Att he time I had the state forester come by my place to help me manage mine and he agreed what a mess.But now (10) years later it all come back to growth.So I would be glad if I were you to look at the long term. It doesnt sound as though they are going to keep it leveled out Sound like they will let it grow again.You could have a house sitting over there or many houses.
While I respect people rights ,I find it so interesting where I live, Most near me move her to experience the country and first thing they do is drop trees. they dont like leaves, and then of cource four flood lights on all corners.Not to mention the paving of the quaint dirtroad here.
I joke as it used to be small here and if you didnt wave to everyone on the road your car would look suspicious. Now If you wave to anyone you dont know you look suspicious..
But just consider that they arent putting in a strip mall there and as some have said speak to them possibly they would leave a few on the edge for you if your nice to them.

 

[Marty38]

bigballer should plant his own trees and shrubs. That is what I did.

As did I , after the word was a 67 unit cluster housing project on the back 40 acres abutting mine. Planted 40 or so trees in preparation. Turned out only to be 3 houses at the far end of the other property. They ran into huge issues with wetlands and streams. Went I'm cutting in my land , cut 2 plant 4. Covers my butt.

 

[20 20]

A little off topic, but I really enjoy reading the few post on those that feel trees would not grow tall or survive without human intervention. That's right we are all gods and without us the planet would spiral off its axis and crash into the sun :laughing: :laughing:

 

[TripleR]

A little off topic, but I really enjoy reading the few post on those that feel trees would not grow tall or survive without human intervention. That's right we are all gods and without us the planet would spiral off its axis and crash into the sun :laughing: :laughing:

I did not take the posts that way, just information on forestry management. Your end goals are going to dictate human intervention or a hands off policy.

We intervened when we took about fifty acres out of row crop production where cash crop rent is $150 per acre and up and put trees in. By selecting a variety of hardwoods and conifers along with thinning in the future. We tried the hands off approach and the trees are just too close and vines are taking over in some places.

On about 150 acres of fairly mature trees, we don't do anything.