COLUMBUS, OH - Thousands of acres of southern Ohio woodlands suffered heavy damage from a February ice storm and state foresters are encouraging landowners to plan now to salvage downed trees, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
Woodland owners may want to contact a professional forester and even consider contracting with a master logger to properly harvest severely damaged trees before they deteriorate, said John Dorka, chief of the ODNR Division of Forestry. Even broken and uprooted trees may still have value to landowners. However, that value may decline within a year.
State foresters have received reports of damaged trees in Adams, Gallia, Jackson, Lawrence, Meigs and Scioto counties.
ODNR service foresters are available to provide landowners with suggestions on how to manage ice-damaged woodlots. Service forester phone numbers can be obtained by calling 1-877-691-8733 or visiting the ODNR web site at ohiodnr.com
While many trees with broken limbs or crown damage will survive, those with more than 75 percent crown damage often suffer disease or insect damage and lowered timber value, said Dorka.
Foresters also caution that heavily-damaged woods can sometimes be hazardous to walk in, especially during heavy winds.
The ODNR Division of Forestry offers technical advice to private landowners interested in managing their property for wildlife, recreation and timber production.
An informational meeting about ice-damage woods will be held March 20 at 6:30 p.m., at the Lucasville Valley High School in Scioto County, 1821 SR 728. ODNR foresters and OSU Extension will provide information on assessing forest damage, safety and liability issues; resources for management advice and lists of master loggers. For more information about this meeting, contact OSU Extension at 740-354-7879. Additional information can be found at woodlandstewards.osu.edu/ which includes several fact sheets on ice-damaged trees.