Hemlock Conservation Areas
Key stands of Hemlocks on public land (national
forests, state parks, recreation areas, etc.) are being treated with carefully managed programs of
chemical and/or biological controls. The treatment plan adopted by
the U.S. Forest Service (shown in the map and chart below) is officially called
“Alternative 4 – Modified Proposed Action.” This alternative
uses releases of predator beetles that eat Hemlock woolly adelgids to establish
long-term population control and Imidacloprid treatment to maintain genetic
reserves of Hemlocks in 144 USFS-designated Hemlock Conservation Areas covering
19,710 acres. Here is information from the Environmental Assessment
performed by the U. S. Forest Service.
"Under this plan, first priority areas are: (1)
the genetic conservation network; (2) habitat for PETS and locally rare species;
and (3) foreground area along the Appalachian Trail within the mapped treatment
area at Three Forks on the Toccoa Ranger District." PETS is an acronym for
Proposed, Endangered, and Threatened Species under the Endangered Species Act
pf 1973 and also includes species on the Regional Forester’s Sensitive species list.
"Identification of PETS and locally rare
species habitat or AT foreground as first priority does not automatically
mean that the conservation design will be altered in those situations to treat
more or different area than described in the alternative description.
However, real-time, site-specific information in these situations will be
considered under the new information or changed conditions procedure for NEPA
(National Environmental Policy Act of 1969)implementation."
"Remaining areas are identified as second level
priorities. These are of some degree of importance but are not necessary to a
genetic conservation design nor needed as habitat for species of special
concern: (1) scenic viewsheds from public viewpoints, (2) potential old growth,
(3) dispersed recreation areas, and (4) private land viewsheds."
The map below shows the Hemlock Conservation Areas
being (or to be) treated, and the chart that follows indicates the name,
treatment method(s), and number of acres for each. You may click on the
map for a larger image.
Click here for the full text of the
Environmental
Assessment on which the treatment plan is based.
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Treatment Area Details of Alternative 4



Note: In the chart
above, Forest Types are: 4 = white pine – hemlock, 5 = hemlock, 8 =
hemlock – hardwood, 41 = cove hardwood – white pine – hemlock.
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