Earlier this month, at the request of Tyrone Borough Council, Chris Jones of the Department of Conservation of Natural Resources addressed the governing body about a forestry management plan for the municipality’s watershed.
Jones, who works for the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry, explained to council how such a plan would work.
The plan is estimated to cost in the vicinity of $5,000. Grant money is available which might cover about 75 percent of the money needed. Interim Borough Manager Sharon Dannaway said the grant would be available through DCNR. She said if the project went forward the borough would then have to look at what funds are available to cover the portion not paid for by the grant.
Dannaway said the purpose of the plan would be “to protect our watershed for future generations.”
Jones provided a list of foresters that are approved by his agency for the borough to contact about the project.
“We have placed calls to foresters and are waiting to hear back so we can do some interviews,” said Dannaway yesterday.
She said three foresters have been contacted and they will be asked to bring along previous plans they have worked on so the borough can do a comparison before deciding on a forester.
Dannaway was asked if the borough would use the plan for the watershed for the purpose of making money through timbering efforts. She said it would depend on what the forester recommends. She said the goal is to use “the best management practices” recommended by the plan once it’s in place.
Dannaway said the watershed had been used in the past for timbering.
When Jones addressed council, he noted the project (4,000 acres) would be the largest stewardship plan he had knowledge of being done. He explained a plan wouldn’t necessarily be needed to make money through timbering. However, such a plan would be recommended for conservation of the forestry resources. Jones offered to provide his services at no charge.
The watershed is comprised of land owned by the borough located in Snyder Township.
During the Feb. 7 meeting, the borough’s water department head, Gary Barr, recommended the borough should consider the stewardship plan.
Dannaway said she hoped to conduct the interviews with the potential foresters on March 1 and then follow up with council during one of its scheduled March meetings.
