Maryland's Forest Stewardship Educator
Spring 1995
Vol. 3. No.1
Streamside Forests
A Vital Resource
W
hen settlers first explored the Maryland area,
they found a landscape dominated by forest.
Within the Chesapeake drainage, nearly 35
percent of these forests have been cleared for timber,
agriculture and development, with much ofthe loss
occurring along rivers and streams close to the Chesapeake Bay. These losses have contributed to the loss of
water quality of the Chesapeake Bay and other water
bodies in Maryland.
The area along a stream or other waterway is known
as the "riparian zone. " This area varies in width and
includes the stream banks, wetlands, and floodplains along
the waterway. Forests in riparian zones perform many
beneficial functions. They filter excess nutrients and
sediment from surface runoff and shallow groundwater,
help stabilize shorelines and reduce erosion, and help
moderate the severity of floods. Overall, nutrient and
sediment runoff is lower from forested lands than from
other land uses. (Figure 1)
Streamside forests are vital to the aquatic food chain.
They provide food for many aquatic organisms in the
form of fruit, leaves, limbs, and insects that drop from the
canopy. They also shade the stream, maintaining a lower
water temperature in the summer and a higher temperature in the winter, making the stream usable by many fish
and other organisms. Additionally, larger debris that falls
COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND AT COLLEGE PARK
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE
in the water provides shelter and breeding areas for fish
and other organisms.
Riparian forests usually have a greater variety of
wildlife than adjacent upland forests. Turtles, ducks,
otters, muskrats, and water snakes, as well as deer,
rabbits, and raccoons thrive in riparian forests that also
Figure 1 - Nutrient & sediment pollution from different
land uses
Sediment
Nutrients
3500 r;::::::::::============:::;:::===~-----~ 2
(_Nitrogen _Phosphorus IIi!!!lSediment)
3000
1.5
2500
2000
1500
1000
0.5
500
o
Forestry
Urban/suburban
Pasture
Cropland
o
serve as important travel corridors for migration and
movement of wildlife.
Riparian forests also are protected more strongly
under federal and state laws than upland forests. All
wetlands are protected federally. In addition, state
regulations for timber harvests call for erosion and
sediment control measures and other restrictions on
harvesting in riparian zones.
Streamside forests can be beneficial to landowners.
continued on page 2
Renewable Resources
Extension Act (RREA)
They provide important financial and recreational opportunities including hunting, fishing, birdwatching, and
hiking. A landowner may lease hunting privileges or
trapping rights, or sell the trees for timber, firewood, or
pulp.
Establishing a Buffer
What can you do as a landowner to establish a
forested buffer on a stream that runs through your land?
If the land is already forested, the solution is relatively
easy -- maintain the existing forest by minimizing disturbance. Ifharvesting is done, regulations usually require
that you maintain adequate canopy cover and use best
management practices.
If no forest exists alongside the stream, you should
first consider what your objectives are for the land.
Establishing a buffer may be as simple as fencing off the
stream to prevent deer or livestock from foraging on the
stream bank and allowing the vegetation to regenerate
na,turally. If you decide to plant trees, contact your local
forester for advice on species selection, width of the
buffer, and deer protection strategies. In some areas, a
grass buffer may be more appropriate for the location
and to meet landowner objectives.
The Stewardship Incentive Program (SIP) and the
Buffer Incentive Program (BIP) will pay much of the
cost of establishing forest buffers on private land. Your
local forester can provide more information on these
programs. The publication Riparian Forest Buffers
offers excellent scientific and practical information on
forest buffers. Copies are available from your local
Extension Service office or forester.
•
Planting Crops For Wildlife
Come spring, many landowners desire to plant (..;wps
that will enhance habitat for wildlife. Consideration
should be given to planting crops in areas that wildlife
prefer, controlling pests, matching crops to the si~e, ~nd,
perhaps most important, matching crops to the wtldhfe
species you wish to attract.
Crops can serve as both food and cover for wildlife.
Some common crops include com, soybeans, sorghum,
millets, rice, small grains, legumes, grasses, and sunflowers.
Forspecific information on how to plant crops and
things to consider, the fact sheet Planting Crops for
Wildlife (FS598) is available at your local Cooperative
Extension Service office. It is part of a series of 17
wildlife management fact sheets that can be purchased
•
for the nominal fee of$10.
page 2
OhDeer!
Many landowners establish hardwood and pine plantations with the thought of someday having a forest. Unfortunately, these visions can easily be dashed if deer damage
control is not considered during plantation establishment.
Deer control involves a combination of one or more of
the following elements: population management (hunting),
fencing or physical barriers, repellants, and/or vegetation
management. The use of repellants, fencing, or physical
barriers such as tree shelters are the most common method
of ensuring plantation establishment.
Most deer browsing occurs in the winter and early
spring when other foods are not available. To be effective,
repellants must be applied before deer are feeding in the
area, so that the taste and/or odor compels them to go
elsewhere. Seedlings can be dipped in a deer repellent that
should give control for 4-6 weeks. Be aware, however, that
if the deer pressure is severe, no repellent may be effective.
Tree shelters have been used effectively to protect
hardwood seedlings from browsing and increase early
height growth. However, their high cost rarely allows the
protection of more than 100 trees per acre.
Another option for small plantations of three acres and
possibly more is the use of a temporary baited fence. Two
strands of polywire are strung between posts at heights of
36" and 24". Aluminum flags are folded over the wire and
baited with peanut butter attracting deer in the area. The
polywire is a plastic filament wire interwoven with strands
of stainless steel that carries a charge from an electric
charger. Deer receive a shock and quickly learn to avoid
the area. While the fence does require maintenance to
work, it is relatively simple to install and commercial kits are
available.
For more information, contact your local Cooperative
Extension office for the fact sheet, Comparison of Deer
Protection Options for Small Plantations (WMREC~.
.
Commitment to
the Future
John Pfaff and Francis Bollinger are the type of
landowners that make the task of writing forest management plans and promoting forest stewardship rewarding
for a forester. With their hearts and minds in the right
place, they are willing to back up their beliefs with hard
work ... and hard cash.
John and Francis purchased their Allegany County
property in 1990,
the same year the
Forest Steward\ '.
ship Program
was born via the
Farm Bill. John
says, "Believe it
or not, we bought
the property
sight-unseen at
an auction." He
and Francis originally attended the auction to buy
equipment, but with the equipment in poor shape, the
property seemed a better buy. They were looking for a
place to hunt and spend time outdoors with their friends
and families. " It was a bit of a gamble," John admits,
"but it paid off."
John and Francis are both hunters and outdoorsman
with a strong tie to conservation through a farming
background. In fact, Francis proudly proclaims, "I sleep
every night on the same farm, in the same house, in the
same room I was born in." Both adhere to strong a
"stewardship ethic" that includes maintaining and improving the resource for the benefit of themselves and
the future of the 10 children they have betWeen them.
They asked the Maryland Forest Service for management assistance and in late 1993, a Forest Stewardship Plan was completed by the forester and stewardship biologist. Since then, they have made significant
achievements, improving roads, stopping erosion
problems, and enhancing water quality by installing
culverts and water diversion devices. Wildlife food and
brood habitat have been enhanced by the establishment
of two permanent openings planted with grasses and
grains and the development of two natural water holes.
Fifteen acres of hardwoods have been thinned (with
more to follow) to improve timber growth, mast production, tree regeneration and wildlife cover. Several
unique ecological communities have been set-aside as
natural areas and buffers designated around springs and
streams. The property is monitored for gypsy moth
infestation, and access for forest fire control is maintained.
John and Francis both speak highly of the Forest
Stewardship Program and Stewardship Incentive Program that have provided technical and cost-share assistance. Their practiced Commitment to the Future is what
stewardship is all about.
..
Seeking Cooperators
Every spring for the past 5 years, the Coverts Project
has sought woodland owners who have an interest in
forests. wildlife. and conservation to attend its fall training
workshop. The Maryland Cooperative Extension Service
and the Ruffed Grouse Society sponsor this program which
teaches how good forest management can make wildlife
more abundant, healthy and diverse while improving timber
growth and aesthetics.
Thirty participants will be chosen for the three day
training workshop in September. They will learn general
forestry and wildlife management principles through indoor
and outdoor activities. In exchange for this free training,
participants are asked to share what they have learned with
others in !heir communities using a "neighbor helping
neighbor" approach. If you are interested in receiving an
application and information about the fall workshop, contact
your local Extension office or the Coverts Project, Maryland Cooperative Extension Service, 18330 Keedysville Rd.,
Keedysville, MD 21756, (301)432-2735. ..
---------------------------------------------------------------- page 3
Ecosystem Management
Videoconference
Forest Stewardship Program Accomplishments - In 1994, the Maryland Forest Stewardship Program prepared management plans on 29,936
acres of forestland for private landowners. This exceeded
the target of26,500 acres. In addition, the Stewardship
Incentive Program (SIP) provided $78,184 in cost share
funds to 235 private landowners, affecting 1,783 acres.
Nine stewardship practices are approved under SIP. For
more information about SIP practices, contact your local
forester.
Forestry Service Charges - Due to
bigger
budget reductions, many forestry services previously
provided free to landowners by the Maryland Forest
Service will have a fee attached. The cost of developing
a forest stewardship plan will be: $175 for 5 to 25 acres;
$200 for 26 to 50 acres; and $225 for over 50 acres.
There will also be fees for marking timber stand improvement, planting site evaluation and coordination, tax plan
inspection, and other services. All charges took effect
Aprill, 1995.
Maryland Cooperative Extension Service
18330 Keedysville Road
Keedysville, MD 21756
If/ol.
1
~Recycled
\V Paper
A free satellite videoconference entitled Management
of Forest Ecosystems: Assessing New Opportunities will
be held on Saturday, May 20, 1995 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30
p.m .. This conference, presented by the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, and sponsored by many state
organizations, is designed to help landowners learn more
about ecosytem-based management. Topics include the
value of private forest lands to the future of forestry, an
explanation of ecosystem-based management, case study
examples of cross-ownership management, and a discussion
of what the nonindustrial private landowner can do, as well
as a live question/answer session with experts.
This conference will be downlinked at four locations: the
Western Maryland Res. & Ed. Ctr., Keedysville; Garrett
Comm. Col., McHenry; Harford Comm. Col., Bel Air; and
the Wye Res. & Ed. Ctr., Queenstown. For more information on site locations and registration contact the editor.
Non-Profit Org.
u.s. Postage
PAID
Pennit No. 10
College Park, MD