LAND BETWEEN THE LAKES, KY/TN - August 31, 2016 - Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area continues their efforts to clean up after [cid:image018.png@01D2036B.1923DB50] the devastating storm in July with a proposed timber salvage sale. The proposed Birmingham Ferry Salvage Sale project will take place in the area of Forest Service roads 114, 117, and 118. Comments on the sale are due on or before September 30, 2016, to Land Between the Lakes. The complete scoping letter can be found at http://www.landbetweenthelakes.us/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/BirminghamFerryScopingLtr.pdf or through their project page at https://www.landbetweenthelakes.us/stewardship/land-resource-management/projects/project_detail/?project=50100. According to Tina Tilley, Area Supervisor of Land Between the Lakes, the storm impacted an estimated 230 acres. "With the proposed salvage sale," states Tilley, "we want to remove dead, damaged, and dying trees along the tornado's path in 120 of the 230 acres impacted. By acting quickly we can reduce large concentrations of woody debris to decrease the likelihood of insect outbreaks and wildfire." Comments can be sent to Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, c/o Birmingham Ferry Salvage Sale, 100 Van Morgan Drive, Golden Pond, Kentucky 42211 or via email to comments-southern-land-between-lakes@fs.fed.us<mailto:comments-southern-land-between-lakes@fs.fed.us>. In an earlier blog update on the damage, the Forest Service identified seven damaged areas where the tornado skipped along from Birmingham Ferry Backcountry Area on Kentucky Lake to Cravens Bay Campground on Lake Barkley. In the project scoping letter, six of these areas have been proposed as timber salvage sites and one recommended as a set aside for education about the natural processes after tornado damage. Plans include environmental educational signage be posted for the public to view the difference between treated and non-treated damaged areas. In addition to the areas along the roadways, the proposal calls for salvageable hazard trees to be sold and other dead or dying trees cut and removed from the Birmingham Ferry Backcountry Area. There the damage lies outside the actual campsites and could remain open to the public. Cravens Bay Campground had to be closed due to the extensive wind damage in the camping area. Cravens Bay reopened Saturday, August 27, after tree and debris removal made it safe again for campers. The latest update on the storm damage can be found at https://www.landbetweenthelakes.us/storm-damage-update-august-9-2016/. For more information on the Birmingham Ferry Salvage Sale proposal, please contact John Westbrook, Environmental Stewardship Manager, at 270-924-2204 or email jdwestbrook@fs.fed.us<mailto:jdwestbrook@fs.fed.us>.
