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Should we cut old growth trees in Hemlock? Important Rochester-area Concern: Grab this week's City (Greater Rochester's Alternative Newsweekly, Volume 31, Number 7, November 7-13, 2001) Pg. 6 What In The Blazes, Hemlock Lake And The Loggers. by Jack Bradigan Spula. In order to understand completely the issue surrounding the old growth forest trees that the city owns around Hemlock Lake and the questions as to whether or not to cull them, you must read this article. "Hugh Mitchell, a leader of the local chapter of the Sierra Club, says his group fears the logging will come with 30 yards of what he calls "The General Sherman Grove" of old-growth hemlocks. The reference is to the General Sherman sequoia in California's National Park." "Basically, we oppose this project," says Mitchell of the Sierra Club. "We oppose any logging in or near old-growth trees." He promises to enlist support from the Sierra Atlantic Chapter, which could draw even more groups in from across New York State." You can make a difference: "The plan isn't carved in stone, says commissioner Ed Doherty. "We're going to be cautious," he says. The public, he says, can submit comments and questions, either to conservation staff based at Hemlock Lake or to City Hall directly."--quote from City. Send your comments or questions to City of Rochester, Department of Environmental Services, 30 Church Street, Room 300B, (716) or phone (585 after Thursday 428-6855) Rochester, New York 14614, Attention: Mr. Ed. Doherty, Commissioner of Environmental Services.
What Kind Of Sustainability?
Questions About the Future of Hemlock
Lake Forest The City of
Rochester owns an old growth forest on the west side of Hemlock Lake. Two
visions for the future of this forest are now under consideration. Both purport to be based on a philosophy of sustainability.
But the question is “What kind of sustainability – economic or
natural?” In 1873, state law
gave Rochester the right to preserve Hemlock and Canadice lakes as the
source for drinking water. Since
then the forests on the steep western side of Hemlock Lake have been untouched.
As a result, this section of the property now contains one of the finest stands
of old growth oaks and hemlocks in western New York.
Several groves, which were isolated from earlier 19th century logging,
contain stands of hemlock documented to be over 250 years old. A few are 400
years old! In 1972 the City
logged many of the reservoir areas but the west side of the Hemlock Lake was
blocked by private land holdings. Now the City has obtained an easement over the
private lands and has constructed an access road reaching into this western
Hemlock forest. This road can be used for logging. Although they claim logging
is a secondary goal of the Forest Management Plan, their plan will essentially
change the forest from old growth to young growth. This will be achieved in small steps by using a type of
logging which yields both immediate revenue and creates conditions for a
sustainable future timber yield. This type logging avoids clear cutting and
leaves patches of the true old growth. Speaking for the
City, Watershed Conservationist Don Root, says that moderate logging will create
“a younger, healthier, more vigorous, fast growing forest” which can be
sustainably logged in the future. But
is this the kind of sustainable future we want for a rare old growth forest? The little-touched
section of Hemlock forest is about half-a-mile wide and approximately 1,958
acres. No one knows exactly how
many acres are true old growth forest. Considering the small size of this forest
and the scarcity of old growth in this part of the country, we need to ask if it
should be traded for a young forest which can be exploited again and again.
Wouldn’t it be better to let this forest manage itself following its own
well-developed sustainability scheme? Most Sierra Club
members would support a sustainable yield of “forest products” as long as
the forest remains unharmed and healthy. But the case of logging in or near old
growth is different. It should be
excluded from the economic equation because it is all that is left of the dream
of Eden which the American continent gave to our ancestors. In the case of the
Hemlock Lake west-side forest, we need to think beyond economics to natural
sustainability. A better answer
would be to use the new road for access to the forest, and develop trails to the ancient hemlock groves so citizens can
witness and appreciate a true old growth forest. I guarantee it is a spiritual
experience to be in the presence of such greatness.
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