Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry Annual Work Plan For Athens District State Forests For the Period of 2020/2021 December 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021 Prepared By: Approved By: Stephen Rist, District Manager Daniel Balser, State Forester August 25, 2020 Contents I. District Overview ................................................................................................................... 1 History & Description ......................................................................................................................... 1 II. Resource Management ......................................................................................................... 2 Silvicultural Practices Timeline: ....................................................................................................... 2 Prescription Cruising: ........................................................................................................................ 3 Timber Sale Marking: ......................................................................................................................... 3 Stumpage Sales: ................................................................................................................................. 7 Forest Product Sales: ........................................................................................................................ 8 Invasive Species and Timber Stand Improvement: ........................................................................ 8 Boundary: ............................................................................................................................................ 8 Zones: .................................................................................................................................................. 8 Insects & Disease: .............................................................................................................................. 9 Utilization & Marketing: ................................................................................................................... 10 Research: ............................................................................................................................................ 9 Tree planting:………………………………………………………………………………………..………10 High Conservation Value Forest Monitoring: ................................................................................ 11 Minerals: ............................................................................................................................................ 11 Certification: ..................................................................................................................................... 11 III. Maintenance ......................................................................................................................... 11 Buildings: .......................................................................................................................................... 11 Roads and Bridges: ......................................................................................................................... 12 Mowing: ............................................................................................................................................. 12 Signage: ............................................................................................................................................ 13 Dams: ................................................................................................................................................. 13 Hazard Trees: .................................................................................................................................... 13 IV. Recreation ............................................................................................................................ 14 Hiking Trails: ..................................................................................................................................... 14 Bridle Trails: ...................................................................................................................................... 15 Campgrounds: .................................................................................................................................. 15 APV Areas: ........................................................................................................................................ 16 Shooting Ranges: ............................................................................................................................. 17 V. Wildland Fire ........................................................................................................................ 17 Suppression: ..................................................................................................................................... 17 Prevention: ........................................................................................................................................ 18 Prescribed Fire: ................................................................................................................................ 18 Interagency Fire Crew: ..................................................................................................................... 19 Training: ............................................................................................................................................ 19 Fire Department Contacts: .............................................................................................................. 19 Community Wildfire Risk Reduction:…………………………………………………………………...19 FEPP/FFP: ......................................................................................................................................... 19 Grants: ............................................................................................................................................... 20 Future Opportunities: ...................................................................................................................... 20 VI. Law Enforcement ................................................................................................................ 20 VII. Training ............................................................................................................................ 20 VIII. Public Information/Outreach .......................................................................................... 21 Planned Events: ................................................................................................................................ 21 Partnerships: .................................................................................................................................... 21 Volunteer Groups: ............................................................................................................................ 22 Interpretive Programs: ..................................................................................................................... 22 IX. Budget .................................................................................................................................. 22 Operational Budget: ......................................................................................................................... 22 Revenue: ........................................................................................................................................... 22 X. Safety ........................................................................................................................................ 23 Appendix A - State Forest Map ................................................................................................... 24 Appendix B – 2019-2020 Planning Period, Timber Marking/Proposed Timber Sale Maps ..25 Appendix C – 2019-2020 Planning Period, Proposed Prescribed Fire Maps ......................... 58 Appendix D - Forest Fire Protection Area ................................................................................. 67 I. District Overview History & Description Athens District comprises of state forests in southeastern Ohio. All state forests are managed under the multiple-use concept for timber, wildlife habitat, forestry research and demonstrations of good forest land management, primitive recreation and protection of soil and water quality. During the spring and fall fire seasons, a major objective of the forest organization is to prevent, detect and suppress wildfires that occur on state and private land within the protection district. Land acquisition for state forests began in 1916 and has continued with the accumulation of more than 200,000 acres. The state forests in Athens District were mostly acquired from willing sellers of cutover forests and low-quality farmland. A more complete description and history can be found in the 5-year Forest Management Plan. Not only are these forests a fantastic recreation feature for southern Ohio, but they are also working forests. Each is managed to provide a variety of multiple uses on a sustained yield basis. Timber harvesting, tree planting, wildlife habitat management, forestry research, watershed and soil protection, and many other duties are all in a day's work for forest employees and local businesses. During the spring and fall forest