In response to “Bridgestone/Firestone WMA habitat improvements” published on Sparta’s Expositor’s Spartalive.com and Cookeville’s Herald-Citizen.com. Friday, October 1, 2021.

I hope this increases the turnout at Monday’s meeting.  Below, in italics is the the text of an email that I received on August 30th from TWRA. Note that today’s narrative ALLUDES that they are only cutting 230 acres. Perhaps this is an attempt to reduce turnout at the October 4th meeting. At the end of the 2nd paragraph, TWRA indicates this is the beginning of a cut that will involve a little over 1,000 acres. Whether it takes one day, or 10 years, if you cut decades, perhaps century-old trees; eventually only 2 trees per acre will be left on over 2,000 acres at Bridgestone. At least the narrative admits that TWRA does get to keep the money from the sale of state-owned trees.

If you download the map at SaveTheHardwoods.com, you can see the TWRA supplied map that came with this email. When you turn off Eastland Road, all the trees on the left-hand side of the road will be gone to the Virgin Falls Parking area. As you go out to Welch Point, the trees will be missing on both sides of the road, all the way to Welch Point and down to the Caney Fork River (almost a 4 mile drive.) TWRA plans to maintain this savanna using burns and aerial spraying of herbicides.  Either way, I don’t think the people of Bon Air will be happy about breathing smoke or herbicides. See you Monday, October 4, 6:00 PM, Sparta Civic Center, 514 East Bockman Way, Sparta TN.<

Mr. Bullock:

Sorry for just now getting back to you as I had a fairly busy weekend and also a busy Monday.  Please see attached for a map of the proposed timber harvest area on Bridgestone Firestone WMA as well as some narrative information regarding the timber harvest.  The map attached is in some ways conceptual as precise boundary lines and acreage totals may change.  For example, the current proposed area of 340 acres has changed only late last week to be approximately 290 acres after the foresters conducted their inventory and made boundary adjustments, etc.

Regarding the map (see attached Bridgestone Project Areas Aug2021) Project 1 was completed last year.  This timber harvest was a clearing of an existing loblolly pine plantation with the exception of a 13 acre area of undesirable hardwoods. 

The current timber harvest proposed is Phase 1 of Project 2.  The other projects will come in the years ahead. Typically, it takes us about 2 years to complete a timber sale so completing all phases of Project 2 will most likely take 10 years or longer. 

Please let me know if more information is needed.  I can be reached by the email above or by cell phone at 931-881-7224.

Wally Akins