State Representative Paul Sherrell has scheduled a meeting with TWRA to answer questions about a proposed cutting at the Bridgestone-Firestone Centennial Wilderness.
The meeting will be on October 4th at the Sparta Civic Center at 6:00 p.m.
“We need to try and get some truth out of this to exactly what they are intending of cutting, so the people will know what they are wanting to cut as far as hardwood,” Sherrell said.
According to TWRA, two areas equaling 340 acres of closed canopy forest would be transformed into a savanna primarily for quail habitat. Sherrell said several constituents have voiced concerns of walking trails, hunting grounds and hardwood trees disappearing.
Sherrell said an alternative option people want explored is moving the cutting across the Polly Branch Creek to leave hardwood populations alone.
“If we have other property in this 20,000 acres, if they can do this quail habitat, I’m not against what they’re wanting to do,” Sherrell said. “If they want to do it across the river where the pines is no good, let’s do it over there instead of taking all these hardwoods that these people wants to keep. This is right beside of a beautiful place which is Welch Point. It is right beside our Virgin Falls facility.”
While the cutting is primarily to create quail habitat, other species of animals and hunting will also benefit over time, according to TWRA.
The proposed cutting will occur at 130 acres north of Polly Branch Creek, and 190 acres to the south near Scott Gulf Road. About 40 percent of the cutting will result in woodlands where about 40 percent of trees are retained.
For the quail habitat, about two trees per acre will be left with all short leaf pine trees maintained.
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