Fall Timber Thinning At Galbraith Mountain
Using Cutting-Edge Tree Harvesting Methods To Create A Healthier Forest
BELLINGHAM, WA – Galbraith Tree Farm LLC plans to thin roughly 420 acres of Galbraith Mountain starting Thursday, October 15th, 2020. The purpose of this thin is multifold. In light of the devastating fires across the west coast, forest health and fire safety have been at the forefront of our minds. This thinning will aid in the creation of a healthy forest while also addressing a root disease that was recently identified on site.
Timber thinning – the practice of selectively cutting individual trees within a stand – may aid in the development of bigger, healthier trees that are better adapted to a shifting climate while also mitigating fire risk. When the stands grow too densely, and/or older timber is allowed to grow unmanaged, the ability for fire to spread increases. Thinning timber stands is a promising method of managing the land to minimize the risk of wildfires and subsequently promote a more resilient forest. Timber thinning in this area need only occur every 10 years, meaning that this block will remain relatively untouched following the current operations.
A recent analysis of the timber health revealed the presence of laminated root rot in several stands. Laminated root rot is a disease impacting the roots of the trees which slowly spreads to the remainder of the tree as well as the surrounding trees. It is imperative to harvest these stands before the rot spreads beyond the roots and causes permanent damage to the timber. As such, a total of 40 acres will be cleared to salvage the existing timber and eliminate the root rot. These cleared areas will be small, averaging less than two acres each in size.
Once the diseased areas are cleared, they will be replanted with disease-resistant trees, diversifying the forest and ultimately improving the overall absorption of carbon. Optimizing carbon absorption in the dying areas of the forest reduces greenhouse gases and could reduce the impact of climate change. While this timber harvest will create a temporary inconvenience, the long-term benefits of a healthy, resilient forest, with increased carbon sequestration and reduced fire risk, are worth it.
Janicki Logging Company (JLC) will be harvesting the timber and will work closely with the Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition (WMBC) and the City of Bellingham to make sure trails are posted closed for the safety of the recreation community. The affected routes will be reopened as soon as they are safe to use again. The harvest will take approximately 16 weeks.
For the latest updates on impacts to trail access, visit www.wmbcmtb.org.
About Janicki Logging Company: Based in Sedro-Woolley, WA, Janicki Logging Company began providing forest management, logging, and construction services throughout northwest Washington state in 1957. Over the decades, JLC has earned a reputation as one of the northwest’s leading sustainable forestry consultants, providing services beyond timber cutting. JLC has been managing and harvesting designated timber lands on North Lookout Mountain (aka, Galbraith Mountain) since 2011 and looks forward to implementing the more sustainable forestry practices the Galbraith Tree Farm, LLC owners are pursuing.
Contact: David Janicki
Email: david@janickilogging.com
Phone: (360) 826-8808
**This article was initially posted on www.galbraithtreefarm.com by The RJ Group. It was updated on 1/19/23 with a correction to a bad link, a minor grammatical error, and an updated point of contact.