FARRAGUT: Well-managed by experts

Mike Lee is at it again.

What experience have you had to judge proper management of forest lands? I would guess about as much as that which you depended on for the development of the book for raising children. Whatever happened to that book? Have you been trained in the management of birds, such as parasitic cow birds and starlings? What experience and training have you had on health and fire management of forest lands? What experience have you had to judge proper tree spacing for a healthy stand of trees? Where did you get the "70 percent of the forest is being cut down and grinding every living thing into the forest floor?" That is a very misleading lie.

The treatment being applied will provide mulch and improve soil conditions for residual trees and reforesting the area. This will also accomplish a much needed reduction in the existing fire hazard. A natural stand of lodgepole pine often has more than 3,000 stems per acre. This is equivalent to more than one tree in a square of 3.8-by-3.8 foot (16 square feet) forest area. Removal of 70 percent of this stand would result in a residual of one tree per 7-by-7 foot (49 square feet) forest area. Otherwise there would be more than 900 residual trees per acre.

This is still too many trees to maintain a healthy stand of timber. Dense understory stands of trees create ladder fuels for fire to reach the overstory crowns resulting in near uncontrollable forest fire conditions. Farragut State Park is at a high risk for protection of all the valuable forest resources.

Farragut State Park is a valuable scenic and recreational area. It also receives extensive use by people of all ages with varied recreational objectives. Vehicles of all sizes and types travel within and through the park. These are all potential fire hazards and increase the risk of fire that can destroy all living things within a burned area. Animals, birds and vehicles bring the noxious weed seed and plant parts to the park. Dense vegetation, including noxious weeds, increases the risk of fire. Add Mother Nature's lightning and we have a very high potential for catastrophic fire occurring.

Park managers are doing an outstanding job of management of the park. You ignorant people should stay out of their hair. They need support, not this misleading crap.

RALPH WHEELER

Spirit Lake