Downed Timber Removal Program is Lifesaver to Mendenhall Landowner

Mr. James B. Sykes, Landowner, Simpson County, Mississippi

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) was granted authority under the Defense Appropriations/Emergency Supplemental Act to begin processing applications filed in the local USDA-NRCS Field Offices for cost-share assistance for removal of downed timber and debris under the Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP).

The purpose of the Downed Timber Removal program includes mitigating wildfire hazard pursuant to Hurricane Katrina; improving forest stand health, improving or sustaining timber production, and improving wildlife habitat, recreation, aesthetics, and hydrologic conditions.  Reimbursement provided to non-industrial forest landowners is based on 75 percent cost-share not to exceed $150.00 per acre.

Mr. James B. Sykes, Mendenhall, Mississippi, attests proof-positive that the NRCS-EWP Downed Timber Removal Program is helping him to restore his family's source of livelihood to its pre-Katrina productivity.

"The Downed Timber Program has been a real life saver to my family," Mr. Sykes said as he shook my hand during a recent visit."It's been one of the best programs to ever come along, and we are thankful for this much needed assistance," he added.

Mr. Sykes manages about 2,500 acres of family-owned forestland located in north-central Simpson County, Mississippi. About 25% of the land is forested to native bottomland hardwoods and the remainder is intensively managed for pine sawlog production.

Pines stand ages from about 10 to 22 years old.  The oldest of his pines were established during the first Conservation Reserve Program sign-up. Prior to establishing pines, the family produced soybeans on these same sites. Mr. Sykes has tended to his timber each day since the trees were planted.

Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc to the Sykes Family's timber.  Pine plantations that had recently been thinned and hardwood sawtimber in the bottoms were especially vulnerable to the horrific winds.  The effects were devastating.

Mr. Sykes said it took several days of sawing felled trees just to drive to his gate. He began tending to his beloved timberland immediately, wasting no time in getting the chainsaws going. He later purchased a used hydro ax for felling snags and leaning trees; a hydraulic grapple for skidding felled timber from damaged stands with his tractor.

He assessed his timber damage, met with several registered foresters to develop a recovery plan and is working hard to ensure productivity of residual stems. Per the contract registered forester, Mr. Sykes was approved for 1747 acres of downed timber removal, 61,500 feet of firebreaks and 515 acres of prescribed burning.

"I've been working since the minute the winds let up and still have a long way to go," Mr. Sykes confided. "The EWP Downed Timber Program has been a real big help," he said.

Contributed by: Ramey Russell, Area 2 Forester, Pearl, MS

Back to Mississippi Homepage