Post by leapnlineman on Aug 24, 2008 9:29:36 GMT -1
History and Scope of Allatoona Tree Cutting Program
In the fall of 2006 a plan was conceived to help improve the largemouth habitat and soil erosion problem at Lake Allatoona. This plan was developed through ideas discussed between Mike Bucca, Jim Hakala (Ga. Dept. Natural Resources) and Terrell Stoves (U.S. Corp of Engineers). They determined that through the help of local fishermen to provide labor that various trees along the shoreline of the lake could be cut and felled towards the lake to provide bass habitat. These trees would primarily be trees that had exposed root systems that would eventually come over on there own if left uncut, therefore eliminating the entailing soil erosion.
The first meeting was held in mid Dec. 2006 when the three of them explained the plan to interested local fishermen and team leaders were then established. Those volunteer leaders were Mike Bucca, Matt Driver, Bruce Miller and Ray Bowin. The leaders then obtained the materials needed to secure the trees to the shoreline, should the tree become completely free of the stump when cut. The C.O.E. and D.N.R. began marking selected trees and compiling maps of those areas. In Jan. 2007 the leaders and members of the U.S.C.O.E. AND D.N.R. met to perform the first tree cutting as a training exercise. The leaders were given letters of permission for the tree cutting, maps of the areas to be cut, first aide supplies, safety guidelines and emergency contact names and phone numbers. One rule is you CAN NOT cut trees without at least ONE team leader present. All of the leaders have been trained on safety procedures and rules put forth by the Corps of Engineer and DNR officials.
The leaders then began organizing tree cuttings by posting cutting dates through www.allatoonabass.com and mattdriverfishing.forumup.us/. We usually list dates and times and areas a few days and sometimes a week or even two weeks in advance here on the forum. We will have dates during the week and during the weekend to give everyone an opportunity to particpate. The program is completely voluntary and the volunteers must sign waivers which release the U.S.C.O.E. and the Ga. D.N.R. of any and all liability due to accidents. The volunteers provide all transportation, materials, tools and labor. The volunteers are asked to bring chainsaws, hammers and boats if possible. However if you do not have any of those things your participation is still needed to help secure the trees to the shoreline. And we can always use guys to just shuttle us around in boats if you aren't able to bear the terrain to secure or cut the trees, ie., bad knees, feet, back, etc. etc. The volunteers are also asked to wear long pants, boots and if possible bring hard hats, ear protection and eye protection.
To aide in the purchasing of the needed supplies the first “AllatoonaBass.com Fishing Tournament” was held this year, with a raffle featuring many donated fishing supplies. The proceeds of the raffle went towards purchasing steel cable and parts, to use in place of the rope that had been used in the past to secure the trees. The remainder will be used to purchase safety supplies and other needed materials. This will become an annual tournament with a raffle to purchase supplies for this and other lake projects that are in the early planning stages.
As an added incentive for helping with the cutting a password protected “sub board” has been established at allatoonabass.proboards76.com/index.cgi?board=dnr and upon helping with one of the cuttings you will be given the password to this site. Inside of the sub board you will find detailed maps of all the areas that have been cut, Area #’s and number of trees cut in each area. This is updated from time to time and put out up to a year in advanced of when it is made public through the D.N.R. Also last year we held an end of the year “Tree Cutters Picnic” to recognize all that had helped and to seek comments and advice for new areas to cut from all that had participated. At the picnic we had a shrimp boil supper along with a seminar given by Mike Bucca and HRUS on spoon fishing. Robert Eidson also attended to answer questions on striper/hybrid fishing. We hope to continue the end of the year picnic each year.
We have added more Team Leaders this year so that we can hold more cutting dates. Last year we cut 22 Area's with the largest area having 78 trees, for a total of just under 400 trees. This year while the total number of new Areas is less each area is much larger with up to 180 trees in an area covering much more shoreline. To date 908 trees have been marked in 2008 with two large areas left to be marked. We are expecting the total number of trees to cut this year to be around 1400.
The article in the following hyperlink (notice the conclusion) is why we started the tree cutting program: allatoonabass.com/SARS_SPRING_03_ALLATOONA_BRIEF.doc
Yes, it will take several years to see the profits of our labor and I don't believe there has been really too much data collected yet to determine what our efforts in the last two years has accomplished. This again is the reason that this year we are tripling our efforts as far as the numbers of trees to cut and encompassing a far wider area of the lake.
With all this being said I would like to ask for everyone to consider donating some of your time in this project if and when you are able. It is hard work with some steep and rough terrain to traverse. But we let you set your own pace, try to have a good time, good fellowship and stress safety at all times. I must say that this program has been one of the most personally satisfying volunteer programs that I have been associated with in my life and have made many good friends through my involvement. It is also a way for me to try and make this world a little better place for the future generations of Lake Allatoona fishermen.
The leaders would like to thank all that have helped in the past and look forward to meeting even more of you in the future cuttings.
In the fall of 2006 a plan was conceived to help improve the largemouth habitat and soil erosion problem at Lake Allatoona. This plan was developed through ideas discussed between Mike Bucca, Jim Hakala (Ga. Dept. Natural Resources) and Terrell Stoves (U.S. Corp of Engineers). They determined that through the help of local fishermen to provide labor that various trees along the shoreline of the lake could be cut and felled towards the lake to provide bass habitat. These trees would primarily be trees that had exposed root systems that would eventually come over on there own if left uncut, therefore eliminating the entailing soil erosion.
The first meeting was held in mid Dec. 2006 when the three of them explained the plan to interested local fishermen and team leaders were then established. Those volunteer leaders were Mike Bucca, Matt Driver, Bruce Miller and Ray Bowin. The leaders then obtained the materials needed to secure the trees to the shoreline, should the tree become completely free of the stump when cut. The C.O.E. and D.N.R. began marking selected trees and compiling maps of those areas. In Jan. 2007 the leaders and members of the U.S.C.O.E. AND D.N.R. met to perform the first tree cutting as a training exercise. The leaders were given letters of permission for the tree cutting, maps of the areas to be cut, first aide supplies, safety guidelines and emergency contact names and phone numbers. One rule is you CAN NOT cut trees without at least ONE team leader present. All of the leaders have been trained on safety procedures and rules put forth by the Corps of Engineer and DNR officials.
The leaders then began organizing tree cuttings by posting cutting dates through www.allatoonabass.com and mattdriverfishing.forumup.us/. We usually list dates and times and areas a few days and sometimes a week or even two weeks in advance here on the forum. We will have dates during the week and during the weekend to give everyone an opportunity to particpate. The program is completely voluntary and the volunteers must sign waivers which release the U.S.C.O.E. and the Ga. D.N.R. of any and all liability due to accidents. The volunteers provide all transportation, materials, tools and labor. The volunteers are asked to bring chainsaws, hammers and boats if possible. However if you do not have any of those things your participation is still needed to help secure the trees to the shoreline. And we can always use guys to just shuttle us around in boats if you aren't able to bear the terrain to secure or cut the trees, ie., bad knees, feet, back, etc. etc. The volunteers are also asked to wear long pants, boots and if possible bring hard hats, ear protection and eye protection.
To aide in the purchasing of the needed supplies the first “AllatoonaBass.com Fishing Tournament” was held this year, with a raffle featuring many donated fishing supplies. The proceeds of the raffle went towards purchasing steel cable and parts, to use in place of the rope that had been used in the past to secure the trees. The remainder will be used to purchase safety supplies and other needed materials. This will become an annual tournament with a raffle to purchase supplies for this and other lake projects that are in the early planning stages.
As an added incentive for helping with the cutting a password protected “sub board” has been established at allatoonabass.proboards76.com/index.cgi?board=dnr and upon helping with one of the cuttings you will be given the password to this site. Inside of the sub board you will find detailed maps of all the areas that have been cut, Area #’s and number of trees cut in each area. This is updated from time to time and put out up to a year in advanced of when it is made public through the D.N.R. Also last year we held an end of the year “Tree Cutters Picnic” to recognize all that had helped and to seek comments and advice for new areas to cut from all that had participated. At the picnic we had a shrimp boil supper along with a seminar given by Mike Bucca and HRUS on spoon fishing. Robert Eidson also attended to answer questions on striper/hybrid fishing. We hope to continue the end of the year picnic each year.
We have added more Team Leaders this year so that we can hold more cutting dates. Last year we cut 22 Area's with the largest area having 78 trees, for a total of just under 400 trees. This year while the total number of new Areas is less each area is much larger with up to 180 trees in an area covering much more shoreline. To date 908 trees have been marked in 2008 with two large areas left to be marked. We are expecting the total number of trees to cut this year to be around 1400.
The article in the following hyperlink (notice the conclusion) is why we started the tree cutting program: allatoonabass.com/SARS_SPRING_03_ALLATOONA_BRIEF.doc
Yes, it will take several years to see the profits of our labor and I don't believe there has been really too much data collected yet to determine what our efforts in the last two years has accomplished. This again is the reason that this year we are tripling our efforts as far as the numbers of trees to cut and encompassing a far wider area of the lake.
With all this being said I would like to ask for everyone to consider donating some of your time in this project if and when you are able. It is hard work with some steep and rough terrain to traverse. But we let you set your own pace, try to have a good time, good fellowship and stress safety at all times. I must say that this program has been one of the most personally satisfying volunteer programs that I have been associated with in my life and have made many good friends through my involvement. It is also a way for me to try and make this world a little better place for the future generations of Lake Allatoona fishermen.
The leaders would like to thank all that have helped in the past and look forward to meeting even more of you in the future cuttings.
