"State of the Tree Cutting project".

[leapnlineman]

OK, to quote one of my favorite journalists “Now for the Rest of the Story”…

If you remember I had set a date of Sept. 15th for a Tree Cutting session and then canceled that cutting. What you don’t know is that when I sent that date to my contact with the USACOE, I was informed that the USACOE was rethinking their position on the Tree Cutting Project and may be permanently canceling the project. And while they did not tell me that I could not cut on that date I thought it best to cancel it until we could hold a re-assessment meeting with us, the DNR and the USACOE, to work through the issues that the USACOE had in regards to the program. So on Friday Sept.28th myself and DannyP held a meeting with the USACOE and Jim Hakala fishery biologist with the Georgia DNR to work through any issues. Before the meeting took place Jim worked together with us to put together a presentation about the history and benefits of the tree cutting program to review with the Chief Ranger of the USACOE and the Ranger that sponsors the program. To make a long story short after our presentation it was agreed that the program would continue with the following new or reinstated rules:

1.The anglers will furnish a map of the areas that they wish to cut to the COE.
2. The COE will review the area on the map and if approved the COE will then mark the trees to be cut in that area.
3. The COE will only mark a tree that is in imminent danger of falling.
4. Every tree will need to be cabled. The COE will seek material from other sources for the cable ends.
5. A post cutting review will be done by the COE and a summary of the cutting results will be discussed with the Team Leader.

So at the present time I am awaiting the USACOE to get out and mark trees in some new areas that we mapped and suggested to them for us to cut. Once I hear from them that the areas are marked then I will schedule the next cutting. They are hopefully going to have those areas marked by next Friday Oct. 12th, but cannot guarantee that it will be done by then. Once they let me know for sure that the areas are marked I will make a new thread announcing the next cutting date.

[soretoe]

Thanks for all that you are doing for this project Ray. Your dedication is appreciated.

[stratos275]

I'm a new guy around here but I wanted to say it sounds like you're putting in alot of good work and planning for the benefit of many.

I'm looking forward to the next cutting to lend a hand.

Thanks for all you guys are doing.

[QDSeaHorse]

I too am a new guy here, but I do want to say thank you for the work you are doing. From the reports, and my limited experience fishing the lake, it appears that adding structure is a much needed improvement, and something that will provide value for years to come. I personally appreciate your efforts, and I hope that everyone realizese the amount of work that goes into planning such projects.

[kudelka]

Hopefully we can grab a few more of these will all the great work you guys are doing. Couldn't appreciate it more. By far my favorite structure to fish.

Attachments:

[dannyleigh]

Any update on the program Ray?

[Bob Smith (Porko)]

unfortunately, this program has gone the way of all Government engaged programs, pure beauracracy.

[leapnlineman]

Danny I do not have a lot to report at this time as I'm waiting for the water to come up and the weather to warm up. My best guess would be that the next cutting will be sometime in late March.

Bob unfortunately you are correct we have, it seems, got caught up in some of that government bureaucracy. Hopefully we will work our way through that in the upcoming year. But regardless, I feel that this is a program worth fighting for. And who knows I may still find and Ace or two up one of my sleeves!!!

[Mike Bucca]

I wouldn't bet against Ray's sleeves .

[Bob Smith (Porko)]

first things, first! I, for one, have absolute faith in the strength of Ray's resolve. He's rock solid and one the "doers" in this neck of the woods. He also believes wholeheartedly that the tree cutting is the right thing to do.
I have worked two of the tree cutting efforts and believe we have done good work on those, as I am sure the other tree cutting exercise have as well.
That's why when I read this,
"1.The anglers will furnish a map of the areas that they wish to cut to the COE.
2. The COE will review the area on the map and if approved the COE will then mark the trees to be cut in that area.
3. The COE will only mark a tree that is in imminent danger of falling.
4. Every tree will need to be cabled. The COE will seek material from other sources for the cable ends.
5. A post cutting review will be done by the COE and a summary of the cutting results will be discussed with the Team Leader."

I couldn't help but feel a bit offended by it. the first question in my mind was, "why?". It really stinks, almost distrustful or implying that we haven't used good judgement in our tree cuttings or anchoring. I would like to point out that I have never seen a single tree floating in the lake since 2007. Probably shouldn't let it bother me. It just does though.

[soretoe]

Those rules have been the same from almost the start. Your objection should have been done in private. The COE and management reads our threads too.

[Bob Smith (Porko)]

Jan 7, 2013 3:42:19 GMT -1 soretoe said:

Those rules have been the same from almost the start. Your objection should have been done in private. The COE and management reads our threads too.

Thanks, Lou! I appreciate that, Ray posted it above like it was new news and I responded. If the moderators and administrators choose to do so they can remove this topic completely.