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young cutovers, old growth hardwood stands, pine stands, wildlife food plots, etc. may be found in one particular part of the county. This diversity makes for a healthy forest ecosystem.
The forest type in Rappahannock County is predominantly mixed hardwood. Most stands are beyond 40 years of age. Young growth hardwood stands and pine stands (young and old) are noticeably lacking on an ecosystem scale. This is not to say that they cannot be found in the county.
There are certain wildlife species that are dependent on young growth stands, pine stands, etc. The harvest on Route 618 provides the opportunity to introduce new and important habitat types in the community. A diversity of wildlife and plant species is directly dependent on a diversity of available habitats.
Within the cutover itself, some areas will be allowed to naturally regenerate back to hardwoods and some areas will be reforested to pine. Along the drainages, “Streamside Management Zones” (SMZ) have been designated. Over 60 acres have been set aside to serve as stream buffers and wildlife travel corridors. No harvesting is scheduled for the SMZs at this time. The acreage left in these protected riparian areas represents nearly one-third of the total timber sale area.
Protecting riparian areas with a SMZ is only part of a good water quality program.
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