AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION
GEORGIA FORESTRY TODAY
GEORGIA BOBWHITES PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE
Volume 9, Issue 3 May | June 2013
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May | June 2013
Georgia Forestry Today
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On the Cover:
GEORGIA FORESTRY TODAY Printed in the USA
PUBLISHER: A4 Inc. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alva Hopkins ahopkins@a4inc.com
How should Georgia’s forestland owners prevent trespassers on their property? See story on page 8 LAMAR CANTRELL
CANTRELL FOREST PRODUCTS INC.
We buy all types of timber. Bio-fuel producer cantrellforest@earthlink.net 1433 Galilee Church Road Jefferson, GA 30549 Office: (706) 367-4813 Mobile: (706) 498-6243 Home: (706) 367-1521
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PRODUCTION MANAGER Pamela Petersen-Frey p.frey@a4inc.com
EDITORIAL BOARD Wendy Burnett Alva Hopkins Jesse Johnson Stasia Kelly Sandi Martin Roland Petersen-Frey Brian Stone Steve McWilliams
GEORGIA FORESTRY TODAY is published bi-monthly by A4 Inc., 1154 Lower Birmingham Road, Canton, Georgia 30115. Recipients include participants of the Forest Stewardship Program and the American Tree Farm System. Opinions expressed by the authors are not necessarily those of the publisher, A4 Inc., nor do they accept responsibility for errors of content or omission and, as a matter of policy, neither do they endorse products or advertisements appearing herein. Part of this magazine may be reproduced with the written consent of the publisher. Correspondence regarding changes of address should be directed to A4 Inc. at the address indicated above. Advertising material should be sent to A4 Inc. at the e-mail address: p.frey@a4inc.com. Questions on advertising should be directed to the advertising director at the e-mail address provided above. Editorial material should be sent to A4 Inc. or to Alva Hopkins. GEORGIA FORESTRY TODAY 1154 Lower Birmingham Road, Canton, Georgia 30115
May | June 2013
Volume 9, Issue 3
May | June 2013
Georgia
FORESTRY TODAY P.08
An Ounce of Prevention
P.11
Message from the Georgia Forestry Commission Director
P.12
GFC News
P.13
All Fired Up: Spring Break at the Jones Center
P.16
Endangered & Separated Researchers identify mussels’ fish host gulf sturgeon and purple bankclimbers both in peril, blocked by a dam
P.18
P.20
Georgia Bobwhites Past, Present, Future
P.26
GFT News
P.28
Georgia Forestry Association Ad Valorem Tax: The Season of Appeals
Catfishing Time is Here
Forestry Calendar May 30 & June 4 Property Tax & Tax Appeal Workshop May 30: Gainsville, Georgia June 4: Tion, Georgia Info: Visit www.gfagrow.org or call 478-992-8110
June 5-7 If you have a forestry event you’d like to see on our calendar, please contact Alva Hopkins at ahopkins@a4inc.com with the subject line ‘Calendar Event.’
2013 National Conference of Private Forest Landowners | e Coeur d' Alene Resort Coeur d'Alene, ID
June 17-21 Georgia Teacher Conservation Workshop Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center Visit www.gfagrow.org or call 478-992-8110
June 20-22 GFA Annual Conference e Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa Hilton Head, South Carolina Info: Visit www.gfagrow.org or call 478-992-8110
September UGA Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources Golf Tournament Presented by Plum Creek Athens, Georgia Georgia Forestry Today
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May | June 2013
List of advertisers American Forest Management......................................30
International Forest Company .....................................29
Arborgen........................................................................6
LandMark Spatial Solutions ...........................................3
Beach Timber Company Inc. .......................................30
Lanigan & Associates ...................................................27
Blanton’s ........................................................................7 Canal Wood LLC.........................................................30 Cantrell Forest Products Inc...........................................4
Meeks’ Farms & Nursery ....................Inside Front Cover MorBark ......................................................................30 Plum Creek....................................................................5
Davis - Garvin .............................................................25 F2M ..............................................................................4 Farm Credit Associations ...............................................3 Flint Equipment Company ..........................................30
Prudential ....................................................................10 Rivers Edge Forest Products .........................................30 UPC | Georgia 811 ........................................Back Cover
Forest Resource Consultants ..........................................7
Weyerhaeuser ...............................................................23
Forest Resource Services Inc.........................................30
Vulcan on Board Scales .................................................4
F&W Forestry Service..................................................14
Yancey Brothers ...................................Inside Back Cover
Georgia Forestry Today
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AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION By Jesse Johnson | Registered Forester
The author’s nephew puts up a posted sign on a new property. Taking part in placing signs like this helps him take ownership. 8
May | June 2013
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e old saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” can be applied to many of life’s situations. is nugget of wisdom should also be embraced by Georgia’s forestland owners who want to prevent trespassers on their property. A properly maintained boundary line will serve as a ‘line in the sand’ and will prevent most neighbors from wandering on to your property. A well marked boundary will give the landowner added protection against accidental timber harvest, while helping to prevent ‘accidental’ trespass and individuals hunting without permission. Frustrated is a mild word used to express the feeling most landowners have when they discover four wheeler tracks or boot prints le on their property by an uninvited ‘guest.’ For most forest landowners, trespassers rank right up there in popularity with root canals, IRS audits, and quality time with the in-laws. is is especially true in today's hectic world where many of Georgia’s forestland owners live away from their property and are busy balancing work and family resulting in most being ‘weekend forest stewards.’ e thought that someone else is roaming around their property and taking advantage of all their hard work is enough to make ‘em spit fire. It has been my experience that a well-maintained boundary line is the most cost effective way to keep others off your property and will prevent you from having to deal with some potentially uncomfortable and hazardous situations. However, boundary line maintenance is oen the first cost that the average forest landowner will cut from his or her operations budget. According to forestry consultant Robbie Griffith with Southeastern Agri-Business, “Boundary line marking is the best money you can spend; it prevents a lot of other potential problems.” He went on to say that “when a client purchases a new property with faded paint on the boundary line, getting it repainted is at the top of my list.” Robbie also advises landowners to plan on “refreshing the boundary lines every five to eight years.” Boundary line maintenance, like most things in life, is not free. Getting a forester or contractor to repaint the existing boundary line will cost the landowner between $100 to $350 per mile (5,280 linear feet). e price varies based on several factors such as who provides the paint (landowner or contractor), scraping of trees, terrain, understory, and the posting of No Trespassing signs. erefore, a landowner needs to make sure they are comparing apples to apples when getting quotes from prospective contractors. As with other timber management activities, landowners should always check references before turning someone loose to mark their boundary lines. Landowners could open themselves up to a degree of liability if a contractor makes a mistake and accidentally changes the placement of the property line. “e line is not always down the old fence line or where Grandpa said it was,” said JR Smith who is a Georgia licensed surveyor and owner of Cornerstone Surveying in Hull, Georgia. JR’s advice to landowners is that “if most of the old paint is really faded or gone, the landowner probably needs to resurvey the property and have the surveyor mark the Georgia Forestry Today
boundary. at way, the liability lies with the licensed surveyor and not the landowner.” JR’s advice reminds me of the saying that you find out the real value of a tree when you accidentally cut it down on someone else’s property. In my opinion, a well maintained boundary line should be clearly marked with ‘painted’ trees and have Posted/No Trespassing signs. e marked or ‘painted’ trees should be no more than 30 to 50 yards apart. A good rule of thumb is when standing in front of a ‘painted’ tree you should be able to see the next painted tree to your le and right. is makes it easy for a person facing the property line to see how the boundary line runs. It is important to remember the person facing your property line could be a logger in a ‘cut down’ machine and you do not want him guessing where the line is. It is always best to ‘scrape’ the tree prior to applying the paint. Scraping is commonly performed with a machete or bush ax. When scraping the tree, the objective is to remove some of the bark off the tree in order to have a clearly marked tree. You do not want to dig too deeply in the bark and thereby accidentally kill the tree by girdling it. Note, if you are considering performing this job yourself, I highly recommend wearing eye protection to prevent debris from getting in your eyes. Aer properly ‘scraping’ the tree, I recommend using a paint brush to install at least a four inch band of paint on every tree to be marked. I prefer to install a solid band around the tree so the paint can be seen on both sides of the property line. Remember, you want to be a good neighbor and make the boundary line identifiable from your side too in order to prevent you, your guests, or a hunting club from accidentally wandering on to an adjacent landowner’s property. Boundary line paint is available in an array of colors. It is not uncommon to see property lines marked with blue, white, red, green, yellow, or orange paint. Many large timber companies such as Plum Creek (white) and Rayonier (blue) use one color on all their property lines. Being that I have a degree of color blindness, I prefer to use white paint as it is easier for me to see in the woods. A gallon of boundary line marking paint, according to Nelson Paints Web site cost $22 - $25 per gallon. Nelson also states that their paint will last for six to eight years.(www.nelsonpaint.com) I highly recommend that Posted or No Trespassing signs be installed when performing boundary line maintenance. Even though Georgia law does not require a property to be posted in order to prosecute someone for criminal trespass or hunting without permission, No Trespassing signs serve as another deterrent and point of notice to the general public to stay off your property. Georgia DNR Ranger First Class Phillip Nelson highly recommends that Posted signs be placed on all property lines, especially along all public roads and entrances to the property. “A well marked and identifiable boundary line with Posted signs is a landowner’s best defense against trespassing,” stated Ranger Nelson. Even with a well-marked and identifiable boundary line, trespassing can and still does occur. Ranger Nelson advises that if you 9
come upon an individual who is trespassing, it is best to avoid a confrontation and call the local DNR agent or Sheriff ’s office. “By not confronting the individual and simply leaving and calling the authorities you make it easier for law enforcement officers to catch the person in the act.” He also recommends writing down a description of their vehicle and tag number in order to help identify the person or persons. Ranger Nel-
son also stated that it is best to contact the DNR for hunting/trapping related activity. For other activities, such as four wheeling or timber harvesting, contact the Sheriff ’s office. In conclusion, the majority of trespassing on timberland properties in Georgia usually involves some type of recreational activity like four-wheeling, horseback riding, fishing, or hunting. Trespassing oen
results in a loss to the landowner, whether the loss is damage to roads, the unwanted taking of fish/game, or simply the landowner’s loss of peace of mind. Georgia’s forest landowners should consider being proactive and budgeting the money to freshen up their boundary lines and let adjacent landowners know clearly where ‘the line’ is. is will serve as a general notice to the public that they should know their place, which is safely on the other side of this line. v Additional Information e Georgia Criminal Code defines Criminal Trespass in Title 16 Chapter 7 Article 2 Part 1 (O.C.G.A 16-7-21) and Hunting without permission in Title 27 Chapter 3 Article 1 Part 1 (O.C.G.A 273-1) Jesse is a Georgia Registered Forester, Co-Owner of Southern Timberland Consultants, and an Associate Broker with Southern Land Exchange, LLC. Jesse can be reached at jjohnson@southernlandexchange.com or on his mobile at 706-614-4855.
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May | June 2013
Georgia Forestry Commission
Message from the Director Robert Farris
Dear GFT Reader, s much as I appreciated the winter rains, I have to admit the drab weather of the season got a little old ’round about late March. When the dogwoods started popping, though, and I didn't need to turn on my truck’s heater, I remembered that hope really does spring eternal! There have been a lot of signs recently that things are looking good for our industry, and that’s something to be encouraged about. Have you stopped lately to consider these bits of good news? • Recent figures on economic output of the forestry industry show we have grown to a $25 billion dollar economic engine for the state of Georgia.
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Statistics also show a notable increase in the total number of forestry jobs and wages, and we now have nine wood pellet mills, with additional mills in the works.
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Lumber prices are up significantly, and our timber product output survey shows a 16 percent increased output of solid wood products from our 15 largest mills.
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The drought has subsided; rains through the winter season improved reforestation efforts and diminished the number of wildfires by over 27 percent.
Georgia Forestry Today
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The US Supreme Court remanded an earlier district court ruling that would have required untenable new permitting restrictions on logging roads near waterways. Governor Nathan Deal's pledge and actions to make Georgia the number one place to do business are showing positive results. His executive order regarding forest certification demonstrates strong support for our state's Sustainable Forestry Initiative and American Tree Farm programs. Strong legislative support for forestry during the 2013 legislative session included passing bills related to forestry ad valorem taxes, timber security, borrow pits, GIS council, and an agricultural commodity commission.
While success sure feels good, complacency can’t be an option for any of us. There are numerous issues that we need to keep an eye on which could impact forestry operations in Georgia. Just a few include: • The promise of ongoing challenges to the forest logging roads case and our NPDES silvicultural exemption.
the endangered species list. •
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Increasingly urban legislative representation with limited knowledge of forestry matters. An ever growing wildland urban interface here in Georgia. And, if climatologists have it right, increasing climate extremes such as we’ve experienced with recent droughts.
Communication and involvement go a long way toward alleviating the challenges we face. Focused efforts such as the SFI Macon Habitat for Humanity House, civic club presentations, legislative meetings, and Teacher Conservation Workshops are great ways to reach groups of people. Remember as well to communicate with the people you interact with most regularly, including your family, friends, neighbors, and even the lady at the grocery checkout counter. Let them know what you do and how important forestry is to all Georgians. Who are you talking up forestry with today? Sincerely,
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The potential listing of gopher tortoise and diamondback rattlesnake to
Robert Farris v 11
GFC News The Supreme Court of the United States has weighed in on a case of great interest to Georgia forest landowners. The case stems from a 2010 ruling by the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals that stormwater runoff from logging roads constituted a point source of pollution, which the Northwest Environmental Defense Center argued poses risks to endangered species and aquatic ecosystems. In a March 20, 2013, opinion, the Supreme Court reversed and remanded the earlier Court of Appeals decision. If instituted, a North Carolina State study shows the costs of such permitting could have decreased net timber sale revenue by 19 percent for large landowners and 71 percent for small landowners. e The Georgia Forestry Commission is offering a special one-day workshop covering issues regarding forest certification for the forest products supply chain. Industry, procurement, and consultant foresters, managers of wood-using mills, wood buyers, dealers, and others involved in the management, procurement, and utilization of forest resources in Georgia should consider attending the seminar. It will be held in Statesboro on June 20 at the Nessmith-Lane Conference Center. Visit GaTrees.org for details and registration information. e A new 51-acre demonstration site near Waycross is open and providing an upclose look at biomass production. In cooperation with Dixon Memorial Forest, the GFC has ‘species’ and ‘planting density’ scenarios on display to help landowners understand how to integrate woody biomass production into their forest management plans for an early source of revenue that supplies emerging bioenergy markets. A future demo site will be established in the Piedmont during the 2013-2014 growing season. For more information, e-mail jsunday@gfc.state.ga.us. e The Georgia Forestry Commission is preparing to serve up GRITS, the Georgia Resource and Incident Tracking System. GRITS is a Web-based computerized system that tracks fire—both wildfire and prescribed fire—in real time across Georgia. The tool will be used by GFC as an automated fire tracking system and will also be available to the public via a web portal for local fire information and identification purposes. GRITS is expected to launch this summer. e
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May | June 2013
By stasia Kelly
Pine trees that are home to red-cockaded woodpeckers are circled by a protective burn before the prescribed fire is lit.
all fired Up : spring Break at the Jones Center It’s an annual rite of spring. ousands of young adults put their books and classrooms behind to swarm southward, seeking sunshine, fun, romance, and rest. A few, however, take a detour. ey set their GPS on a place where they get to dig deeply into their education; a unique opportunity to study with forestry experts, get some precious hands-on learning, and, oh yes, release their inner pyromaniacs “My friends are gonna love this,” said Alex Boswell, a senior at the University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Grady School of Journalism. “What did you do on your spring break, Alex? I set the woods on fire!” Boswell and a cadre of fellow forestry and wildlife students are traipsing down a sandy path through the woods. ey're following a flame retardant jumpsuit-clad coed carrying a drip torch. Each takes their first-ever turn lighting a back fire for a prescribed burn on an 80-acre tract inside the Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center at Ichauway, Georgia. e hands-on learning experience is Georgia Forestry Today
part of an annual week-long ‘March’mester’ course on prescribed fire, for which two academic credits are given to successful graduates. “We get students out in the field and show them how their classroom and theoretical knowledge works on the ground,” said Kevin McIntyre, Education and Outreach Coordinator for the Jones Center. “Safety is our top priority, just like it is on any prescribed burn, so we limit this course to 16 people.” e Jones Center complex sits on the 29,000 acre southwest Georgia property that once belonged to Coca-Cola magnate Robert W. Woodruff. e passionate outdoorsman and conservationist enjoyed quail hunting here until his death in 1985. Today, the center is known as a research and conservation site of regional, national, and international significance. Named for Woodruff ’s right hand man, Joseph W. Jones, the center’s mission is to “understand, demonstrate, and promote excellence in natural resource management and conservation on the landscape of the southeastern 13
coastal plain of the United States.” Resident graduate students and visiting scientists, educators, professionals, and students from a variety of institutions come to immerse themselves in the remarkable, pristine environment. e land is comprised of 18,000 acres of rare, mature, longleaf pine woodlands, 3,000 acres of young restoration plantings of longleaf pine, innumerable wetlands, rivers, and streams, and 3,000 acres of field habitat. A full time staff of 85 manages the property and programs. Dr. Lindsay R. Boring taught forest ecology and dendrology at the University of Georgia for nine years before being named director at the Jones Center . “is experience opens their eyes,” said Boring of students who come for the classes on prescribed fire. “You can’t do this in Clarke County” (UGA’s home county) “very easily because of smoke management issues. Plus, loblolly’s not the fire creature longleaf is. is experience gets students out of a purely academic environment, gives them familiarity with the longleaf pine ecosystem, and really opens their eyes.” A Week Like No Other Competition’s tough to be accepted into the ‘March’mester’ class. McIntyre calls these students “the best of the best,” and
they gather for the first time on a Sunday evening to hear an overview of the center, the longleaf pine forest, and the week ahead, along with a good ol’ fashion fish fry. Students are housed in nearby dormitories. Classroom time on Monday covers fire behavior, forest fuels, and personal protective equipment, and students are introduced to their take-no-prisoners lead teacher and fire boss, Mark Melvin. “ese kids are here because they want to be here,” said Melvin, Conservation Management/Education Technician for the Jones Center. “ey’re giving up spring break. at’s serious.” And so is Melvin. It doesn't take long to realize he knows the topic of prescribed fire inside out and has personally conducted about a million of them. e kids can tell he’s personable and approachable, but his expectations are high. ere’s no room for class clowns in this school. Day two brings more class time, as the group examines the sociopolitical and public relations realities of prescribed burning. Smoke management, prescribed fire certification, and air quality presentations are led by partners from the Georgia Forestry Commission and US Fish and Wildlife Service. By the time lunch is over and they’re covering case studies, burn permits, and fire planning, the students are itching to get outside and send their knowledge up in flames. Up Close and Personal On Wednesday morning, two vans full of students, teachers, supervisors, and an ATV roll onto an 80-acre tract on Ichauway. It’s the first time the students have been this close to prescribed fire “Quintessential 75 to 100 year old natural longleaf forest,” explained instructor Jeff Hepinstall of the University of Georgia. “Open; wiregrass underneath; a good burn day.” Melvin logs onto his smartphone. At 11:08 a.m. the temperature is 50 degrees, humidity is 32 percent, fuel moisture is 15
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percent, and winds are from the north at three to six miles per hour. A burn permit has been secured from the Baker County office of the GFC, and all systems are go. “at’s gonna burn niiice,” grins Neal Edmondson, Prescribed Burn Coordinator for the GFC and class teacher. “Get with your teams and stay with them,” barks Melvin, directing his charges toward their four teams. “Check your radios; we’re on channel three!” A small test fire tells Melvin that conditions are right to begin, and he reviews operation of the drip torch. “e valve should be all the way open. Once you get this set, it will light fires as fast as you can walk. When you’re done, blow it out with the wind, in one big puff.” Melvin walks a few steps behind his apprentice. “You always want to light right where the fuel and mineral soil meet.” Hepinstall pipes in with another tip. “You should be checking the smoke dispersion. Where that smoke’s going, that's the wind you’re working with.” By 12 noon, Melvin had orchestrated the safe burn of the tract. Aer lunch, it was time to gauge conditions for burn number two. To everyone’s disappointment, the weather was deemed unacceptable: too windy. But what happened next made a big impression on the students. As the group was packing out, an escaped debris burn from a neighbor’s adjacent field swept onto Jones property. “Ironic!” said one student. “Here we’re quitting because conditions aren’t safe, but we’re helping put out a fire for someone who didn’t even get a permit. at says a lot.” The Home Stretch Only two more days to go and it’s almost time to prove what’s sunk in. e group examines yesterday’s burn site, then enjoys a field talk by Lindsay Boring, as they dig in the dirt and explore fire’s effect on soils. en Georgia Forestry Commission District Manager Greg Findley imparts some words of wisdom about services May | June 2013
of the commission and developing solid relationships with its rangers. e group’s final project has them divided into four student teams, each of which is given a prescribed burn assignment with different management objectives: timber, game management, non-game management, and conservation values. Using its landowner objective, GIS shapefile, burn unit history, information gathered at the burn site, and knowledge of the longleaf pine ecosystem, each group is directed to develop a PowerPoint presentation detailing their burn plan. All aspects of the plan must be covered, including preferred weather conditions, specific burn windows, smoke sensitive areas, features to protect, trouble spots, and more. An onsite computer lab becomes home for the next several hours as the technologysavvy students begin researching and craing their presentations. “ose kids cut their teeth on computer soware,” said Boring. “at’s one of the great strengths of Warnell, and they clearly see how they can apply that here.” At the end of the day, the teacher was pleased. “You guys did a good job,” said Melvin of the group’s impressive presentations. “When you start layering objectives, it gets complex quick. Everything’s about planning and contingency.” And, about “seeing things for themselves and figuring things out,” according to Melvin. He proves that on Friday morning at 9:45, when the group tries a test burn on fuel that’s too wet. eir final 100-acre prescribed fire won’t be sizzling anytime soon. Patience, it seems, is a necessary virtue on this job. “at’s part of the intent,” said Melvin. “is is how you learn. You see the weather changes that take place between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and the resulting effects on forest fuels and fire behavior.” Eventually the teams zig-zag across the tract, lighting strips of fire with drip torches. Melvin teaches them about the dreaded ‘banana hook,’ the nickname given to off-course lines of fire. He urges them to Georgia Forestry Today
note the areas where fire is burning and where it’s not, causes and effects, and the importance of constant communication. As flames pop, crackle, climb, and consume, lines merge into hot, smoky waves. The shimmering force does its work, and each person feels the awe of the natural power of fire and wind. “Using fire’s like trying to teach someone how to fish,” said Melvin. “You can teach about tackle and baits, etcetera, but you have to feel the fish on the line to understand. Fire’s the same.” As their rigorous week of learning
comes to a close and students pack their dusty boots for travel back home, it’s clear the graduates of 2013’s ‘March’mester’ class at the Jones Center got the feel for prescribed fire, and liked it. “All my classes at school are really in line with what they’re teaching us here.” “It’s my first time here, but hopefully not my last.” “I wouldn’t take it back for anything. It's been terrific!" “It’s the real world." ”Amazing. ere's a little 'pyro' in everybody!” v
UGA forestry student Samantha Marchman gets hands-on practice with a drip torch during a prescribed fire at the Jones Center.
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ENDANGERED & SEPARATED: Researchers identify mussels’ fish host gulf sturgeon and purple bankclimbers both in peril, blocked by a dam By Sandi Martin | Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources
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ittle is known about the fish that freshwater mussels rely on as hosts to reproduce. But Warnell researchers have made a startling discovery: one federally endangered freshwater mussel is relying on a federally endangered fish species as host for its larvae. In fish host trials last year, Ph.D. candidate Andrea Fritts, her advisor Dr. Robert Bringolf, and sturgeon expert Dr. Doug Peterson discovered that purple bankclimber mussels use gulf sturgeon. Not only are both endangered species, but they are now separated from each other by a large dam built six decades ago. It's challenging to figure out which fish species the mussels need as hosts, Bringolf said, making this discovery even more significant. eir identification of gulf sturgeon as a key host fish for purple bankclimbers was recently published in Freshwater Science. Although the Warnell team also found that purple bankclimbers can use darters as hosts, the success rate was substantially lower, and the tiny darters produced only a fraction of the number of juveniles produced by the large gulf sturgeon. Purple bankclimbers are native to the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River basin in Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. Jim Woodruff Dam, which created Lake Seminole on the Georgia-Florida border, was built in 1952 and has blocked upstream movement of the gulf sturgeon to the Flint River where they used to spawn, and where the mussels were historically found in high numbers. “Dams are known to fragment habitat and have adverse effects on river ecosystems, but this situation unequivocally illustrates the
need to re-establish connectivity and natural flow regimes in river systems,” said Bringolf. “The fate of these mussels and
Several species of mussels found in Flint River.
Ph.D. candidate Andrea Fritts in the lab. 16
May | June 2013
Microscopic image of mussel larvae.
others often rests with the fate of their host fish.” Mussels play an important role by filtering our rivers and lakes, maintaining water clarity, removing contaminants, and helping balance bacteria levels. Although Georgia is home to several federally listed
mussels, the host fish required by many rare and common mussels remain largely unknown. Many mussel species require specific fish species as hosts. A typical way to reproduce, Fritts explained, is for mussels to release their larvae - called glochidia - into the water column, bound in mucus.
These glochidia, which are about the size of a grain of sand, then pass through the mouths and gills of passing fish, and snap onto the gills of the correct host. Fish tissue creates a capsule around the glochidia which, over a period of two to three weeks, develops into a juvenile mussel with a foot, gills, muscles, and a digestive tract. Juveniles detach from the fish gills, fall to the river bottom, and eventually grow into adult mussels. Peterson and Bringolf will be moving some tagged gulf sturgeon above Woodruff Dam and tracking them to see if they can navigate the reservoir section of Lake Seminole to reach their native spawning grounds in the sections of the Flint River, where the mussels also occur. “Fish passage at Jim Woodruff Dam has the potential to create
small atlantic sturgeon
one of the greatest success stories in ecosystem recovery to date,” said Peterson. v
Georgia Forestry Today
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Catfishing Time is Here
e hot, sultry summer is prime time to put some tasty catfish on the stove to enjoy a great southern fish fry, but first you have to catch the fish! ankfully for us, while fishing for many other species slows down when the water heats up in the summertime, cat fishing is just ‘getting good’ when the water temperature gets into the 80s range. Without a doubt, the number one catfish across Georgia is the channel cat, and it is the species most oen stocked in farm ponds, reservoirs, and public fishing areas. A favorite of many anglers, channel catfish do well in ponds and provide additional angling pleasure when stocked in combination with largemouth bass and bluegill. Channel catfish eat a wide variety of foods including fish, insects, and aquatic 18
By John Trussell
plants. While fish appear in the diet when catfish reach 12 to 14 inches long, small catfish feed mostly on aquatic insect larvae, crayfish, and algae. Catfish feed on a wide variety of baits, including worms—especially Louisiana pinks, cut bait, raw shrimp, chicken livers, and many kinds of blood/cheese /dough mixtures. e most popular method to catch catfish is to put the bait on a medium-sized hook with a half-ounce weight and fish it on the bottom with a tight line. When the catfish takes the bait, the line will oen go slack before it is swallowed by the fish and it begins to move off. at’s the time to set the hook! e most adventurous method of cat fishing is noodling and it’s most oen done to catch large flathead catfish that hide in deep holes during the daylight hours. is type of fishing for catfish uses only bare hands and is practiced primarily in the southern United States. e fisherman, called a noodler, places his hand inside a discovered catfish hole, and that’s no easy trick. In a worst case scenario, the noodler might lose a finger to a snapping turtle or alligator. Also, I must mention that the noodler must be very careful not to become tangled in under water brush and possibly drown! Usually the hole is deep underwater, and it takes a good bit of underwater swimming in muddy water to locate these holes. Once the holes are found, the noodler sticks his hand into the hole and hopes that he can grab the hiding catfish with his hand and pull it out and back to the surface! Most oen, the catfish bites down on the hand as a defensive move, the noodler gets a good arm shake, and the catfish’s raspy teeth are chomping
down on his fingers. No, I have no personal experience with this fishing method and never want to try it. Yes, this is a legal fishing method in Georgia, but because of the safety concerns, I can’t recommend it. Less adventurous, but just as much fun, is to set limb lines along small streams and rivers in the pursuit of night-feeding catfish. Usually, the angler uses strong nylon string for line and ties it to limbs overhanging the stream. Use cut bait or raw shrimp for channel cats, but for flatheads use live small bream, three to five inches long, and hook them through the lips, as the bait will be swallowed head first and this will give you the best chance of getting a good hook set. You can check the lines every few hours, or let them work all night and check them at first light. is can be a very productive fishing method and every year anglers catch some of the biggest catfish on limb lines. Keep in mind that if you pull in a potential state record catfish from a limb line, it cannot be certified because only fish caught on hook—line and reel or pole—can be entered into the record book. Another good way to catch catfish is setting out floating jugs with a short line and hook attached. Basically, the method involves putting out as many jugs as you can handle in a pond or lake cove as the sun goes down and picking them up at sunrise. is is a good way to catch a bunch of catfish without too much work and a good way to get young kids involved in outdoor adventure. But please be sure to pick up all your jugs when you're done. Stocking catfish in your farm pond is a great way to ensure that you have plenty of fish every year. Fingerling channel catfish less than a year old that are stocked in a new pond in the fall can be 11 to 12 inches long the following year, 14 to 15 inches long aer two years, and 16 to 18 inches long aer three years. Channel catfish may live to be 12 to 15 years old, but six to ten years is about average. Channel catfish can and May | June 2013
do reproduce in ponds. Spawning usually takes place in a dark cave-like hole. Examples are hollow logs and beaver or muskrat holes enlarged by the male. e fish will also use tile and other artificial structures placed in the pond. Spawning in Georgia takes place from late May to late July. In clear ponds, bass and bluegill usually eat most of the eggs and young. If this were not the case, the pond would soon be overrun with small catfish that could not obtain enough food to grow. Because survival of young channel catfish is poor in ponds stocked with bass and bluegill, supplemental stocking is usually necessary to maintain the catfish population. Because adult bass can eat channel catfish less than eight inches in length, ponds with an existing bass population should only be stocked with channel catfish that are larger than that. For good growth, up to 20 per acre of eight-inch or larger catfish may be stocked per year. Unless you supply additional food, avoid building population levels greater than 60 or 70 channel catfish per acre. For best results, keep good records of fish stocked and fish caught and removed.
Channel catfish are available from many commercial hatcheries in Georgia. For additional information, contact your nearest Georgia DNR office and consult with a state fisheries biologist. Some pond owners want to stock only channel catfish. When channel catfish are stocked alone and are allowed to grow to adult size, reproduction and survival rates can be so high that crowding and slow growth result. In this situation, all adults should be harvested before they reach 15 inches. Otherwise, there soon may be too many catfish in the pond for the available food. Slow growth and muddy water will result. Too many large channel catfish in the pond may lead to a fish kill due to a lack of sufficient oxygen. e channel catfish has a deeply forked tail with black spots on its back and sides. Its top and sides vary from gray to slate-blue and are oen olive with a yellow sheen. Its body is scaleless, and it has eight barbels (whiskers) around its mouth that serve as taste sensors for locating food. e anal fin of a channel catfish is round, while the anal fin of a blue catfish has a straight outer edge.
Art Christie, of Warner Robins, pulled in these nice channel cats from the Hugh Gillis PFA near Dublin.
e current state channel catfish weighed 44 lbs. 12 oz. and was caught by Bobby Smithwick from the Altamaha River on May 18, 1972. e state record flathead catfish weighed 83 lbs. and two anglers are tied for the record, Carl sawyer ( June 22, 2006) and Jim Dievency ( July 11, 2010). ey caught their catfish in the Altamaha River. Although not an official record fish, Tom Head of Bonaire, Georgia, caught a 103-pound flathead on a limb line in the Ocmulgee River near Houston County on August 19, 2009. Now that's a whopper! v
Author John Trussell caught these two big eight pound channel Catfish from the Ocmulgee Public Fishing Area on raw shrimp for bait.
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Georgia Bobwhites Past, Present, Future By Reggie Thackston and James Tomberlin | Georgia Department of Natural Resources
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May | June 2013
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orthern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) hold a special place in Georgia’s outdoor culture and wildlife heritage. Georgia has been a premiere quail-hunting destination for more than 100 years, and in 1970, Georgia lawmakers designated the bobwhite the state gamebird. However, due to extensive changes in Georgia’s landscape over the last 75-plus years the bobwhite population has declined drastically. Consequently, so has the number of quail hunters. The good news is there is growing interest and increasing effort focused on restoring habitat for bobwhites and numerous other ‘early succession’ wildlife species that depend on grasses, forbs, and shrubs. Let’s look at the early days, where we are today, and where we’re headed relative to bobwhite restoration and hunting in the Peach State.
Georgia Forestry Today
The Early Days When the first Europeans to Georgia ventured inland, they encountered magnificent forests with great ecological diversity. Included were large, open-canopy pine forests maintained by frequent fire. These fires, set by lightning strikes and native Americans, created and maintained extensive landscapes of pine savanna best described as a prairie of grasses, wildflowers, and shrubs under the trees. The most notable was an estimated 21 million acres of forests dominated by longleaf pine. Bobwhites and many other early succession species occurred extensively across this landscape, but likely not in great abundance locally, except perhaps in association with native American agriculture. However, as settlements moved inland, gaps were cut in these forests, and settlers began implementing what we would consider very crude agriculture. This resulted in small crop fields with weedy borders and hedgerows—lots of idle land with native grasses, weeds, briars,
shrubs, and bugs; i.e., excellent bobwhite habitat! Settlers frequently burned the woodlands between the fields, and used the forests for lumber, fuel wood, grazing, and turpentine. Also, crop harvesting methods were inefficient, resulting in waste grain available for wildlife. Mid-sized mammals such as raccoons, opossums, foxes, and bobcats were trapped or hunted, likely reducing quail predation. So, the accidental byproducts of early homesteading created an ideal bobwhite environment, and bobwhite populations exploded across the state. Through the mid-1900s, from mountain valleys to the coast, good to excellent quail hunting could be had on the back 40 of the average Georgia farm. But during the latter half of the 20th century, the bobwhite population began to spiral downward as agriculture and forestry practices intensified, urban/suburban development greatly expanded, and prescribed fire was suppressed across the 21
A spinoff of Georgia’s BQI has been numerous quota youth quail hunts voluntarily hosted by participating landowners.
landscape. In 1962-63, surveys by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division estimated there were 135,000 quail hunters who harvested more than 4.5 million quail. By 2008-09, the estimates had dropped to 22,423 hunters harvesting 808,036 bobwhites, of which 97 percent were penreared birds! U.S. Geological Survey Breeding Bird Surveys (www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs) show that Georgia’s bobwhite population has declined by 5.5 percent per year since 1966, reflecting an overall decline of approxi-
mately 90 percent. In much of Georgia, bobwhite densities have fallen below the level needed to attract and maintain hunter interest. In some landscapes, particularly in the northern half of the state,
viable bobwhite populations are no longer apparent. Also in serious decline are a number of other wildlife species that, like bobwhites, need early succession habitats. The bobwhite is a barometer for an
Georgia’s bobwhite restoration program is supported solely through the proceeds from vehicle license plate sales, grants, and direct donations. 22
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ecological problem that also affects state and local economies through the loss of quail hunting and other wildlife-associated recreation.
Wild Quail Plantations Wild quail plantations in Georgia are clustered primarily around Albany and
Thomasville, and cover about 400,000 acres. Many were established in the late 1800s through the mid-1900s when bob-
Bobwhites Today Georgia’s current bobwhite culture is primarily comprised of three parts: the shooting preserve industry; private wild quail plantations; and, evolving wild quail restoration efforts through the transition of Georgia’s Bobwhite Quail Initiative, guided in part by the National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative. Shooting Preserves Georgia has approximately 150 commercial shooting preserves that use pen-reared birds to provide bobwhite shooting to thousands of residents and non-residents. These preserves have a huge economic and environmental impact. Collectively, they also provide thousands of acres of open space that benefit many wildlife species. Additionally, preserves help maintain interest in quail hunting and bird dogs, and expose many youth and adults to the sport who might not otherwise have the opportunity.
Georgia’s future bobwhite restoration efforts will be largely focused on habitat restoration within focal landscapes selected through a detailed habitat prioritization process under the National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative.
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Native grass-forb-shrub field borders and field corners adjacent to pine stands that are thinned and frequently prescribe burned provide critical habitat for bobwhites, rabbits, certain songbirds and a variety of other wildlife.
whites were abundant across Georgia. Northern industrialists traveling south were attracted to the excellent quail hunting. Properties were acquired, consolidated, and placed into intensive bobwhite management. Even today, these lands boast some of the highest wild bobwhite densities ever documented. This interest in sustaining high-density bobwhite populations led to a landmark effort in science-based wildlife management when in 1924 Herbert Stoddard was hired to head the Cooperative Quail Study Investigation. That work resulted in his 1931 publication, The Bobwhite Quail, Its Habits, Preservation and Increase. This book is still considered the ‘bobwhite bible,’ and Stoddard's legacy exists through Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy (www.ttrs.org), a national leader in research of intensive bobwhite management and fire ecology. Wild quail plantations prove there is no mystery to the quail decline and that when quality habitat is provided at the landscape scale, bobwhites respond. Like shooting preserves, plantations also provide strong economic stimulus to sur24
rounding communities and provide an array of ecosystem services, such as open space, carbon sequestration, and improved air and water quality. Wild Bobwhite Restoration Responding to the bobwhite decline, in 1998 a grassroots effort spurred by key members of Georgia’s General Assembly and the Board of Natural Resources led to the Wildlife Resources Division’s Bobwhite Quail Initiative. BQI provides landowners, called cooperators, with technical guidance and has provided financial incentives for specific habitat practices (e.g., field borders, hedgerows, fallow corners, conservation tillage, and thinning and burning pine stands) to benefit bobwhites and other early succession wildlife. To maximize program efficiency and success, BQI initially focused on 15 counties in the Upper Coastal Plain. Public interest in BQI has been high from the beginning, and the program continues to enjoy strong support. Since 1999, BQI biologists have worked with hundreds of landowners on more than 600,000 acres, developing plans to integrate bob-
white management into working farms and forests. Intensive monitoring and research funded through BQI has shown that bobwhites and certain song birds respond favorably to habitat practices applied with the appropriate intensity and at the appropriate scale. Georgia has also increased its emphasis on bobwhite management on stateowned lands. A number of wildlife management areas have bobwhite manage-
May | June 2013
ment objectives; most notably, DiLane, Silver Lake, Chickasawhatchee, and River Creek WMAs. Intensive management at DiLane has resulted in about 200 wild coveys on 5,000 acres of managed uplands. BQI has provided public education about the bobwhite decline and youth hunting opportunities through quota quail hunts held on cooperator farms. BQI has also been used as a match to secure more than $400,000 in outside funding for habitat restoration by working with conservation partners like Quail Forever, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The bottom line: BQI has shown that bobwhite populations can be increased and sustained on working farms and forests through coordinated management applied at the appropriate scale and focused within the proper landscape context. Healthy bobwhite populations are no longer an accidental byproduct of agriculture and forestry. They occur only through planned management. The Future? Based on years of research coupled with the knowledge and experience gained through 13 years of implementing BQI, Georgia bobwhite restoration efforts are being expanded to parts of more than 68 Upper Coastal Plain counties. The counties were selected through a landscape analysis guided by Tall Timbers Research Station working with the Wildlife Resources Division as part of the National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative (www. bringbackbobwhites.org). NBCI is a 25state plan for bobwhite habitat and population restoration. The Wildlife Resources Division has developed an NBCI implementation plan that transitions BQI into these priority restoration landscapes. The intent is to work intensively with interested landowners on private lands and suitable public lands within the landscapes to target management programs, funding, technical assistance, research and monitoring efforts. Georgia’s NBCI presents bobwhite Georgia Forestry Today
enthusiasts with a clear vision and road map to make a real difference for bobwhites and other grassland-dependent wildlife. However, public support is needed to: • Promote and fund Georgia’s implementation plan. •
Continue and increase funding for federal, state, and non-governmental organization programs and practices that help bobwhite habitat.
•
Support an increased emphasis on managing public lands habitat (especially timber thinning and frequent prescribed fire) to benefit bobwhites and other early succession species.
Please note, too, that Wildlife Resources Division bobwhite restoration efforts are funded solely through the sale of an automobile license plate. If you want to support bobwhite restoration, buy or renew a BQI tag, or make a direct donation to BQI! v Learn more at www.georgiawildlife.com /conservation/quail. Reggie Thackston is Private Lands program manager and bobwhite project leader for the Georgia DNR’s Wildlife Resources Division. James Tomberlin is a senior wildlife biologist overseeing BQI implementation.
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Georgia-Pacific Announces Significant Investments in Plywood and Lumber Operations
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n March, Georgia-Pacific announced that it is developing plans for potential investments, which total nearly $400 million, in its plywood and lumber operations. ese facility expansions and equipment upgrades will further strengthen the company’s commitment to meet customers’ needs in the building products industry. e company has approved funding for significant engineering and is evaluating facilities in a number of southern states, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Texas. e effort would increase Geor-
gia-Pacific’s overall capacity by approximately 20 percent. Pending final site selection and required permitting, start-up would be expected in the second half of 2014 through the beginning of 2015. “e markets for our products are currently improving at a steady pace. ese proposed investments would position Georgia-Pacific to provide our current and potential customers with the products they need to grow with a long-term recovery in housing,” said Mark Luetters , executive vice president, Georgia-Pacific building products. “We have a long-term vision for our building products business, and these invest-
ments underscore our commitment to the industry and the communities where we are located.” Since 2006, the Georgia-Pacific building products business has invested close to $1.5 billion in capital for property and equipment upgrades and acquisitions. is includes the 2007 purchase of several International Paper building products assets and the 2010 Grant Forest Products acquisition. e company also continues to plan for the more than $700 million acquisition of the Temple-Inland Building Products assets.v
Herty Advanced Materials Development Center Celebrates 75th Anniversary
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he Herty Advanced Materials Development Center, a world-leader in materials research and product development, will mark its 75th year anniversary in 2013 by celebrating its achievements, milestones, and growth. rough a host of activities, Herty will honor the legacy of Dr. Charles H. Herty, whose pioneering work in process chemistry helped create the modern pulp and paper industry in the Southeastern United States. e Herty Center will recognize its long-stand26
ing achievements and its industrial partners; the impact it has had on economic growth; and present its exciting new initiatives. Established by the state of Georgia in 1938, the Herty Center was created to provide research and development support to the pulp and paper industry. Early work at the Herty Center focused on chemical pulping and the commercialization potential of southern so woods, and especially southern pine. is work directly enabled the modern pulp and paper industry to develop in Georgia and throughout the South-
east. is industry has evolved to become a key industry within Georgia, topping $25 billion in output in 2011, providing over 118,000 jobs and generating $15.1 billion in revenues, with the majority of this coming from pulp and paper manufacturing. Today, the Herty Center specializes in biomass conversion technologies, advanced non-woven materials, fibers, and pulp and paper operations. Herty is a ‘new product accelerator’ for its clients by offering technical, market, manufacturing, and development services. v May | June 2013
Paper Labels and Packaging which Interacts with Customers
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or many consumer goods and beverage companies, labels allowing customers to effectively interact with their brand are considered the Holy Grail. Similarly, they are seeking solutions to allow their boxed products to communicate with the consumer. With a newly developed application for metallized paper, this ambitious goal might be closer than the industry could have hoped for. Based on research carried out at Harvard University (researchers Mazzeo, Kalb, Chan, Killian, Bloch, and Whitesides) and collaborations with institutes in Portugal and France, a specially developed paper has been demonstrated to yield sufficient capacitive properties to be used as a ‘touch pad,’ entirely made of paper. Aer a straightfor-
ward laser etching, followed by connection with cheap electronic interfaces, the paper can be used to detect a consumer’s ‘touch’ like a smart phone’s touch pad. is product, however, is at a fraction of the production cost. Also, by using metallized paper, which is re-pulpable like ordinary paper, it is environmentally friendly. Other advantages in this option include that metallized paper can be easily glued onto surfaces (like a label) or folded or laminated in three-dimensional shapes (like boxes), unlike glass surfaces or thick films. e researchers and AR Metallizing envisaged and tested prototypes for applications such as: touch sensitive labels, interactive book covers, food labels and boxes, interactive games on cereal boxes, multi-digit disposable code pads on ship-
ping boxes, and even entire paper-based keyboards. How it works: when a person touches the paper-based surface, the capacitance increases. When connected to external circuitry and electronics (all of which can be cheap and multi-use), this change in capacitance can be detected and messages or signals transferred. rough etching, multiple, discrete capacitors can be put on two simple metallized paper sheets, placed next to each other. Testing showed that over 2000 touches are possible without altering the functioning. ese technological and economical breakthroughs allow for the ‘smart package’ to be environmentally green. It can be disposed of aer use, with no impact on the environment. v
Should the Fed Allow Increased Weight Limits for Trucks on Interstate Highways?
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he continuing battle to increase the weight limit for trucks on interstate highways has recently experienced a revival in Washington D.C. with the passage of a three-year nationwide study. In February, the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure committed to further study on a truck weight reform proposal that had been included in the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act. The initial proposal would allow states to opt into a higher federal (interstate) vehicle weight limit for single-trailer trucks equipped with six axles rather than the typical five. The required sixth axle maintains all braking and handling characteristics at the new limit of 97,000 pounds - enabling shippers to safely utilize truck space that remains empty at the current 80,000-pound federal weight limit. The proposal would reduce the truckloads, vehicle miles, and fuel necesGeorgia Forestry Today
sary to meet demand. After consideration of the proposal, the Transportation Committee instead voted for a three-year study to be conducted by the Department of Transportation. The study will take a comprehensive look at the implications of operating alternative configuration vehicles, including six-axle 97,000-pound trucks, on different parts of the U.S. highway system. The project will study elements such as diversion between rail and trucks and impact on safety and infrastructure. “Making trucking more efficient will benefit the entire forest products supply chain,” Steve Worthington, Georgia Forestry Association(GFA) board member and General Manager of Southeast Wood Procurement at Rayonier said. “Updating the weight rules will immediately have a big impact on trucking efficiency.” If you have any questions about the current status of the transportation bill or
GFA’s stance on the transportation issue, please contact Steve McWilliams at steve@gfagrow.org or 478-992-8110. v
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GEORGIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION
Ad Valorem Tax: e Season of Appeals By Matt Hestad | Georgia Forestry Association ax season can be a scary time of year for some woodland owners in Georgia. No taxpayer wants to pay more than he or she rightfully owes, but unfortunately many landowners do just that each year. ere are some situations in the filing process that will give a landowner the ability to file a tax appeal and reduce his or her property tax liability. In most cases, however, landowners will not file for an appeal simply because they do not understand the legal process or they feel unprepared to challenge local taxing authorities. A Common Problem Unfortunately, overpayment is common as Georgia's timberland owners pay some of the highest property tax rates in the southeastern United States. is is due to a variety of factors including development and speculative influences on land prices; differing attitudes, resources, knowledge levels, and skills among local assessment offices; and the absence of a short term special program for keeping transitional land in agricultural use. Also, contrary to the Georgia Constitution, when the amount of taxes levied is compared to the cost of services consumed, timberland own-
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ers also bear a highly inequitable share of the overall tax burden. However, the good news is that there are provisions under current law for tax appraisals of timberland to be based simply on the income that can be generated from growing trees. Standards for tax assessors require valuations to be performed in accordance with the law, to be uniform and to be at ‘fair market value’ as defined in Georgia code. Beyond that, Georgia is an ‘existing use’ state, meaning that ‘fair market value’ is supposed to be determined in the context of a property’s ‘existing use’ (as opposed to an alternative or more profitable potential use). What is considered income information, if available, shall be applied in tax appraisals of timberland. Simply put, assessment uniformity is violated when a timberland owner pays more than his or her fair share of the tax burden. In sum, Georgia law, rules, and regulations provide specific criteria as to how property should be valued. Tax appraisals are subject to being invalid when those requirements are not followed. “Georgia law provides a wealth of opportunities for reductions in market values for timberland for the practitioner who knows which rocks to look under and what buttons to push,” Jay Roberts, ad valorem
tax expert and partner at Roberts | Tate, LLC, said. Practical Solutions On May 30 in Gainesville, Georgia, and on June 4 in Tion, Georgia, the Georgia Forestry Association will sponsor two property tax and tax appeal workshops to assist Georgia's woodland owners in becoming more knowledgeable about property taxes and more comfortable with the tax appeal process. e workshops will address the problems with ad valorem property taxation of timberland in Georgia and will explore potential solutions. Real life case studies will demonstrate what can be done in these situations and prepare participants to approach appeals with greater confidence. “Many landowners are leaving too much money on the table at tax time,” GFA President Steve McWilliams said. “e goal of these workshops is to help them pay only what they rightfully owe, not a penny more.” Drawing on years of experience in obtaining substantial reductions in timberland property tax valuations, workshop presenters Steve Fentriss and Jay Roberts will teach landowners what to expect when challenging tax appraisals and how to deal with the assessors when they feel they have been wronged. Fentriss and Roberts combine the perspectives of a specialized attorney, owner tax advocates, an experienced real estate appraiser, a tenured hearing officer, a longterm former deputy chief appraiser, and a licensed real estate broker to bear in challenging property tax valuations. In the aggregate, these professionals have worked on tax appeal cases that have resulted in $2 billion in market value reductions. May | June 2013
Fentriss, who has represented a multitude of Georgia property owners since establishing his property tax consulting business in early 2008, noted that in most appeals, “knowledge and persistence are es-
sential elements for successful outcomes.� ese workshops will be a great opportunity for any landowner to become more knowledgeable about Georgia's property tax programs and the tax appeal process. For
more information on the workshop location, speakers and agenda, call GFA at 478992-8110, e-mail info@gfagrow.org or visit www.gfagrow.org/taxworkshops. v
Workshop Presenter Bios Steve Fentriss: Steve Fentriss is licensed by the state of Georgia as Certified General Real Property Appraiser (#245677), is approved as a Hearing Officer for Georgia ad valorem tax appeals, holds the prestigious SRA designation from the Appraisal Institute, and has earned the coveted Appraiser IV certification from the Georgia Department of Revenue. Steve has represented a multitude of Georgia property owners and provided litigation support for a number
Georgia Forestry Today
of Georgia attorneys since starting his property tax consulting business in early 2008. Steve specializes in complex property tax matters, is published and is an accomplished workshop developer and presenter. Jay Roberts: Jay Roberts is a partner at Roberts | Tate, LLC. He is a litigator and trial attorney who practices exclusively civil litigation. Jay has developed a sub-specialty in advising clients in ad valorem
tax matters and has assisted clients in obtaining more than $950 million in market value reductions. Jay has adapted approaches used in other civil litigation to the property tax appeal context in order to change the dynamic from what the property is worth to whether the tax assessor complied with the law in performing a valuation. Jay is a leader in the field of real property taxation in the state and is often called upon for input in proposed legislative changes in this area. v
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GEORGIA FORESTRY TODAY DIRECTORY OF PRODUCTS & SERVICES
BEACH TIMBER COMPANY INC. 128 Beach Timber Road Alma, Ga 31510 Office: (912) 632-2800 Gary Strickland Foresters We Buy Wood! Owner bchtimco@accessatc.net Available
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FOREST RESOURCE SERVICES INC.
Buyers of Land and Timber in Georgia and the South Canal Wood LLC 601 North Belair Square, Suite 21 Evans, Georgia 30809 Phone: (800) 833-8178 E-mail: dollars4trees@canalwood.com
Specializing in Land and Timber Management & Sales
BOBBY D. BROWN Registered Forester GA Number: 2164 Licensed Realtor GA Number: 165520 20364 GA Hwy #3 Thomasville, GA 31792
(229) 227-1919 brown@ftrealty.com
May | June 2013
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