August presented a new obstacle for us, as area fires raveged land west of Darby, Montana. The Tin Cup fire swallowed up 600 acres of national, federal, and private land. Sadly, 50 acres of our total 160 acres succumbed to the flames. With such a development, we immediately set out to utilize the burn to our advantage.
Almost immediately, we were on the ground doing necessary errosion control and seeding efforts. With the help of Jim Albrecht, Iron Wood Construction (406-360-4816), we spent a week placing strawbales to thwart run-off, falling standing-dead burned small diameter trees to slow soil run-off, and seeding all effected areas with a custom seed mix obtained from Lakeland Seed in Hamilton, Mt.
In the aftermath, we are proceeding with a salvage effort to remove the burned timber to put to good use. Instead of allowing the burned timber to rot out and fall to the ground for future fuels, we will be sending marketable timber to the local lumber company where the raw product can be offered to local citizens as building materials. All small diameter trees will be felled for erosion control as well as used as fence railings & posts as we lost a quarter mile of fencing in the burn.
This development has changed the face of our property, but worked in tune with Mother Nature's plan. As a property owner, you must recognize that the land is not truly yours, but instead you are steward of the land. Knowledge of what is happening and what can happen only enables you to best implement plans to best manage the property for the better of the local fauna, floral, wildlife, and yes us, the land owner.
Tim Southwell
9/04/07
Almost immediately, we were on the ground doing necessary errosion control and seeding efforts. With the help of Jim Albrecht, Iron Wood Construction (406-360-4816), we spent a week placing strawbales to thwart run-off, falling standing-dead burned small diameter trees to slow soil run-off, and seeding all effected areas with a custom seed mix obtained from Lakeland Seed in Hamilton, Mt.
In the aftermath, we are proceeding with a salvage effort to remove the burned timber to put to good use. Instead of allowing the burned timber to rot out and fall to the ground for future fuels, we will be sending marketable timber to the local lumber company where the raw product can be offered to local citizens as building materials. All small diameter trees will be felled for erosion control as well as used as fence railings & posts as we lost a quarter mile of fencing in the burn.
This development has changed the face of our property, but worked in tune with Mother Nature's plan. As a property owner, you must recognize that the land is not truly yours, but instead you are steward of the land. Knowledge of what is happening and what can happen only enables you to best implement plans to best manage the property for the better of the local fauna, floral, wildlife, and yes us, the land owner.
Tim Southwell
9/04/07
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