Woodland Management – Snyder County, PA Government

Overview

October 12, 2023: Spongy Moth Info Meeting Join the Union & Snyder County Conservation Districts and PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR) for an informative meeting on how to prepare your woods and forestland for next year's anticipated spongy moth infestation at the Shade Mountain Winery (16140 Route 104, Middleburg) on Thursday, October 12, from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Please reserve your seat as soon as possible by calling the Union County Conservation District at 570-837-3860 by Thursday, October 5.

Some conservation districts in PA and the USA offer technical assistance on how private landowners can best manage their forested areas. However, Snyder County Conservation District (SCCD) is not one of them. The closest thing SCCD deals with woodland management is our riparian buffer program and conducting our annual tree sale.

USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) also encourages riparian buffer tree plantings and proper woodland management. However, most NRCS staff members have limited experience in large-scale forest management.

Therefore, woodland landowners have three options in this area:

Hiring a private consultant,
Contact a PA Bureau of Forestry’s Service Forester,
Or a combination of the two.

If you choose to contact a PA Bureau of Forestry’s Service Forester, please call 570-922-3344 at the Bald Eagle State Forest headquarters near Laurelton along PA Route 45. The Bureau of Forestry is part of the PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR).

If you wish to hire a private consultant, call the PA DCNR: Bald Eagle District headquarters at (570) 922-3344 to secure a list of certified forestry consultants.

Walk in Penn's Woods Tour

Since 2017, there have been tours either organized, assisted or promoted by the Snyder County Conservation District (SCCD) as part of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association’s “Walk in Penn’s Woods” within the county on first weekend in October.

For 2023, the Snyder County tour will be held on Sunday, October 1 on Shade Mountain, starting at Shade Moutain Road at coordinates 40.74452 & -77.06206 at 1:00 p.m.

From PA 104: turn west on Shade Mountain Road and travel 3.4 miles.

From PA 235: turn east on Shade Mountain Road and travel 10.9 miles.

The walk will take place on a forest management site that has plans for early successional habitat. Discussion will take place on past management practices, recent events, and planning for the future. Overall distance should range from 1-2 miles on moderate terrain.

Questions: Contact Jacob Bausinger, PA DCNR Service Forester at 570-922-3328.

The 2023 event is in cooperation with PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR) and the PA Forestry Assocation.

Maple Educational Exhibit

The Snyder County Conservation District (SCCD) held an Educational Maple Exhibit at Faylor Lake off of Shale Pit Road north of Beaver Springs. The exhibit drew approximately 100 people on March 4 & 5, 2023, from 10:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m. This Exhibit had displays and a demonstrational tapping area where visitors explored the many facets of the maple process. Maple drinks and hot dogs were also served.

Check out our Facebook page for photos taken from the event.

For more information: Contact the Conservation District at 570-837-3000.

Forestry Stewardship Planning

Forest stewardship plans begin with a meeting between the consulting forester and the landowner. The consulting forester collects information on the property and makes recommendations on how to manage the land in the future to meet the landowner’s goals. Plans generally written with recommendations for the landowner need to be re-evaluated every ten years.

For more information about forest management plans in general, contact the PA Bureau of Forestry’s PA DCNR: Bald Eagle District Office near Laurelton at (570) 922-3344.

Tree Farm System

The American Tree Farm System(R) is sponsored by a non-profit organization [American Forest Foundation’s (AFF) Center for Family Forests]. AFF targets privately owned land that is a minimum of ten acres. Participants must meet and maintain sustainable harvest and management standards and practices.

Contact the PA Bureau of Forestry’s Bald Eagle District Forest office near Laurelton at (570) 922-3344 or go to the AFF’s American Tree Farm System website for details.