Logging at Batchelor Street area at Skinner Range State Park

[sizlinseagulsoup]

From George Willard Chapter President PVNEMBA
For all of you who have enjoyed the many fun and challenging trails at the Skinner State Park, Batchelor Street Area, please be aware that there is a logging operation scheduled to go through that area, on the very same trails you ride, hike, walk, ski, or take the dog for a walk on. We need your help!
If you don't mind, could you please email a short, or long, message stating your concern to Gary Briere, Bureau Chief-Mass Dept. of Conservation and Recreation. His email address is gary.briere@state.ma.us
If we all voice our opinion as to not wanting to see the trails and all of our volunteer work destroyed, maybe we can make a difference and stop our Dept. of Forestry from ruining a wonderful trail system that has benefitted so many people.
Thanks for not deleting the email before you read it.
Sincerely,
George Willard
Chapter Pres.
PVNEMBA

PK: Editted to provide Gary Briere's correct email address.

[ebarnes]

Hi,

Gary Briere's e-mail address is actually:
gary.briere@state.ma.us

It would be very helpful to send a note to him and to tell anyone else you know to also e-mail him about this.

I spoke with a lawyer who does environmental law, and she suggested that the best approach might be to make lots of calls to local representatives in the state legislature. This would include the two legislators representing Granby (which contains the the Batchelor Street Trails):
STATE SENATOR BRIAN P. LEES
BLees@senate.state.ma.us
STATE REPRESENTATIVE ELLEN STORY
Rep.EllenStory@hou.state.ma.us

It may also help to write to other people in the state government, since they can apply much more direct pressure and they can feel more pressure from the voting public.

Thanks for helping.

- Eric

[liquid157]

When I went to Batchelor St the other day I saw blue marks on the trees througout a good portion of the woods. I guess those are the ones they are planning to cut, which wood ruin most of the trails closer to the parking lot. I was wondering if anyone had information about the logging project itself such as when they plan to start cutting. I'm planning to write letters to the state reps mentioned above.

[EVIL BOTA]

What is their purpose for logging the area? More fire roads?
sell the trees to logging company?

[liquid157]

I've been sending letters and emails to government representitives since I opened your email regarding the proposed logging operation at Batchelor St. I recieved a response from Stan Rosenberg who requested more information I was wondering if you knew the answer to any of the following questions:

Do you know who owns the land?
Who is planning to do the logging?
When it is slated to begin?

[ebarnes]

In answer to the questions just posted:

1) The land is owned by the state and is a part of the Holyoke Range State Park.

2) As I understand it, the logging would be contracted out to one of the private firms that the state typically uses for forest management.

3) I asked someone at the local DCP (i.e, the lod DEM) office for a timetable on the logging, but I did not get any definite answer. I don't think they know for sure, but our letters have already paid off because they are slowing down and considering holding a public meeting at the Notch Visitors Center about this issue. I was told that this meeting has not yet been scheduled.


Additionally, I've posted a web page to provide ongoing updates on this issue. That website is:
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~ebarnes/maps/logging.htm

[knucklebuste]

Is this a second post about this? Any updates?
Knuckle

[SuspectDevice]

I don't neccesarily think this is as bad as it looks. As the parking lot exists now there are some serious overflow issues, so the additon of more parking space could be beneficial.

If Nemba could get some concessions from the DCR to build a mountaincross track/ and/or "terrain park" type features in a portion of the logged area it could be a net-positive benefit for NE mountain bike riding, and cycling in the Valley.

As things currently exist at Batchelor street it seems like the more "agressive" elements have already begun to do a little "hucking" off trail, especially out in the new missing persons area...

Whatever happens, logging is going to increase the level of conflict with the HSP staff as I can see more people parking at the Notch and riding down to the trails that way...
-Mickey

[ebarnes]

Mickey makes a good point that the logging will increse parking and trail use conflicts at the Notch. I woouldn't want to ride through the logged area, so I'd just park somewhere else to start my rides. The DCP has been happy to keep the biking away from the Notch by making Bachelor Street so attractive for cyclists.

I don't think that we'll get them to build us any great new features in the logged area, and I worry that asking for this will appear to split the opposition so that we are not presenting a united front. (Not to mention that riding any terrian through a bunch of tree stumps and discarded branches is just not what most of us are looking for.)

The new trail (Missing Persons) is far away from the logging and not on state land, so it is a totally different issue. Also, although Mickey is right that a bigger parking lot would be nice, we don't need to log 60 acres of woods to get it.

Mickey is right that things could be much worse. The logging could threaten many more trails. However, it is still worth the effort to preserve the integrity of the current trail system.
- Eric

[SuspectDevice]

Obviously a 60 acre parking lot is too large. Eric, is there a map out there on the net that details the ownership of the land in the batchelor st area? I already know what it looks like on the Hadley/Amherst side, but I'm not even sure what town some of that land is in, let alone who owns it...

[ebarnes]

There is no property map of the Holyoke Range on the internet. Basically, everything South of the M&M trail (the ridge of the range) and East of 116 is in Granby.

The State Park Map shows what land is in the park. Find that at: http://www.state.ma.us/dem/parks/trails/Holyoke.gif

You can find out who owns the private land by going to the Granby town hall and looking at a tax assessors map.

[liquid157]

ebarnes thanks for the info about the area. I'm sure you've already read the email from gary briere. The email he sent seemed pretty positive, he states there will be a buffer zone near every trail where they will not log and the log drags will be positioned away from the trail system. Of course I don't know what this is going to translate to in reality but at least he's shown there can be compromise.

[sizlinseagulsoup]

I'm not positive how much of that email was truthful (as you already addressed). Personally, it seemed very political, just trying to appease the constituency so they shut up.

[Superb Man]

Any one been down there lately...it ain't pretty! Looks like we'll have some real work cut out for us in the spring

[sizlinseagulsoup]

Anyone have any pictures of this destruction? Boston is really working hard at screwing Western mass, I loved Romney's comments the other day claiming that there are no "natural treasures" in the Berkshires. Ha! Makes me wonder if he's ever BEEN out to the western half of the state...

[TA]

No pictures but from the gate the road is bulldozed about twice as wide as it was untill about half way to the IMBA trail then it is about 4-6 times as wide and stops on the IMBA trail about 100 yrds up from the lower access Rd. this is just the staging area. They haven't started logging yet.

[Superb Man]

I just rode there early on Saturday...doesn't look bad yet-the widened access road is omninous, but I guess the overall area under the knife is fairly contained, and the black marked trees along the trails (i.e, the agreed upon buffer) is a hopeful sign. The trails, otherwise are in great shape-missing persons rode like a dream. The Batch will still be the place come Spring.

[boingboing]

http://www.nemba.org/yabbse/index.php?board=4;action=display;threadid=4266

We were talking about this in another area on this forum. The link is above. I haven't been out there since the snow flew, but I figure we have some work to do in the spring. I rode through there and taped it. If I can find the tape I'll post it. It is not a pretty site. From that football field size clearing there is a new road to the left of where the old fire road goes and the IMBA trail starts at the top of the first little climb that used to be about 25 yards from where you punch in to the woods. Maybe we can move the Harpoon ride there from the DAR to raise some money to do some work/cut new trails around the cleared area or build a bmx track in that clearing or something.

[Capt.Shay]

Here is a link for an article in this weeks Valley Advocate concerning the work at the Batch. They give bikers a little creditfor starting the concern but I think that the most important outcome is that the Forestry Division is realizing that they need to consult with local user groups and not just do as they please as they have in the past. G.W. you were at the last few meetings, any updates?

http://valleyadvocate.com/gbase/News/content.html?oid=oid:94711

Edit : Sorry but the link is not complete as posted so you will need to copy and paste it.

Would any one like to school a 'puter noob on why this happens to me when I try to copy and paste a link? Monty, others, Bueller. Please PM me.

Thanx J.

[GW]

Rumor has it that the logging at Batchelor Street has been put on hold until the state comes up with a viable management plan for the entire park system. As of this posting, I haven't received, nor have I read any official news on this matter.
Rich L and I just rode there on Wednesday. There was no equipment or machinery at the site. Stay tuned.
gw