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Authority approves Morgan East pre-harvest plan with 100-foot riparian buffers; stewardship plan to guide reforestation
Summary
The Conservation Authority approved a pre-harvest timbering plan for the UVA Foundation's Morgan East property, endorsing 100-foot riparian buffers and referencing a separate forest stewardship plan that will guide post-harvest reforestation and management.
The Albemarle County Conservation Authority approved a pre-harvest timbering plan for the UVA Foundation's Morgan East property after staff and the foundation explained the plan's best-management practices and riparian-buffer treatment.
The estate's easement requires a pre-harvest plan and, for timbering of 20 acres or more, a forest stewardship management plan prepared by the Department of Forestry (DOF). Staff said the pre-harvest plan and its proposed best management practices (BMPs) were prepared by DOF and reference the BMP manual. The authority's role was to verify that the pre-harvest plan addresses water-quality BMPs for harvest operations, haul roads, log decks and skid trails.
Staff reported the initial plan referred to the standard 50-foot riparian buffers typically used for forest harvests in the state, and asked the landowner to revise the plan to show 100-foot buffers consistent with the authority's expectations. Staff received a revised pre-harvest plan the morning of the meeting showing 100-foot buffers in the mapped harvest areas. Staff also said the revised plan commits to no crossings of perennial streams; temporary crossings of intermittent streams may be necessary to access certain areas but would follow DOF BMPs and be bridled-arch crossings to avoid streambed impacts and to be removed and stabilized afterwards if used.
Justin Mallory, asset manager for the UVA Foundation, told the authority the foundation's intention is to reforest after harvest and that discussion with the foundation's sustainability lab and university staff is ongoing to explore more diverse planting regimes and stewardship objectives. Foundation staff said the stewardship plan required for harvests over 20 acres is in hand and will provide more detailed post-harvest commitments and reforestation direction.
Board members pressed for clarity about how post-harvest management relates to the authority's conservation values. Staff and foundation representatives said the easement requires the stewardship plan but that the authority's formal approval applies to the pre-harvest plan; the stewardship plan exists and will guide reforestation, but the deed does not give the authority approval authority over long-term management choices. Several members suggested the stewardship plan be referenced in the authority's approval so the two documents are linked.
A motion to approve the pre-harvest plan with reference to the forest stewardship plan passed by voice vote. Staff and several board members agreed to follow up with additional, informal presentations on stewardship and reforestation choices as those post-harvest plans are refined.
