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TWRA defends timber cuts, prescribed fire and soil testing as tools to create wildlife habitat
Summary
TWRA officials explained to lawmakers that timber thinnings, controlled burns and targeted herbicide use are deliberate management tools to create early-successional habitat and boost species diversity; the agency said it conducts soil sampling (often via UT Extension) to monitor treatments.
Representative Fritz asked whether TWRA conducts pre- and post-treatment soil and water sampling tied to chemical use and how cutting operations are planned. Jason Maxon said TWRA does "pull soil samples" and often works with University of Tennessee Extension or private labs to analyze results.
Maxon described timber thinnings and controlled fire as low-cost, effective habitat tools and said that although logging operations may look rough initially, the response in wildlife (deer fawns, quail, rabbits, turkeys) appears after a few years as habitat recovers. He said TWRA typically cuts about 800 to 1,000 acres of timber a year and on a strong year generates about $1,000,000 in revenue.
TWRA stressed its primary objective in timber operations is wildlife benefit, not merchantable timber, and described leaving seed-producing trees to support regeneration and food for wildlife.
