Hurricane Ida's impact on the June 2021 logging sites

If you are curious how the remnant of Hurricane Ida impacted Roaring Rock Park, let's take a look. Members of SaveRoaringRockPark.org visited RRP on Sept 3rd to survey the June 2021 logging sites. The aftermath of the storm on the logging areas is not pretty, but fully expected.

After the Washington Township's logging contractors bulldozed access roads at the sites, they used skid steer machinery to haul out tree logs towards awaiting tractor trailers.   This hauling activity left ruts in the access roads. Since no remediation was performed after work wrapped up, drainage issues on these roads now exist.

Storm water, which had previously flowed downslope directly into Brass Castle Creek, is now impeded from doing so because of the presence of the rutted access roads. Washington Township has NO PLAN or commitment to go back and remediate conditions at the June 2021 logging sites.

Since no site remediation was performed, soil erosion conditions exist. As a result of the heavy rains, loosened soil and the tree tops left by the logging contractors have washed down into Brass Castle Creek.

Hurricane Ida's impact on the June 2021 logging sites "And now from all the erosion...there is a giant washout, dumping everything down..into [Brass Castle] Creek" pic.twitter.com/NJLzR4TwDo

— Save Roaring Rock Park! (@SaveRRP) September 6, 2021

With no plans to remediate this site, soil erosion conditions will persist.

Hurricane Ida's impact on the June 2021 logging sites "There is the denuded hillside allowing everything to runoff, into their new [access] road that they cut through, ... everything now ... running downhill into [Brass Castle] Creek. pic.twitter.com/CI6xs2LX4Z

— Save Roaring Rock Park! (@SaveRRP) September 6, 2021

Keep in mind: 

1. The Forest Management Plan is a 10 year plan; 
2. The June 2021 logging activity is only Phase 1; 
3. Phase 2 is planned to start fall / winter 2022;
4. Intense summertime storms will keep occurring;  
5. Snowmelt will yield similar results.

It is not hard to imagine the scale of devastation ten years of "Forest Management" will have on Roaring Rock Park if future logging activities are executed, by the Township's logging contractors, as they have during Phase 1, June 2021.

Hurricane Ida's impact on the June 2021 logging sites "This completely cleared area is now mud .... Look at all the new erosion ... everything is just dumped down into [Brass Castle] Creek." pic.twitter.com/rvo1rJdoQq

— Save Roaring Rock Park! (@SaveRRP) September 6, 2021

Residents are urged to contact Washington Township and voice opposition to Roaring Rock Park's "Forest Management Plan" before it wreaks more devastation on the forest, the wildlife it hosts, Brass Castle Creek and its native fish species.

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Visit our web site SaveRoaringRockPark.org to learn more about our concerns, what we are doing about them, and how you can help.

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