12 .08.24
We have in our diverse, healthy, Notch Reservoir Forest; the best possible intact,
resilient, tested, and fully functional water filtration and runoff slowing system to
keep our drinking water clean and healthy. Every single act of the proposed heavy
logging by Mass Audubon, and aggressive forest management, currently being
contemplated, will erode our intact system and its capacity to slowly and
continuously deliver purified water to the reservoir.
The logging plans note that they will observe the unenforceable and non-regulatory
“best management logging practices.” The aim to limit, if possible, the extremes of
inevitable logging damage but not to improve the water quality nor that of the
forest’s unique capacity to purify water.
Logging will not, and cannot in any manner, better the near perfect functioning
natural water management system. That damage and diminishment is a given, on a
property where the dam is already deficient for managing anticipated storm
events. On a property with shallow, often wet soils, and with steep to excessively
steep slopes, the logging plans only aggravate this risk.
We must remember that forest managed slow release insures, both perpetual water
in the Reservoir, as with this summer’s extended dry period, and that it insures as
well less damage to the dam in extreme storm events.
This near perfectly functioning forest, will purposely not be more diverse, carbon
storage will be enormously reduced, thus near and long-term climate negatively
impacted. The cherished and nationally acknowledged aesthetics of the Forest and
Bellows Pipe Trail will be gravely maimed. The city will not receive any
renumeration but conversely, inherit a considerable debt, as well as increased
encroachment of invasive species, road repair necessity, and premature Reservoir
dredging. The risk is enormous and the reward only riding away on logging trucks
to Quebec and out to corporate pockets.
We can legitimately ask, what is the opportunity cost of doing nothing, except
repairing the dam and perhaps dredging the reservoir and thinking about this in a
true public forum. The evident answer is there is no opportunity cost risk, since this plan is discretionary and untouched natural water protecting forest future is
already assured, if left intact. The wise mind, sees Notch Forest as a Forever Wild
Forest permanently protected from opportunistic commercial logging interests and
their non-profit associates such as Mass Audubon and The Woodlands Partnership,
and the New England Forestry Foundation.
Walter Cudnohufsky
Ashfield, MA 01330
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