Forestry Law

Instructions: Read each scenario Determine which act(s)/ law(s) is (are) involved using the notes that you have gathered Explain your reasoning *** Success Criteria: 2 points for identifying the correct act/law 3 points for your reasoning (Does is make sense that you chose this even if you got it incorrect) Total of 20 points up for grabs

SCENARIO A: At one time, a small stream ran through the trees and vegetation that surround the far end of the high school campus. The banks of the stream were covered with vegetation; but one day a person walking by noticed poison ivy growing there. The person called the school office and suggested that the poison ivy be removed for the safety of the schoolchildren and others who might walk near the stream edges. A well-intentioned school volunteer donned gloves, long pants, and long sleeves and pulled out the poison ivy. The volunteer also sprayed an herbicide on the poison ivy to wipe out as much as possible. The herbicide that was sprayed landed on other plants, and they died. This left large open areas in the clay soil. As things happen, days after the vines were pulled and the plants died, a storm hit the area, and much of the dry, clay soil was washed into the stream. Downstream, the community noticed that the water had become cloudy. No one investigated the cause of the cloudy water because they were too busy cleaning up their yards and wet basements from the storm. The soil washes away leaving small gullies (erosion). Students and other people used this cleared area as a path to walk to the stream edge, and they indirectly compacted the ground by the stream. Fewer plants grew, and more erosion occurred over the next 2 years. Eventually, the area surrounding the stream, (riparian area) became free of vegetation, and the sediment flow into the stream caused the stream to be cloudy and much warmer (cloudy water absorbs more heat than clear water). This, in turn, killed various species of macroinvertebrates (young insects) and fish. The school environmental science class decided to plant saplings on the banks of the stream to help limit the erosion potential during storms. The trees did not survive due to the fact that only clay remained and the soil was very compacted.

SCENARIO B: You have lived in “The Loft” apartment building in Baltimore City for 10 years. Several tall trees growing next to the road can be seen from your third story apartment. One day, two of the trees split down the center during a severe wind storm. These two trees originally had a “Y” shape with the lowest part of the trunk being only three feet from the ground. The storm pulled the tree apart at the top parts of the “Y.” The trees that survived the storm had one main trunk that grew six feet before it branched. New trees were planted to replace the two that had split during the storm. After two years of growth, these trees were taking on a “Y”-shaped growth pattern. You reasoned that if you cut off one arm of the “Y,” the main trunk would grow stronger and upward. You visit a good friend of yours the next weekend, and during the visit you and your friend are walking around his property. He begins to trim some branches off some of the trees on his private property. As he does this, he explains that trimming a young tree encourages upright growth when the young tree begins early branching. Specifically, cutting off branches helps the tree develop a strong single trunk. As you leave on Sunday, you ask to borrow his clippers. When you get back to your apartment, you plan to trim the young trees in front of the building to help encourage the development of a single trunk. You are pleased that you are helping to keep more trees from later destruction by strong storms.

SCENARIO C: As a construction company investigates an area for sale, the developers realize that forests are a major part of the plot where a new apartment complex might be constructed. The developers also note that the plot of ground is located very close to the mouth of a river that drains into the Chesapeake Bay. The original thought was to build on the portion of the land that was presently growing only seedlings and saplings. However, as development plans changed, most of the trees, both mature and young, would need to be removed. The area of the development is about 3.2 acres, and the trees occupy 75% of the land. Since the property is zoned residential, the developers are planning to build apartments and a swimming pool. The development company wants to incorporate a “green area” with paths for walking and biking. They are hoping to replant 0.8 of an acre for the designated “green area.” A qualified resource professional is presently constructing a landscape plan. It includes a brick parking area around the pool, three feet of shrubs between the parking area and the pool fence, and a walkway bordered with flowers, shrubs, and trees. The walkway will be constructed of either brick or wood planks. The trees will be saplings of at least 4 different species. The resource professional will map out the entire “green” area. Keep in mind that the construction company has not yet purchased this land. An engineer who is new to this company attends the next planning meeting. He has knowledge of another area 5 miles away that is 3.5 acres and presently covered with only 30% forest. This area is also for sale and could be used for residential purposes.

SCENARIO D: Route 322, a State highway in Pennsylvania, has been undergoing major construction for many years. Right now the highway traverses forested areas in order to make a diagonal cut from one point to another, reducing travel time. Proposed completion time for this project was five years from the date construction began. Twenty-five acres of forest were either clear-cut or damaged by the huge construction equipment that was brought into the area. Soil was compacted by the heavy equipment. Clear-cutting left even more areas of the countryside exposed to weathering conditions. The flow of runoff to nearby streams was altered because no trees or vegetation of any kind were left to absorb water that should have been able to infiltrate the ground. In actuality, no infiltration of water occurred; the water ran down the hillside causing erosion and flooding in some areas. The construction company has not yet dealt with the land erosion problems. At one time, coal mining was common in this area of Pennsylvania. As a result, there are several abandoned mine leaks in the area due to the removal of vegetation. A spiraling effect of problems threatens the water supply in this section of the state. Upon completion of the highway, the construction company realizes that they will be doing a mass replanting in the areas surrounding the new highway. Because the highway will cover much of the land area, the company will be replanting other areas of Pennsylvania also in an acre per acre ratio.