Neal
07-15-2006, 09:15 AM
A Shannondale Resident just sent the following message to Messrs. Mangold and Schneeberger and to Senators Byrd and Rockefeller:
Perhaps you could edit this and post for others to copy/paste and send to Washington? Charleston? wherever....
"I am a homeowner in the Shannondale subdivision east of Charles Town WV. I ask for your interest and help with WV and US Forest Service offices to engage their cooperation with our residents in gypsy moth suppression efforts. Without these efforts I fear mutilation of our forest and consequent elevated fire dangers in the Panhandle.
For the past three years we have been mostly free of gypsy moths thanks to earlier spraying programs partially funded by local contributions (up to half). The surveys to determine infestation severity have been funded by WV and US moneys. This year the caterpillars and moths are back with a vengeance and we can only anticipate that the eggs they lay this summer will become a plague of leaf eating caterpillars early next year.
We have been told that government participation in autumn surveys of egg mass density and spring spraying (when indicated necessary by those surveys) has been curtailed. If this is true the investments of the past by federal, state, and private funds will have had only very temporary effect. The result will be denuded trees, dying timber and fire danger ratcheted much higher next year..
Spraying in our area west of the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Trail south of the Harpers Ferry National Historic Park HAS WORKED and undoubtedly had broader positive impact on the Trail, the Park and adjacent Virginia timberland. Suspension of the participatory program now and next year, if true, would fall into the "penny wise and pound foolish" category when one considers past efforts, property value, public endangerment and strain on local fire fighters.
Please see that the reported end to what has been a successful partnership of funding sources is not going to happen. Three good years, years in which there may well have been unexpended appropriations for gypsy moth suppression, should not be cavalierly abandoned. Our healthy forest is at risk.
Perhaps you could edit this and post for others to copy/paste and send to Washington? Charleston? wherever....
"I am a homeowner in the Shannondale subdivision east of Charles Town WV. I ask for your interest and help with WV and US Forest Service offices to engage their cooperation with our residents in gypsy moth suppression efforts. Without these efforts I fear mutilation of our forest and consequent elevated fire dangers in the Panhandle.
For the past three years we have been mostly free of gypsy moths thanks to earlier spraying programs partially funded by local contributions (up to half). The surveys to determine infestation severity have been funded by WV and US moneys. This year the caterpillars and moths are back with a vengeance and we can only anticipate that the eggs they lay this summer will become a plague of leaf eating caterpillars early next year.
We have been told that government participation in autumn surveys of egg mass density and spring spraying (when indicated necessary by those surveys) has been curtailed. If this is true the investments of the past by federal, state, and private funds will have had only very temporary effect. The result will be denuded trees, dying timber and fire danger ratcheted much higher next year..
Spraying in our area west of the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Trail south of the Harpers Ferry National Historic Park HAS WORKED and undoubtedly had broader positive impact on the Trail, the Park and adjacent Virginia timberland. Suspension of the participatory program now and next year, if true, would fall into the "penny wise and pound foolish" category when one considers past efforts, property value, public endangerment and strain on local fire fighters.
Please see that the reported end to what has been a successful partnership of funding sources is not going to happen. Three good years, years in which there may well have been unexpended appropriations for gypsy moth suppression, should not be cavalierly abandoned. Our healthy forest is at risk.