Hurricane Rita Field Day Educates Forestry Landowners on Recovery Efforts

Around 100 forest landowners attended a Hurricane Rita Field Day at the Merlin Breaux family forest in Hardin County on Saturday, June 17, 2006. The field day was sponsored by the Texas Forestry Association (TFA) in conjunction with the American Forest Foundation.

Several speakers from various agencies including the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Texas Forest Service (TFS), Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), and private consultant foresters presented information to the landowners to assist them in recovery efforts from damages caused by Hurricane Rita.

Merlin Breaux, host and forest land owner, gave a land owner’s perspective on post Hurricane Rita forest management. Mr. Breaux stated that "Never before have I seen the type of mass devastation to our forests that Hurricane Rita left. We are thankful to have assistance available from agencies like the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Texas Forest Service to aid us in recovery".

NRCS District Conservationist Scott Alford presented information on various forestry cost-share options available from the NRCS for hurricane recovery and reforestation. Alford explained that through recent legislation, NRCS has been granted expanded authority under the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program to assist private forest owners with the removal of downed timber that would pose a risk of wildfire.

In addition, Alford also detailed cost-share assistance available through the Environment Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) helps forest owners with forest site preparation, reforestation, invasive species control (Chinese tallow), wildlife habitat improvement practices for the Red-cockaded woodpecker and bobwhite quail, and the installation of riparian forest buffers.

TFS foresters discussed the new Emergency Forestry Conservation Reserve Program (EFCRP), forest insect problems, reducing fuel loads, and current fire season concerns. TPWD representatives discussed hurricane impacts to wildlife habitat and restoration strategies.

The NRCS has been a major player in hurricane recovery in Southeast Texas. Hurricane Rita hit on September 24, 2005 and since then NRCS has been assisting landowners, cities, counties, special purpose districts, and the State of Texas in recovery efforts. Most of this assistance was provided through the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program. About 6 million dollars of EWP funds have been obligated to restore the drainage and flood control infrastructure by removing fallen trees and debris from creeks, bayous, ditches, and streams and by repairing erosion adjacent to transportation and other community structures.

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