From: “P. H. Craig” <phc@nc.rr.com>
Subject: Craig tract adjoining you
Date: February 16, 2018 at 7:03:34 PM EST
To: <jimward@nc.rr.com>, “‘penny rich'” <pennyrich.ch@gmail.com>, “‘Steven Campbell'” <steven.campbell4@gmail.com>
Cc: “‘Craig Knight'” <craig@insuredbyknight.com>
Would you be kind enough to forward this memo to your homeowners association?
As you know I have owned the tract west of Ironwoods and North of Bolin Forest/Bolin Woods for over 50 years. It borders about ½ mile along the twists and turns of the Creek.
I have never cut a tree there. In fact John Smith, Tax administrator years ago threatened to revoke my “in use” tax status if I didn’t comply with the management plan that called for cutting trees. I pretty much told him to go jump in a lake. Fortunately we were able to get rid of him.
From my over 50 years of tree farming I have learned the following about that tract.
It possibly has some of the oldest pine growth in Orange County.
For example in the 4,000 or so acres of Duke Forest in Orange Co, none will be over about 25 years old, because they “manage” it correctly.
While the Craig tract typically ranges from 75 to 100 years old. And that is not healthy.
More importantly, it puts adjoining property owners in jeopardy.
Pine Beetles usually start in such old, unhealthy stands of timber.
And spreads like wild fire according to State Foresters.
And, according to foresters that manage the Craig tract, fire hazard is certainly a danger there.
There is very high usage day and night. (Foresters say foot traffic there is heavier there than in Umstead State Park). A camp fire started there late at night could be a raging inferno with no way to get in to fight the fire.
That could endanger Ironwoods to the East and Bolin Creek single family residences to the South. Again there would be no entry from either of these subdivisions, and no entry from Seawell School Rd would be possible. The fire hazard worse because of the build up of pine needles and rotted trees. (foresters say this is typical of such old unheakthy stands of pine).
Apparently hardwood trees do not pose any such risks.. As to pine beetles if they spread to the residential areas, a tree service can easily charge a thousand or more dollard to bring down one unhealthy pine. Further, most people using these trails daily think it is Carrbpro or Chapel Hill North park lands.
I doubt there is anything I have said above that you probably did not know already .
But you may not have had the multiple Forest reports over the years about the aging unhealthy timber. Accordingly I now have posted NO TRESSPASSISNG signs.
I plan to harvest the againg pine in the near future. Of the 77 acres, probably 31 acres is what is described above and will be cut.
The area cut will be ugly for a while, but I plan to re plant lob olly pine again and get a healthy growth ASAP. Please disiminate this to all concerned and I hope you understand why I am taking this action.
PH Craig
919 967 4155
phc@nc.rr.com
PS: This memo is to be forwarded to the Town of Carrboro Planning and the Chapel Hill Town planning dept.
PHC