Russell County CES

Title:

Forestry Systems and Water Issues

MAP:

Enviromental Stewardship and Natural Resources

Agents Involved:

ANR, 4-HYD

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Wildlife Habitat and Damage Management Education

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Natural Resources

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Water and Soil Quality and Conservation

Situation:

Kentucky is 48% forested, with a total of 12,379,171 forested acres and 88% privately owned.  Russell County is slightly above the percent forested at 53%, with 91,263 forested acres with 75% privately owned, according to the most recent Forest Inventory and Analysis performed by the US Forest Service and KY Division of Forestry in 2016.  Russell County is also home to Lake Cumberland, which covers 65,530 acres in multiple counties, with Russell being home to a large percent of the lake.  

With over half of the county covered in forest or water, and millions of visitors to the lake and state park each year, management, and use of these resources is vital to Russell County and the local economy.  Therefore, education on forestry, wildlife, natural resources, woodlands, and backyard streams is vital to a thriving and developing Russell County. 

Long-Term Outcomes:

• Russell counties trees and forests are better protected and managed 

• Russell county residents have an enhanced ability to address a variety of forest health, management and utilization related issues, resulting in: increased revenue, increased forest productivity, and improved forest health  

•  Russell County forests ecosystem and economic values are enhanced, resulting in: healthier forests, improved water quality, and increased revenue 

• Improvement and increase in the overall quantity and quality of wildlife habitat within Russell County 

• Russell Counties forests will be better protected and understood in the future  

• Students pursue additional education or careers in science, forestry and/or natural resources  

• Participants create or implement a forestry/natural resource improvement project (ex. tree plantings, stream clean-up, habitat creation, and invasive plant removal) 

• Sustain and improve Russell County Natural Resources 

• Participants adopt long-term strategies to protect natural resources. 

Intermediate Outcomes:

• Forest health, management and utilization activities/practices that support sustainable forests are implemented  

• Timber harvest operations abide by all laws and regulations  

• Forest industry implements more quality control and improvement 

• Increase in the amount of quality wildlife habitat present in the landscape 

• An increase in the implementation of wildlife management practices on private property 

• Youth will investigate career opportunities in science, forestry and natural resources 

• Implement best practice to: • improve soil health • conserve soil and/or water • increase soil organic matter • improve soil structure for water infiltration or retention • increase ground cover for soil protection • improve water quality • protect stream banks or stream buffers • plant native plants • develop or update Ag Water Quality Plan • develop or update nutrient management plan • adjust rate, timing, placement and/or source of nutrients • adopt changes to improve the water quality of forested streams 

• Youth will explore forestry and natural resource education through hands-on activities.  Youth adopt conservation practices. 

Initial Outcomes:

• Environmental, social, and economic importance of trees 

• Sources of forest health, management and utilization assistance management  

• Forest health, management and utilization practices 

• Improvement in positive opinions in regards to all wildlife species within the state  

• Improve the skills of both county agents, state and federal personnel, and community leaders on how to identify and deal with wildlife habitat, population, and damage management 

• Change in awareness and understanding of: • Importance of trees, forests, and wildlife in both rural and urban environments • Identifying forests and natural resources in their community • Importance of forest products, such as wood, in everyday life • Stewardship –managing forests and natural resources to provide products as well as protect the environment • Increased participation in 4-H Forestry and other natural resource education programs 

• Youth gain knowledge and appreciation of botany, forestry, and natural resource conservation. 

 

Evaluation:

Outcome: Better overall mgt. of woodlands to increase forest health, and utilization 

Indicator: Better management of woodland acres in the county 

Method: Surveys and on farm visits 

Timeline: Beginning of course, end of course, visits as needed 

Outcome: Youth participate in yearly stream clean ups or tree planting 

Indicator: Youth become involved in so type of natural resources club or group 

Method: Number of youth that report being involved in group or club 

Timeline: Yearly 

 

Outcome: Sustain and improve natural resources for county 

Indicator: More acres of natural habitat are planted, marginal land returns to forest or native grass, wildlife habitat is increased 

Method: Number of acres managed or put back into woodlands. 

Timeline: Yearly 

 

Outcome: Producers fill out and follow Ag Water Quality Plan and conduct more soil test 

Indicator: Increase in the number of AWQP and increase in number of soil test 

Method: Number of AWQP filled out and number of soil test recommendations returned 

Timeline: Yearly 

 

Outcome:  Youth participate in natural resource and forestry/botany education 

Indicator:  Youth adopt one practice for tree health. 

Method:  participant self-evaluation 

Timeline:  post-program 

Learning Opportunities:

Overall Audience: Youth and Adults

 

Main Audience: Adults

Activity: Forestry Webinars

Content or Curriculum: Various topics

Date: 2x year

 

Main Audience: Adults

Activity: Field Days

Content or Curriculum: Various topics

Date: Spring and Fall

 

Main Audience: Youth

Activity: Youth- Nature Club

Content or Curriculum: Day of hiking and education on forest and water issues

Date: 3x year

 

Main Audience: ANR Program Council

Activity: Programming Ideas

Content or Curriculum: Program Ideas

Date: Spring and Fall

 

Audience:  4^th grade youth

Activity:  Botany education

Curriculum:  Jr. Master Gardener; 4-H natural resource curricula

Date:  during school year

 

 

Audience: Elementary age

Activity: Soil Structure Kits

Curriculum: Nitty Gritty Soil Test Kits

Date: Spring, during school year

 

Audience:  Youth and Adults

Activity:  Community Earth Day Celebration

Curriculum:  4-H natural resource activities

Date:  April

 

Audience: Agriculture Producers

Activity: Ag Water Quality Plans

Curriculum: Ag Water Quality Workbook

Date: As needed

 

Success Stories