Kentucky’s landscape is 48% forested, with the vast majority (88%) owned by private landowners. Forests are an important part of the landscape and provide essential ecosystem services such as carbon dioxide uptake, oxygen production, soil nutrient cycling, and wildlife habitat. Further, they play a key role in watershed protection by providing high infiltration rates, reducing precipitation runoff, and regulating surface water temperatures.

On a crisp sunny day in October University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension partnered with forest landowner, KY Woodland Owners Association (KWOA), the KY Division of Forestry, and Salt River Watershed Watch to offer a half-day forest stewardship field day. Nineteen forest landowners, land managers, and conservation professionals participated in the event.

The landowner began the event at Crooked Creek Farm with a photographic display and detailed explanation of the historic iron furnace located on the property. From his research he has found that iron furnace operations could have harvested as much as 1-2 acres of woodlands per day as part of their charcoal making process that fed the iron production. This presentation was a thoughtful introduction to the day as attendees considered the impact this intense tree harvest might have made on the surrounding landscape at the time of operation, and how it has continued to influence land uses and current tree stands in the area. 

The next stop for the field day was a visit to Knobs State Forest, a property formerly owned and managed by the landowner’s family. The KY Division of Forestry shared information on best management practices required during logging operations, including streamside management zones (SMZs) and water bars. An examination of 20+ year old water bars showed participants the value of diverting water from closed logging roads to reduce erosion and protect water quality. 

During lunch KY Woodland Owners Association (KWOA) reminded participants of the value of being a KWOA member and encouraged all to join. Being part of KWOA provides a wealth of benefits including access to forestry resource agencies, program information, and peer learning from other woodland owners.

After lunch UK Extension explained Kentucky’s influence on water quality in the Mississippi River basin and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico. The discussion included establishing and maintaining riparian or streamside buffer zones, the importance of protecting streams from adjacent land uses, and the challenges of invasive plants in buffer zones.

The final stop was in Crooked Creek itself, nearly dry as a result of recent drought. Salt River Watershed Watch explained how stream habitat is a vital component of overall stream health and connected all of the pieces of the day into the larger picture of stewardship. The value of water quality monitoring and the importance of a strong network of volunteer monitors were emphasized, and new protocols for conducting a stream habitat assessment were shared. 

A post-event survey indicated that 82% of attendees gained confidence on how to better implement a forestry/conservation practice that they are already using; 90% became familiar with or learned more about a forestry/conservation practice they will recommend to another farmer/landowner; all participants agreed or strongly agreed that they became more knowledgeable about forested stream buffers and connected with others who are implementing or can advise on forested stream buffers; and 91% agreed or strongly agreed that the event increased their awareness of on-farm conservation efforts in KY and the MS River basin.

This field day was sponsored in part by a grant from the U.S. EPA under cooperative agreement MX – 00D87719 focused on farmer engagement in watershed protection and conservation efforts and in part by §319(h) of the Clean Water Act.