Date: Fri 12-Apr-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

eagles-NU-logging-McLaughlin

Full Text:

NU Withdraws Plans For Logging Near Eagle Habitat

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

Northeast Utilities (NU) has withdrawn its application to do selective logging

on its land just downriver of Shepaug Dam on the west bank of the Housatonic

River.

The withdrawn application comes in light of a local woman's concerns that tree

cutting there might degrade the winter habitat of bald eagles.

Jeffrey O. Borne, an NU ecologist, said that after reviewing questions posed

by Morgen McLaughlin on a recent inspection of the site, NU officials decided

to reconsider the effects that logging would have on the winter habitat of

bald eagles. "We want to reevaluate the wildlife habitat," Mr Borne said.

"We think we're still on firm ground with our forest management, in general,"

he said. "It would be good management to look at wildlife issues," he added.

Withdrawing its logging application from consideration by the town's

Conservation Commission will give the electric utility an opportunity to more

thoroughly study the wildlife habitat issues posed by the logging, he said.

David Thompson, the town's environmental official, said that when NU resubmits

its application, it must provide additional information on eagle habitat and

erosion control measures.

Ms McLaughlin, manager of McLaughlin Vineyards, a winery which abuts NU's 30

acres proposed for logging, toured the site with NU officials recently,

explaining her concerns that tree cutting there would pose habitat risks to

bald eagles which loaf in tall trees while hunting for fish downriver of the

hydroelectric dam.

NU had planned to cut up to 300 trees on the property, representing about

73,000 board feet of lumber.

NU intends to resubmit a logging application for the property, but only after

it has fully reconsidered the matter, Mr Borne said. He said he hopes that the

public utility submits another logging application for the land within a year.

NU intends to proceed with plans to selectively cut trees this summer on 99

acres it owns in Southbury upriver of Shepaug Dam, Mr Borne said. Eagles don't

loaf as much on that land as they do on the Newtown property, he said. NU will

adhere to state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recommendations

on what's environmentally acceptable in terms of tree cutting there in light

of the eagles' wintertime presence, he said.

Although Newtown requires logging operations to obtain a permit, Southbury has

no such requirement.

NU also plans to do logging this summer on land it owns off Hanover Road. The

company recently obtained a permit for the work from the Conservation

Commission.

"Eagles certainly bring out emotions in people," Mr Borne observed.

NU is pleased that bald eagles choose to feed on fish downriver of Shepaug Dam

in the wintertime, he said. The public utility operates a seasonal observation

post on the east side of the river in Southbury where the public can view bald

eagles hunting for fish in the river.

In light of NU's withdrawal of its logging application for the land on the

west side of the river, Ms McLaughlin said "We posed good questions." Ms

McLaughlin's father, Bruce, accompanied Ms McLaughlin and the NU officials on

the tour of the site proposed for logging.

Ms McLaughlin said she's gratified to know that if potential problems are

publicized and public pressure is brought to bear, possibly damaging

situations, such as potential damage to eagle habitat, can be averted.

About 30 bald eagles are known to use the Housatonic River as a wintering

site.

The bald eagle is listed as a state-endangered and federally-threatened

species. Arriving in December and leaving in March, this year approximately

128 bald eagles are using Connecticut's waterways, according to DEP.

The eagles linger in the area just downriver of Shepaug Dam, waiting to eat

fish which have passed through the dam and pop up near the water's surface.