Forest Management Projects

Forest Management Proposals and Silviculture Prescriptions are presented by the year in which they were proposed and then further by the Management Forestry District in which they are located. Proposals remain posted until the project is implemented with a timber sale or Home Fuelwood contract. Silviculture Prescriptions remain posted as long as a project is being actively implemented and at least one year after a project is completed. If you are unsure of when a project was proposed but know it’s location check the Management Forestry District map and it’s forester contact list.

Table of Contents

Public Comment Period

Within 45 Days of Posting

The Bureau of Forest Fire Control and Forestry has a policy for public outreach of forest management projects which can be found in the Public Outreach and Consultation for Forest Cutting Plans Policy.

Written public comments are due within 45 days of posting the Proposed Forest Management activities in order for the Bureau to address the public issues and incorporate suggestions and concerns into the silvicultural prescriptions. A  Public Notification Summary Public Comment Card Aid  has been developed to assist you in providing comment on specific projects.

Send comments to:  Forestry.comments@mass.gov

Please see Landscape Designations for DCR Parks and Forests: Selection Criteria and Management Guidelines (LD&G) for details on DCR's process for timber sale proposals and projects.

Additional Resources

Find a Project in your Area

Management Forestry District Map
Management Forestry District Map

If you would like any additional information concerning a proposed management project or other Bureau of Forestry issue please contact the DCR Regional Office Management Forester listed on each Summary or click on the District Name to see all the projects within the corresponding district.

DistrictForesterPhoneEmail
Northern BerkshiresKevin Podkowka413-442-8928
ext. 125
kevin.podkowka@mass.gov
Central BerkshiresKris Massini413-442-8928 ext. 121kris.massini@mass.gov
Southern BerkshiresTom Ryan413-559-8871tom.ryan@mass.gov
Western CT ValleyNicholas Anzuoni413-442-8928
ext. 129
nicholas.anzuoni@mass.gov
Eastern CT ValleyKeith DiNardo413-545-5747keith.dinardo@mass.gov
Mid StateJoelle Vautour978-368-0126
ext. 128
joelle.vautour@mass.gov
NortheastMichael Waterman978-937-2092
ext. 109
michael.j.waterman@mass.gov
SoutheastPaul Gregory508-866-2580
ext. 121
paul.gregory@mass.gov

Forest Management Projects Proposed 2022

DistrictForestTownProject NameAcreage
Central BerkshireOctober MountainWashingtonAnt Lot447
Central BerkshireBryant Mt. / Berkshire Snow BasinCummingtonForest Slalom234
Eastern CT ValleyWarwick State ForestWarwickWarwick Bass Road West123
Northern BerkshiresSavoy Mountain State ForestSavoyLandscape Resiliency Project629 over 3 years
Southern BerkshiresOtis State ForestOtisGeisler Swamp88
Southern BerkshiresSandisfield State ForestSandisfieldHyde Karlson Lot234
Western CT ValleyDubuque State ForestSavoyScott Road175 +/-
Western CT ValleyDubuque State ForestSavoyTransfer Station Lot102
SoutheastMyles Standish State ForestCarverSettler’s Green Fuels Reduction Buffer17
SoutheastManuel Correllus State ForestEdgartownPlantation Removal & Restoration175
NortheastTownsend State ForestTownsendOld Turnpike Road112

The Commonwealth undertook a Forests as Climate Solutions Initiative. Forests as Climate Solutions will expand existing state programs, invest in forest conservation, enhance a network of forest reserves, and develop forest management guidelines based on the latest climate science. As part, all land management divisions within the Commonwealth have undertaken a process to review all existing projects and make changes where necessary. As projects are reviewed, a summary as they relate to the FACS process shall be posted on the website on the specific project page. 

Additional Resources

Forest Management Projects Proposed 2021

Pursuant to the process outlined in the Public Outreach and Consultation for Forest Cutting Plans policy, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) provided public notice regarding seven Forest Management Projects proposed June 30, 2021 and will receive comments until August 31, 2021.  Please note the original close date of August 14, 2021 has been extended until August 31, 2021 to allow interested parties to hear the virtual presentations prior to providing comments.  

*Please note that site visits may be held either in person or as pre-harvest videos which would become available for viewing on the project page along with each silviculture prescription.

DistrictForestTownProject NameAcreage
Central BerkshireChester-Blandford State ForestBlandfordOld House Lot106
Southern BerkshiresMt. Washington State ForestMt. WashingtonCattle Barn Lot362
Eastern CT ValleyNorthfield State ForestNorthfieldBirnam Road Lot165
Mid StateOtter River State ForestBaldwinville, WinchendonBeaman Pond Lot 2.0174.4
Mid StateLawton State ForestAtholWillis Road North and South122 and 108
SoutheastMyles Standish State ForestPlymouthCharge Pond Campground Complex183.4

Additional Resources

Forest Management Projects Proposed 2020

Pursuant to the process outlined in the Public Outreach and Consultation for Forest Cutting Plans policy, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) provided public notice regarding seven Forest Management Projects proposed March 4, 2020 and will receive comments for 45 days.

*Please note that all site visits are on hold starting April 2020.  Pre-harvest videos are available for viewing and can be found on the project page along with each silviculture prescription.

DistrictForestTownProject NameAcreage
Northern BerkshiresBalance Rock State ParkLanesbroughBalance Rock Lot246
Northern BerkshiresFlorida State ParkFloridaCold River Lot107
Central BerkshireOctober Mountain State ForestWashingtonOMSF Day Use Area37
Central BerkshireHuntington State ForestHuntingtonHorse Valley Lot174
Southern BerkshiresGranville State ForestGranvilleHubbard River East Lot330
NortheastMarlborough/Sudbury State ForestHudson/MarlboroughGoodale-Chipman Lots113
Eastern CT ValleyErving State ForestErvingErving Red Pine11

Additional Resources

Forest Management Projects Proposed 2019

Pursuant to the process outlined in the Public Outreach and Consultation for Forest Cutting Plans policy, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) provided public notice regarding seven Forest Management Projects proposed March 15, 2019 and will receive comments for 45 days until April 29, 2019.

*Please note that all site visits are on hold starting April 2020.  Pre-harvest videos are available for viewing and can be found on the project page along with each silviculture prescription.

DistrictForestTownProject NameAcreage
Northern BerkshiresSavoy Mountain State Forest SavoyShear Pin86
Central BerkshireOctober Mountain State Forest WashingtonWashington Mountain Spruce15
Southern BerkshiresBeartown State ForestMontereyBrett Road112
Western CT ValleyWindsor State ForestWindsor / SavoyTwo Cubs132
Mid StateTempleton State ForestTempletonHadley Aiken OSR176
SoutheastMyles Standish State ForestCarver / PlymouthNorway Spruce - Pine Barrens62
NortheastTownsend State ForestTownsendBarker Hill90

Additional Resources

Forest Management Projects Proposed 2018

Pursuant to the process outlined in the Public Outreach and Consultation for Forest Cutting Plans policy, the Forest Management Projects proposed February2018, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will receive comments for 45 days until March 26, 2018 with one exception:

The Shawme Crowell – Barnstable Red Pine project in the Southeast District is an Emergency Proposal and will have a 14 day comment period until February 23, 2018.  A public meeting is scheduled for February 22, 2018, 6:00 PM at the Sandwich Public Library to present information and address comments about the project.

For the Myles Standish State Forest Management Plan proposal, the public comment period will begin Thursday, December 6, 2018 and stay open for 45 days.

District ForestTownProject NameAcreage
Northern BerkshiresLindon W. Bates Memorial State ParkHancockOle Shaker Sale173
Central BerkshireOctober Mountain State ForestWashingtonNo Signal Lot59
Central BerkshireOctober Mountain State ForestPittsfieldSykes Mountain218
Western CT ValleyConway State ForestConwayCrickett Hill275
Eastern CT ValleyShutesbury State ForestShutesburyShutesbury State Forest North253
NortheastJ. Harry Rich State ForestGrotonJ. Harry Rich45
SoutheastShawme Crowell and Barnstable State ForestsSandwich/BarnstableShawme Crowell-Barnstable Red Pine

10

SoutheastMyles Standish State ForestPlymouthMyles Standish 10 Year Pine Barrens Restoration 

Additional Resources

Forest Management Projects Proposed 2017

Pursuant to the process outlined in the Public Outreach and Consultation for Forest Cutting Plans policy, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) provided public notice regarding eight proposed forest management projects. Four public meetings were held in March 2017 to present information and address comments about the proposed projects. The meetings were held on at the Athol Town Hall (3/15), DCR’s West Regional Headquarters in Pittsfield (3/16), the Trustees Doyle Center in Leominster and Borderland State Park in Sharon/Easton (3/21).

District ForestTownProject NameAcreage
     
Central BerkshirePeru State ForestPeruGarnett Hill Lot266
Western CT ValleyDubuque State ForestHawleySouth Hawley Crossroads 
Northern Berkshires,
Central Berkshire,
Southern Berkshires,
Western CT Valley
MultipleMultipleBerkshire Road and Trail Ash Removal6533
Eastern CT ValleyWarwick State ForestWarwickBass Swamp133
Mid StateOtter River State ForestTempleton and WinchendonWhitcomb Hill Lot547
NortheastTownsend State ForestTownsendWest Hill Lot111
SoutheastF. G. Hills State ForestFoxborough/ WrenthamBristol Lot42

Open comment period was between February 16, 2017 and April 2, 2017. All comments DCR received can be found below.

Per the policy, the DCR’s Bureau of Forest Fire Control and Forestry (The Bureau) reviewed the comments and prepared written responses. The Bureau responses addressed those comments that were pertinent and specific to the eight proposed forest management projects. Additionally, the Bureau addressed comments regarding forestry on state lands where the Bureau has forest management responsibilities. In some cases, similar comments were consolidated and provided appropriate responses.  The document which contains the categorized comments and responses to the project proposals can be obtained below.

Additional Resources

Forest Management Projects Proposed 2016

Three public meetings were held in March of 2016 to present information, receive and address comments to the 3 forest management projects proposed. The meetings were held March 29, 30 and 31, 2016 at the DCR Western Regional Headquarters in Pittsfield, the Trustees of the Reservations in Leominster, and the Amherst Field Office in Amherst respectively.

District ForestTownProject NameAcreage
     
Northern BerkshiresSavoy Mountain State ForestSavoyTannery Road101
Central BerkshireOctober Mountain State ForestBecketHeaphy-Richardson Lot230
Southern BerkshiresSandisfield State ForestSandisfieldClam River Dam130
Western CT ValleyH.O. Cook State ForestHeath / ColrainSheep Ranch287
Eastern CT ValleyWendell State ForestWendellBrook Road130
Mid StateOakham State ForestOakhamStonewall Lot550
NortheastTownsend State ForestTownsendBrookline Road88
NortheastTownsend State ForestTownsendTownsend Home Fuelwood 201664

Written comments were requested and received from February 26, 2016 until April 10, 2016. Each of the individual and corporate comments that were received can be found below.

The Department of Conservation and Recreation, Bureau of Forest Fire Control and Forestry reviewed the comments and per policy has prepared a written response. The Bureau response addresses those comments that were pertinent to the eight proposed forest management projects and also pertinent general comments regarding forestry on state lands where the Bureau has forest management responsibilities. Many comments made by individuals or groups were similar to one another and were therefore consolidated in categories with an appropriate response. The responses are organized by general categorized comments/responses followed by comments/responses to the specific project proposals.

Additional Resources

Forest Management Projects Proposed 2015

District ForestTownProject NameAcreage
     
Northern BerkshiresPittsfield State ForestLanesborough/ HancockPotter Mountain420
Western CT ValleySouth River State ForestConwaySouth River100
Eastern CT ValleyErving State ForestErvingErving Red Pine241
Mid StateOtter River vBaldwinville & WinchendonBeaman Pond Lot239
NortheastSudbury  - Marlboro State ForestMarlboroughHansen Lot98

Forest Management Projects Proposed prior to 2015

District ForestTownProject NameAcreage
     
Central BerkshireOctober Mountain State ForestWashingtonSherlock Lot166
Southern BerkshiresSandisfield State ForestSandisfieldEgg Shell Lot165
Western CT ValleyDubuque State ForestHawleyKing's Corner365
SoutheastFreetown State ForestFreetownFreetown Co-Peace48

For More Information

If you would like any additional information concerning a proposed management project or other Bureau of Forestry issue please contact the DCR Regional Office Management Forester listed on each Summary.

DistrictForesterPhoneEmail
Northern BerkshiresKevin Podkowka413-442-8928
ext. 125
kevin.podkowka@state.ma.us
Central BerkshireKris Massini413-442-8928
ext. 121
kris.massini@state.ma.us
Southern BerkshiresJeffrey Martin413-442-8928
ext. 124
jeff.martin@state.ma.us
Western CT ValleyNicholas Anzuoni413-442-8928
ext. 129
nicholas.anzuoni@state.ma.us
Eastern CT ValleyKeith DiNardo413-545-5747keith.dinardo@state.ma.us
Mid StateJoelle Vautour978-368-0126
ext. 128
joelle.vautour@state.ma.us
NortheastMichael Waterman978-937-2092
ext. 109
michael.j.waterman@state.ma.us
SoutheastPaul Gregory508-866-2580
ext. 121
paul.gregory@state.ma.us

Additional Resources

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