Timber Harvest & Trail Closures

Posted May 25, 2023. Every year, BBA conducts at least one timber harvest, as part of its long-term forest management plan.  The harvest is designed to enhance wildlife habitat, maintain long-term aesthetics, increase the productivity of the forest for growing timber products, and generate income for the operations of BBA’s facilities and trails.  The volume of timber harvested from BBA yearly, is less than the volume that grows on BBA each year.

This selected harvest is part of one of New Hampshire’s original tree farms and was last harvested in 1922 for American Chestnut. Logs were bucked and hauled by horses to what is known as the Huff/Proctor Mill located on West Hollis Road, adjacent to the parking area at Potanipo Trail. After years of hand thinning and management, the 1938 hurricane flattened the remaining trees. All over the Northeast, millions of board feet were salvaged and eventually used for shipping boxes during the war effort. The trees here were no different. Stumps, rocks, and debris were cleared, becoming what is known as the Howe Pasture. These management practices ensure a successful, healthy, and scenic forest.

Today, the pines are crowded and becoming oversize for the mills to saw. Harvesting the mature pines will bring the size class down and allow the smaller trees to thrive with extra growing space. The pine cones will become mature this year, being a perfect time to harvest the pine and disperse the seeds for germination. Hemlocks are being salvaged from Hemlock Woolly Adelgid and Hemlock Elongate Scale. The timber being cut is a great example of what successful long-term management can do for the quality of the forest.

Closed Trails: Kibby Howe Connector and Howe Meadow Trail