[TN-Bird] Please send input to USFS on Red River Gorge

The following is a copy of my request for a postponement of a planned 
prescribed burn along Rock Bridge Rd. at the Red River Gorge in KY. I should 
mention 
that I am not against prescribed burns as a matter of course, just in this 
particular case. There are many other parts of the Red River Gorge that could 
certainly benefit from management by fire. I would encourage other interested 
parties to submit their comments concerning this issue to;
Kathryn Huie
Stanton Ranger District
705 W. College Ave.
Stanton, KY 40380
khuie@xxxxxxxxx
(606) 663-2852 voice
(606) 663-9097 FAX

Dear Ms. Huie,

    I would like to respectfully request a postponement of the prescribed 
burn along Rock Bridge Road in order that an environmental impact study can be 
conducted to assess possible long term risks and benefits to the habitat in 
question. I am particularly concerned that Kentucky's only know population of 
Red-breasted Nuthatches might be adversely affected.

    Here are just a few questions that such a study might shed light upon;

1. Are there Red-breasted Nuthatch breeding territories within the proposed 
area of the prescribed fire? Although most nests discovered to date have been 
in the riparian corridor of Swift Camp Creek, a nest discovered in 2002 was in 
a dead pitch pine on a cliff edge upslope from the creek. This species has 
been found in summer along Rock Bridge Road at least .5 mile from the Rock 
Bridge 
parking area.

2. Would this be the right time of year for the prescribed burn? Red-breasted 
Nuthatches in this area exhibit breeding behavior as early as March and could 
possibly be incubating eggs as early as the beginning of April. 

3. What was the true composition of the original forest along Rock Bridge 
Road? Assumptions that this forest was originally composed of xeric-type forest 
may not be valid. The rapid return of this area to hemlock-White Pine mesic 
forest might indicate that Pitch and Virginia Pine may have been primarily 
confined to rock outcrops along the cliffline. The broad ridge upon which Rock 
Bridge Road sets may well have been composed primarily of hemlock-White Pine 
forest 
prior to the advent of clearcut logging and man-made fires.  

4. Is the Rock Bridge area really at risk for a catastrophic wildfire? This 
may have been the case shortly after the recent Sourthern Pine Beetle outbreak 
while most dead pines were still standing. However, most of these pines have 
since fallen and are presently in the condition of rapid decomposition, 
possibly adding humus and moisture to the soil, thus creating conditions that 
may 
actually retard the spread of fire. 
    
5. What might be the effect of the burn on other bird species? The Rock 
Bridge area contains a remarkable concentration of passerine species, wood 
warblers 
in particular. Many of these nest low to the ground as well as early in the 
spring, and may be dependent on the shrub level cover that might be eliminated 
by a prescribed fire. Although the habitat concerns are of a quite different 
nature, the loss of a breeding population of Golden-winged Warblers at the DBNF 
in McCreary Co., KY might pose an example of adverse consequences to breeding 
warblers due to prescribed burns. 

       I hope that the USFS will give ample consideration to this request for 
postponement of the Rock Bridge prescribed fire. In my eight years of 
observation of the breeding birds of this area I have seen many visitors from 
around 
the country come to enjoy the scenic, unspoiled beauty of the Rock Bridge 
area. It would certainly be a mistake to make management decisions concerning 
this 
area without giving proper regard to public input and concern.

Sincerely,

Frank Renfrow
611 South O'Fallon Ave
Bellevue, KY 41073


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