Shortleaf Pine Planting at LBL

Office of Land Between the Lakes, KY/TN – Land Between The Lakes has planted approximately 29,000 Shortleaf pine seedlings on 42 acres near Demumbers Bay.

Hardwood trees and Loblolly pines in this area sustained heavy damage during the 2009 ice storm and other wind events. Non-native Loblolly pines were removed from the area and replaced with native Shortleaf pines.

“Loblolly pines were planted by the Tennessee Valley Authority many years ago because they are fast growing trees and could quickly provide soil erosion control,” said Yvonne Helton, Silviculturist at Land Between The Lakes. “Loblolly pines tend to be tall with a weaker root system which makes them vulnerable to damage. Native Shortleaf pines place their energy into developing a deeper root system. This makes them ‘slow growers’ above ground and are better suited to weather conditions in our region.”

Forest Service officials used prescribed fire in the Demumbers area before and after using mechanical thinning to clean out the damaged hardwood trees and Loblolly pines.

About Land Between the Lakes

Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area manages more than 170,000 acres in western Kentucky and Tennessee as part of the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture’s public lands program. Land Between The Lakes offers outdoor recreation, lake access, land management, and environmental education to over 1.4 million visitors annually. The Friends of Land Between The Lakes works in partnership with the Forest Service providing program services, funds development, and volunteer support.

To find more information about Land Between The Lakes, log on to the official website at www.landbetweenthelakes.us or call toll-free at 1.800.LBL.7077 or local at 270.924.2000. For more information on the Friends of Land Between The Lakes, log on to www.friendsoflbl.org.

To subscribe to the official electronic newsletter, send an email to LBLinfo@fs.fed.us. Land Between The Lakes official Twitter accounts include @LBLScreechOwl, @LBLNature, @LBLHomeplace, and @LandBtwnLakes, and Pinterest www.pinterest.com/lblnra.

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