AUTHOR AND HOST:

Linda Sekura:  I am a lifelong Ohioan who sometimes fishes, birds and botanizes at LaDue Reservoir - and a late-comer to the LaDue pilot project.

I have decades of field ecology experience in a wide range of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and in addressing regional and national matters with diverse groups.

A recent Facebook "call to action" led me to begin networking with many individuals and organizations involved with or interested in the LaDue pilot - from government entities to the spearhead resident activist group.

I was drawn in to the LaDue pilot because I spent seven year researching mature forest and primary headwater stream systems.  The LaDue site appears to be not only a good quality mature forest, but actually a forested headwater system itself, with any non-headwaters areas acting as setbacks for its own headwater system.

I felt compelled to develop website to share the pleasures of the sights, sounds and smells of the seasons in this quality forest/headwater system.  It is also compelling to me to observe how LaDue's systems may change over time, whether or not harvesting occurs. 

The other attraction is that I had also assessed the feasibility of projects (environmentally and economically) for a government agency for ten years. This affinity for assessing projects led me to share insights about the LaDue project with stakeholders, and to build a website to invite a wider audience and discuss broader perspectives, toward mutual enlightenment and consensus.

The City of Akron recently decided to harvest trees on their 8K+ acres of forested properties, as a way to raise funds. To "test the waters," and with the intent of providing $100Ks for other land management, their first step is a 42-acre pilot in the forested headwaters of a reservoir integral to their drinking water system.

The City believes the harvest will result in a healthier forest to protect its headwater system. Individuals and organizations in the region have diverse opinions on what the results of the harvest will be, including concerns that the harvest may actually damage the system, impact biodiversity and create more problems for the City.

All parties involved have good intentions. This is a complex situation that is a microcosm for the politics, economics and competing perspectives that have gone on for decades in the Northeastern U.S. At odds across, the U.S., are the regulations intended to not limit the rights of property owners - and the concerns about continuing loss of old mature forest ecosystems, interdependent with water quality and biodiversity, and, in some cases, with flow regulation/flooding.

What makes this forest harvesting project unique is that the forest contains a series of primary headwaters, seeps and vernal pools, which means the harvesting will actually occur within a forested headwater system. This adds further complication to the discussion. 

The website hopes to serve as a trusted resource and central focal point for all points of view, summarizing and finding the truth. And a main objective is to simply enjoy and observe the current system and share, receive feedback to share - including sharing observations if the City does harvest on the property.

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