The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) has reopened the application period for submerged log harvest permits. Applications will be accepted from Jan. 30- Feb. 17, 2006. During this period, applications will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, except that a random drawing will be used to determine which applicant will receive a river segment if applications are received on the same day for the same segment. This annual permit will allow for the removal of commercially harvested sunken logs from an exclusive two-mile section of the Flint and Altamaha rivers.

During the 1800's and early 1900's, the rafting of commercially harvested logs down Georgia's rivers and streams was a common practice for transporting timber to coastal markets. It is estimated that approximately five percent of these logs sank to the bottom, resulting in sunken commercially harvested logs located on the bottom of Georgia’s rivers. In recent years there has been increasing interest in salvage logging, often called deadhead logging, to recover these old growth logs. The sunken logs, from trees often a century old or older, have different wood characteristics than modern lumber, and are considered extremely valuable. Recovered old growth logs are used for unique wood flooring and paneling, and other specialty products. Old growth logs have very tight growth rings. During salvage operations, logs are lifted from the bottom and growth rings checked, and those with tight rings are removed from the river.

The Georgia legislature passed a bill (S.B. 283) allowing for the recovery of submerged logs from the Flint and Altamaha rivers, and Governor Perdue signed this bill into law. The bill directs the Department to establish a program to allow recovery of submerged logs from these two rivers through January 1, 2008. The bill includes certain provisions such as a $10,000 annual permit fee, a $50,000 bond and additional compensation to DNR for recovery of these logs. The DNR Board set the compensation rate at $1.28/board foot. The compensation rate is subject to change and currently is under review by the attorney generals office.

The Department has developed log harvest policies for the protection of public interests including public safety and water quality, wildlife and wildlife habitat, commercial and recreational fisheries, state and federal threatened and endangered species, land use, effects on stream bank property, protection of public boat landings or other public assets, the preservation and protection of other submerged cultural resources and other similar issues.

The application for a submerged log harvest permit and electronic maps showing the two-mile river sections open to log removal will be available at the Albany and Waycross Fisheries Management offices and on-line at www.georgiawildlife.com. An electronic copy of the application and maps can be emailed or sent by CD upon request to interested applicants.

For more information, contact Adam Kaeser at the WRD Fisheries Management Office (229) 430-4256 (Albany).

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