Jeremy Dearing
Jeremy has worked for CLS since 2016 as our forestry technician. Jeremy is completing his master’s degree at Temple University in Biomedical engineering. Jeremy also works as a surveyor at Concord Land Planning in Oxford PA. Jeremy oversees all of the technical data that goes into a forest stewardship plan, as well as assisting in the field work for the numerical components of a Forest Stewardship plan. If you have technical questions: you can email Jeremy at Jeremydearing45 @yahoo.com. |
Overview
Certified in Pennsylvania as a Forest Stewardship professional. Past and present projects include writing forest stewardship plans and overseeing commercial timber sales for private landowners, using the Forest Stewardship guidelines. Worked with the Brandywine Conservancy to implement stewardship plans for woodland acreage under conservation easements. Incorporation of wildlife management practices for timber harvesting operations. Chemical and physical control of invasive species. Management of the residual forest for regeneration, and prevention of deer browsing. Completion and submission of sediment and erosion control plans. Permit compliance with Township, County, and State regulations. Completion of permitting process to meet various local ordinances. Responsible for enrolling 900 acres of timber as a registered tree farm under the American Tree farm system. Extensive tree planting experience for upland hardwoods and riparian buffers. Writing and developing comprehensive forestry management plans for 5,500 acres of property in the Pocono’s and 3,000 acres of property in southern Lancaster County. Responsible for enrolling 8,000 acre of woodlands under the Pennsylvania 319 forest preserve preferential tax assessment program. Continuing to write Pennsylvania Forest Stewardship plans for organizations, and private land owners. Forestry consultant to private landowners to design ad execute commercial selective timber harvests meeting all permit requirements. Why you should use a consulting forester when considering a timber harvest? Many timber harvests result from a saw mill representative contacting a landowner who has sufficient timber for a harvest. Many of these saw mills do not have a qualified Forester, with a Bachelor of Science degree in forest management on staff, who understands the forestry harvesting methods that are best for sustaining a woodland for continued health and greater future revenue. Often Saw Mills mark all trees over a certain diameter for their proposed harvest. This is called a “high grade” harvest. Most of today’s woodlands have been subjected to this type of harvest many times in the past. This is a detrimental type of cutting. A “selective” harvest will be recommended by a Consulting forester, prioritizes removing the lowest quality or declining trees first, and also leaving some of the best quality timber for genetic improvement of the stand for the next harvest rotation. The Forester also calculates the current stocking of the tract, and then by considering the proper spacing of the remaining trees, marks the stand in a way that the trees will have the optimum growing conditions. This is a brief description of the reason for using a professional forester. A more detailed report can be generated after a site visit. Forest Stewardship plan writing, and/or Selective Timber Harvests, in the past 3 years. Organizations/Municipalities: Borough of Boyertown, The Land Trust for Southern Chester County. Multiple individual landowners. References (also see "Clients")
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Property Management Experience
As head of grounds department at Skytop responsibilities included: Oversight of all forestry management and selective timber harvests; location of all boundaries by survey, marking and posting boundaries; road and trail maintenance; mowing and weeding for all developed areas; assistance in landscape design to use native species; management of 74 acre lake for fisheries habitat and recreational use; management and improvements of 2 mile privately stocked trout stream; overseeing a fly fishing only trout program; designed, constructed and maintained interpretive nature trails; overseeing all aspects of hunting program for 5,500 acres. Received Pennsylvania Realtors Associate As the Watershed Superintendent for the Chester Water Authority ( 1989 to 1998). Responsibilities included: boundary surveying; marking and posting lines; all forestry management including selective timber harvest oversight, deed searches to establish ownership, worked on resolutions for encroachments; assisted outside maintenance crews to establish native wildflower meadows to replace mowing areas, managed 250 acres of conventional farming acreage, placed properties under preferential tax assessments, worked with various agencies to establish riparian buffers and stream bank fencing, placing Wooduck boxes, protected pair of nesting Bald Eagles, other wildlife habitat improvements, conducted public deer hunting program. As a private Consultant, I have incorporated the many years of property management in private and public properties.
Educational Programs and Public Relations
At Skytop: conducted regular interpretive nature walks, slide programs for guests at the hotel, programs for local school districts, fly fishing seminars, liaison with all levels of government agencies for permitting process for improvement projects, represented Skytop at all real estate closings, and worked closely with private homeowners association. For the Chester Water Authority and the Octoraro Watershed Association: conducted nature walks, educational school programs and field trips, constructed and toured demonstration projects for riparian buffer protection, attended local township meetings to represent the Authority, presented programs on watershed protection , other speaking engagements nationally and in the local community, successful in having C. W. A. as the pilot study for the EPA Source Water Protection Program, seated on various taskforces for land planning activities in both Chester and Lancaster Counties, worked closely with the agricultural community for best management practices to protect water quality. Liaison for the Authority for all levels of government relations and adjacent property owners. As a project coordinator for grants for the Octoraro Watershed Association, I have presented many programs at local, statewide, and national conferences.
Land Easements and Acquisitions
In January of 1999, I was hired as a consultant to the Brandywine Conservancy to assist them in acquiring farmland easements in southern Lancaster and Chester Counties. This service continued through 2016. My role in the grant is to meet with farmers that I know through my work for Chester Water Authority and the Octoraro Watershed Association. After the initial meeting, I arrange for the Conservancy staff to assist me in conducting a site assessment and coordinate with the Lancaster and Chester County Agricultural Preservation programs. The farms receive point ratings for the easements and the application process begins. I also work with their land stewardship program to inspect, monitor, and make management recommendations for their easements. I also conduct easement inspections and assist the conservancy in the resolution of easement violations. Experience in writing easement inspection reports, baseline reports for new easements, and monitoring easements held by the Conservancy. Since 1999 I have done at least 350 easement inspections.
Non-Profit Work
As the project coordinator for the Octoraro Watershed Association since 1989, I have successfully co-written and submitted a number of grants for the funding of educational and agricultural improvements in the watershed. Since 1998, our funding has exceeded $3,800,000. We have worked extensively with the agricultural community in our watershed (with the majority being Old Order Amish) to assist them in implementing best management practices on their farms and preserving their farms through easements. I have also been seated for the last twelve years on the Lancaster County Open Space Planning Taskforce, and the newly established Green Infrastructure Committee. This group assesses easements and acquisitions for Lancaster County, and advises the County Commissioners and the Lancaster County Parks and Recreation department. Our input helps them to prioritize these acquisitions.
References: Todd Pride : Director for the Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County. Craig Marlton: Land manager: Aqua Pennsylvania. Linda Swank: Pennsylvania game commistion (retired)