Program builds bridge to sustainable forestry

    HOULTON — Louisiana-Pacific Corp.’s Laminated Strand Lumber (LSL) mill in Houlton hosted a “how-to” course for local loggers and landowners on building a “skidder bridge,” a temporary, moveable structure used to limit the environmental impact while loggers cross sensitive areas or streams to harvest timber.
    The course drew 32 area loggers, landowners and students. Instructors were Patrick Sirois of the Maine Sustainable Implementation Committee and Keith Kinoti and Dan Jacobs of the Maine Forest Service.
    Participants actually built a skidder bridge during the program. The bridge is made of 20-foot long, 10×10 hemlock boards. Each segment of the three-segment bridge is 20 feet long and 2.5 feet wide. The timber structure can support the weight of heavy equipment used in logging while limiting the impact on sensitive areas.
    The bridge will be stored at LP Houlton for use by area loggers and landowners as needed in the future. People interested in using the bridge should contact Patrick Sirois at the Maine Forest Products Council office, (207) 622-9288.
    The bridge is one of several being built by the state of Maine with federal funding to help loggers work where they encounter wet areas or streams.
Contibuted photo
BRIDGE WORK — Louisiana-Pacific Corp.’s Laminated Strand Lumber (LSL) mill in Houlton recently hosted a “how-to” course for local loggers and landowners on building a “skidder bridge.”  The bridge is made of 20-foot long, 10×10 hemlock boards.