The forest resources of Kentucky

Abstract

Under the authority of the McSweeney-McNary Forest Research Act of May 22, 1928, as amended, and the Renewable Natural Resources Planning Act of 1974 as amended, the Forest Service of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, conducts periodic inventories and makes evaluations of the forest resources of all states to provide up-to-date information about the forest resources of the Nation. The first forest inventory of Kentucky was made in 1949 by the Central States Forest Experiment Station. A second survey was conducted by the same unit in 1963. The third survey was made in 1973, 1974, and 1975 by the Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. As in the previous surveys, the Forest Service had the cooperation of many individuals and agencies. Special thanks are due former State Forester Harry M. Nadler and the personnel of the Division of Forestry of the Kentucky Department for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection. The third inventory of Kentucky was directed by Carl E. Mayer, Resources Evaluation unit Leader. Joseph E. Barnard was responsible for the design of the inventory and sample selection as well as for supervision of data compilation. John R. Peters supervised the aerial-photo interpretation and data collection by field crews. David R. Dickson applied the generalized data-processing system, FINSYS, to the specific data needs of the Kentucky inventory and produced summary tables for the State, geographic sampling units, and counties. Teresa M. Bowers assisted in the inventory design by performing all calculations necessary for Sample-size determination and plot selection. She was responsible for the coordination of key punching and other data-preparation tasks, and the final preparation and statistical checking of tables for the report. James T. Bones, with the assistance of State personnel, collected and compiled the data on timber-products output and timber removals. He was assisted in the compilation phase by David R. Dickson and Teresa M. Bowers. Carmela M. Hyland was responsible for administrative and secretarial services. Joseph E. Barnard and the senior author checked the consistency of the new inventory with previous inventories. They made frequent use of the TRAS (Timber Resource Analysis System) forest-stand simulation model in this phase of the data analysis and in the 30-year projections of timber volume. The photo-interpretation phase of this inventory was completed in March 1975 and the last field plot was measured in November 1975. Final computer output was available in July 1976. Users of this report who need more detailed information should contact the Resources Evaluation unit, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station, 370 Reed Road, Broomall, Pa. 19008. Users of this report are strongly advised to read carefully the definitions of forest-survey terms and the section on the reliability of the estimates in the appendix of this report.