PLUM CREEK AND WEST VIRGINIA DNR CELEBRATE 10-YEAR PARTNERSHIP ON UPPER GAULEY RIVER STREAM ENHANCEMENT PROJECT

Project has corrected stream chemistry and increased trout habitat 

LEWISBURG, W. Va.--May 1, 2009--Plum Creek and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources today celebrated 10 years of a successful public-private partnership to enhance stream quality in the upper Gauley River watershed, including tributaries to the South Fork of the Cherry and Meadow Rivers.

“The results have been nothing short of amazing and much better than anyone could have imagined,” said Steve Yeager, senior resource manager for Plum Creek’s West Virginia operations. “We’re so proud of this project’s success, and we couldn’t have done it without our team, the team with the DNR and other supporters. We look forward to another successful 10 years.”

The stream enhancement project started in 1997 after biologists with the West Virginia DNR studied the South Fork of the Cherry River near Richwood, West Virginia. They found that although the physical stream habitat was in excellent condition, more could be done to provide better water quality to the watershed, in conjunction with forest management. When Plum Creek merged with Georgia Pacific in 2001, the company worked with the West Virginia DNR to correct the water quality and habitat issues.

The result 10 years later is enhanced stream chemistry that led to a remarkably increased trout fishery. This was accomplished through the partnership by neutralizing the naturally occurring high acidic content in the water by adding limestone sand. Plum Creek provided the limestone and has also built and maintained access points to apply that limestone sand in the watershed. Other non-game species, besides trout, have also benefited from the project, including candy darters, northern hogsuckers, central stonerollers and rosyside dace. The West Virginia DNR manages the streams as stocked or wild trout fisheries, and monitors water quality and conducts research and stream surveys. Those reports and recommendations are also then incorporated into Plum Creek’s forest management planning and activities.

“The results over the last 10 years are truly remarkable. Our staff and the Plum Creek team have put so much work into this project, and the results make us proud,” said Frank Jezioro, director of the West Virginia DNR. “The partnership has proven to be successful for restoring and enhancing fish populations and aquatic habitat in the Gauley River watershed, as well as for anglers who enjoy excellent trout fishing as a result of those efforts. It is a model for other partnerships in the future.”

As a participant in the Sustainable Forestry Initiative^® (SFI^®), Plum Creek in West Virginia is committed to conserving fish and wildlife through protection of aquatic and riparian habitats, and the implementation of species-specific wildlife management plans and cooperative conservation projects. The company will continue its partnership with the state of West Virginia, expanding limestone treatments further into headwater streams to expand the population of the native brook trout.

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Plum Creek is the largest and most geographically diverse private landowner in the nation, with more than 7 million acres of timberlands in major timber producing regions of the United States and 9 wood products manufacturing facilities in the Northwest.  In West Virginia, Plum Creek practices sustainable forestry on approximately 112,000 acres of forestland in 7 counties throughout the state.  For more information on Plum Creek, visit www.plumcreek.com.