Corps of Engineers has fined up to $100,000 for cutting down trees

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Although it may not be clear to some residents of the Twin Lakes Area, cutting down trees on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ property, to get a better view of the lake, can come with some heavy fines. Chief of Natural Resources for Bull Shoals and Norfork Lakes, Bruce Caldwell, says there have been several cases locally, and across the states of Arkansas and Missouri, where fines were in the thousands of dollars, including one case on Table Rock Lake in which a property owner was charged over $100,000 for damage to Corps’ property. Cutting of trees can also be considered criminal with charges possible for timber theft.

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Caldwell says restitution is expected if timber is damaged due to its intrinsic value. Damaging trees can be considered the same type of offense for damaging any other property belonging to someone else.

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A certified arborist will go to a damaged location and evaluate the landscape value and species of tree destroyed. Some species are worth more than others. The measurement of the tree, the size of the tree and how long it will take for the tree to return to that size are all considered in determining the price of the fine.
Mistakes are sometimes made by new residents of the Twin Lakes Area.

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One of the main reasons the Corps of Engineers takes the matter seriously is due to the importance of trees to the lakes’ ecosystem.

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Illegally cutting down trees diminishes the quality of the local drinking water and clarity of the lakes.

Caldwell says scuba divers come from nearly every state and other countries due to the clear water visibility. That type of attention is a revenue stream generated from tourist dollars.

Anyone with questions about trees or vegetation on Corps of Engineers’ property may call the Mountain Home Project Office at 870-425-2700 and speak with a duty ranger. Questions about boundary lines can also be answered.

The Corps can come to a property and visually mark the boundary line. Brass monuments are placed by teams of surveyors to distinguish the corners and lines of property. Contractors are also employed to cut lines in the woods and mark trees with white paint blazes.

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