Salvaging success

Fast action and local partnership fuel forest recovery

Mandy Chumley

National Forests and Grasslands in Texas

July 16, 2025

When a tornado swept through the Sabine National Forest in March 2025, it left behind a trail of broken trees, downed limbs and hundreds of acres of damaged timber. But in just 28 days, the Forest Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, turned destruction into opportunity by mobilizing resources, assessing the damage and awarding two salvage stewardship sales to help restore forest health and support local communities.

“Right after the tornado touched down in Sabine County, we were preparing for how to respond. As soon as it was safe, forest crews sprang into action to assess the storm’s impact,” said Jamie Sowell, acting operations staff officer with the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas.

Image shows an area of the Sabine National Forest affected by tornados with many broken and downed trees. — March 2025 Damage from an EF-1 tornado on the Sabine National Forest. Uprooted trees and snapped trunks mark the storm’s path, highlighting the importance of ongoing hazard assessments and forest recovery efforts. *(USDA Forest Service photo by Mandy Chumley)*

Both hazard and opportunity

The National Weather Service estimated the tornado to have an EF-1 rating with maximum winds near 105 mph. It touched down in the Sabine National Forest along Forest Road 144, where numerous softwood trees were snapped and uprooted.

All of these downed or damaged trees are not just an eyesore. They represent potential hazards, primarily for wildfire, as well as allowing invasive insect species to infest the damaged trees, which could harm forest health.

The timber debris can make wildfires worse by giving the fire more fuel, allowing it to burn hotter and longer, damaging or destroying other trees that might otherwise have survived the fire. In addition, trees falling across roads or trails makes accessing areas to fight a potential wildfire more difficult, hampering firefighters’ ability to contain the fire.

However, the downed or damaged trees are also a potential opportunity for the local timber industry. The debris can be used for a number of different products, including dimensional lumber like 2x4s and pulp for oriented strand board, also called OSB lumber. Both are commonly used in construction.

For both reducing the wildfire risk and enabling the timber industry to make use of the timber, speed would be of the essence.

Image shows a stack of cut logs waiting to be collected. — After the storms had passed, Forest Service staff identified downed or damaged trees that needed to be removed to reduce the amount of fuels for potential wildfires, allow access to be restored and prevent the spread of insects that can cause disease and reduce forest health. *(USDA Forest Service photo by Mandy Chumley)*

Rapid response

The Forest Service staff on the Sabine were equal to the challenge. Sabine fire and timber program managers surveyed the damaged forest area by helicopter. By using aircraft already under contract for the prescribed burn season, Forest Service staff reduced the need for extensive boots-on-the-ground resources.

“Our specialists quickly identified the most affected stands, mapped out salvage opportunities and designed stewardship contracts to not only remove storm-damaged trees but also reduce the risk of future wildfire through fuel load reduction,” said Sowell. “The rapid response to this natural disaster highlights the strength of collaboration between the Forest Service and East Texas’s rural timber industry.”

To ensure transparency and local participation, a public meeting was held with interested members of the public and timber purchasers just three weeks after the storm. The result: local loggers submitted bids and are now actively working on the salvage units. These contracts will help recover economic value from the downed trees before they deteriorate, protecting the forest from pests, disease and dangerous fuel buildup.

Image shows two men speaking to each other while watching construction equipment loading logged trees into a logging truck. — After Forest Service silviculturists identify which damaged or fallen trees need to be removed, a timber sale is held, and the winner of the contract collects and removes the timber. Part of a post-storm salvage sale, these efforts help reduce hazardous fuel loads and support local rural economies. Here, Timber Sale Administrator Andrew Weeks discussing loader operations at logging deck with shear operator. *(USDA Forest Service photo by Mandy Chumley)*

Impact beyond the woods

“These sales support rural loggers, mill workers, and trucking operations in critical parts of the regional economy,” said Forest Supervisor Kimpton Cooper. “When storms hit, our forests and our communities feel it together and this salvage operation is a great example of how local partnerships can lead to meaningful recovery.”

It’s a powerful demonstration of shared stewardship where federal land managers and local communities work side-by-side for the long-term health of both the land and the people who depend on it.

As recovery continues, the Sabine National Forest stands as a testament to what’s possible when disaster meets determination, and neighbors meet a shared mission.