The first phase of a plan to cut 52 acres of white pine plantations to restore native species in the State Forest stalled this month after the bid process proved unsuccessful, once again.
The state Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), which owns and manages the Manuel F. Correllus State Forest, received only one bid over the winter when they put out a request for quotes (RFQ) in mid-January. The bid exceeded the budget, and the agency planned to rebid the project in the fall.
But this time around, they received no bids in response to the RFQ, a spokesperson for DCR said in an email to The Times. Bids were due on Friday, Sept. 18.
The spokesperson also said DCR plans to evaluate options to move the project forward.
The phased project has received criticism from some Islanders, who even fought for a required environmental impact report on the project. Officials eventually found that earlier processes and other documents were sufficient to stand in the place of a report.
Michael Blanchard, a photographer, gallery owner, and daily patron of the State Forest, told The Times in an email: “The fact that no one bid on this latest proposal should not go unnoticed. For nearly two years, a group of concerned Island citizens has remained actively engaged in this issue — gathering more than 1,500 signatures, consulting legal resources, participating in the public process, and closely monitoring each step of DCR’s plans for the State Forest.” He added that there is a plan to start a nonprofit for the protection and stewardship of Island forests.
