This compartment review includes cutting the state lands around the Salmon Trout River. Anyone looking at an ariel of the YD Plains will see that there is only a little bit of older growth forest left – right along the river! We need to impress upon them that wildlife corridors are absolutely required – especially along this important waterway. If you can come, please do!
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Gwinn Forest Management Unit, will host an informal open house on October 23rd to provide information and receive public comment on forest management treatments proposed for 2010 in the Gwinn Forest Management Unit. You or your organization has expressed an interest in state forest management, or your organization has been identified by the DNR as possibly having an interest in state forest management. Therefore, we wish to invite you to this open house. The open house will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Sands Township Hall.
Each year, DNR personnel inventory and evaluate one-tenth of the state forest. Information gathered includes the health, quality and quantity of all vegetation; wildlife and fisheries habitat and needs; archeological sites; minerals; recreational use; wildfire potential and social factors, including proximity to roads and neighborhoods; and use on adjacent lands, public and private. Proposed treatments, which may include timber harvesting, replanting and other management activities, then are designed to ensure the sustainability of the resources and ecosystems.
The open house is an opportunity for the public to review proposed treatments and to provide input toward final decisions on those treatments. It also provides the public an opportunity to talk with foresters and biologists about issues of interest. Maps and information regarding the proposed treatments will be available at the open house, and can be accessed at www.michigan.gov/dnr under the Forests, Land & Water section.
Each management unit is divided into smaller units or compartments to facilitate better administration of the resources. Compartments under review this year are in Chocolay, Ely, Ewing, Forsyth, Michigamme, Republic, Richmond, Skandia, Tilden, Turin and Wells Township in Marquette County. Also in AuTrain Township in Alger County.
The formal compartment review to decide on prescriptions for these areas is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. Friday November 7, 2008 at Northern Michigan University – University Center – Superior Room. Persons with disabilities needing accommodations for these meetings should contact Bill Brondyke at 906-346-9201.