Gogebic Conservation District Annual Report 2016

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Gogebic Conservation District Annual Report 2016 OUR MISSION: Provide Gogebic County with Leadership in Conserving and Using Natural Resources ORGANIZATION Board of Directors Jim Wojcik- Chairman Ron

1 Gogebic Conservation District Annual Report 2016 OUR MISSION: Provide Gogebic County with Leadership in Conserving and Using Natural Resources ORGANIZATION Board of Directors Jim Wojcik- Chairman Ron Zaleski - Vice-Chair Tim Goman - Director Chuck Frank- Director Dan Perotti- Director Marion True - Assoc. Dir. Staff Jim Finley - Administrator and SESC Enforcement Agent Winona Genther - FAP Forester, Gogebic & Ontonagon Counties CONTACT US: 500 N. Moore Street, Bessemer, MI Office: (906) Tel. (906) Fax Forester: (906) x632 info.gogebic.cd@gmail.com soil1.html Message from the Chairman 2016 was a busy and rewarding year for the District. We continued in the Michigan Forestry Assistance Program, providing free forestry consultation services to private landowners in Gogebic and Ontonagon counties. When forester Cory Howes left us in November, we hired Winona Genther, a Michigan Tech graduate to continue the program beginning in January, We conducted a successful Tree Sale in the spring, which helped fund other conservation projects. We worked hard on invasive plant eradication projects. In May, students from AD Johnston High School in Bessemer undertook a project to clear buckthorn and invasive honeysuckle out of Bluff Valley Park. In partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, we did numerous projects, including garlic mustard eradication in the spring; a summer project on Japanese and giant knotweed in the Wakefield - Ironwood corridor; and several projects to eradicate common buckthorn and invasive honeysuckle - at Mt. Zion overlook, at Little Girls Point county park, at Gogebic Community College, and two in a stretch of the Iron Belle Trail in Ironwood. The trail projects - one with Friends of the Trail to d o t h e w o r k, t h e s e c o n d accomplished by science students from the Ironwood Area School District - removed tons of invasive plants from the trail area. Our two USFS grants expired at the end of We applied for and obtained two new USFS grants for 2017 and beyond. One renews the garlic mustard program; the other is to conduct educational and training workshops to combat invasive plant species throughout Gogebic County. Continued on Page 2 Financial Report FY2016 REVENUE State/Federal $ $90,068 Local Funding $7,800 Services Income $27,285 Tree Sale $10,383 Interest/Other $1,099 Total Revenue $136,635 EXPENSES Operations $60,779 Tree Sale $6,126 FAP Grant $14,807 Payroll $51,152 Total Expenses $133,864 NET INCOME $2,771

GOGEBIC CONSERVATION DISTRICT ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Chairman s message, continued We were really busy with wildlife habitat development projects.

Here, four wildlife food plots constructed in an area featuring acres of regenerating young aspen will provide food and protection for ruffed grouse and deer for years to come.

2 GOGEBIC CONSERVATION DISTRICT ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Chairman s message, continued We were really busy with wildlife habitat development projects. Our FAP forester worked closely with the Gogebic County Forestry Department to develop a Grouse Enhanced Management System project in the Gogebic County forest. Here, four wildlife food plots constructed in an area featuring acres of regenerating young aspen will provide food and protection for ruffed grouse and deer for years to come. The plots are connected by walking trails to make the area a prime destination for wildlife viewers and hunters. In another project with the MI DNR, we organized the planting of thousands of white pine and hemlock trees in cutover areas in deer wintering complexes in Gogebic and Ontonagon counties. These plantings will provide thermal cover and food for deer in the future. Finally, we continued to conduct the soil erosion and sedimentation control program for Gogebic County, again recording a record number of permits issued. Jim Wojcik, Chairman FORESTRY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (FAP) The district is one of 20 conservation districts throughout Michigan providing these services to improve the management of Michigan s valuable private forestlands. Our new forester Winona Genther came on board in December 2016, and will reach out to private landowners in Gogebic and Ontonagon counties during She works year-round to help owners reach decisions about their management options, forest health, wildlife habitat concerns, and what types of professional forestry services will best meet their needs. These services are free of charge. FAP Forester Winona Genther

GOGEBIC CONSERVATION DISTRICT ANNUAL REPORT 2016 INVASIVE

Species Coordinator, and he and Administrator Jim Finley are

eradication work on garlic mustard (which is prevalent in the

AD Johnston students, directed by teacher David Rowe and GCD

buckthorn and invasive honeysuckle at Bessemer s Bluff Valley

Tim Detman of Clean-Kill Pesticides, sprays a thick growth of

3 GOGEBIC CONSERVATION DISTRICT ANNUAL REPORT 2016 INVASIVE SPECIES WORK Director Ron Zaleski is the District s Invasive Species Coordinator, and he and Administrator Jim Finley are busy through the spring and summer months, conducting survey and eradication work on garlic mustard (which is prevalent in the Ironwood-Bessemer area) and other invasive plant species. AD Johnston students, directed by teacher David Rowe and GCD Director Ron Zaleski (far left in group photo) cut out piles of buckthorn and invasive honeysuckle at Bessemer s Bluff Valley Park in mid- May, Tim Detman of Clean-Kill Pesticides, sprays a thick growth of garlic mustard in May (adult plant shown at right) at the MDOT Ironwood Visitor Center. Caution signs warn visitors of herbicide use.

Gogebic Conservation District Annual Report 2016 INVASIVE SPECIES WORK The

Ian Shackleford, US Forest Service botanist, sprays common buckthorn

A later photo shows the effect on the plants.

4 Gogebic Conservation District Annual Report 2016 INVASIVE SPECIES WORK The District had many invasive species eradication projects during Shown here are projects at the Mt. Zion scenic overlook and Iron Belle Trail in Ironwood. Ian Shackleford, US Forest Service botanist, sprays common buckthorn infestation at Mt. Zion scenic overlook. A later photo shows the effect on the plants. Volunteers gather to start work on the Iron Belle Trail in Ironwood. At the end of the day, Jim Finley stands beside mounds of common buckthorn and invasive honeysuckle piled along the trail awaiting pick up and disposal by the City of Ironwood.

Gogebic Conservation District Annual Report 2016 TREE & PLANT SALE Many county residents rely on our annual tree and plant sale, which features native bare-root

We feature a selection of native plants that can be very useful in landscaping, such as serviceberry and chokeberry.

Most of them are important food and shelter sources for bees, hummingbirds and many other songbirds and game birds, and small mammals.

5 Gogebic Conservation District Annual Report 2016 TREE & PLANT SALE Many county residents rely on our annual tree and plant sale, which features native bare-root trees and plants at reasonable prices for reforestation, food production, landscaping and wildlife habitat development. We feature a selection of native plants that can be very useful in landscaping, such as serviceberry and chokeberry. Plants like these provide spring flowers, edible summer or fall fruits or nuts, and fall color to brighten the landscape. Most of them are important food and shelter sources for bees, hummingbirds and many other songbirds and game birds, and small mammals. They are far better choices for such uses than non-native invasive plants like Japanese barberry, which crowd out valuable native plants. Tree Sale orders bagged and awaiting customer pick up. Black chokeberry, one of our native fruiting plants, provides delicious berries similar to blueberries, and provides spectacular fall color.

Gogebic Conservation District Annual Report 2016 MOSINEE WILDLIFE PROJECT Working with the Gogebic County Forestry and Parks Commission and the Michigan Dept.

Set in close proximity to many acres of regenerating aspen forest of varying ages, this system will provide protective cover for deer and grouse, and soft and hard mast for deer and food for

The result is a system of walking trails and observation points for hunters and wildlife viewers unlike any that has heretofore been developed in Gogebic County.

6 Gogebic Conservation District Annual Report 2016 MOSINEE WILDLIFE PROJECT Working with the Gogebic County Forestry and Parks Commission and the Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources, the District obtained grants to establish a Grouse Enhanced Management System, and to seed the trail system and seed and plant three wildlife food plots in the tract. Set in close proximity to many acres of regenerating aspen forest of varying ages, this system will provide protective cover for deer and grouse, and soft and hard mast for deer and food for other wildlife including grouse, for years to come. The result is a system of walking trails and observation points for hunters and wildlife viewers unlike any that has heretofore been developed in Gogebic County. We have applied for a 2017 grant to complete the seeding and planting of a fourth opening (blue dot on map). Location Map of the Mosineee GEM Apple trees behind fencing and other System tract shrubs planted in the center of a food plot under development. Hundreds of native fruiting shrubs and oak trees are planted at the perimeter of the opening to provide various food sources for deer and other wildlife.

Managing Forests For Wildlife 3/13/2017 1

Managing Forests For Wildlife 3/13/2017 1 Why? Primarily Food. Acorns 142 calories/ounce. 9 grams of fat. 15 grams carbohydrate 2 grams protein Wildlife SuperFood Acorns can compose more than 75 percent