WOODLAND STEWARDSHIP PLAN

Transcription

1 WOODLAND STEWARDSHIP PLAN LANDOWNER: Pillager Public School District c/o Karl Kaufman Box 38 Pillager, MN Phone: PROPERTY LOCATION: South 1/2 of the NE1/4 of Section 35,Township 134 N, Range 31W (North May Township and the SE1/4 of the NE1/4 of Section 05, Township 133N, Range 29W (East Sylvan Township) Cass County, Minnesota PREPARED BY: Allen C. Sharp Minnesota DNR Forestry 1601 Minnesota Drive Brainerd, MN Phone: This woodland stewardship plan was designed in February of 2012 to help guide the management activities of the natural resources on your property. The plan is based on your goals in harmony with the environment around you. Project recommendations are for your consideration. THE GOALS YOU IDENTIFIED FOR MANAGING THE PROPERTY ARE: To use this land as an educational tool through self-guided trail and demonstrational harvests and habitats. To promote land and wildlife stewardship. Minnesota Forest Stewardship Program FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Allen C. Sharp DNR - Forestry Office 1601 Minnesota Drive Brainerd, MN / Phone:

2 Property Description STEWARDSHIP ACRES: 120 TOTAL ACRES: 120 LANDSCAPE REGIONS: The enclosed Minnesota map shows our ecological landscape regions (or subsections). The actual boundaries are not as sharp as the lines might imply. In fact, there can be islands of one landscape region inside another. However, there are basic ecological differences between the units. Your land is primarily within the region named below and is described in more detail. The purpose of providing this landscape region and the interaction with nearby properties information is to help you assemble a picture of how your land and your activities fit into the larger landscape. The conservation issues of concern are of particular note. It is likely that at least some of your activities will affect these larger scale issues. Pine moraines & outwash plains DISCUSSION This subsection is a real mix of end moraines, outwash plains, till plains, and drumlin fields. White and red pine dominated the majority of forest communities on end moraines and till plains. Jack pine barrens and jack pine woods were found on well-drained sites of outwash plains. Black spruce, tamarack, white cedar, and black ash were prominent tree species in poorly to very poorly drained soils. Lakes are very common on the end moraines and some of the outwash plains. Current land uses include tourism, forestry, and some agriculture. LANDFORM This subsection consists primarily of large outwash plains, narrow outwash channels, and end moraines. The moraines are relatively large and were formed from portions of several glacial lobes. Most of the glacial drift was sandy, but there is loamy drift to the north. BEDROCK GEOLOGY Thick glacial drift covers bedrock over most of the subsection. Thicknesses range from 200 to over 600 feet. The greatest depths are in the southwestern portion. A diversity of Precambrian rock underlies the glacial drift. There are also iron formations at the southeastern edge of the subsection, along with argillite, siltstone, quartzite, and greywacke. Cretaceous marine shale, sandstone, and variegated shale are localized in the southwest. 2

3 Property Description SOILS The morainic soils are predominantly coarse to moderately coarse in texture (sands and sandy loams). There are exceptions to this on the Itasca Moraine and the Fosston Till Plain, where calcareous loamy soils are present. On outwash plains, excessively drained sands are prevalent, but they are interspersed with numerous wetlands. Over 10% of the soils are organic. The soils are classified as Psamments and Aquents on the outwash plains. Boralfs are most common on moraines. CLIMATE Total annual precipitation ranges from 23 inches in the northwest to 27 inches in the east, with about 40% occurring during the growing season. Only 12 16% of the annual precipitation falls during winter months. The growing season length varies from 111 to 131 days. HYDROLOGY Kettle lakes are common on pitted outwash plains and within stagnation moraines. There are hundreds of lakes within the subsection that have a surface area greater than 160 acres. The headwaters of the Mississippi River (Itasca Lake in Itasca State Park) are in this subsection. Other large rivers flowing through the outwash plains of the subsection include the Pine and Crow Wing rivers. PRESETTLEMENT VEGETATION Jack pine, in a mix with northern pin oak, was the most common species on excessively drained portions of broad outwash plains. Large areas of the other landforms were dominated by aspen-birch and pine forests (mixture of red and white pine). Red pine-white pine forests occupied the rolling to irregularly sloped end moraines. Mixed hardwood and pine forests, dominated by a diverse mix of northern hardwoods and white pine, were found in the most fire-protected areas at the northern and eastern edges of the subsection. Fire protection was offered by irregular topography, broad wetlands, and relatively large lakes. Some of the hardwood-pine forests mapped by Marschner may have been dominated by red oak and basswood without sugar maple. PRESENT VEGETATION AND LAND USE Forest management and tourism are the most important land uses. Agriculture is common in the west, where center pivot irrigation of corn and potatoes is common. Tourism is common where there are concentrations of lakes. Summertime swells the population of these areas significantly. Brainerd, a community of 14,000, absorbs more than ten times that number within a 30-mile radius during summer weekends. NATURAL DISTURBANCE Fire occurred on a year rotation within much of the subsection, accounting for the dominance of upland conifers and aspen-birch forests. 3

4 Property Description CONSERVATION CONCERNS The Minnesota DNR planning team has recommended that 1) a certain percentage of each forest community be maintained in old growth conditions, 2) the amount of oak, northern white-cedar, and white pine within the subsection be increased, 3) large areas of contiguous forest be maintained for forest-interior dwelling species, 4) semi-primitive areas (few or no roads) be maintained, 5) habitat be provided for endangered, threatened, and special concern biota, and 6) cultural resources be protected. Other concerns include lakeshore development, amount of timber harvesting, and water quality issues. Section 35, Township 134N, Range 31W (North May Township, Cass County) Pillager School Forest Property (80 Acre Parcel) 4

5 Section 05, Township 133N, Range 29W (East Sylvan Township, Cass County) Pillager School Forest Property (40 Acre Parcel) 5

6 GENERAL PROPERTY DESCRIPTION: Property Description This stewardship plan is prepared for two tracts of land. One is located approximately 8 miles north and west of Pillager, Minnesota. The other is located approximately 8 miles east and north of Pillager. The first tract is 80 acres in Section 35 of North May Township. Access is goo. The tract lies ¼ mile south of a gravel township road (116 th street). A gated woods access trail crosses state DNR Forestry administered land. Terrain is nearly level to gently rolling with loamy sand to sandy soils. This tract was established as the original Pillager School Forest. The School Forest Dedication was in Timber harvesting has occurred in the late 1950 s, a couple of times in the 1970 s, 1980 s, and 1990 s, and most recently in Tree planting also occurred in the late 1950 s and most recently in The James Rardin Family donated the second tract to the Pillager School District. It is 40 acres in Section 05, of East Sylvan Township. Accessibility to this tract is good as a gravel township road borders the east side and a field road runs to the middle of the property. Terrain is nearly level to gently rolling with sand and loamy sand soils. A pond is located in the middle of this tract. When first obtained, the south side of the pond had been filled with garbage that has been removed. Production of agricultural and forest crops and recreation are major uses of land and water in this part of the state. NATURAL HERITAGE RESOURCE INFORMATION: A search of the Minnesota Natural Heritage Information System showed there are no rare natural features listed for your property. Also, no rare features were observed during the inventory of your property to prepare this plan. We urge you to review The Uncommon Ones booklet located behind the Ecology tab in the Woodland Stewardship Plan binder to help you identify any rare species on your property. CULTURAL HERITAGE RESOURCE INFORMATION: A search of the Cultural Heritage Resource database showed there are no records of historical significance for your property although there may be artifacts located on your property that have not been found. Finding them will help tell more about the history of your area. If you find any artifacts, protect them from damage and contact us to find out how to further protect and interpret them. 6

7 PILLAGER SCHOOL FOREST March 2007 Record of Events October 5, 1953 October 1953 Cass County Commissioners voted to deed the land First Forest Management Plan prepared by Minnesota Forest Service Foresters Walt Stark & Wayne Hanson Six small harvests completed 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s June 18, 1993 June 1994 March 2001 June 2007 Not active Minimal activity schoolteacher moved to Montana Sat idle through 80s, except for planting of trees in blowdown area Became active again Trail system designed & constructed, 13-acre aspen sale sold & harvested, forest & wildlife signs erected. Jim Rardin family donated 40 acres to Pillager School Forest. Property is located approximately 7 miles northeast of town. Forest Stewardship Plan prepared by DNR Foresters Al Sharp and Dean Makey School Forest boundaries surveyed by Comstock & Davis, Inc. Logger Rod Enberg from Motley harvested timber sale, 310 cords of aspen pulpwood, 70 cords of mixed hardwood fuelwood, and 3 cords of jack pine pulpwood. Rod Enberg donated the timber receipts to the Pillager School District. The funds were designated to be used only for forestry educational activities. Rod Enberg donated $20, to this fund. Forester Allen Sharp inventoried and updated Stewardship Plan. To date, over 18,000 trees have been planted within the Pillager School Forest. To date, approximately 71,163 board feet of pine sawtimber, 702 cords of apsen, jack pine, and mixed hardwood pulpwood have been harvested. The approximate stumpage value of these products is $25, Timber Sale Activity 7

8 YEAR PRODUCT BD. FT. PULPWOOD VALUE TOTAL 1955 Jack pine sawtimber 4,225 $ Jack pine pulpwood Firewood $ 2, Jack pine sawtimber 1, Peeled aspen pulpwood Jack pine sawtimber 3, Jack pine pulpwood Peeled aspen pulpwood Peeled aspen pulpwood Jack pine pulpwood Jack pine sawtimber Red & white pine sawtimber 11, White spruce sawtimber 1, Jack pine sawtimber Red pine sawtimber 48,500 2, , Aspen pulp & bolts 220 2, Mixed hardwood fuelwood , Aspen pulpwood , Jack pine pulpwood Mixed hardwood fuelwood , TOTAL 71, $25, $25, Woodland Stewardship Cover Types 8

9 Stand Number: 1, 5, & 11 is Lowland Brush 4 & 26 is Lowland Grass Stand Acres: 5 LOWLAND BRUSH / LOWLAND GRASS Stand Description: These five lowland areas are scattered throughout this tract of land. Vegetation is mostly lowland shrubs (alder with some willow and dogwood). The density is heavy with the alder. The alder is tall. The lowland brush type located in the northwest corner has some scattered tamarack disbursed throughout the area. Sedge grasses cover the ground. A couple of spots have no shrubs, only grasses, sedges, and cattails. These areas are classified as type 6 wetlands, shrub swamps. They are important to the forest ecosystem by providing basins to catch surface water runoff, recharging groundwater, trapping sediments, and by providing wildlife habitat and plant diversity. Stewardship Objective: To promote land and wildlife stewardship. Recommended Management Activities: Protect these wetlands from damage during other management activities, so it will continue to provide its benefits to the environment. Woodland Stewardship Cover Types Aspen Saplings / Aspen Regeneration 9

10 Stand Number: 2, 10, &14 Stand Acres: 21 Site Quality Good (Site Index = 68) Tree Density 10 square feet of basal area per acre Total Timber Volume 5800 stems per acre* Stand Age - 6 *volume should not be used for purposes of selling timber Stand Description: This stand consists mostly of young aspen saplings that are regenerating from a timber harvest (November 2001) from six years ago. The harvest was conducted in the fall of 2001; the site has had six growing seasons since it was harvested. Rod Enberg, logger from Motley, harvested this sale. Rod Enberg did a good job of harvesting these four blocks. All four cutting blocks were full tree skidded to a designated landing where trees were processed and hauled to market. Rod Enberg s wife, Lynn, is a teacher for the Pillager School District. Rod became concerned about information his wife was receiving regarding the bad effects of timber harvesting. The Pillager District has a school forest and an active biology instructor who teaches forestry classes in the high school. Rod saw the opportunity to work with the high school and their school forest to demonstrate the good effects of timber harvesting. An aspen harvest was prepared by DNR Forestry for the school forest. Rod donated his equipment and time to build the access road into the sale. Part of the road crossed a lowland area where he put down fabric and hauled and spread the fill to complete the road. He processed and hauled the cut products to Potlatch Corporation. After Potlatch paid him for the timber, he donated the revenue ($20,500.00) to the Pillager School District. The money is to be used only for the forestry classes and for forest improvement projects on the school forest. During the harvesting procedure, the biology teacher took his class out to the site. They watched the operation as Rod explained the use of all the logging equipment. A local TV station was there and later televised a story on Rod s logging operation and his instruction to the class. The aspen saplings are numerous. Some red oak and red maple saplings are also mixed with the aspen. All these stems range in size from 0 to 1 inch D.B.H. There are some 1-3 inch D.B.H. aspen stems that are scattered throughout the type also. There are some small areas of this stand where little aspen was removed leaving fewer aspen saplings and more residual large trees. These large trees are mostly red and bur oak, birch, red pine, and white pine. 10

11 There is a moderate density of hazel, raspberry, and dogwood shrubs in the understory. Ironwood stems are also found. Presence of the ironwood and prickly ash indicate livestock grazing may have occurred here in the past. This young stand of saplings is providing good food and cover for wildlife. Deer and grouse especially like a young aspen forest. Stewardship Objective: To promote land and wildlife stewardship. Recommended Management Activities: This stand is in the process of regenerating and no treatment is needed at this time. The dense saplings will provide food and cover for wildlife using a young forest. The areas of older scattered oaks will provide acorns for wildlife food and nesting and insect food sources for birds, such as woodpeckers, chickadees, and nuthatches. Cavities in the older trees will be used for shelter and nesting by birds and mammals. Management Alternative: Salvage dead oak for firewood. Be careful not to damage any saplings that are nearby. Timber sale that Rod Enberg harvested fall This stand is currently five years old. 11

12 Timber sale that Rod Enberg harvested fall of Rod Enberg donated the total revenue to the Pillager School District. ($20,500.00) 12

13 Woodland Stewardship Cover Types PINE SAWTIMBER 13

14 Stand Number: 3 Stand Acres: 19 Site Quality Good (Red Pine Site Index = 62) Tree Density square feet of basal area per acre Total Timber Volume cords per acre* + 12,000-13,000 board feet per ac. Stand Age *volume should not be used for purposes of selling timber Stand Description: This stand consists mainly of immature red and white pine sawtimber. These trees average approximately 18 inches D.B.H. There are some smaller poletimber trees also, namely red pine, white pine, aspen, and paper birch. This is a high-density stand, which is growing on a good site for pine. Some of the white pine is infected with white pine blister rust and heart-rot. The paper birch and aspen are also declining from rotting diseases. The understory consists of a moderate density of hazel and several tree seedlings and saplings. White pine 1-5 inch D.B.H. saplings are most abundant with red maple, paper birch, aspen, and red oak also present. Several different logging operators thinned this stand in Approximately 49 MBF were removed with some trees being used for cabin logs. Stewardship Objective: To promote land and wildlife stewardship. Recommended Management Activities: This stand should be managed as even-aged since the dominant and co-dominant trees are about the some age. Thinning in this stand to a minimum density level would promote the most diameter growth. The larger trees will be using less of the growing space because the crown area of large forest trees does not increase at the same rate as their diameters. So larger sawtimber stands such as this can be managed at higher densities than the minimum. Thin this stand to a basal area of about , or trees per acre. This is higher than the minimum density and will improve growing conditions for the residual trees. Management Alternative: This stand is not seriously crowded and could be left untouched for now. 14

15 Remove the mature aspen, birch, and diseased white pine from this stand. Woodland Stewardship Cover Types RED PINE POLETIMBER 15

16 Stand Number: 8 Stand Acres: 1 Site Quality Good (red pine SI=65) Tree Density -210 square feet of basal area per acre Total Timber Volume cords per acre* Stand Age -38 *volume should not be used for purposes of selling timber Stand Description: This stand appears to be a red pine plantation because the trees are in rows, but no planting records from the past could be found. The trees are 9-11 inches D.B.H. and are growing too close together. Some are overtopped with large aspen trees. Otherwise, they appear to be healthy. Stewardship Objective: To promote land and wildlife stewardship. Recommended Management Activities: Remove the aspen which are overtopping the pine. This will give the pine more sunlight for better growth. Thin the pine so they aren t so crowded. This will also promote better growing conditions for the residual trees. Management Alternative: You may wish to leave this stand untouched to provide an old forest component to the tract. Woodland Stewardship Cover Types MIXED HARDWOODS AND CONIFERS 16

17 Stand Number: 9 Stand Acres: 3 Site Quality Good (white spruce Site Index=72) Tree Density Good, 140 square feet of basal area per acre Total Timber Volume cords per acre* Stand Age *volume should not be used for purposes of selling timber Stand Description: This stand is a nearly even mixture of red and bur oak, aspen, birch, and white spruce poletimber. A few large red (Norway) pine sawtimber can be found also. The poletimber averages 10 inches D.B.H. while the sawtimber is about 18 inches D.B.H. The density here is good, and this is a good site for these trees. Some of the birch are declining, probably due to past drought conditions, tree maturity, and insect attack. The understory consists of oak, maple, and ash 1-5 inch saplings and a moderate density of hazel and dogwood shrubs. Stewardship Objective: To promote land and wild stewardship. Recommended Management Activities: Manage this stand to promote a diversity of tree species and ages. Harvest trees as they become mature and encourage growth of young saplings in the understory. Salvage dead birch for use as fuel wood. Management Alternative: Leave dead birch standing for use as snags by wildlife. Woodland Stewardship Cover Types MIXED HARDWOOD POLETIMBER / RESERVE AREA 17

18 Stand Number: 12 Stand Acres: 2 Site Quality Good (aspen Site Index=68) Tree Density square feet of basal area per acre Total Timber Volume cords per acre* Stand Age - 61 *volume should not be used for purposes of selling timber Stand Description: This stand is a combination of aspen, red maple, paper birch, bur oak and green ash. These trees average 10 inches DBH. This stand is fully stocked, and this is a good site for these trees. The aspen trees are showing signs of over maturity. They are beginning to deteriorate; nearly all show signs of white trunk rot and approximately 15% - 20% have died. The understory consists of a moderate density of hazel, dogwood, and some ironwood shrubs. This area was designed to be reserved when the two aspen sales were harvested in 1994 and Stewardship Objective: To promote land and wildlife stewardship To use this land as an educational tool through self-guided trails To demonstrate different timber harvests and habitats Recommended Management Activities: Allow this stand to age naturally, providing an old forest component to this land parcel. As the aspen die, the shade tolerant maple will replace them. Management Alternative: Underplant this area to white spruce. Trees should be planted at a spacing of 7 X 8 (800 trees per acre). 18

19 Woodland Stewardship Cover Types ASPEN SAPLINGS / ASPEN REGENERATION Stand Number: 6, 7, 13, & 15 Stand Acres: 21 Site Quality Good (Site Index = 68) Tree Density -15 square feet of basal area per acre Total Timber Volume 5800 stems per acre* Stand Age - 12 *volume should not be used for purposes of selling timber Stand Description: This stand consists mostly of young aspen saplings that are regenerating from a timber harvest twelve years ago. The harvest was conducted in the fall of 1994; the site has had 12 growing seasons since it was harvested. Rod Enberg, logger from Motley, harvested this sale. Rod Enberg did a good job of harvesting these four blocks. All four cutting blocks were full tree skidded to a designated landing where trees were processed and hauled to market. The aspen saplings are numerous. Some red oak and red maple saplings are also mixed with the aspen. All these stems range in size from 1 to 3 inch D.B.H. There are some 3-5 inch D.B.H. aspen stems that are scattered throughout the type also. There are red and bur oak 10 D.B.H. residual trees that were reserved during the timber harvest for wildlife considerations. These trees are providing acorns for various wildlife species. There is a moderate density of hazel, raspberry, and dogwood shrubs in the understory. Ironwood stems are also found. Presence of the ironwood and prickly ash indicate livestock grazing may have occurred here in the past. This young stand of saplings is providing good food and cover for wildlife. Deer and grouse especially like a young aspen forest. Stewardship Objective: To promote land and wildlife stewardship 19

20 Recommended Management Activities: This stand is in the process of regenerating and no treatment is needed at this time. The dense saplings will provide food and cover for wildlife using a young forest. The areas of older scattered oaks will provide acorns for wildlife food and nesting and insect food sources for birds, such as woodpeckers, chickadees, and nuthatches. Cavities in the older trees will be used for shelter and nesting by birds and mammals. Management Alternative: Salvage the dead oak for firewood. Be careful not to damage any saplings that are nearby. Woodland Stewardship Cover Types 20

21 PINE PLANTATION / ASPEN REGENERATION Stand Number: 16 Stand Acres: 12 Site Quality Good (Red Pine Site Index = 67) Tree Density - 116, square feet of basal area per acre Total Timber Volume cords per acre* Stand Age - 25 *volume should not be used for purposes of selling timber Stand Description: This area was once an aspen stand with scattered large red pine sawtimber. A windstorm caused severe damage of this stand. Logging occurred to salvage the damaged timber. In 1981, this 12-acre site was sheared and windrowed to prepare it for tree planting. That spring, 10,000 red pine seedlings were planted by Warren Stark to reforest the site. At the time of this inventory, approximately 300 red pine per acre are surviving (36%). Many hardwood saplings have regenerated naturally on the site. These are mostly aspen, but a few oak and birch have sprouted also. These hardwoods do overtop many of the pine, suppressing their growth. The pines are about 6-8 feet tall and 1-2 inches D.B.H. The aspen is about feet tall. The understory consists of a light to moderate density of hazel, dogwood, and cherry shrubs. The dense stand provides good cover for wildlife. Stewardship Objective: To use this tract of land as an educational tool through self-guiding trails To use this tract of land for demonstrational harvests and habitats To promote land and wildlife stewardship Recommended Management Activities: 21

22 Manage this stand to provide both pine and hardwood components. Release the overtopped pine by eliminating the competing hardwoods around each tree. This can be done mechanically and/or chemically. Where there are no pine, allow the natural hardwood saplings to continue growing. They will provide good habitat for wildlife, especially white-tailed deer and ruffed grouse. Management Alternative: No management here will allow the hardwoods to continue competing with the pine. Some of the pine will struggle to survive, but many will be suppressed and may eventually die. Woodland Stewardship Cover Types 22

23 ASPEN Stand Number: 17, & 25 Stand Acres: 9 Site Quality Good (aspen Site Index = 70) Tree Density square feet of basal area per acre Total Timber Volume cords per acre* Stand Age - 51 *volume should not be used for purposes of selling timber Stand Description: These two stands consist mainly of mature aspen poletimber with a few scattered red and bur oak trees. These trees average 10 inches DBH. The stands are fully stocked, and this is a good site to grow aspen. Type number 17 is located in the northwest corner of the property adjacent to the pond. Type number 25 is located adjacent to the south property line. The aspen appear to be lightly infected with two fungal diseases, hypoxylon cancer and white trunk rot. Mortality of about 10% has occurred from these diseases. Beaver have also cut some of the trees within stand number 17. Some of the trees the beaver have cut are regenerating. There is some aspen regeneration 3-5 inch saplings. The understory consists of a moderate density of hazel, sherry, and dogwood shrubs. Oak and aspen 3-5 inch saplings can be found disbursed throughout the type. The aspen forest is important to wildlife by providing food and cover. Deer sign in the form of antler rubs was observed throughout the type. Stewardship Objective: To use this tract of land as an educational tool through self-guiding trails To use this tract of land for demonstrational harvests and habitats To promote land and wildlife stewardship 23

24 Recommended Management Activities: If you choose to do some timber harvesting on this tract of land, these two stands are mature enough. When harvesting, use the clear-cut method to promote optimum natural regeneration of the aspen. Reserve special interest trees for wildlife such as snags, cavity trees, and oaks for acorn production. New growth following harvest will provide food and cover wildlife. Management Alternative: You may wish to reserve this stand, or portions of it, to provide an old forest component to the tract. 24

25 Woodland Stewardship Cover Types Stand Number: 18 & 23 UPLAND GRASS Stand Acres: 5 Stand Description: These areas are upland open grassy areas. Along some edges you will find clumps of sumac, aspen, and birch saplings invading the openings. Also, some clumps of 1-5 inch jack pine saplings are established within the open areas. These openings are important to wildlife by providing space for courtship displays, nesting, loafing, and feeding. They are especially important to deer for providing forage during the spring through autumn seasons. On the southeast corner of the pond, a borrow pit has been developed in this area. A lot of debris had been dumped here along with other spots on the tract. These areas have now been cleaned up. Stewardship Objective: To use this tract of land as an educational tool through self-guiding trails To use this tract of land for demonstrational harvests and habitats To promote land and wildlife stewardship Recommended Management Activities: Maintain these upland areas as openings for wildlife. Remove any shrubs and trees that are invading along the edges. No more than 10% of the open areas should have trees and shrubs on them. Erect bluebird nesting boxes around the edges of these openings for use by cavity nesting songbirds. Clean up borrow pit area and reclaim by shaping slopes and seeding them with a grass mixture or by planting trees and shrubs. This will help prevent soil erosion. 25

26 Management Alternative: Establish corn food plots for wildlife in these openings. Improve timber production of the tract by planting trees in these openings. Pocket gophers must be controlled. 26

27 Woodland Stewardship Cover Types Stand Number: 19 POND Stand Acres: 8 Stand Description: This area of the tract is covered mostly by open water with emergent vegetation around the edges. Vegetation includes grasses, sedges, and cattails. This is classified as a wetland-inland open fresh water, more commonly called a pond. Beaver appear to be active here as evident by a lodge along the north edge of the pond and several trees cut down along the edges. Much of the debris that had been dumped on the shores of the pond, especially the south side, has been cleaned up. These ponds are important to collect water runoff, recharge groundwater, trap sediment, provide wildlife and fisheries habitat, and to add diversity to the tract of land. Stewardship Objective: To use this tract of land as an educational tool through self-guiding trails To use this tract of land for demonstrational harvests and habitats To promote land and wildlife stewardship Recommended Management Activities: Protect the wetland from damage during other management activities. Erect wood duck nesting boxes along the pond edges for use by cavity nesting waterfowl. Management Alternative: Erect an observation deck along the shoreline to better observe the wetland wildlife. 27

28 Woodland Stewardship Cover Types Stand Number: 20 MIXED HARDWOOD / JACK PINE Stand Acres: 2 Stand Description: This stand consists of two areas of large hardwood trees and a small pocket of jack pine pulpwood trees. The type is located on the east side of the pond and is within the Riparian Management Zone of the pond. The northern area of this type is mostly box elder trees 5-9 inches DBH. These trees do not have much value for timber products, except possibly for firewood. The other area is along the east edge of the pond and consists mostly of oak trees 5-15 inches DBH. These would be more valuable as timber. The acorns they produce are important food for wildlife. There is also a small pocket of jack pine that is located in the southeast corner of this type. These jack pine trees average 8-10 inches DBH. This area helps secure the soil along the banks and to prevent soil from eroding into the pond. Any cavity trees also provide nesting sites for birds, waterfowl, and mammals. Stewardship Objective: To use this tract of land as an educational tool through self-guiding trails To use this tract of land for demonstrational harvests and habitats To promote land and wildlife stewardship Recommended Management Activities: Maintain these hardwood areas as they are to provide habitat for wildlife, prevent soil erosion, and help maintain water quality. Management Alternative: Harvest these trees and utilize for timber products. Woodland Stewardship Cover Types 28

29 RED PINE PLANTATION Stand Number: 21 Stand Acres: 12 Site Quality Good (red pine Site Index = 60). Tree Density -15 square feet of basal area per acre Total Timber Volume Poor, 165 stems per acre.* Stand Age - 17 *volume should not be used for purposes of selling timber Stand Description: This stand consists of red pine seedlings that were planted approximately 17 years ago. The seedlings were machine planted on a spacing of about 6 X 6 feet (1200 trees per acre). Survival is poor with less than 170 trees per acre still living. Their height averages 21 feet. Mortality has occurred and is still occurring from pocket gophers eating tree roots. This will continue to be a severe problem with the remaining trees. Other vegetation found here is a heavy cover of grasses. Stewardship Objective: To promote land and wildlife stewardship Recommended Management Activities: If you wish for this plantation to be a success, the pocket gophers will need to be controlled. This can be accomplished by applying a redenticide or with trapping. Additional tree planting is needed here to bring the density up to an acceptable level making the site more fully productive. Another option would be to sell the pine to someone that has a chipper/grinder and harvest the trees from this site, essentially starting over. After harvesting, disc trench the site, then hand plant to red pine at a 7 X 8 foot spacing (800 trees per acre). Control the pocket gophers before the trees are planted. The tree planting would be a great class project. Management Alternative: 29

30 No activities here will result in an open, grassy area with scattered red pine. Woodland Stewardship Cover Types 30

31 JACK PINE Stand Number: 22 & 24 Stand Acres: 3 Site Quality Good (jack pine Site Index = 60) Tree Density square feet of basal area per acre Total Timber Volume cords per acre* Stand Age - 43 *volume should not be used for purposes of selling timber Stand Description: This stand consists of three areas where jack pine poletimber is prevalent. The stand is quite dense with trees averaging about 10 inches DBH. The trees appear to be healthy, and this is a good site for jack pine. One of the small jack pine pockets is located within type number 20; it is too small to map out and will be managed with type number 20. This type is within the Riparian Management Zone of the pond; it is providing soil stabilization and should not be harvested. Since the stand is dense, the ground vegetation is sparse. Some raspberry shrubs are present, but the ground cover is mostly grasses and moss. Several 3-5 inch jack pine saplings are growing in the understory. Stewardship Objective: To use this tract of land as an educational tool through self-guiding trails To use this tract of land for demonstrational harvests and habitats To promote land and wildlife stewardship Recommended Management Activities: This stand could be reserved for at least another 5-10 years. No management activities are needed at this time. It should be checked again in 5 years or so to address any harvest needs at that time. In the meantime, it will provide wildlife habitat and add a conifer component to the tract. Management Alternative: Monitor the stand for insect and disease problems. 31

32 Additional Stewardship Projects Tree Planting If type number 21 is harvested, disc trench this area and plant to red pine. In section 5, reclaim old barrow pit. This can be accomplished by site-preparation then planting to trees, or reclaiming and maintaining it as a permanent wildlife opening. Trails Maintain all trails within both tracts of land. Disc these trails with a tractor and brush disc, then seed to a designated blend of grass seeds that will be beneficial to wildlife. Keep trails cleared from fallen trees and encroaching brush from along the sides. Surveyed Property Lines In section 35, stake all survey property monuments with steel posts. This will protect and make the survey monuments easier to locate. 32

33 Woodland Stewardship Summary SECTION 35 OF MAY TOWNSHIP (CASS COUNTY) Thin pine sawtimber stand #3 and pine poletimber stand #8 Release planted pine in stand #16 SECTION 05 OF EAST SYLVAN TOWNSHIP (CASS COUNTY) Harvest mature aspen from stand #17 & #25 Reclaim barrow pit Maintain grassy openings for wildlife benefits Erect nesting boxes for cavity nesting waterfowl Harvest mature aspen from stand #17 & #25 Develop trail system for recreation, education, and management Interplant red pine plantation (stand #21) to improve tree density o Another option would be to harvest this poorly stocked stand, site prep, then hand plant to red pine. The planting project could be a junior and senior class project. 33