The Wilkinson Tract - FERM - Michigan Technological University

The Wilkinson Tract
E ½ NE ¼ and E ½ SE ¼ Section 23 T48N, R32W
Baraga County, Michigan
By:
Lori Caelwaerts
Christopher Hoeft
Travis Kangas
Edward Konwinski
Daniel Muth
Table of Contents
Page Number
v
Table of Figures and Tables
Executive Summary
vii
Chapter One: Introduction and Objectives
Wilkinson property introduction and overview
1.1
1.2
Chapter Two: Cultural Heritage
Introduction
Trail of Deeds
Native Americans
Logging
Recreational Use
Summary
2.1
2.2
2.2
2.3
2.7
2.8
2.9
Chapter Three: Social Dimensions
Introduction
Aesthetics
Recreational Activities
Economics
Laws and Regulations
Summary
3.1
3.2
3.2
3.2
3.2
3.3
3.4
Chapter Four: Wildlife
Introduction
Methods
Results
Evidenced Wildlife
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
4.1
4.2
4.2
4.3
4.9
4.9
Chapter Five: Soils and Geology
Introduction
Importance of Wetlands
Climate
Soils
5.1
5.2
5.5
5.5
5.6
Chapter Six: Vegetation
Introduction
Forest Health Assessment
Understory community
Regeneration
Understory Summary
Timber Assessment
6.1
6.2
6.2
6.5
6.11
6.12
6.12
ii
Chapter Seven: Management Overview
Management
Timber Harvest and Sustainable Forestry
Wildlife
Research and Educational Goals
Summary
7.1
7.2
7.2
7.6
7.8
7.8
Chapter Eight: Management Option One
Harvesting Mechanics
Soils
Wildlife
Social Ramifications
8.1
8.2
8.3
8.4
8.5
Chapter Nine: Management Option Two
Sanitation cut and lowland site conversion
Summary
9.1
9.2
9.8
Chapter Ten: Management Option Three
Introduction
Financial
Culture and Heritage
Social Dimensions
Wildlife
Soils
Summary
10.1
10.2
10.2
10.2
10.2
10.4
10.4
10.4
Chapter Eleven: Management Option Four
Introduction
Financial
Culture and Heritage
Social Dimensions
Wildlife
Soils
Summary
11.1
11.2
11.2
11.2
11.2
11.2
11.3
11.3
Chapter Twelve: Preferred Management Option
Introduction
Goal Quantification
Preferred Option
Summary
12.1
12.2
12.2
12.3
12.3
Appendices
Appendix A
Appendix B
A.1
B.1
iii
Bibliography
Works Cited
WC.1
iv
Figures and Tables
Page Number
Chapter One
Figure 1.1:
Figure 1.2:
Figure 1.3:
Figure 1.4:
Figure 1.5:
Figure 1.6:
Figure 1.7:
Wilkinson tract in relation to the state of Michigan.
Digital orthophoto showing location of Wilkinson Tract in Baraga.
A view of the scrub/shrub swamp on the Wilkinson tract.
Photo of one of several mineral marshes present.
A conifer swamp located on Wilkinson tract.
One of the pure sugar maple stands located on upland fingers on the tract.
The tract also contains mixed conifer and hardwood stands.
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.4
1.4
1.4
1.5
Chapter Two
Figure 2.1: Map of Native American villages in Michigan after the War of 1812.
Figure 2.2: Ojibwe Anishinaabe Nation ceded lands and reservations.
Figure 2.3: Location of tribal reservations and reserves and their former territories.
Figure 2.4: Two men chopping a tree down with axes.
Figure 2.5: A horse drawn log sled used to skid the logs to landings along rivers.
Figure 2.6: A glass bottle found on the Wilkinson Tract.
2.5
2.6
2.6
2.7
2.8
2.9
Chapter Three
Figure 3.1: Remains of a camp on the northeast corner of the Wilkinson Tract.
3.3
Chapter Four
Table 4.1: Management Indicator Species.
Figure 4.1: Wood duck.
Figure 4.2: White-tailed deer.
Figure 4.3: Pileated woodpecker.
Figure 4.4: Black bear.
Figure 4.5: Moose.
Table 4.2: Possible mammal species located on Wilkinson Tract by habitat type.
Table 4.3: Possible reptile and amphibian species located on Wilkinson tract by
habitat type.
Table 4.4: Possible bird species located on Wilkinson Tract by habitat type.
Figure 4.6: Moose scat.
Figure 4.7: Beaver dam.
Table 4.5: Wildlife observed on the Wilkinson tract.
Table 4.6: Possible endangered, threatened and special concern wildlife on the
Wilkinson tract.
4.3
4.3
4.3
4.4
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.7
4.8
4.9
4.9
4.9
4.10
Chapter Five
Figure 5.1: Wilkinson tract location and hydrology map.
Figure 5.2: Cedar swamp on Wilkinson tract.
Figure 5.3: Spring fed wet meadow found on Wilkinson tract.
Figure 5.4: Seep found in Wilkinson tract.
Figure 5.5: Open water swamp found by road obstructing a small creek.
Table 5.1: Average precipitation for Alberta.
5.2
5.3
5.3
5.4
5.4
5.6
Chapter Six
Figure 6.1: Trametes versicolor.
Table 6.1: Saprotrophic fungi found on the Wilkinson tract.
Figure 6.2: Fomes fomentarius.
Figure 6.3: Amanita virosa.
v
6.2
6.3
6.3
6.3
Table 6.2: Mycorrhizal fungi found on the Wilkinson tract.
Table 6.3: Parasitic fungi found on the Wilkinson tract.
Table 6.4: Dominant cover types on the Wilkinson tract.
Figure 6.4: Cover percentages.
Figure 6.5: Percent understory composition for scrub shrub.
Table 6.5: Diversity indices for scrub shrub swamp.
Table 6.6: Diversity indices for marshland.
Figure 6.6: Percent understory composition for marshland.
Table 6.7: Diversity indices for conifer swamp.
Figure 6.7: Percent understory composition for conifer swamp.
Table 6.8: Diversity indices for sugar maple.
Figure 6.8: Percent understory composition for sugar maple.
Table 6.9: Diversity indices for mixed conifer and hardwood.
Figure 6.9: Percent understory composition for mixed conifer and hardwood.
Table 6.10: Diversity indices for northern hardwoods.
Figure 6.10: Percent understory composition for northern hardwood stands.
Table 6.11: Diversity indices for conifer stands.
Figure 6.11: Percent understory composition for conifer stands.
Figure 6.12: Percent understory composition for the Wilkinson tract.
Table 6.12: Diversity indices for entire Wilkinson tract.
Table 6.13: Total regeneration and seedlings.
Figure 6.13: Total regeneration evident on the Wilkinson tract (stems per acre).
Figure 6.14: Total seedling counts for the Wilkinson tract.
Figure 6.15: Basal area table for Stand 1.
Figure 6.16: Board-foot volumes by species on a per acre basis for Stand 1.
Figure 6.17: Pulp volumes by species for Stand 1 on a per acre basis.
Figure 6.18: Diameter distribution for Stand 1.
Figure 6.19: Basal area per acre broken down by species.
Figure 6.20: Board-foot volumes by species on a per acre basis for Stand 2.
Figure 6.21: Pulp volumes by species for Stand 1 on a per acre basis.
Figure 6.22: Diameter distribution for Stand 2.
Table 6.14: Monetary value of sawlogs in Stand 1.
Table 6.15: Monetary values of pulpwood in Stand 1.
Table 6.16: Monetary values of sawlogs in Stand 2.
Table 6.17: Monetary values of pulpwood in Stand 2.
Table 6.18: Total value for Stands 1 and 2.
Table 6.19: Volume by grade for Stands 1 and 2.
6.3
6.4
6.6
6.6
6.6
6.7
6.7
6.7
6.8
6.8
6.8
6.8
6.9
6.9
6.9
6.9
6.10
6.10
6.10
6.11
6.11
6.12
6.12
6.14
6.14
6.15
6.16
6.17
6.17
6.18
6.18
6.19
6.19
6.19
6.19
6.20
6.20
Chapter Seven
Table 7.1: Upland harvest equipment limitations.
Table 7.2: Tamarack conversion equipment limitations.
7.3
7.6
Chapter Eight
Table 8.1:
Table 8.2:
Table 8.3:
Table 8.4:
Board foot volumes extracted in Stand 1.
Pulpwood extraction values for Stand 1.
Residual board feet in Stand 1 after shelterwood cut.
Residual pulpwood in Stand 1 after shelterwood cut.
8.2
8.3
8.3
8.3
Chapter Nine
Figure 9.1: Stand one (red).
9.2
Table 9.1: Extraction value and percent removal for pulpwood in stand 1 sanitation cut. 9.3
Table 9.2: Extraction value and percent removal for sawlogs in stand 1 sanitation cut.
9.3
vi
Chapter Ten
Table 10.1: Wilkinson tract values for standing timber broken down by stand.
Table 10.2: Cost estimates for trail construction on the Wilkinson Tract.
Figure 10.1: An example of the EnviroReader signs available from Envirosigns.
10.2
10.2
10.3
Chapter Eleven
Table 11.1: Wilkinson tract values for standing timber broken down by stand.
11.2
Chapter Twelve
Table 12.1: Evaluation of management options to select the preferred option.
vii
12.2
Executive Summary
A land evaluation of the Wilkinson tract was done, located in the E ½ NE ¼ and E ½
SE ¼ Section 23 T48N, R32W, Baraga County, Michigan. In order to properly catalogue
the various elements important to a complete assessment, the report was subdivided into
sections addressing specific aspects of the lands, history, social relevance, wildlife, soils,
geology, hydrology, health, vegetation, and management options.
Included in the Wilkinson tracts’ legacy is a history of logging, mining, and native
occupation, most of which have been evidenced in the form of old skid roads, tree
stumps, abandoned railways, and disheveled camps. Initially owned by the Marquette
Houghton railway company in 1873, the property has changed hands a number of times,
generally for small exchanges of money that border on gift rather than sale. The average
going rate over the last few transactions has been one dollar. Thomas A. Wilkinson
gifted this land to MTU in 1995 through the Michigan Tech Fund, though the mineral
rights to the property are still owned by Kennecott Mining Company.
Because this particular tract is composed of approximately 45% wetland, alternating
from upland to lowland on varying topography, a number of best management practices
should be importantly considered. As always legislation such as the Endangered species
Act, Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Act, Inland Waters Act, Wetland Protection Act,
and the Environmental Protection Act, must be reviewed when deciding upon any active
management regimes. This is especially relevant given expanse of wetland and riparian
areas in the vicinity, as well as the steep and sometimes difficult terrain.
The varying topography and hydrology of the area provide for a gradient of soils
throughout the tract evidenced by the persistence of six general types including Dawson
and Greenwood Peats, Carbondale and Tacoosh Mucks, Histols and Aquents, Amasa
Cobbly Silt Loam, Witbeach Tacoosh Complex, and Channing Fine Sandy Loam. Since
all of these contain significant equipment limitations, especially on slopes and lowlands,
it is importantly noted that the Wilkinson tract may be unavailable for harvest at some
points of the year. The water tables in the area are active enough to produce saturated
conditions in the lowland areas, and beavers are responsible for the conversion of more
land into open marshes along the small riparian corridor on the tract.
Wildlife persistence on this piece of property is especially vigorous given the wide
array of available forage and cover, accessibility to water, and large collection of coarse
woody debris, snags, rocks, and other excellent habitat. Wildlife examination has
revealed a number of common species and importantly points to the occurrence of moose
on the property. Because this is a species of special concern within the area, having been
recently reintroduced, management considerations will be entertained as to the
improvement and/or preservation of the habitat types these animals prefer.
Vegetative analysis of the stand yields a number of different cover types broken into
seven different stands for the purposes of diversity analysis and habitat typing. They
include: pure sugar maple, northern hardwoods, mixed conifer/hardwood, conifer,
viii
coniferous swamp, scrub shrub hardwood swamp, and open marsh land. For the purposes
of timber analysis, the area was broken up into two stands, one combining the upland
harwood; mixed hardwood areas, and the other focusing on the lowland conifer swamps
and forest. Stand one (hardwood) has the following characteristics:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
20 acres
basal area of 96.4 ft2/acre
3617.6 bf/acre
11.2 cords/acre
total value of $26,748.68
Stand two (conifer) has the following characteristics:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
130 acres
basal area of 63.0 ft2/acre
398.7 bf/acre
9.5 cords/acre
total value of $33,329.86
Health assessment of the land has yielded an active relationship between disease and
stand succession within the area. In the upland sites, shade intolerant trees such as aspen
and paper birch are succumbing to competitive stress provided by shade tolerant species
such as sugar maple. These individuals show signs of the heart rot Innonotus obliquus or
the cinder conk, and the canker fungus Hypoxylon mammatum. In the lowland forest,
black spruce are succumbing to dwarf mistletoe in epidemic proportions. Approximately
70 % of all black spruce observed showed the witches’ brooming symptomatic of the
disease, and much of the course woody debris in these areas resulted from blowdown of
heavily infected individuals. Removal of these disease trees is recommended to prevent
excessive inoculum spread.
Management for the area will most likely involve a dynamic approach, allowing for
some timber harvest and promotion, while leaving the area pristine for education and
wildlife goals. Shelter cuts of the upland sites have been proposed to thin the non-crop
species such as paper birch and balsam fir out of the stand, allowing for the recruitment
of sugar maple into the overstory. Also worth considering is a complete harvest of those
accessible lowland areas, removing all of the black spruce while it is still viable, and
cultivating various disease resistant trees. Other options include sugar bush operation,
upland clearcuts, and no management with a focus on education and research.
ix
Chapter 1: Introduction
Wilkinson property introduction and overview
The Wilkinson property is located in Spurr Township, in the E ½ of the NE ¼ and the E
½ of the SE ¼, section 23, Township 48 North, Range 32 West (Figure 1.1). Accessible by an
unnamed road stretching 1 ½ miles south of M-28/41, the area is composed of undisturbed
woodlands bordered by timber operations, and other undeveloped woodlands (Figure 1.2).
Though the property spans a total area of 240 acres, the management considerations in this
assessment will be restricted to the eastern 160 acres, due to its more accessible nature.
Encompassing a variety of forest types and wildlife habitats, the topography of the site is rolling
with alternate peaks and lowlands created by
East/West running terminal moraines resulting from
previous glaciation. Also noteworthy is the active
hydrology of the area, resulting from the influence of
Lateral Creek on the northeast corner of the property,
and the proximity to the east branch of the Tioga
River ½ mile to the southwest. Lowlands exhibit high
water tables from ground water seeps and direct
drainage from riparian systems, making for various
types of wetlands. In conjunction with the rolling
topography, this makes for a wide range of forest
communities within a relatively small area of land.
Lowlands on the south end of the property are
composed of scrub/shrub swamps with sphagnum
Figure 1.1. Wilkinson tract in relation to the
accumulation and thickets of alder on a hemic muck
state of Michigan.
exhibiting a water table less than one inch below the
surface of the soil. Bordered to the north by a thin band of cedar swamp with some mineral
enrichment and less saturated soils, the property then melds into a pure sugar maple stand upon
gaining 40 ft. in elevation. This stand eventually incorporates some mixed conifer, ironwood,
and birch further north, and then alternates between lowland mineral marsh, scrub/shrub swamp,
and mixed conifer and hardwood stands as the varying elevation subjects the environment to
differing amounts of water, acidity, and nutrient availability.
In order to effectively sample and delineate this area, four transect lines were run
perpendicular to the rolling topography (north/south) sampling 14 points five chains apart on
each line. To avoid errors incurrent in landscape uniformity, lines were staggered and the
following items were noted at each point: seedling layer, herbaceous understory, regeneration,
overstory, height, merchantable height, crown ratio, wild life indicators, snag density, and GPS
coordinates. Habitat typing was done for each general stand type, and soil samples were taken to
confirm information extracted from the Baraga County soil survey. In order to ensure that our
lines were efficiently placed across various stand types and geologic features, digital photos of
the property were observed, coordinates for section boundaries were determined, and lines were
fit to scale.
The landowner of the tract is the Michigan Tech University (MTU) School of Forest
Resources and Environmental Science (SFRES), and their objectives for the land are as follows:
1) to promote the research and educational goals of the SFRES
1.2
2) to provide revenue to cover educational and Ford Center costs
3) to attain SFI certification
4) to provide demonstrations of forest and wildland management practices to facilitate
public education and understanding
5) to abide by all relevant laws and regulations
Wilkenson Tract Location Map
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Baraga_lakes.shp
Lake
Baraga_stream_ln.shp
Drains and Intermit. Streams
Rivers and Streams
Baraga_roads.shp
Access Road
Rt. 41
Streets
County Roads
# Corners_migeoreff.shp
Wikenson.shp
Baraga_section_ln.shp
Section Line
# Baraga_section_numbers.shp
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Figure 1.2. Digital orthophoto showing location of Wilkinson Tract in Baraga
As such, there exist a number of management applications that could adequately meet these
conditions. Because of the diverse landscape dimensions of this particular tract, it becomes
relevant to discuss each general area separately with the understanding that transitional zones
may require some emphasis on a combination of objectives.
1.3
A) SCRUB/SHRUB SWAMPS
Because these areas are on lowlands of questionable
accessibility and poor timber volume, their main value is for
wildlife habitat, and educational purposes (Figure 1.3).
Evidence of moose and deer, combined with active bird and
water fowl populations seem to indicate that this is excellent
habitat and may be aided by upland harvest of sugar maples
resulting in less transpirational water loss and higher water
Figure 1.3. A view of the
tables. Because moose are in a state of reintroduction in this
area, the habitat provided in this landscape may be critical for scrub/shrub swamp on the
Wilkinson tract.
their continued success. Also explored will be the feasibility
and subsequent legality of a site conversion involving active pit and mounding and planting of
tamarack to harbor a profitable timber operation.
B) MINERAL MARSHES
The standing water in these areas makes site conversion
implausible (Figure 1.4). Typified by facultative rushes and
sedges, and hydrologically fueled by riparian systems, these areas
will be restricted solely for the purpose of habitat and education.
C) CONIFER SWAMPS
Figure 1.4. Photo of one of
several mineral marshes
present.
Also valuable as wildlife habitat, some
harvest of cedar could promote
regeneration, release ground water, and
provide timber revenue as well (Figure 1.5). Because most of these
cedars fall mainly within buffer zones for wetland areas, special
attention must be paid to zone delineation and BMP’s for wetland
harvest. Though not as readily accessible as the upland forest,
extraction seems feasible given the rather gentle slopes bordering these
areas.
Figure 1.5. A conifer swamp
located on Wilkinson tract
D) SUGAR MAPLE STANDS
Clearly the most productive from a forest management standpoint,
the sugar maple stand on the southeast end of the property
promises to provide a valuable timber program (Figure 1.6).
Though limited by a lack of high quality sawtimber, selective
thinning could promote regeneration and result in capital gain.
Site conversion to plantation aspen or jack pine could be
Figure 1.6. One of the pure
considered. Also worth considering, is the possibility of
sugar maple stands located on
establishing a working sugar bush for an extractable profit. As
the upland fingers of the tract.
mentioned earlier, thinning of these highland stands may also
benefit wetland discharge, improving these habitats.
1.4
-
E) MIXED CONIFER AND HARDWOODS
Composed of a conglomeration of birch, sugar maple, balsam fir,
ironwood, and white spruce, these sites also offer hope of a
productive harvest regime (Figure 1.7). Though located on
topography somewhat less ideal than the sugar maple stand, these
areas support enough timber to be profitable. As in the sugar
maple, there does not seem to be a prolifery of high value logs, but
cutting could still yield profit and improve the health of the
surrounding forest, eliminating sick and dying intolerant species,
Figure 1.7. The tract also
and providing canopy gaps for sugar maple and balsam fir
contains mixed conifer and
hardwood stands.
persisting in the understory. Much of this area proved to be high
in coarse woody debris and evidence of wildlife was enough to
conclude that this was valuable habitat, offering opportunity to harvest and promote wildlife
goals at the same time. Selective cutting could speed the succession of this stand towards a more
profitable sugar maple operation.
Importantly noted throughout the whole tract, is the opportunity for educational research
and instruction in the dynamics of wetland and forest ecosystems, as well as harvest. Because of
the undisturbed nature of this property, and its unique habitability for various types of wildlife, it
seems well suited for a vast number collegiate purposes, from forest disease, to wetlands, to
soils, to wildlife ecology, to any myriad of programs offered, applied, and implemented. This in
conjunction with a limited though profitable timber operation make this tract an interesting mix
of forestry and ecology, the melding of which will be presented within this report. Thus said, the
following will cover a variety of topics, each worth considering when prescribing management
scenarios. They include:
Chapter two: Cultural heritage. In this section, the cultural and historic land use of the
Wilkinson tract will be addressed, with a focus on those events of particular importance that may
have some effect on the management of the land today.
Chapter three: Social Dimensions. As cultural heritage looks events past on the land, social
dimensions will focus on the values and laws of present day society as they apply to land
management. Of particular importance will be the examination of wetland regulation, sensitive
wildlife and plant species, and inherent values of the land, with emphasis being placed on the
effects these issues might have on management decisions.
Chapter four: Wildlife. In this section, the confirmed and estimated wildlife inhabitants will
be discussed using HSI models and databases to help define indicator species for the area.
Endangered, threatened, and special concern species will be looked at, and possible management
scenarios will be discussed.
Chapter five: Soils and Hydrology. The gradient of substrates present on the land will be
evaluated for productivity and equipment limitations, with brief coverage given to soil formation
and wetland succession. Water sources such as seeps, streams, and ground water will be
1.5
evaluated as to their effects not only on the soils, but the surrounding vegetation and wildlife
speciation as well.
Chapter six: Vegetation. In this section, the understory and overstory vegetation will be
cataloged and assessed for health, timber volume, diversity, eveness, and wildlife factors.
Course woody debris, regeneration, and seedling cover will also be addressed and related to the
possible successional pathways within the tract. Because differing cover types are present within
the area, analysis will be dissected into five different cover types for diversity considerations,
and two different harvestable types.
Chapter seven: Management introduction. Possible management scenarios will be explored
within this section, exploring the merits of regimes based on timber extraction, wildlife, and
research. The dynamic effects of each will be estimated, and possible combinative alternatives
will be considered.
1.6
Chapter 2: Cultural Heritage
Courtesy of Michigan State University
Introduction
The Wilkinson Tract provides a unique look into the history of the region. White pine
logging, slash fires, and hunting camps were part of its past. These activities were, and in some
cases still are, widespread across the Upper Peninsula. By looking closer at what these activities
are, it is easier to see some of the past and its affect on the present state of our tract.
Trail of Deeds
Looking into the deeds at the Baraga County courthouse has given insight into past
ownership. In the past 130 years ownership of the Wilkinson tract has changed hands several
times. In June 1873 the state of Michigan gave the property to the Marquette, Houghton, and
Ontonagon Railroad Company to facilitate the construction of a railroad line running form
Marquette to Ontonagon. The railway that was constructed several years ago is actually located
on a piece of property that is adjacent to the Northern boundary of the Wilkinson tract. Currently
this existing section of railway is no longer in use, and it appears as if the line has been
abandoned for a number of years. It’s very possible that at one time this railway was used in
conjunction with the highly established copper mining industry that once dominated the regions
economy. At the turn of the century railroads played a major role in the transport of copper ore
and ingots, timber, along with a myriad of other things.
Somewhere between 1873 and 1923 the Marquette, Houghton, and Ontonagon Railroad
either sold or gave the Wilkinson property to the Michigan Iron, Land, and Lumber Company of
Iron Mountain. This change in ownership is apparent when viewing the trail of deeds but the
paper work does not document the actual date that the tract changed hands, or whether the
property was bought or donated. In addition, the vague documentation also does not specify the
intentions of the Michigan Iron, Land, and Lumber Company, but given the nature of the
company’s name it’s apparent that the land was most likely going to be used for exploratory
mining and/or timber production.
In March of 1923 ownership of the Wilkinson tract changed hands again from Michigan
Iron, Lumber, and Land to the Ford Motor Company. In this transaction Ford acquired both the
timber and mineral rights to the land. During this era the Ford Motor Company was very
adamant about manufacturing all of their own components used in the production of their
vehicles. The cars that Ford was producing at this time were also highly comprised of wood. It is
not known whether or not Ford actually conducted any harvest operation on the Wilkinson tract;
but it’s quite possible that Ford was interested in shipping timber from this tract along with fiber
from it’s various other land holdings, to lower Michigan where it could be milled into car parts.
Ford held on to the land for 28 years until May of 1951, at which time Albert and Rose
Wilkinson acquired the timber rights for the sum of one dollar. Ford did however, retain the
mineral rights to the land, and not surprisingly so. With property holdings all throughout the
Alberta area, Ford wanted to maintain the connectivity between its lands, and the best way to do
this was by keeping the mineral rights. In the documentation obtained from the Baraga County
Courthouse it is clearly stated on page 480 of liber 61 that the “first party also excepts and
reserves for itself, its successors and assigns, forever, the right to cross said lands with its
2.2
telephone, telegraph, water, gas or oil lines and all necessary drainage and also to cross said
lands at grade with its private roads, logging roads, railroads or skid ways”. At the time when
Albert and Rose Wilkinson acquired what is now deemed “the Wilkinson tract” from Ford Motor
Company they resided in Oak Park, Michigan, which is situated Northeast of Detroit. The motive
for the Wilkinson’s purchasing this rugged and isolated property in the Upper Peninsula of
Michigan while residing hundreds of miles away in Lower Michigan is not clearly known, but
using the land for hunting and outdoor recreation seems to be the safest assumption one can
make. While traveling the road along the eastern property boundary the remnants of an old cabin
can be seen. At one time the Wilkinson family may have used this cabin for weekend getaways
or seasonal hunting trips.
After the death of Albert Wilkinson in 1966 and Rose in 1975, their son Thomas assumed
ownership of the property, and later in 1993 he enrolled the land into the Thomas A. Wilkinson
Revocable Trust. On November 20, 1995 the land was conveyed to the Michigan Tech Fund, and
less than one month later on December 15, 1995 the Wilkinson tract became the property of the
Michigan Technological University. Currently MTU owns the timber rights to the property but
not the mineral rights. When Ford Motor Company acquired the Wilkinson tract in 1923 both the
timber and mineral rights were included in the transaction. Ford held the mineral rights until
September 1994, at which time Kennecott Exploration Company took them over. Presently there
is no documentation stating that MTU owns the mineral rights to the Wilkinson tract.
Native Americans
Baraga County has a main part to do with the history of Native Americans that have lived
in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Baraga’s Ojibwa tribe has been living in the Upper
Peninsula of Michigan for countless years. The map following this discussion, dated 1812,
shows locations of the Ojibwa, Ottawa and Pottawatomie nations that were known to be located
in Michigan (Figure 2.1). The map also shows that the Ojibwa nation is located right on the end
of Keweenaw bay. The Ojibwa tribe is the largest and most powerful of the great lakes tribes.
Proof that the Ojibwa tribe has been near or through the Wilkinson area is shown by the
Reservations and Reserves map (Figure 2.2 and 2.3).
The land that was the Ojibwa’s was taken over by the United States when Henry R.
Schoolcraft, commissioner on the part of the United States, and the chiefs and delegates of the
Ottawa and Chippewa nations met to go over and sign the Treaty of 1836. For the lands that
were received by the United States, the Ojibwa, Ottawa, and Pottawatomie nations, along with a
few others, were and are compensated as article ten, eleven and twelve of the treaty states.
“ARTICLE TENTH. The sum of thirty thousand dollars shall be paid to the chiefs, on the
ratification of this treaty, to be divided agreeably to a schedule hereunto annexed”.
ARTICLE ELEVENTH. The Ottawa’s having consideration for one of their aged chiefs, who is
reduced to poverty, and it being known that he was a firm friend of the American Government,
in that quarter, during the late war, and suffered much in consequence of his sentiments, it is
agreed, that an annuity of one hundred dollars per annum shall be paid to Ningweegon or the
Wing, during his natural life, in money or goods, as he may choose. Another of the chiefs of said
2.3
nation, who attended the treaty of Greenville in 1793, and is now, at a very advanced age,
reduced to extreme want, together with his wife, and the Government being apprized that he has
pleaded a promise of Gen. Wayne, in his behalf, it is agreed that Chusco of Michilimackinac
shall receive an annuity of fifty dollars per annum during his natural life.
ARTICLE TWELFTH. All expenses attending the journeys of the Indians from, and to their
homes, and their visit at the seat of Government, together with the expenses of the treaty,
including a proper quantity of clothing to be given them, will be paid by the United States.
ARTICLE THIRTEENTH. The Indians stipulate for the right of hunting on the lands ceded, with
the other usual privileges of occupancy, until the land is required for settlement
2.4
Figure 2.1. Map of Native American Villages in Michigan after the War of 1812, including Ojibwa settlements
in the upper peninsula.
2.5
Figure 2.2. Ojibwe Anishinaabe Nation ceded lands and reservations.
Figure 2.3. Location of tribal reservations and reserves and their former territories.
2.6
The history of Native Americans that have trekked through, and used the Wilkinson area
for food, travel, and any other need is highly presumed to have happened. However, while
looking at the Wilkinson area there were no signs of Native American travel or use. Though this
is to be expected because of the passing of time, it is obvious that this area has more history than
can be found by just journeying through the area.
Logging
Courtesy of Michigan State University
Figure 2.4. Two men chopping a tree down with axes.
(http://www.geo.msu.edu/geo333/whitepine-logging.html)
White pine logging was a huge
industry across the upper Great Lakes
region in the late nineteenth century.
Timber from the vast virgin pine forests
was used to feed the increasing American
industry. In the winter men ventured into
the forests and felled the trees by hand
with axes and cross cut saws (Figure 2.4).
Using horses or oxen, the logs were
skidded to landings along rivers to wait for
the spring thaws (Figure 2.5). Once the
rivers were open, the logs were floated
down the river to the mills. At the mill, the
logs were sorted and sawed into lumber to
be shipped to Chicago. Logging still takes
place in this region, but technology has
improved the techniques and practices
used.
Huge slash piles littered the landscape from the harvest of these giants. During the
summer these piles dried out to the point of tinder. In the dry summer of 1871 many of these
slash piles disappeared. Unfortunately, they burned in devastating forest fires. The worst
occurred in Northeast Wisconsin where 1.2 million acres were burned and estimates ranging
from 1200 to 1500 people were killed. This single fire dealt an estimated $169 million dollars in
damage and has been called the country’s most devastating forest fire in history. The entire
summer saw some of the worst and most widespread destruction by forest fire ever. Much of
Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin were burned. These fires changed the forest landscape. In
some places the forestland was converted to farmland, while on others the species composition
of the forest saw a change from pine to more aspen and birch.
Road building from logging operations from the past has changed the landscape of the
Wilkinson area. The road that goes from the northern border of section 23, and goes south
through the Wilkinson area, has blocked and changed the direction of what was a stream.
Though the only change is that the stream has backed up into a pond, and has changed the
flowage direction from southwest to northwest, logging has its effect even when the only job is
building the road.
2.7
Courtesy of Michigan State University
Figure 2.5. A horse drawn log sled used to skid the logs to landings along rivers.
(http://www.geo.msu.edu/geo333/whitepine-logging.html)
Recreational Use
Hunting
Hunting for both recreation and sustenance have also been important to the region.
Hunting camps dot the forest landscape. There are remnants of a cabin and outhouse located in
the northern part of the track near the unpaved road. We located a glass bottle on the tract as well
(Figure 2.6). It is thought that it was probably used for pickles or brandied fruit (personal
communication with Patrick Martin, Michigan Technological University).
White-tail deer hunters create a unique subculture related to the experiences gathered at
deer camp. The same family has frequented many of these camps yearly for three or more
generations. People who live in the lower peninsula of Michigan will make the trek each year,
sometimes driving ten or more hours to reach their destination, to a tract of woods in the Upper
Peninsula. They do this to participate in yearly rituals and the occasional right of passage. For
many these rituals include rising early on opening day to get to their spot before dawn, drinking,
playing cards and bonding with friends and family. The rites of passage include the first year
someone is able to hunt and getting that first elusive buck.
2.8
Figure 2.6. A glass bottle found
on the Wilkinson Tract. It
appears manufactured due to
the seams on the side of the
bottle though from an early
process because of the
unevenness and air bubbles in
the glass.
Summary
Many culture and heritage aspects from logging to old Native American tribes that once
used this land make the Wilkinson area a unique piece of land all in its own. From old log decks
to glass bottles, there have been many different people to pass through this area. Though it is
impossible to know exactly who and when, this section showed that many different people have
been through the Wilkinson area for some purpose or another. Of these cultural resources, people
who hunt on the property are likely to have the largest impact on the recommendations for the
tract.
2.9
Chapter 3: Social Dimensions
Introduction
Resource assessment and management must consider legal issues. Laws such as
the Endangered Species Act (ESA), Clean Water Act, and the Water Quality Act have an
impact on decisions as to how the tract will be assessed and what management decisions
will be made. Best Management Practices (BMPs) are also considered when evaluating
management options. These are all guidelines that need to be followed and can help
promote sustainable use of forested land and bring a landowner in compliance with
sustainable forestry practices. This can lead to the achievement of Sustainable Forestry
Initiative (SFI) certification, one of the goals of the SFRES.
Aesthetics
The public is becoming increasingly aware of how management practices look.
Value of wilderness from an aesthetic and ecological standpoint has increased
significantly in recent years. This affects what is acceptable by the public as management
options and almost any management choice will have to be justified. Negative feedback
from the public can hinder many operations. The presence of wildlife in many varieties
also influences management decisions as the public becomes increasingly aware of the
value of seeing these species in their natural environment.
Recreational Activities
MTU land is open to use by the public for recreation similarly to land enrolled
under the Commercial Forest Act (CFA). This includes activities such as hunting, fishing,
snowshoeing and many more. Access to the site is limited to an unnamed and unpaved
road that runs along the property line for a brief space. Otherwise entry to the majority of
the tract is gained by foot. We have observed bear hunters on the tract and the potential
for use by deer hunters is evidenced by a camp that previous owners had built but has
fallen into decay (Figure 3.2). The swamps and marshes provide a wide diversity of plant
and animal life for observance and/or hunting. The observance of moose scat on the
property also lends the site to use by those interested in simply observing wildlife. (As a
note: The figure is currently being difficult and should be moved closer to this portion of
the chapter, but that is going to be addressed at a later time.)
Economics
Tourism, and along with it timber harvesting, is a major industry in the western
Upper Peninsula (UP). Recreational activities are a major draw for tourists. While the
vast forests, if managed properly, can provide a renewable resource for continuous
harvest. Many times these two interests can be integrated into a single management plan.
This, combined with the rich history of the Keweenaw Peninsula, provides a large
attraction to tourists and others who are drawn to the UP in search of recreation.
3.2
Figure 3.1. Remains of a camp on the northeast corner of the Wilkinson
Laws and regulations
Laws and regulations govern the actions of landowners to help protect the
resources and the ecological systems present from exploitation. Compliance with these
rules varies from mandatory to voluntary. Laws like the ESA are mandatory while
participation under the CFA is voluntary. Management options are going to be affected
by both state and federal laws. Some of the more prominent of these are explained below.
Federal Laws
Endangered Species Act of 1973
This was passed in order to protect species in danger of becoming extinct and
their habitat. According to Resource Assessment in Forested Landscapes, this act “makes
it unlawful to take a listed species” (Reed and Mroz, 1997). Section 3 of the ESA defines
take as “harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, and collect, or to
attempt to engage in such conduct” (Reed and Mroz, 1997).
Clean Water Act of 1977 and Water Quality Act of 1987
These acts protect water quality by controlling the actions that can be taken
concerning wetlands and also best management practices, non-point source pollution
control and management practices that could be harmful to water quality (Reed and
Mroz, 1997).
3.3
State Laws
Inland Lakes and Streams Act (P.A. 346) of 1972
This state law governs the activities concerning the activities related to inland
lakes and streams. This includes, “dredging, filling or construction below ordinary high
water mark, interference with natural flows, and installation of permanent and temporary
stream crossings.” (Reed and Mroz, 1997)
Forest Protection and Forest Fires Act (P.A. 329) of 1969
The main focus of this law is regulating “most burning on or adjacent to forest
land” and “prescribed burning”. (Reed and Mroz, 1997) This is an important law to note
considering the possibility of using a cool burn in the black spruce stand to eliminate
dwarf mistletoe inoculum.
Soil Erosion Sedimentation and Control Act (P.A. 347) of 1972
This law is of note because it becomes applicable to activities that change the
topography or natural cover of more than one acre or within 500 feet of a lake or a
stream. (Reed and Mroz, 1997) This would be applicable to the conversion of our
wetlands sites to tamarack via mounding or trenching.
Summary
Finding a socially acceptable management plan involves not only state and federal
regulation, but also taking into account public opinion. Public opinion is not necessary
for management of the tract, but may be good to consider. Finding this solution requires a
knowledge of the applicable regulations and also what the tract is used for be it
recreation, timber management or some combination thereof. There are many factors that
help determine which management option is appropriate for the goals of the owner and
the tract as a whole. Taking all of these into account should provide the best solution
available.
3.4
Chapter 4: Wildlife
Introduction
Essential in the complete evaluation of any given tract of land, is an investigation into the
wildlife that may occupy the area. Though traditionally a look into the abundance and
management of game animals, this assessment has taken new meaning in recent years, with
emphasis being placed on ecosystem health, endangered and threatened species, as well as the
management implications involved with maintaining a game community. To the land manager
this may impose some limitations on the types of timber harvest available, but opens up many
opportunities for synergistic timber, game, and wildlife programs, addressing multiple goals
within the context of the same plan. With this in mind the Wilkinson tract was examined based
on habitat type, community structure, and wildlife evidence, in order to establish the extent of the
wildlife suitability. Special consideration was given to those species listed as endangered,
threatened, or special concern as they carry with them increased harvest limitation, and allow for
more justified habitat improvement plans.
First in this process is a detailed examination of the land. As mentioned previously, the
Wilkinson tract contains a varying topography with active hydrology in the lowland sites. This
produces a gradient of soils and available water that fosters several different habitat communities
within the same, relatively small area. With differing habitat structure comes the possibility of a
diverse wildlife habitation, and therefore provides a number of variables to consider when
designing management regimes.
Methods
Because there are any number of species that could find a niche within this varied
landscape, a list was initially compiled of all those previously observed and recorded within the
area. To this end, a database arranged by Dr. Margaret Gale, James Pelkola, and Kristen Rahn,
of Michigan Tech University, was referenced. Habitat types including northern hardwoods,
cedar, hardwood swamp, conifer swamp, marsh and fen were imputed into a computer program
which then displayed lists of those birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, known to occupy
the areas (tables 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5). It is virtually certain that all of these species do not actually
reside within the Wilkinson tract, only that they could given the broad-spectrum habitat
descriptions. Actual verification of these species in the field is the only error-free method to
properly corroborate these findings, but because time is often a restricting factor, it becomes
necessary to look at a few umbrella species, requiring habitat that adequately covers the range of
the land. These are known as indicator species. By rating the quality of habitat for these
(preferably observed) animals, it then becomes possible to accurately predict the presence of
others. The species chosen for the purposes of this evaluation were the wood duck, white-tailed
deer, pileated woodpecker, black bear, moose, and bald eagle (table 4.1). The ranges of habitat
typified are listed below. Using HSI (Habitat Suitability Models) published by the US Fish and
Wildlife Service, the quality of the specific habitats within the Wilkinson area were properly
evaluated. Though some of these models are ideally applicable to areas other than Baraga
County, they still provide useful information as to the habitat quality within the tract.
4.2
Table 4.1. Management indicator species.
Animal species
common name
Habitat community
Sturnella magna
Wood duck
wetlands/marsh
Odocoilus virginianus
white-tailed deer
mature conifer
Bubo virginianus
pileated woodpecker
mature hardwood
Ursus americanus
black bear
general undisturbed areas
Alces alces
moose
Upland and lowland sites
Results
Habitat Suitability
Wetlands/Marsh: wood duck
Fig. 4.1. Wood duck
The wood duck was selected as an indicator species for the
wetland areas dominated by marshy vegetation, because of their
habit of nesting in wet or dry ground, near or in freshwater
swamps, marshes, bogs, and reedy lakes. Especially important for
this species is the availability of sufficient cover and nesting sites
(snags and stumps). Therefore the following HSI model was
developed to encompass these considerations:
HSI = P1xP2xNT
P1 equals the proportion of observed tree cavities that can be expected to be suitable for nesting
ducks, P2 equals the proportion of cavities that can be expected to produce successful nests, and
NT equals the number of observed tree cavities per acre of suitable land. Using the preestablished proportions established by the USFW, and extrapolating from snag data collected on
site, we get: HSI = .18x.52x 8 = .74. This seems to indicate that the area is rather favorable for
the wood duck, and may be for other wetland species with similar needs such as the blue-winged
teal. Management considerations could include the inclusion of nest boxes to increase suitability
of the property by alleviating the strain of predation in poor nesting sites. Since the wood duck
has been observed on the property, this is good support for the validity of the model, and
encouraging as to the presence of others.
Mature Conifer: white tailed deer.
The white tailed deer was selected as an indicator species for the mature
cedar, and other coniferous stands on the property. It is recognized that
deer use other components of the forest as well, but conifer (especially
cedar and hemlock) provide the essential thermal cover and grazing
components of a deer’s wintering habitat. Deer in the upper peninsula of
Michigan have been observed migrating as far as seventy miles to these
Fig. 4.2. White-tailed deer
4.3
“havens” to wait out the cold snowy months. Taking these factors into consideration, the
following HSI model was constructed:
HSI = SIwf + SItc
SIwf equals the proportion of winter forage, and SItc is the proportion of thermal cover.
Estimating from the vegetation data collected during transect sampling our we get HSI = .40 +
.21 = .61. This seems to indicate that this site is rather favorable for a wintering deer population.
Based on local hunter interview, field sightings, and the abundance of scat in the area, the model
predictions would appear to be accurate. Management considerations might include site
conversion of lowland speckled alder swamps into coniferous areas (black spruce, tamarack) or
the encouragement of cedar regeneration, providing more cover and food for wintering
populations.
Nothern hardwoods: pileated woodpecker.
The pileated woodpecker is an ideal indicator species for this piece of
property because of its favoring of northern harwood and mixed sites,
especially those in proximity to wetlands. Snag density and size is of
special importance, and yields the following equation:
HSI = (V1xV2xV3)1/2
V1 equals the percentage of canopy closure, V2 equals the number of trees
greater than twenty inches dbh per acre, and V3 equals the number and
stumps and logs greater than seven inches in diameter. Taking these
Fig. 4.3. Pileated
factors into account, and referencing with suitability indices, we get HSI =
woodpecker
(1x.6x1)1/2 = .78, indicating a very favorable habitat for the woodpecker.
Other bird species with similar nesting and feeding requirements such as the yellow-bellied sap
sucker, and the downy woodpecker should also be well served by this environment.
Management applications that might improve this habitat could include thinning of the younger
understory timber to allow for a more vigorous growth of larger, more preferable trees. Though
the woodpecker has not been actually witnessed on the property, many of its large holes have
been seen in dead standing snags indicating the persistence of an active population.
Undisturbed areas: black bear.
Traversing a range of community types from wetlands to
hardwood and softwood forests, to open fields, the major
requirements of the black bear are ample food and den.
There are therefore a number of components necessary to
determine the proximity of bear on a tract of land. The first
is springtime food availability given by:
HSI = SIVw
Fig. 4.4. Black bear
4.4
SIVw simply indicates the amount of wetland cover type. Since this particular property is made
up of approximately 2/3 wetland cover, the springtime HSI for black bear is a perfect 1. Summer
and fall time forage is estimated as the number of fruit and nut producing trees in the area, but
since none have been observed we can only conclude that the probability of black bear
occurrence is 0. This shows a window into the limitations of such models as hunter confirmation
and scat signs reveal a current population, and it may be that these bears are scouting the
excellent hibernation possibilities provided by this site. Most likely, bear occupation of this area
is occurring at neither optimal nor dismal conditions, taking advantage of resources rated
somewhere in between. To enhance bear habitat, small clear cuts could be engineered and
populated with berry producing vegetation preferred by these animals. Since the area is
relatively undisturbed, it should be able to support a small community.
Widely mixed habitat: Moose.
Moose is a species of special concern in Baraga County
because of recent efforts to reintroduce populations into the
area. A variety of habitat is needed to support active
populations, making it a good measuring stick as to the quality
of Wilkinson Tract habitat as a whole, encompassing wetland,
conifer, and northern hardwood stands. Because of their large
size and subsequent nutritional demands, it is understood that
moose in the general vicinity will most likely be utilizing
Fig. 4.5. Moose
resources from adjacent properties. The moose requires a number of
different habitats, deriving forage and cover from different forest and
wetland communities depending on the season and availability of food. Of particular importance
are shrub, mature conifer, upland hardwood, and wetland sites modeled by the equation:
HSI = (SIV1 x SIV2 x SIV3 x SIV4)1/4
Siv1 is the percentage of area in shrub or forested cover types, SIV2 is the percent of area in
spruce/fir forest > 20 years old, SIV3 is the percent of area in upland deciduous or mixed forest >
20 years old, and SIV4 is the percent of area in riverine, lacustrine, or palustrine wetlands not
dominated by woody vegetation. Taking these variables into consideration and substituting
known tract data, the equation HSI = (.6 x .75 x .85 x 1)1/4 or HSI = .79. This would seem to
indicate that the Wilkinson tract is favorable habitat for the moose, which agrees with our infield observation of tracks and scat. A number of management practices beneficial to the moose
could be employed to improve habitat even further including some site disturbance and stand
opening to allow for the establishment of pioneer communities frequently browsed by this
animal.
Examination of the previous habitat suitability models tells a mixed story. It seems clear
that those species favoring wetland type habitat are well represented, but in-field observation and
interview seem to contradict some the assertions of the models (particularly black bear). This
readily illustrates the point that the best way to tell if an animal is present, is to actually observe
it in nature. This is not to say that the above information is not important. It gives us insight into
some of the management applications that could be beneficial to various wildlife, and alerts us as
4.5
to the activities of special animals that may need protection. In conjunction with the lists
extrapolated from the cover type database, it becomes possible to predict those species capable
of using this habitat. This becomes a good starting point when considering future management
of this stand.
table 4.2. Possible mammal species located on the Wilkinson tract by habitat type.
Scientific Name
Author
Common Name
Alces alces
L.
Blarina brevicauda
Canis latrans
Canis lupus
Say
Moose
Northern Short-tailed
Shrew
Say
Coyote
L.
Gray Wolf
Southern Red-backed
Vole
Lasiurus cinereus
Lepus americanus
Lynx canadensis
Lynx rufus
Martes americana
Martes pennanti
Microtus
pennsylvanicus
Mus musculus
Mustela erminea
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Common Porcupine
x
x
x
x
x
Shaw
Northern Flying Squirrel
x
x
x
x
LeConte
Silver-haired Bat
Mueller
Palisot de
Beauvios
Red Bat
x
x
x
Clethrionomys gapperi Vigors
Condylura cristata
L.
Erethizon dorsatum
L.
Glaucomys sabrinus
Lasionycteris
noctivagans
Lasiurus borealis
Status northern
conifer hardwood
Code hardwoods marsh/fen swamp swamp
x
x
SC
E
Star-nosed Mole
Hoary Bat
Erxleben
Snowshoe Hare
Kerr
Canadian Lynx
Schreber
Bobcat
Turton
American Marten
Erxleben
Fisher
Ord
Meadow Vole
L.
House Mouse
L.
x
x
x
x
x
x
E
x
x
Napaeozapus insignis
Odocoileus virginianus
Ondatra zibethicus
Pryocon lotor
Miller
Ermine
Northern Bat; Northern
Myotis
Woodland Jumping
Mouse
Zimmerman
White-tailed Deer
L.
Muskrat
L.
Common Raccoon
x
Sciurus carolinensis
Sorex cinereus
Sorex hoyi
Gmelin
Eastern Gray Squirrel
x
Kerr
Masked Shrew
Baird
Pygmy Shrew
x
Synaptomys cooperi
Tamias striatus
Tamiasciurus
hudsonicus
Urocyon
cinereoargenteus
Ursus americanus
Baird
Southern Bog Lemming
L.
Eastern Chipmunk
Erxleben
Zapus hudsonius
Zimmerman
Myotis septentrionalis Trouessart
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Red Squirrel
x
x
x
x
Schreber
Common Gray Fox
Pallas
Black Bear
Meadow Jumping
Mouse
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
4.6
Table 4.3. Possible reptile and amphibian species located on the Wilkinson tract by habitat type.
northern
Scientific Name
Author
Common Name
Status
hardwoods
marsh/fen
conifer
hardwood
swamp
swamp
Ambystoma laterale
Hallowell
Blue-spotted Salamander
x
x
x
Ambystoma maculatum
Shaw
Spotted Salamander
x
x
x
Bufo americanus americanus Holbrook
Eastern American Toad
x
Chelydra serpentina
L.
Snapping Turtle
x
Chrysemys picta belli
Gray
Western Painted Turtle
x
Clemmys insculpta
LeConte
Wood Turtle
Diadophis punctatus
edwardsii
Merrem
Northern Ring-necked
Snake
SC
x
Elaphe vulpina vulpina
Baird & Girard
Western Fox Snake
Hemidactylium scutatum
Temminck &
Schlegel
Four-toed Salamander
x
Hyla chrysoscelis
Cope
Cope's Gray Treefrog
x
Hyla versicolor
LeConte
Eastern Gray Treefrog
x
Notophthalmus viridescens
louisianensis
Wolterstorff
Central Newt
Opheodrys vernalis
Harlan
Smooth Green Snake
x
Plethodon cinereus
Green
Red-backed Salamander
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Pseudacris crucifer crucifer Wied-Neuwied
Northern Spring Peeper
x
Pseudacris crucifer crucifer Wied-Neuwied
Northern Spring Peeper
x
Rana catesbeiana
Shaw
Bullfrog
x
Rana clamitans melanota
Rafinesque
Green Frog
x
Rana palustris
LeConte
Pickerel Frog
x
Rana pipiens
Schreber
Northern Leopard Frog
x
Rana septentrionalis
Baird
Mink Frog
Rana sylvatica
LeConte
Wood Frog
x
Storeria dekayi
x
x
x
x
Holbrook
Brown Snake
x
x
Storeria occipitomaculata
occipitomaculata
Storer
Northern Red-bellied
Snake
x
x
Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis
L.
Eastern Garter Snake
4.7
x
x
Table 4.4. Possible bird species located on the Wilkinson tract by habitat type.
Migration
Status
northern
Scientific Name
Author
Common Name
Pattern
Code
hardwood
Accipiter gentilis
L.
Northern Goshawk
M/N
SC
x
SC
Accipiter striatus
Vieillot
Sharp-shinned Hawk
M
Aegolius acadicus
J. F. Gmelin
Northern Saw-whet Owl
N
Agelaius phoeniceus
L.
Red-winged Blackbird
M
Aix sponsa
L.
Wood Duck
Ammodramus leconteii
Audubon
Anas acuta
marsh/fen
conifer
hardwood
swamp
swamp
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
M
x
x
x
Le Conte's Sparrow
M
x
x
x
L.
Northern Pintail
M
x
x
x
Anas americana
J. F. Gmelin
American Wigeon
M
x
Anas clypeata
L.
Northern Shoveler
M
Anas crecca
L.
Green-winged Teal
M
Anas discors
L.
Blue-winged Teal
M
x
x
x
x
x
x
Anas platyrhynchos
L.
Mallard
N
x
x
x
Anas rubripes
Brewster
American Black Duck
N
x
x
x
Anas strepera
L.
Gadwall
M
x
Asio otus
L.
Long-eared Owl
M
Aythya collaris
Donovan
Ring-necked Duck
M
Bombycilla cedrorum
Vieillot
Cedar Waxwing
M
Botaurus lentiginosus
Rackett
American Bittern
M
Branta canadensis
L.
Canada Goose
M/N
Bubo virginianus
J. F. Gmelin
Great Horned Owl
N
Buteo lineatus
J. F. Gmelin
Red-shouldered Hawk
M
Buteo platypterus
Vieillot
Broad-winged Hawk
M
T
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
SC
x
T
x
Butorides striatus
L.
Green-backed Heron
M
Caprimulgus vociferus
Wilson
Whip-poor-will
M
x
Cardinalis cardinalis
L.
Northern Cardinal
N
x
Carduelis pinus
Wilson
Pine Siskin
N
x
Carpodacus purpureus
J. F. Gmelin
Purple Finch
N/M
x
x
Cathartes aura
L.
Turkey Vulture
M
x
Catharus fuscescens
Stephens
Veery
M
x
Catharus guttatus
Pallas
Hermit Thrush
M
x
Catharus ustulatus
Nuttall
Swainson's Thrush
M
Certhia americana
Bonaparte
Brown Creeper
M
Circus cyaneus
L.
Northern Harrier
M
SC
SC
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Cistothorus palustris
Wilson
Marsh Wren
M
Coccothraustes vespertinus
Cooper
Evening Grosbeak
M
Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Wilson
Black-billed Cuckoo
M
Contopus borealis
Swainson
Olive-sided Flycatcher
M
Contopus virens
L.
Eastern Wood-pewee
M
x
Corvus brachyrhynchos
Brehm
American Crow
N
x
Corvus corax
L.
Common Raven
N
Cyanocitta cristata
L.
Blue Jay
N
x
x
x
x
x
x
Cygnus olor
J. F. Gmelin
Mute Swan
I
Dendragapus canadensis
L.
Spruce Grouse
N
Dendroica caerulescens
J. F. Gmelin
Black-throated Blue Warbler
M
Dendroica coronata
L.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
M
x
Dendroica fusca
Muller
Blackburnian Warbler
M
x
Dendroica magnolia
Wilson
Magnolia Warbler
M
x
x
x
x
Dendroica virens
J. F. Gmelin
Black-throated Green Warbler
M
x
x
x
Dryocopus pileatus
L.
Pileated Woodpecker
N
x
x
x
Empidonax alnorum
Brewster
Alder Flycatcher
M
x
x
Empidonax flaviventris
Baird & Baird
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
M
Empidonax minimus
Baird & Baird
Least Flycatcher
M
Falco columbarius
L.
Merlin
M
Falco sparverius
L.
American Kestrel
M
x
4.8
x
x
x
T
x
Fulica americana
J. F. Gmelin
American Coot
M
x
Gallinago gallinago
L.
Common Snipe
M
x
Geothlypis trichas
L.
Common Yellowthroat
M
x
Grus canadensis
L.
Sandhill Crane
M
x
x
x
x
x
Evidenced Wildlife
The above tables clearly outline the wildlife conceivably
possible within the Wilkinson tract, and those probabilities can be
further weighted towards those individuals that reside in more than
one stand type. Because of the varying habitat structure, a number a
different birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles, could be
adequately served in the area. To supplement these estimations,
field observations have confirmed the presence of species directly
Fig. 4.6. Moose scat.
through sightings, or indirectly through the presence of scat, tracks,
bedding, boroughs, holes, or conversation with local hunters
(Table 4.5). These animals, all of whom appear on the
inclusive tables, were considered when choosing indicator
species and in many cases, were sighted more than once during
sampling. For example, moose scat was seen a number of
times within the tract, mostly residing within the scrub shrub
and conifer lowlands (Figure 4.6). Beaver activity was seen
both in the form of extensive damming, and on felled trees
along a small riparian corridor (Figure 4.7). Pileated
Fig. 4.7. Beaver dam.
woodpecker holes were seen on standing paper birch snags
consistently throughout the property, and were among the most frequently viewed wildlife
evidence on the tract. A number of other species were also evidenced during transect sampling,
further supporting some of the wildlife estimates put forth by the charts above.
Table 4.5. Wildlife observed on the Wilkinson tract.
species name
common name
evidence
Alces alces
moose
scat; tracks
Odocoileus virginianus
white-tailed deer
scat; field sighting
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
red squirrel
field sighting
Ursus americanus
black bear
hunter verification
Castor canadensis
beaver
damming; felled trees
Corvus brachyrhynchos
American crow
field sighting
Cyanocitta cristata
blue jay
field sighting
Dryocopus pileatus
pileated woodpecker
holes in snags
Scolopax minor
American woodcock
field sighting
Anas platyrhync
mallard duck
field sighting
Branta canadensis
canada goose
field sighting
Rana sylvatica
wood frog
field sighting
Chelydra serpentin
snapping turtle
field sighting
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
Because of the nature of the endangered species act, requiring that habitat of sensitive species
remain unmolested, it becomes of particular interest to ascertain whether or not there is an
4.9
occurrence of these species on the property. Taken from the database compiled for possible
speciation, a list of fifteen animals listed as either endangered, threatened, or of special concern
was organized to help assess the probability of sensitive wildlife presence. Though no evidence
of endangered or threatened animals was directly seen on the tract, the presence of moose, a
special concern species, has some interesting ramifications beyond its own management. Gray
wolf, an endangered animal and predator of the moose, was shown to possibly inhabit all
possible stand types. This in conjunction with a healthy white-tail deer population would seem
to indicate that the area could be extremely favorable for the wolf. More extensive research as to
the range of local wolf populations may reveal whether or not the animals are utilizing the
Wilkinson tract currently.
Table 4.6. Possible endangered threatened and special concern wildlife on the Wilkinson tract.
Status
nothern
Scientific name
Common Name
Code
hardwoods
Alces alces
moose
SC
x
Canis lupus
gray wolf
E
x
Lynx canadensis
Lynx
E
Clemmys insculpta
wood turtle
SC
Accipiter gentilis
northern goshawk
SC
Accipiter striatus
sharp-shinned hawk
SC
marsh/fen
conifer
hardwood
swamp
swamp
x
x
x
x
x
Asio otus
long-eared owl
T
Botaurus lentiginosus
American bittern
SC
x
x
x
x
x
Buteo lineatus
red shouldered hawk
T
Circus cyaneus
northern harrier
SC
x
Cistothorus palustris
marsh wren
SC
x
Falco columbarius
merlin
T
x
x
x
x
x
Ixobrychus exilis
least bittern
T
Pandion haliaetus
osprey
T
x
x
Picoides arcticus
black backed woodpecker
SC
x
Summary
The first thing to realize when considering the management of any given piece of land, is that the
landscape, vegetation, and wildlife are inexorably linked. The alteration of any one of these
components can have far reaching effects on the others. That said, it is important to realize that
timber management and wildlife preservation need not be mutually exclusive. Any number of
environmentally selective techniques available to the modern forester or ecologist can provide
not only economically feasible timber harvest, but also improve and sustain conditions optimal
for local wildlife. By running HSI models, referencing databases specific to the area, and
making field observations as to the extent of animal speciation, a land manager can quickly and
efficiently obtain relevant data that can help guide land use decisions. In this way land can be
used and preserved, harvested in the spirit of stewardship.
4.10
Chapter 5: Hydrology and Soils
Introduction
Water is the most important factor in the long-term survival of any living
organism and so understanding its properties, phenomena, and distribution over a tract is
essential to understanding its ecosystem. This is called hydrology and the understanding
of it is essential if one is to properly assess a section of land and successfully implement
management activities. By understanding the factors that contribute to the hydrology
such as the input and drainage of water, soil types, vegetation types and wildlife
disturbance one can better understand how to manage a tract for timber production,
wildlife management, erosion, and development.
The Watershed The Wilkinson tract has various wetland sites that make up a large
portion of its total area (see Figure 5.1)
W ilken son Tract L ocatio n M ap
9#
#
10
#
16
21
#
#
28
1
#
15
#
22
#
12
#
11
#
14
#
23
#
13
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
18
#
24
#
19
#
25
27
0
7#
1
Bara ga_l ak e s.s hp
Lake
Bara ga_s tream _ ln .s hp
Dra in s an d Inte rm it. Strea m s
Ri ve rs a nd Stre am s
Bara ga_ro ad s. shp
Acc e ss R oa d
Rt. 4 1
Stree ts
Co un ty Ro a ds
#
Co rners _m ige o re ff.sh p
Wik e ns on .s hp
Bara ga_s ec tion _ ln. sh p
Sec tio n Lin e
#
Baraga _s ec tion _ num b ers .shp
2 Mile s
N
W
E
S
Figure 5.1. Wilkenson Tract Location and Hydrology Map
5.2
A majority of these are lowland cedar swamps (see Figure 5.2) with heavily
saturated soil but little or no visible water above the surface of the soil. These swamps
most likely form due to the fact that they contain poorly drained soils and are generally
surrounded by steep slopes and focus runoff into them.
Figure 5.2. Cedar Swamp on Wilkenson Tract
We found one site that was a god example of a marsh or wet meadow that was
dominated by grass species and was fed by an underground spring causing the site to be
heavily saturated and exhibit small amounts of pooling (see Figure5.3).
Figure 5.3. Spring fed wet meadow found on Wilkenson Tract
5.3
Nearby be found another kind of discharge wetland called a seep. These are often
found at the base of steep slopes where the groundwater surface intersects with the soil
surface (see Figure 5.4)
Figure 5.4. Seep found in Wilkenson Tract.
There are also two open water swamps on the tract as well. One is formed because
the flow of a small creek was inhibited by a dirt road and the back up caused a large pool
to form (see Figure 5.5). The other open water swamp formed because a small creek was
dammed up by beavers. The abundance of these swamps have a negative impact on
many management practices and make some management options almost impossible.
Figure 5.5. Open water swamp found by road obstructing a small creek
5.4
Importance of Wetlands
Wetlands serve many invaluable services to the ecosystems around them and also
globally. Wetlands positively influence the area around them by influencing regional
water flow regimes. They do this by interrupting storm runoff and storing runoff water
and releasing it back slowly thus protecting the areas from flash flooding and erosion.
Another valuable service wetlands provide is improving the water quality of the tract by
removing toxic material and both organic and inorganic nutrients as water washes over
them. Wetlands accomplish this in one of six ways:
1) Slowing the water velocity of streams or rivers entering them thus allowing
chemicals and other sediments to drop out of the water column.
2) Wetlands promote a high rate of nutrient intake by plants through their high rate
of productivity.
3) The accumulation of peat that causes the absorption and permanent holding of
chemicals
4) A wide diversity of fast acting decomposers to rapidly break down organic and
inorganic materials
5) A variety of anaerobic and aerobic processes that promote the removal of
chemicals from water.
6) The large surface area and relative shallowness of wetlands allows for a large
amount of sediment-water exchanges through contact
Wetlands are also very important on a much larger scale especially due to our
increased output of nitrogen, sulfur and carbon in recent years through industry. Most of
the nitrogen available to plants is produced by groups of plants in the legume family and
by microorganisms that can convert atmospheric nitrogen into forms that plants can use
through a process called nitrification. In recent years we have begun manufacturing forms
of nitrogen that can be utilized by plants in the form of fertilizers. This increase in the
amount of nitrogen can cause serious problems if to much fertilizer runoff ends up in
riparian systems. It can cause the dissolved oxygen levels in the water to drop below the
point that can sustain life creating a dead zone. Wetlands are ideal sites to harbor these
nitrogen fixing microorganisms and therefore are important in returning all this excess
nitrogen back into the atmosphere thus they are important to the world’s nitrogen
balance. Sulfur is another element whose cycling has been sped up by humans through
the burning of fossil fuels into the air. When sulfur is burned it takes the form of sulfates
and become a major component of acid rain thus adding to the lower of pH of lakes and
streams. When this acid rain is washed into wetlands the variety of anaerobic and aerobic
processes reduce the sulfates into sulfides which is then recycled back into the
atmosphere as hydrogen, methyl, and dimethyl sulfides so it speeds up the cycling of
sulfur and keeps aquatic ecosystems from becoming too acidic.
Climate
The Climate of an area is an important part of the hydrology. Climate is related to
the latitude, elevation, and continental weather patterns and affects the temperature and
dictates the precipitation patterns for an area. Temperature primarily governs
5.5
evapotranspiration and can control water levels. Generally precipitation exceeds
evapotranspiration on an annual basis in the region that the Wilkenson tract is found so
the area is dominated with lush forests and wetlands and maybe be prone to flooding
depends on soil types. Table 5.1 shows the average rainfall, snowfall and average
temperature for Alberta over a 24 year period.
Table 5.l. Average precipitation for Alberta
Average Rainfall
Average Snowfall
Month
(inches)
(inches)
Jan
1.64
31.2
Feb
1.42
26
Mar
2.12
23
Apr
2.28
8.9
May
3.75
2.1
June
3.82
0
July
3.67
0
Aug
3.53
0
Sept
4.19
0
Oct
3
4
Nov
3.08
25
Dec
1.9
30.4
Year
34.4
150.6
Average Temperature
(F)
11.3
13.5
24.4
38.9
51.9
60.4
65.8
63.8
55.5
46.1
30.7
17.9
40
The Wilkenson Tract receives on average 34.3 inches of rainfall and 150.6 inches
of snow annually with the wettest month being September for rainfall and January for
snowfall. The annual average temperature was 40 F for the area with the warmest months
being July with an average temperature of 65.8 F and August with 63.8 F .
Soils:
The soil types on this tract can greatly affect the hydrology by dictating things
like water-holding capacity, drainage, permeability, and resistance to erosion. All of
which can affect management decisions. With the help of the Soil Survey of Baraga
County Area we were able to find several soil types on the Wilkinson tract that provide
limitations on management and development options making some applications difficult.
Most of the soils are wet and poorly drained, which can be seen by the amount of wetland
systems on the tract and the high density of obligate and facultative wetland plant
species.
Carbondale and Tacoosh Mucks
These soils are characterized as very poorly drained soils that are subject to ponding in
swamps and depressions. The Carbonate Muck has a surface layer of dark reddish-brown
muck about 8 inches thick. The next horizon is a dark reddish-brown mucky peat and
black muck. Permeability is moderately slow to moderately rapid and ponded. Because of
the wetness of these soils many limitations apply such as limitations on equipment, high
rate of seedling mortality and windthrow hazard.
5.6
Dawson and Greenwood Peats
These poor drained soils are characterized as being in swamps and bogs and are often
subject to ponding. Typically the surface of the Dawson Peat is a layer of peat roughly 4
inches thick followed by 40 inches of brown to reddish-brown muck. Greenwood Peat
typically has a peat layer roughly 10 inches thick followed by 60 inches of brown to
reddish-brown muck. Permeability is slow and the seasonal water table is usually at or
above the soils surface. Due to the wetness of these soils many limitations may apply on
equipment, a high rate of seedling mortality and windthrow hazard.
Histosols and Aquents, ponded
These very pooly drained soils are found in depressions and along steams and the edges
of lakes. The water table is usually above the soils surface for most of the year. These
soils are usually dominated by cattails, reeds, and grasses and provide important habitat
for wetland wildlife.
Amasa cobbly silt loam B,D,E, F
These soils are characterized as well drained soils typically found on slopes. The surface
of the soil is about 1 inch of black partially decomposed forest litter followed by a layer
of reddish-brown to brown roughly 3 inches thick. The subsoil is a 24 inch thick horizon
of reddish-brown friable silt loam. The equipment limitations on this soil are slight
though logging should be avoided in the spring and during other excessive wet periods
due to the fact that roads can be slippery and ruts can form easily when the soil is
saturated. Amasa cobbly silt loam F makes up a very small part of the total soils found on
the Wilkenson Tract but has severe to moderate equipment limitations due to the fact that
is prone to have slopes ranging from 35% to 70 %
Witbeck-Tacoosh complex, very stony
These soils are characterized as being poorly drained and found in depressions and
drainways. Typically the Witbeck soil has a surface layer of stones ranging from 10 to 36
inches in diameter followed by a layer of black muck about 6 inches thick. The
subsurface layer is black silt loam about 4 inches thick with a subsoil of gray mottled fine
sandy loam roughly 11 inches thick. Tacoosh soil has a surface layer of dark reddish
brown muck 8 inches thick. The next 23 inches are a dark reddish brown mucky peat and
black muck. The subsoil is about 60 inches of very dark gray stony silt loam and dark
mottled fine sandy loam.
Though it would be expensive to attempt to correct the seedling mortality rates or
wind throw limitations, the equipment limitations can be bypassed in some areas in which
the ground freezes by logging only in the winter time when the ground is hard making the
any roads and landings constructed more stable or by implementing low pressure ground
equipment.
5.7
Chapter 6: Vegetation
Introduction
Wetland and some upland cover types presenting unique challenges in assessing
the area dominate the stand. The vegetative assessment of the Wilkinson Tract provided a
closer look at the several stands present. There are seven stand cover types present: 1)
scrub/shrub swamps, 2) mineral marshes, 3) conifer swamps, 4) sugar maple stands, 5)
mixed conifer and hardwood 6) northern hardwoods, and 7) conifer stands. The coverage
of these types break down into the following percentages: 23% scrub/shrub swamp, 2%
marsh, 10% cedar swamp, 15% sugar maple and 50% mixed conifer and hardwood.
Utilizing a systematic sampling method of four transects containing 16 plots
running perpendicular to predominant geographical features, a sample was taken of
present vegetation. The plot points were staggered to decrease the chance that several
points would land on the same feature. Each point was five chains apart from the rest.
GPS coordinates were taken at each point to facilitate returning at a later date if
reassessment is deemed desirable. A 10 basal area factor prism was used to determine
which trees were sampled at each point. Species, diameter at breast height (DBH), crown
ratio, total tree height, and merchantable height were collected for each tree. Snags were
counted and recorded by species and DBH. A survey of other ground flora was conducted
to help determine habitat type. Seedlings and saplings were counted on a 1/500th acre plot
and a 1/100th acre plot respectively. Also noted were any signs of wildlife usage of trees
present at each plot. This was recorded photographically.
Forest Health Assessment
Because the assessment of any forest stand would be incomplete without an
examination of the abiotic and biotic stress’s influencing timber condition, health
assessment was integrated into transect sampling. Evidence of pathogenic agents,
excessive browse, and poor site condition was recorded throughout the tract, giving clues
as to the particular maladies responsible for herbaceous and overstory disease. Since a
number of agents can be responsible for reduced vigor, we have separated them into four
different categories: fungi, parasitic plants, insects, and abiotic stress.
Fungi.
Important recyclers within forest communities, fungi are almost entirely responsible for
the breakdown of lignin and cellulose components of wood. Known as decay, this
process can take on one of two forms: 1) decay of dead material, and 2) decay of living
tissue. The first serves an essential function within the nutrient cycle, while the latter
presents management implications both economically and
ecologically.
Fig. 6.1. Trametes
Versicolor.
For those fungi primarily involved in nutrient cycling,
the Wilkinson tract showed healthy diversity, with a host of
fungi dedicated to the breakdown of lignin (white rots), and
others primarily digesting the cellulose (brown rots). Trametes
6.2
versicolor (fig. 6.1), or the turkey tail fungus was observed on many of the downed
hardwoods in the area, as was Ganoderma applanatum (artist’s conk), Fomes
fomentarius (tinder conk, fig.6.2), Ganoderma tsugae (varnish conk), and Piptoporus
betulinas (birch ploypore) (Table 6.1). Brown rots were also observed though in less
prolific variety (Table 6.1). Because of the large amounts
Table 6.1. Saprotrophic fungi found on the Wilkinson tract.
species
common name
rot type
habitat
Fomes fomentarius
tinder conk
white
general hardwoods
Gleophyllum sepiarum
none
brown
conifers
Ganoderma applanatum
artist's conk
white
general hardwoods
Ganoderma tsugae
varnish conk
white
hemlock
Piptoporus betulinas
birch polybore
white
yellow/paper birch
Trametes versicolor
turkey tail
white
general hardwoods
of course woody debris and standing dead on the property,
the vigorous saprotrophic community significantly
improved the site quality by reintegrating nutrients into the
soil, improving cation exchange capacity, and
reducing the understory fuel load. Other
beneficial fungi were seen in the form of
Fig. 6.2. Fomes
mycorrizal sporocarps on the forest floor.
fomentarius.
Mutualists associating with the feeder roots
of trees and herbaceous plants, mycorrhizal fungi gather important
nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, and “trade” these resources for
photosynthetic carbohydrate. A few different varieties were observed
Fig. 6.3. Amanita
during the assessment of this tract, indicating healthy symbiosis
Virosa
between plant and fungus (Table 6.2). Another interesting association was observed
specifically within the speckled alder swamps on root nodules supporting actinorhizae.
Anaerobic nitrogen fixing bacteria of the genus Frankia, these organisms form orangeyellow nodules visible to the naked eye. With the addition of the Russula species found
in the wetland areas, the speckled alder swamps showed cooperative associations with
a number of known mutualists.
Table 6.2. Mycorrhizal fungi found on the Wilkinson
tract.
species
habitat
Amanita virosa
sandy, acid sites.
Cortinarius cotoneus
general hardwoods
Hebeloma crustuliniforme
hardwoods especially birch
Russula lepida
coniferous and broadleaf
Russula emetica
spagnum wetlands
6.3
The fungal relationships within the tract were not all benign. Some fungi were
observed actively parasitizing a variety of trees along a gradient of health. For example,
the heart rot Inonotus obliquus (cinder conk) was observed on a number of otherwise
healthy birches within the stand. By destroying the inner tissue of the tree bole, heart rots
such as this account for one third of all the timber loss in the United States, and a slightly
larger number worldwide. The parasitic canker fungi Hypoxylon mammatum, Eutypella
parasitica, Nectria spp., and Apiosporina morbosa were also observed on trees within the
stand (Table 6.3). Because the Hypoxylon and Inonotus pathogens were observed
primarily on old birch trees weakened by the burgeoning competition of the interior
forest, they were assumed to be manifestations of abiotic stress, not major disease
concerns. Immediate harvest of these individuals may increase their market value, and
allow for more regeneration of understory trees, but worth noting is that these infected
trees are of little risk to the rest of the stand and could be left without worrying about
spreading the infection. Sparse individuals (sugar maple, balsam fir) showed signs of
Eutypella canker and Nectria, exhibiting the flattened trunk malformations typical of the
disease. Ideally, these trees should probably be removed to limit inoculum within the
area, but the frequency of the disease was not such as to warrant wide scale management.
Black knot was also observed on choke cherry, though because of its target specificity,
and subsequent lack of cherry trees on the property, management could be limited to
pruning those few infected individuals.
Table 6.3. Parasitic fungi found on the Wilkison
tract.
species
common name
disease
host type
Apiosporina morbosa
black knot
canker
cherry
Eutypella parasitica
cobra canker
canker
general hardwoods
Hypoxylon mammatum
none
canker
aspen, birch
Inonotus tomentosus
cinder conk
heart rot
birch
Nectria spp.
target canker
canker
general hardwoods
Parasitic plants.
Parasitic plants work in a manner consistent with that of any pathogenic agent.
Unable to produce their own carbohydrate, these heterotrophs steal the nutrients they
need from otherwise healthy trees. On the Wilkinson tract, the observed individual in
this category was dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium pusillum). Obvious because of the
witches brooming it elicits from the host plant, the club like projections of the dwarf
mistletoe were seen on a majority of the black spruce within the area. Upon
establishment of its feeder roots known as “sinkers,” this pathogen can destroy significant
patches of forest, spreading its seed in small eruptions, reaching target trees up to 40
meters away. Because of its ability to rapidly spread, it is generally recommended that
trees infected with dwarf mistletoe be harvested and burned to prevent inoculum
dispersal. Because the majority of black spruce within the tract were heavily infected
with mistletoe, it will probably be necessary to remove these individuals from the stand
while they still have value.
6.4
Insects.
Insects, like fungi, perform a variety of tasks within the ecosystem, and serve as
both pests and recyclers within a forest stand. Though a number of insect pests
(especially beetles) are known within the area, we evidenced little activity within the
surveyed stands, noticing borer holes mostly within the standing dead snags in the sample
area. Some frass was observed around a couple of balsam firs in conjunction with yellow
sap staining, perhaps indicating infection by the balsam bark beetle. Though generally
recognized as a greater problem in the western states, the larvae of these beetles mine the
inner cambium, introducing a blue staining fungus (Tricholoma spp.), and often associate
with the balsam wooly adelgid. No evidence of the adelgid was seen, but must be
considered as a potential threat to the stand as well. Removal and burning of infected
trees is recommended to control areas of wide infection, though it is worth noting that
only one or two trees showed signs of infection. In older birch trees found within the
interior forest, some signs of “muscling” on the tree boles suggested the presence of the
bronze birch borer. “D” shaped exit holes were also seen, further confirming infection by
the flat-headed beetle. Like other bark beetles, this pest has the ability to girdle a tree,
resulting in sudden wilt and eventual death. As with Hypoxylon and Inonotus, infected
trees were located on poor sites, succumbing to the stresses of competition. Management
plans aimed at bettering site conditions for birch, such as stand opening, could help
alleviate this problem, as could the application of various targeted insecticides.
Some insects worth considering as possible threats, but not observed on this site
include the sugar maple borer, forest tent caterpillar, and gypsy moth.
Abiotic stress, competition, and browse.
The majority of trees observed in a sickly condition were experiencing stress due
to factors primarily involved with competition and stress. Because of the active
hydrology and presence of beaver dams and roads, flooded sites yielded standing dead
and dying in quantities much larger than any observed pathogen. Pioneer species such as
aspen and birch tended to show poor health in sites with less available sunlight and were
found to exhibit secondary infection due to reduced vigor. In cedar swamps excessive
deer browse seemed to be limiting regeneration of new individuals. Most of these
problems could be actively managed for, given specific vegetation goals.
Forest health summary. As a whole, the Wilkinson tract showed good vitality,
intermixed with pockets of disease specific to a few populations, especially black spruce
and paper birch. Disease, in moderate amounts, is generally a good influence within the
forest, serving to thin the stand of weak and dying individuals, and promote succession.
However, since these individuals are harboring and spreading disease in amounts that
might be considered excessive, removal of many of these trees is probably the best bet,
yielding profit, and promoting the regeneration of other disease tolerant species. This
could improve the overall health of the stand, and help alleviate the large fuel load
resulting from downed and dead individuals.
Understory community.
6.5
Examination of the understory community within the Wilkinson tract is necessary
to determine not only the habitat types and community composition, but to allow for
glimpses into possible successional scenarios. To this end, a quantitative analysis was
done on the vegetative, regeneration, and seedling communities across the whole tract, as
well as those representational of dominant cover types (table 6.4, fig. 6.4).
Table 6.4. Dominant cover types on the Wilkison tract.
stand type
acres cover %
scrub shrub swamp
37.14
23.21
plots observed
typified by:
8,21,24,30,32,33,35,37,38,40,42,47,52
dominant speckled alder with hydrophytic hardwood and conifer
grassland marsh
5.71
3.57
22,44
dominant FAC wetland grasses and 50% standing water
conifer swamp
28.57
17.86
13,15,18,25,45,48,49,51,55,56
dominant cedar or black spruce with some balsam fir. active hydrology.
sugar maple
17.14
10.71
1,2,3,4,27,28
dominant sugar maple
mixed conifer/harwoods 42.86
26.79
6,7,10,11,14,16,19,20,23,26,31,36,41,43,53
homogeneous blend of birch, maple, balsam, fir, and black spruce.
northern hardwoods
11.43
7.14
5,9,12,54
homogeneous blend of birch, maple, and aspen.
conifer stand
17.14
10.71
17,29,34,39,46,50
dominant black spruce with some balsam fir
total
160.00 100.00
Percent cover types for Wilkinson tract
11%
7%
scrub shrub sw amp
23%
grassland marsh
Scrub Shrub Swamp.
conifer sw amp
Scrub shrub swamp areas showed
the most amount of total cover at
mixed
26%
179 % a number inflated by the
conifer/harw oods
18%
northern hardw oods
predominance of speckled alders,
providing a lower mid stratum of
11%
conifer stand
vegetation not observed in other
cover types (table 6.5). Diversity
Fig. 6.4. Cover percentages.
indexes done at this site showed values of 1.94 which
is relatively low given the number of understory
species recorded, but appropriate when considering the extent to which speckled alder,
sphagnum, and marsh grass dominated these areas. Evenness index results showed
relatively low numbers in relation to the rest of the stand types as well. Percent
understory compostion was
balsam fir
7.54
1.15 0.381.00 0.77
0.46
heavy weighted towards a few
bead lilly
0.15
black ash
0.08
1.38
dominant species (fig. 6.5).
black spruce
0.69
5.38
2.31
blueberry
Most of these areas showed
bracken fern
0.92
brook grass
considerable accumulation of
bunch berry
62.08
23.46
bunchberry
peaty muck, and a
cat tails
cranberry
regeneration consistent with
grass
labrador tea
4.08
that of a stable community.
0.38
lady fern
Speckled alder saplings
marsh fern
0.85
marsh grass
dominated the woody
ostrich fern
23.08
red maple
understory, leading one to
red osier dogw ood
4%
sugar maple
42.69
0.46
1.92
0.380.08
6.6
Fig. 6.5. Percent understory composition for scrub shrub.
sensitive fern
spagnum
speckled alder
w hite cedar
w hite pine
Table. 6.5. Diversity indices
for scrub shrub swamp.
Taxa
24
Individuals
179
Shannon indx
1.948
Equitability
0.613
believe that the successional trend of the community at present
is planar. Continued organic buildup would have to continue for
these areas to support a larger coniferous swamp land
community.
Marshland.
Marshland with significant amounts of standing water and a limited variety of species
showed a moderate diversity with an index rating of 1.99 (table 6.6). This was not
unexpected as this system was almost entirely dominated by various facultative marsh
grasses, with little contribution from other species (fig.6.6). Beaver activity and road
blockage accounted for much of the open water stand types, and therefore show recent
disturbance regimes integral in their creation. Successionally, these areas are in their
infancy as most of the marsh land has been created recently, disturbed by beavers and
man. With further sedimentation, and perhaps the addition of culverts under access
roads, we would expect these communities to move toward a swamp type vegetation
consistent with the rest of the tract.
Table 6.6. Diversity
indices for marshland.
Taxa
12
Individuals
146
Shannon indx
1.992
Equitability
0.8015
1.00
7.50
10.00
1.50
3.50
10.00
7.50
10.00
3.50
10.00
50.00
Conifer Swamp.
30.00
balsam fir
bracken fern
cat tails
grass
marsh grass
moss
red maple
sedge
spagnum
speckled alder
w ild raspberry
w hite cedar
Conifer swamp
understory diversity
rated at 2.08 on Shannon’s Fig. 6.6. Percent understory composition for marshland.
index (table 6.7). Though
a fair number of species seemed to be fairly evenly distributed in these areas, the
dominance of sphagnum clearly outweighed these other considerations. Overall
composition analysis revealed this trend with numbers showing similar distribution, and
relative densities in most species (fig. 6.7). Though black spruce often dominated the
overstory in these communities, understory regeneration showed a preponderance of
other individuals intent on colonizing the area. In particular red maple, balsam fir and
black ash, showed significant recruitment. Because many of the black spruce were
heavily infected with mistletoe, and subject to blowdown, we would expect a community
change in the next few decades. Increased sedimentation seems to be moving these areas
toward a swamp with less dominant hydrology, and more upland speciation.
6.7
Table. 6.7. Diversity indices
for conifer swamp.
2.50
0.50 3.30 0.80
5.204.90
1.10 0.10
0.30
2.70
4.10 0.50
1.00
2.00 3.10
10.20
Taxa
30
Individuals
176
Shannon indx
2.077
0.50
Equitability
0.6107
0.90
5.80
20.50
Sugar Maple.
88.50
6.50
balsam fir
bead lilly
black ash
black spruce
bog laurel
blueberry
bracken fern
bunch berry
bunchberry
choke cherry
cranberry
equisetum
fly honeysuckle
grass
labrador tea
leather leaf
lady fern
lily of the valley
red maple
red osier dogw ood
rush
sedge
Sugar maple stands had
0.102.90
sensitive fern
spagnum
poor understory
1.20
1.00
speckled alder
sugar maple
1.80
diversity and sparse
tamarack
thimble berry
2.60
1.30
species representation
thimbleberry
w hite cedar
0.30
rating a diversity number
of 0.89 (table 6.8).
Dominated by sugar maple Fig. 6.7. Percent understory composition for conifer swamp.
seedlings, some of these
plots exhibited understories composed entirely of the small persistant trees. Little other
vegetation occurred in any of these areas, resulting in a low total number of species, and a
lopsided distribution (fig. 6.8). We would expect this stand type to remain as it is based
on the abundance of sugar maple recruitment in the understory. Though increment coring
reveals that most of the overstory is no older than 60 years, this community has quickly
attained a climax state.
Table 6.8. Diversity
indices for sugar maple.
1.67
Taxa
9
Individuals
80
Shannon indx
0.8957
Equitability
0.4077
0.33
1.33
balsam fir
1.33
6.50
1.67
5.00
0.17
bracken fern
Canada starflower
fern
grass
iron wood
Mixed Conifer and
Hardwoods.
red maple
63.33
solomon's seal
sugar maple
Showing the highest species
Fig. 6.8. Percent understory composition for sugar maple stands.
richness and diversity (table
6.9), the mixed conifer and
hardwood areas showed an impressive ability to support a wide array of vegetation.
Interestingly enough, these areas had the most evidence of wildlife, with the majority of
deer scat and bird excavations found in the mixed forest. The coverage of individual
species was highly variable ranging from less than one to 23 percent (fig. 6.9). Red
maple was common in the understory, showing the most significant recruitment,
evidencing the future composition of this stand. Some sugar maple and balsam fir
6.8
recruitment was also observed indicating that the stand will most likely remained mixed,
though with an increased emphasis on hardwood species.
Table 6.9. Diversity indices for
mixed conifer and hardwood.
0.67
Taxa
27
Individuals
73
0.33
0.67
Shannon indx
2.502
Equitability
0.7591
0.67
0.53
6.80
0.13
4.73
balsam fir
bead lilly
black ash
blueberry
bracken fern
bunch berry
canada starflower
choke cherry
clover
club moss
fly honeysuckle
grass
lady fern
moss
paper birch
red maple
red oak
sedge
sensitive fern
spagnum
speckled alder
spider fern
sugar maple
thimbleberry
trembling aspen
white cedar
yellow birch
0.67
0.07
1.53
0.67
11.07
7.33
Northern Hardwoods.
0.53
0.80
2.07
In the northern
0.13
0.07
hardwood stands
1.33
diversity again went
1.87
7.00
15.60
down as a fair
1.27
2.20
conglomeration of
1.20 0.67
species were unable to
balance out the effects of
Fig. 6.9. Percent understory composition for mixed conifer and hardwood
dominant sugar maple
seedling production in
the understory (table 6.10). Because little contribution to understory diversity was
supplied by the other dominant overstory trees in these stands, the assumption might be
made that these stands are destined to become sugar maple in the near future. Percent
understory composition though evenly distributed between most species, was outweighed
by the sugar maple (fig. 6.10). With the weakening and blowdown of many of the paper
birch and aspen in the area, we would expect sugar maple to eventually dominate the
canopy.
balsam fir
blueberry
3.25
bracken fern
6.25
brook grass
4.25
28.25
bunch berry
0.00
canada starflower
6.75
choke cherry
club moss
1.00
grass
0.50
lady fern
1.50
lily of the valley
paper birch
6.25
7.50
red maple
5.25
2.50
roadside herbaceous
Table 6.10. Diversity indices for
northern hardwoods.
Taxa
15
Individuals
80
Shannon indx
2.217
Equitability
0.8185
Conifer stands.
Because of the
relative even
sugar maple
distribution of
Fig. 6.10. Percent understory composition for northern hardwood stands
seedling germination in the
understory, and an assortment of
nicely distributed vegetation, diversity indices for the conifer stands were relatively high
1.25
1.25
sensitive fern
4.25
6.9
(table 6.11). Though the total number of species present lagged behind some other cover
types, an evenly composed community resulted (fig. 6.11). Also sites of frequent wildlife
observation, these stands seem to be in relative equilibrium. However, given the
mistletoe problem on the black spruce in the area, we would guess that balsam fir will
replace the spruce as the dominant individuals in the overstory.
1.00
5.00 0.67
7.00
1.00
8.33
7.50
1.17
2.17
5.83
5.83
0.33
7.00
10.00
0.83
0.83
5.00
0.83
1.00
1.67
0.83
0.83
0.33
1.33
0.83
balsam fir
black ash
black spruce
blueberry
bracken fern
bunch berry
bunchberry
Canada yew
club moss
cranberry
fly honeysuckle
goldie's wood fern
grass
lady fern
lily of the valley
marsh fern
marsh grass
moss
paper birch
red maple
sedge
sensitive fern
spagnum
speckled alder
yellow star grass
Table 6.11. Diversity
indices for conifer stands.
Taxa
25
Individuals
78
Shannon indx
2.759
Equitability
0.8572
Fig. 6.11. Percent understory composition for conifer stands.
Total.
Overall, the total tract showed greater diversity than any of its individual parts, as would be
expected. Rating out with a diversity index of 1.13, the total sum of the species present made up
for the varying distribution (table 6.12). A look at percent distribution shows a majority of the
cover represented by a few dominant species, with others consistently rounding out the periphery
(fig. 6.12). In the upland sites, successional trends seem to favor the establishment of climax
sugar maple stands, whereas lowland sites seems to be moving toward conifer swamp type cover.
balsam fir
black spruce
bracken fern
bunchberry
Canada yew
clover
equisetum
fly honeysuckle
grasses
leather leaf
marsh fern
mountain maple
red maple
roadside herbaceous
sensitive fern
speckled alder
tamarack
trembling aspen
white pine
Fig. 6.12. Percent understory composition for the Wilkinson tract.
6.10
bead lilly
bog laurel
brook grass
canada starflower
cat tails
club moss
false solomon's seal
goldie's wood fern
Iron wood
lady fern
marsh grass
ostrich fern
red oak
rush
solomon's seal
spider fern
thimble berry
wild raspberry
yellow birch
black ash
blueberry
bunch berry
canadian starflower
choke cherry
cranberry
fern
grass
labrador tea
lily of the valley
moss
paper birch
red osier dogwood
sedge
spagnum
sugar maple
thimbleberry
white cedar
yellow star grass
Table 6.12. Diversity indices for
entire Wilkison tract.
Taxa
46
Individuals
107
Shannon indx
Equitability
2.53
0.6609
Regeneration.
As mentioned briefly in the understory evaluation, regeneration and seedling
establishment provide a window into the direction the stand is proceeding. By evaluating
those individuals making bids for the overstory, the stand can be more adequately
evaluated, and management considerations can be more informed. Regeneration and
seedling numbers were organized in order to get an overview of the successional
pathways occurring within the Wilkinson tract (fig. 6.13). In upland hardwood sites,
sugar maple was the dominant individual in the understory, persisting in levels of light
unsuitable for others. In coniferous areas, balsam fir was the most common individual,
thriving in the low light levels of the closed canopy. In this manner we can see the same
general mechanism at work, that being late successional pathways favoring the shade
tolerant species within the stand (table 6.13).
Seedlings were designated as those individuals with a dbh less than one, and
regeneration was designated as those trees within the sampling area with a dbh greater
than one, but less than four. Species with large amounts of seedling ground cover
generally exhibited proportional regeneration as well.
Table 6.13. Total regeneration and seedlings.
regeneration
seedlings
species
per acre
per acre
balsam fir
183.3
1664.7
black ash
35.7
253.7
black spruce
64.9
438.1
116.8
ironwood
0.0
mountain maple
16.2
58.4
paper birch
16.2
1460.3
8323.5
red maple
42.2
speckled alder
30.8
1577.1
sugar maple
150.9
35776.4
trembling aspen
0.0
43.8
white cedar
3.2
87.6
yellow birch
8.1
73.0
total
551.6
49873.4
6.11
Total regeneration per acre
3.2
balsam fir
8.1
black ash
0.0
black spruce
150.9
ironwood
183.3
mountain maple
paper birch
red maple
speckled alder
30.8
sugar maple
35.7
42.2
16.2
0.0
trembling aspen
white cedar
64.9
yellow birch
16.2
Fig. 6.13. Total regeneration evident on the Wilkinson tract (stems per acre).
Total seedlings per acre
balsam fir
black ash
1664.7
438.1
73.0 253.7
116.8
87.6
58.4
43.8
1460.3
black spruce
ironwood
mountain maple
paper birch
red maple
8323.5
speckled alder
sugar maple
1577.1
trembling aspen
white cedar
35776.4
yellow birch
Fig. 6.14. Total seedling counts for the Wilkinson tract.
Understory Summary. Examination of the Wilkinson tract showed a diverse range of
understory communities varying in accordance with soil saturation and overstory
composition. Because of the extensive range of the area, habitat typing proved to be
imprecise at best and generally unnecessary, as successional pathways were discernable
based on the understory seedling and regeneration data collected above. All in all, a
stable multi-dimensional community was observed capable of sustaining a range of
wildlife and other biota within the ecosystem.
Timber Assessment.
The standing timber makeup of the Wilkinson tract is a fine mosaic of northern
hardwoods intermingled with coniferous species. Slightly higher elevations in the South
6.12
Eastern sector of the property have facilitated a stand dominated by upland hardwood
species, while lower elevations seen throughout the rest of the tract have perpetuated a
forested wetland heavily dominated by conifers. For the purpose of this report, the
isolated 18-acre sector of Northern hardwoods will be designated as Stand 1, and the
remaining 130 acres of mixed conifers will be designated stand 2. Approximately 10
acres of the 160 acres tract encompasses was designated as open wetland. This area has
been subtracted from the value expansion process in order to gain the most representative
results possible.
A prism point cruise was conducted to gain a representative view of the timber
volume for the entire parcel. Initially, the cruise design consisted of 4 transect lines
running due North and South, parallel to the property boundaries with sampling occurring
every 5 chains. However, the highly variable and rugged terrain of the Wilkinson
property ultimately hindered cruise efforts. Theoretically sampling should have been
conducted at 64 individual locations along the transect lines. However, radically
overgrown and impenetrable vegetation coupled with the inability to sample in distinct
wetland areas lead to reduced sampling intensity of 60 points instead of 64. The “Cruise
Sheet” data processing program (Noble 2003) was used to calculate all final values for
both Stands 1 and 2. Detailed data tables regarding trees per acre (TPA), basal area per
acre (BA), along with pulpwood and sawlog volumes can be seen in appendix A.
Stand 1: Northern Hardwoods
The Northern hardwood stand contained a basal area of 96.4 square feet per acre.
Basal area is an important factor when used in conjunction with other stand attributes for
analyzing active tree growth. While using basal area alone without making any reference
to site index and average tree age will not give yield a precise view of the overall picture,
it can be utilized in a discrete fashion to gain insight concerning tree vigor and
productivity. The site index for Stand 1 is 62 for sugar maple, and 70 for all other species
on the tract. Mid-range site index values along with the current basal area value for
Stand1, represent moderate annual growth rates for the standing timber sampled during
the cruise. Figure 6.15 illustrates basal area per acre for Stand 1 broken down by species.
Sugar maple is the dominant species inhabiting the stand, with paper birch and yellow
birch coming in second and third, respectively. There are some relatively large sugar
maples present, but their overall quality is questionable. Most of the merchantable timber
would make grade 2 and 3 saw logs. The frequency of grade 1 saw logs is much lower
than that of number 2’s and 3’s, but in the event of a harvest operation, the proportion of
logs falling within each grade classification may change depending on the logger’s ability
to cut for grade. A well-trained logger is often able to increase the grade of a saw log by
keenly manipulating the placement of defects on the face of the log.
6.13
BASAL AREA PER ACRE BY SPECIES FOR STAND 1.
TOTAL BASAL AREA = 96.4 sq.ft./ac.
2.7
0.9
17.3
Sugar Maple
Red Maple
Yellow Birch
13.6
60.9
0.9
Paper Birch
Black Cherry
Balsam Fir
Figure 6.15. Basal area table for Stand 1.
Management options concerning the paper and yellow birch composition in Stand
1 are geared more towards pulp production, particularly for the paper birch. Disease and
incompatibility with the current successional pattern that Stand 1 is following, is slowly
forcing much of the paper birch population to decline. The previous section on forest
health discuses in greater detail the ramifications of this current situation.
Cruise results for board footage on the merchantable timber for Stand 1 yielded a
value of 3,617.6 board feet per acre. When the per acre values were expanded out to 18
acres for Stand 1, the total existing board-footage was calculated to be 65.18 MBF or
65,117.19 board feet. Figure 6.16 illustrates a proportional view of the per acre boardfootage in Stand 1 on an individual species basis. Sugar maple accounts for the
BOARD FOOT VOLUME BREAKDOWN BY SPECIES FOR STAND
1.
TOTAL VOLUME IN SCRIBNER = 3617.6 bd.ft./ac.
171.1
408.2
Sugar Maple
Yellow Birch
559.6
Paper Birch
Black Cherry
2478.7
Figure 6.16. Board-foot volumes by species on a per acre basis for Stand 1.
majority of the total board foot volume. Paper birch and yellow birch also make up a
small amount of the merchantable timber, but in reality if a harvest were to take place,
many of these trees may be allocated towards pulpwood after the inner quality is
assessed. The occurrence of black cherry in a small number of sample points warrants
6.14
some discussion. This region of the United States is not particularly well known for
producing merchantable black cherry on a large scale. Because of its status as a highly
valuable species, black cherry is often times of considerable interest from a standpoint of
harvest profitability. However, quality is often low in this region.
Pulp volumes on an individual species basis along with total volume were also
calculated for Stand 1, as seen in figure 6.17. During the cruise, pulpwood was estimated
in individual trees that consisted entirely of pulp quality material. In addition, pulp grade
logs in the upper sections of saw-log trees were included. Stand 1 is currently stocked
with an estimated 11.2 cords per acre and a total volume of 201.6 cords for the entire 18acre parcel. The majority of the pulp is coming from the upper portions of the sugar
maple trees, as well as from whole low quality sugar maples. Overall, the quality of the
sugar maple in the stand was highly variable.
PULP VOLUME BREAKDOWN BY SPECIES FOR STAND 1.
TOTAL VOLUME = 11.2 cords/ac.
0.2 0.1
2.4
Sugar Maple
Red Maple
Yellow Birch
Paper Birch
6.5
1.8
Black Cherry
Balsam Fir
0.2
Figure 6.17. Pulp volumes by species for Stand 1 on a per acre basis.
Other components such as trees per acre (TPA) and diameter distribution were also
calculated using the Cruise Sheet program. These values may be useful when timber
size and species frequency are of interest. Figure 6.18 illustrates the number of trees
per acre by diameter and species. The diameter distribution graph includes only
merchantable trees, and does not include any data for trees with diameters less than
4 inches.
6.15
DIAMETER DISTRIBUTION BY SPECIES FOR STAND 1.
40.0
TREES PER ACRE
35.0
Balsam Fir
30.0
Black Cherry
25.0
Paper Birch
20.0
Yellow Birch
15.0
Red Maple
10.0
Sugar Maple
5.0
0.0
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
DIAMETER
Figure 6.18. Diameter distribution for Stand 1.
Stand 2: Mixed Conifers
Stand 2 is dominated by mixed conifers with some hardwoods sparsely
intermingled throughout the canopy and understory. The majority of the land area in
this 130-acre stand is technically classified as forested-wetland. Because of this,
harvest operations would be severely limited after implementing buffer strips
around open water. Harvesting in this stand would require close adherence to Best
Management Practices. Accessibility may also limit operations. Nonetheless, a
large amount of timber volume is present in Stand 2.
The basal area value for Stand 2 calculated with the Cruise Sheet program is
currently estimated at 63 square feet per acre. While this number alone does reside a
bit on the lower end of the scale, it does not suggest that Stand 2 is poorly stocked.
In fact Stand 2 is a dense forest of small diameter trees. The low basal area is
largely due to the low probability of sampling small DBH trees with point
sampling. Also, small trees contain very little basal area. During the sampling
process many of the trees that were found to fall within the sampling area and/or
near point center had less than 4-inch diameters; consequentially they were not
tallied. The basal area projections seen in Figure 6.19 only include merchantable
trees with diameters larger than 4 inches. If provisions were made to include the
nonmerchantable trees, the values for basal area per acre and the number of trees
per acre, would definitely increase. However, the whole underlying purpose of the
cruise design was to assess the merchantable volume within the boundaries of Stand
2 not the entire volume.
6.16
BASAL AREA BY SPECIES FOR STAND 2
TOTAL BASAL AREA = 63.0 sq.ft./ac.
1.6
Sugar Maple
2.9 1.3
2.1
Red Maple
Paper Birch
10.7
Yellow Birch
0.5
21.4
Aspen
Black Ash
1.4
White Spruce
1.1
3.0
Black Spruce
Blsam Fir
White Pine
White Ceader
17.0
Figure 6.19. Basal area per acre broken down by species.
A total board-foot value for Stand 2 was also calculated using the Cruise
Sheet program. Stand 2 is currently stocked with approximately 398.7 board feet
per acre. When the per acre values were expanded out to 130 acres, the total
existing board-footage was calculated to be 51.8 MBF or 51,829 board feet. Figure
6.20 illustrates a proportional view of the per acre board-footage in Stand 2 on an
individual species basis.
BOARD FOOT VOLUME BROKEN DOWN BY SPECIES FOR
STAND 2
TOTAL VOLUME IN SCRIBNER = 398.7 bd.ft./ac.
26.0
38.3
72.7
234.8
13.7
13.1
Sugar Maple
Red Maple
Paper Birch
Yellow Birch
Aspen
Black Ash
White Spruce
Black Spruce
Blsam Fir
White Pine
White Ceader
Figure 6.20. Board-foot volumes by species on a per acre basis for Stand2.
The species composition of Stand 2 is much more diverse than that of Stand
1. As illustrated in the previous graph, white pine currently has the largest
proportion of merchantable board feet out of any other species in Stand 2. Likewise,
paper birch is once again producing a larger amount of volume than most of the
other species.
Pulpwood values for Stand 2 were formulated with the aid of the Cruise
Sheet program; and it appears that the pulpwood projections are in a suitable range
based upon the numerical output, coupled with the assessment of the actual physical
6.17
appearance of the stand while conducting the cruise. The bulk of the pulpwood is
comprised of black spruce, balsam fir, and paper birch as seen in Figure 6.21.
PULP VOLUME BREAKDOWN BY SPECIES FOR STAND 2.
TOTAL VOLUME = 9.5 cords/ac.
0.1
0.5
0.1 0.2
1.7
0.0
3.1
0.3
0.1
0.6
Sugar Maple
Red Maple
Paper Birch
Yellow Birch
Aspen
Black Ash
White Spruce
Black Spruce
Blsam Fir
White Pine
White Ceader
2.7
Figure 6.21. Pulp volumes by species for Stand 1 on a per acre basis.
Balsam fir and black spruce are also the two most commonly occurring species on
the tract, yet the average diameters of these three particular species are particularly
low as seen in the Figure 6.22. The diameter distribution graph illustrates a
predominantly even-aged stand with some scattered residuals that have survived the
last major disturbance.
DIAMETER DISTRIBUTION BY SPECIE FOR STAND 2.
45.0
White Ceader
White Pine
Balsam Fir
Black Spruce
White Spruce
Black Ash
Aspen
Yellow Birch
Paper Birch
Red Maple
Sugar Maple
TREES PER ACRE
40.0
35.0
30.0
25.0
20.0
15.0
10.0
5.0
0.0
5
6
7
8
9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
DIAMETER
Figure 6.22. Diameter distribution for Stand 2.
Tables 6.14, 6.15, 6.16, 6.17, and 6.18 represent monetary values calculated for saw
timber and pulpwood for both Stands 1 and 2. Stumpage values were obtained from
the Average Stumpage Price Report published by the Michigan DNR Forest,
Mineral, and Fire Management Timber Sale System (MDNR 2003). The prices
displayed in the stumpage report represent a compilation of prices for various
species throughout the entire state of Michigan.
6.18
Table 6.14. Monetary value of sawlogs in Stand 1.
STAND 1 SAWLOG VALUES
Species
$ per 1000
Total bd. Ft.
Sugar Maple
472.73
44617.4
Paper Birch
83.27
7347.3
Yellow Birch
273.98
10072.2
MBF
44.62
7.35
10.07
Total $
21092.00
611.81
2759.57
Black Cherry
Totals
3.08
65.1
520.50
$24,983.9
168.98
3080.3
65117.2
Table 6.15. Monetary value of pulpwood in Stand 1.
Species
Sugar Maple
Red Maple
Paper Birch
Yellow Birch
Black Cherry
Balsam Fir
Totals
STAND 1 PULPWOOD VALUES
$ per cord
Total cords
10.13
116.5
19.72
3.3
6.1
32.7
5.62
43.9
7.63
3.0
22.66
2.2
201.6
Table 6.16. Monetary value of sawlogs in Stand 2.
STAND 2 SAWLOG VALUES
Species
$ per 1000
Total bd. Ft.
Sugar Maple
472.73
3374.74
Red Maple
107.73
4984.48
Paper Birch
83.27
9455.78
Yellow Birch
273.98
1786.34
Black Ash
62.68
1704.34
White Pine
158.26
30523.44
Totals
51829.13
MBF
58.24
1.67
16.37
21.93
1.51
1.10
100.8
Total $
1179.92
65.79
199.76
246.46
23.03
49.84
$1,764.8
MBF
3.37
4.98
9.46
1.79
1.70
30.52
51.83
Total $
1595.34
536.98
787.38
489.42
106.83
4830.64
$8346.59
Table 6.17. Monetary value of pulpwood in Stand 2.
STAND 2 PULPWOOD VALUES
Species
$ per cord
Total cords
MBF
Total $
Sugar Maple
Red Maple
Paper Birch
Yellow Birch
Aspen
Black Ash
White Spruce
Black Spruce
Balsam Fir
White Pine
White Ceader
Totals
10.13
19.72
6.10
5.62
16.96
8.19
25.77
26.32
22.66
21.88
25.00
17.21
29.15
222.65
6.11
43.17
12.62
75.43
352.97
401.27
8.60
59.64
1228.8
8.61
14.58
111.33
3.05
21.59
6.31
37.72
176.49
200.63
4.30
29.82
614.4
174.34
574.85
1358.17
34.33
732.21
103.33
1943.91
9290.21
9092.71
188.11
1491.10
$24,983.3
6.19
Table 6.18. Total value for Stands 1 and 2.
TOTAL STAND VALUE
Stand 1
Sawlogs
$24,983.89
Pulpwood
$1,764.79
Subtotals
$26,748.68
Total
Stand 2
$8,346.59
$24,983.26
$33,329.86
$60,078.5
Table 6.19. Volume by grade for Stands 1 and 2.
VOLUME BY GRADE
Stand 1
L1
11069.92
L2
13023.44
L3
41023.83
Total Bd. Ft.
65117.19
Stand 2
7198.49
21595.47
23035.17
51829.13
Over all it appears as if harvest operations and/or distinct silvicultural practices
conducted within Stand 1 would be economically feasible. Currently, the timber within
Stand 1 is worth approximately $26,748.68, as seen in table 6.18. Moreover, Stand 1 also
contains enough volume to host a moderate timber sale. Table 6.18 also provides
monetary values for Stand 2. While it may seem that a harvest operation in Stand 2 would
be reasonable, there is one underlying problem, and that is inaccessibility. Given the fact
that Stand 2 of the Wilkinson tract would be more popularly characterized as a forested
wetland, harvest operations are extremely limited even during the winter months.
Nonetheless, timber and pulpwood volumes are high enough to warrant a feasible timber
sale.
All in all, the timber assessment of the Wilkinson tract has yielded some
interesting results. While harvesting operations may not produce large amounts of
revenue, they could provide the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science
with a chance to make money, while educating undergraduate forestry students in the
mechanics of timber harvesting. Further discussion of silvicultural and harvest options
along with the ramifications of implementing these prescriptions will be discussed later in
the forest management chapter.
6.20
Chapter 7: Management Overview
Management
As mentioned previously, the Wilkinson tract contains a large variety of cover types
ranging along a gradient of hydrology from mesic to hydric. Add to this a varying
topography and some relevant stand altering biotic agents such as beaver and mistletoe,
and we are presented with a fairly complex system, with little obvious management
regime appropriate for the entire stand. Fortunately, ownership by MTU allows for some
flexibility, as the school’s management goals provide for a myriad of activities beyond
that of strict harvest. To reiterate, these goals are as follows:
1) to promote the research and educational goals of the SFRES
2) to provide revenue to cover educational and Ford Center costs
3) to attain SFI certification
4) to provide demonstrations of forest and wildland management practices to
facilitate public education and understanding.
5) to abide by all relevant laws and regulations
These allow for management based on site characteristics, and do not require the
implementation of prefabricated programs crudely tailored to fit. The purpose and
challenge of this section is to outline a variety of possible uses for the land, while
allowing that an integration of several objectives will most likely be the most feasible
solution. To this end, the site will be evaluated for harvest potential, and wildlife
perpetuation and improvement, while considering educational and research potential that
well may be the ultimate fate of this land.
Timber Harvest and Sustainable Forestry.
Upland hardwoods. From the vegetation analysis it is clear that certain areas of the
Wilkinson plot are more suitable for timber harvest than others. Upland sugar maple and
northern hardwood stands on the east quarter of the property currently produce moderate
amounts of pulpwood and saw timber. Because these areas are the most accessible on the
tract, falling within reasonable distance of the preexisting road, extraction of product
could be done with minimal interference to the surrounding environment. Not subject to
the extreme topographical changes or the lowland hydrology of the west side, equipment
limitations would be minimal. With this in mind, one option to consider would involve a
selective harvest to promote sugar maple growth and health. Since many of the paper
birch in these areas showed some manifestations of disease as a result of shade
intolerance and root competition, it would be beneficial to remove these individuals
immediately, yielding a moderate pulp profit. This would also open the stand to
persisting sugar maple regeneration, and promote the vigor of the current overstory sugar
maple population, aiding in the succession of the stand toward a more climax state,
yielding a higher volume of more profitable timber. This is not to say that a successional
shift forward would yield the most fiscally sound results. Also worth considering is the
benefit of selective clear cuts, harvesting all the logs in some of the hardwood stand for
both pulp and saw timber, and then re-establishing with fast growing pioneer species such
as trembling aspen and paper birch. Providing immediate financial gain relevant to the
7.2
implementation of other projects, and establishing a pulp operation harvestable in the
future, an intensive harvest does provide certain benefits.
Another option available on the sugar maple sites is the establishment of a
working sugar bush operation. Though generally considered less invasive than a logging
operation. It is worth noting that the initial management for this activity would most
likely mimic that of the selective timber harvest. Like any other managed forest, other
nonessential individuals such as paper birch would be harvested in order to provide extra
resources for “crop trees.” Because sap sugar varies between trees, it would become
important to measure these quantities in order to accurately weed out those less essential
individuals in the first cut. Whether or not it would be feasible to establish a working
“sugar shack” on the property, or instead export the sap for processing are some other
considerations involved with this type of operation. Equipment limitations for this area
based on soil composition are not a major concern, but are listed below as described by
the Baraga County Soils report:
table 1. Upland harvest equipment limitations.
ratings for most limiting seasons
Logging areas
soil type
and skid roads
Landings
rating for preferred operating season(s).
Logging
preferred
Logging areas
roads
season(s)
and skid roads
Landings
roads.
winter
moderate:
severe:
moderate:
Carbondale severe: wetness; severe: wetness; severe: wetness;
Amasa
low strength.
low strength
low strength
slight:
severe:
slight:
low strength
year round
slight:
slope
Channing
Logging
low strength low strength
severe:
slight:
slope
severe:
severe:
severe:
summer
moderate:
moderate:
moderate:
wetness
wetness
wetness
winter
stones
stones
stones
Though intimidating looking in the Carbondale and Channing series, it is important to
note that the vast majority of this area is composed of the Amasa series, which are readily
harvestable with little restriction.
Lowland Conifer and Hardwoods. Site restrictions on these portions of the tract
include slope limitations and active hydrology that make extraction of material an
important concern. Much of this area would require extensive road building to traverse
across difficult topography and wetland soils. Also worth noting, is that a number of
harvest restrictions may exist on these wetland sites forbidding modification in ways that
may affect water quality and wildlife habitat. Section 404 of the Clean Water Act usually
requires that a permit be obtained from the Army Corps of Engineers before alteration of
a wetland area can take place. Exemptions for forestry related activities exist if the
project fits one of the following conditions:
7.3
1. It is not part of an activity whose purpose is to convert a wetland into an upland
where the flow or circulation of the waters of the United States may be impaired
or the reach of waters reduced; and
2. It is part of an established (i.e. ongoing) silvicultural, farming or ranching
operation and not a new use to which the wetland was not previously subject.
3. It uses “normal” silvicultural, farming, or ranching activities which are in
compliance with federal BMP’s;
4. It has not lain idle for so long that hydrological modifications will be necessary to
resume operations; and
5. It does not contain any toxic pollutant listed under Section 307 of the Clean Water
Act.
Given this area was logged in the past, it is incumbent to prove that this could be
considered an established operation. “Established” in this sense need not mean that the
operations on the Wilkinson tract be extensive. Guidelines listed as to the qualifications
necessary to be considered in this category are as follows:
1. a history of harvesting with either natural or artificial regeneration;
2. a history of fire, insect and disease control to protect maturing timber; and
3. the presence of stumps, logging roads, landings or other indications of established
silvicultural operations that will continue on the site.
Again, past management does not have to be extensive, and new operations that would
intensify silvicultural practices are considered part of the regular rotation of an
established routine. Because the project area does have evidence, both physical and
documented, detailing the above characteristics. Wetland silivicultural practice should be
exempt from the permit requirements of the Corps of Engineers. This is not to say that
any number of guidelines doesn’t still apply to a harvest regime in this area, and it is
imperative that BMP’s for wetland and riparian harvest are considered. Because one of
the Universities goals is to be SFI certified, the following are those BMP’s most likely to
be considered in the lowland sites:
Road Location and Design
Roads and trails should be located where soil disturbance and water crossings
will be minimized.
Where feasible, roads should be constructed with a slight grade of 1 to 2%;
slopes greater than 10% should be avoided, and slopes greater than 5% should
be avoided on erodible soils.
Adequate cross drains should be provided when wetland crossings cannot be
avoided, to ensure that both surface and subsurface water is equalized on both
sides of the road.
Roads should be located away from lakes, ponds, creeks, and low areas to
maximize filter areas and minimize siltation potential or alteration of soil
drainage.
Water crossings on streams should be in a straight stretch of the channel and as
close to a 90-degree angle to the streambed as possible.
Water crossing locations should be chosen where the streambank is most
cohesive and where the approaching road will have a low slope in order to
minimize disturbance of the streambank.
7.4
If the road has a long slope to the crossing, broad-based dips should be used to
keep overland flow from depositing sediment directly into the stream.
Road Construction
Surfacing the road in the vicinity of a stream should be considered if it is
anticipated that sediment cannot be controlled by broad-based dips or open
topped culverts.
Crossings should be designed to accommodate 25 to 50 year flood frequency to
minimize the possibility of washouts.
Construction should be done in periods of low flow.
Treated wood used at crossings should not contain excessive surface chemicals
or oils when installed
Road Maintenance
Roads that are not closed to public vehicular traffic should be maintained
Clean debris and windfalls from roadside drainage ditches prior to periods of
height flow.
Minimize traffic roads during the spring runoff period and other wet periods to
avoid excessive road damage.
Roads that are open for use should be inspected regularly to make sure that
erosion control features are not compromised.
Repairs should be made as soon as feasible. These may include grading, to fill
ruts that can channel water, and minimizing berms along the edges of roads that
can trap water on a road and impede normal drainage.
Low-volume roads should have waterbars installed on slopes and be closed with
a berm, where feasible, to minimize damage from recreational vehicles and
maintenance costs.
Timber Harvesting
Skid trails should always be designated to be on the highest and driest ground,
avoiding wet areas.
Use as few skid trails as possible to minimize widespread disturbance and keep
skid trail slopes less than 10%.
Skid trails should cross-streams only at designated areas, usually where a
crossing with a bridge or culvert has been installed.
Avoid skidding in riparian areas; if trees are cut in riparian zones, logs should be
winched out to minimize disturbance to soil.
(Recourse Assessment In Forested
Landscapes 1997)
As mentioned earlier in the health section of this report, lowland Black Spruce in
this area are heavily infected with mistletoe, holding little hope of producing a successful
timber operation. With this in mind, it could be reasonably proposed that all black spruce
within these areas showing signs of the disease be immediately harvested, in conjunction
with a cool burn to rid the area of innoculum. Though the parasite can be removed from
lightly infected trees by an intensive pruning regime, the severity of the stand infection,
and the desired harvest routine call for more intensive action. This fits in nicely with a
site conversion operation. Though section 404 clearly states that no action that causes a
shift from wetland to upland soils be taken, it also states that land clearing and species
composition change as the result of a timber operation are permissible. To this end, the
7.5
speckled alder and lowland conifer swamps could be converted into a tamarack
plantation. Already present on the site, though not in extensive quantity, tamarack should
grow well in these areas, and is immune from the ravages of mistletoe. Some bedding, or
the construction of earthen mounds resulting in “beds” and furrows, would be necessary
to allow for initial seedling development, and is exempt from 404 permit requirements if
the following conditions exist:
1. The bedding does not result in the gradual or immediate conversion of a wetland
to an upland as a consequence of impairing the flow or circulation or reducing the
reach of the waters of the United States; and
2. It is performed as part of an established, ongoing silvicultural operation.
Because this activity would take place within a saturated site, it is important that harvest
precautions are taken in order to minimize the affects of rutting, puddling, and
compaction. Most management would therefore have to be seasonally limited to winter
months while the ground is frozen and more immune to the invasive qualities of this type
of conversion. The Baraga County Soils Survey outlines the equipment limitations in this
area as follows:
table 2. Tamarack conversion equipment limitations.
ratings for most limiting season(s)
Logging areas
ratings for preferred operating season(s).
Logging
preferred
Logging areas
and skid roads
soil type
and skid roads
Landings
roads
season(s)
Carbondale
severe: wetness;
severe: wetness;
severe: wetness;
winter
low strength.
low strength
low strength
slight:
severe:
slight:
Amasa
slope
moderate:
low strength
year round
slight:
Logging
Landings
roads.
severe:
moderate:
low strength low strength
severe:
slope
These conditions would hold true for any operation (conversion or not) within the
lowland sites of the Wilkinson tract. Making less intensive regimes undesirable given the
costs and restrictions on road building, landings, and skid roads. Since the majority of
the soils here fall within the Carbondale category, winter time management is clearly the
only environmentally sound option.
As with all land management, an important option to consider is that of no action
especially in the lowland areas. The merits of the tract as a wildlife refuge and
educational facility may outweigh the intensive efforts necessary to make a profitable
timber operation.
Wildlife.
The wildlife potential on this piece of land is rather extraordinary given the abundance of
course woody debris, snags, wetland, and open edge cuts assimilating the needs of many
7.6
slight:
interior, edge, and water dependent species. Especially relevant in this discussion is the
role of beavers along the small riparian corridor running west southwest through the
middle of the tract. Because removal of beaver dams is exempt from wetland
modification considerations under section 404. There exists the possibility of dam
removal, thus opening up extra bottomland for timber development. This might have a
devastating affect on much of the resident wildlife, especially waterfowl, turtles and
amphibious organisms depending on beaver ponds for they’re various habitat
requirements. Most of the open standing water on this property can be directly attributed
to beaver modification with four dams having been counted resulting in a number of
acres of open water marsh. These areas benefit most of the wildlife community, and in
particular, raise the suitability of the landscape for moose populations. Since moose have
been recently introduced into the area, and evidenced on the property via scat
identification, it would seem that moose find this area desirable in some form. Various
disturbance regimes could obviously change the suitability of the tract in a number of
ways, some positive and some negative. Upland selective harvest could actually improve
moose habitat by reducing transpirational loss and increasing water tables. This could
expand the marsh lands and favored wallowing holes, providing better summer habitat
for moose populations.
Since management practices can have different affects on different species, it is
important to note that some needs are mutually exclusive of others. Site conversion to
tamarack on the lowland sites for example, would have the short-term affect of
eliminating lowland browse significantly, and would have to be monitored to discourage
excessive consumption of seedlings. This would no doubt affect the moose population
poorly for a time until seedlings had matured enough to replace the biomass lost with
initial clearing. Bear populations, generally reticent towards any human disturbance
would most likely avoid the area if intensive timber operations where to proceed, though
certain forestry related elements could improve their numbers. In the scenario of the
upland clear cuts, bear populations could improve based on more available forage. If
proactive measures where taken to seed these areas with berry and nut producing
vegetation, populations may improve significantly. Since bear habitat suitability indices
for the great lakes region are based on inadequate information on summer time forage,
more research would have to be done to adequately accommodate black bear into a
management regime.
Habitat improvements for any wildlife population would have to be done while
considering how an increase of one animal would have a negative interaction on another.
Generally, endangered and threatened species have gained priority in this matter, though
management for game animals is still widely practiced and remains a viable alternative.
Evidence of endangered animals has not been seen on the Wilkinson tract, though this
does not eliminate the possibility of habitation. Special concern and threatened species
such as moose and gray wolf are legitimate target species, but within a tract of only 160
acres, cooperation with outside landowners would be necessary to adequately sustain and
protect their numbers. Because Michigan Tech owns this site, there also exists the
possibility of release programs to increase wildlife diversity, and possibly bolster the
populations of several target species. Moreover, population studies could (and probably
7.7
should) be more extensively investigated throughout the area. As of now, the area
supports a rather diverse community of individuals. Their perpetuation depends on the
management decisions, be they proactive or sedentary, enacted by Michigan Tech.
Research and educational goals.
As an outdoor classroom, this property excels particularly as a wetlands research
and instructional laboratory. Because it displays examples of fens, swamps, and marshes
showing gradients of succession within all of these systems, it is an ideal educational
ground not only for preliminary wetlands examination, but for advanced as well. This is
not to say that upland sites contain little academic merit. Sugar maple, mixed, and
conifer stands show excellent examples of northern Michigan speciation, both overstory
and understory, showing a range of various fungi and disease causing agents. Wildlife
education could be equally well implemented on this tract and the range of topography
could lead to interesting discussions on landscape ecology, geology, and glaciation.
Research opportunities could range in almost infinite diversity depending on what stand
altering characteristics were permissible, and what studies were deemed inherently
important. As with wildlife and timber harvest, some research possibilities include the
goals of another genre, while excluding those of others. For example, tamarack
regeneration rates under the conditions presented in the lowlands could lead to valuable
information on site conversion, as well as provide a harvestable product. The wildlife
concerns associated with this type of practice have been previously addressed.
To properly facilitate these goals, construction of nature trails and possibly
research facilities could enhance the value of this property. Allowing for easier access
into the low land swamps, providing controlled areas to conduct experiments, and to
alleviate the stress of excessive compaction and disturbance by human wanderers.
Interactive displays on board walks and trails could highlight speciation, landform,
wetland type, and hydrology, while leaving the area pristine enough to allow normal use
by wildlife.
Summary
Because this property is suitable for a number of applications, it is difficult to
point to one best management application encompassing the range of possible uses.
Extensive discussion will need to be implemented to decide what the ultimate goals of the
school are beyond the general guidelines outlined above. With a clearer understanding as
to where emphasis should be placed, dynamic management plans can be derived within
the context of all three goals. Clear within the scope of this management investigation is
that the Wilkinson tract holds opportunities for all, no matter their inclination.
7.8
Chapter 8: Management Option 1
Harvesting Mechanics:
The objective of management option number 1 is to produce a multiple cohort
sugar maple stand, through the implementation of a shelterwood cut with reserves. In
conjunction with the shelterwood harvest, a sanitation cut will also be conducted on the
existing paper birch and balsam fir, in order to combat the spread of mistletoe and tinder
conk infection that is already prevalent in Stand 1. The purpose for implementing a
shelterwood cut in Stand 1 is to remove a large portion of the low quality unproductive
growing stock, while simultaneously furthering the advancement of established sugar
maple saplings, and promoting the germination of new sugar maple seedlings. During the
primary operations, harvesting will be done evenly throughout all size classes. The
resulting shelter will appear more as mosaic of different tree cohorts with varying
heights, rather than a layer of vegetation existing at a consistent height throughout the
entire stand.
In a regular shelterwood operation, the shelter is removed 10-15 years after
sufficient regeneration has been established. In accordance with regional norms, the
rotation age for Stand 1 has been set at 70 years. The term “with reserves” implies that
the stand will not be subjected to another harvest operation to remove the shelter. Stand 1
is already a sensitive site, and moving back onto the property shortly after regeneration is
established, may lead to increases in seedling mortality and soil erosion. However, in
years to come, if removing the shelter becomes conducive to increasing the vigor of the
advanced regeneration, then action will be taken to release the regeneration by carefully
removing the shelter.
Currently, the basal area of Stand 1 is 96.4 sq.ft. per acre. The post harvest basal
area value has been set at 50 sq.ft. per acre. The sanitation cut plays a dual role in helping
to promote health and vigor throughout the stand, while working to establish the target
basal area of 50 sq.ft. per acre. All of the present volume existing within the red maple,
paper birch, balsam fir, and black cherry species classes will be extracted. Tables 8.1 and
8.2 provide a breakdown of the timber extracted during the primary harvest. The
proposed shelterwood management would generate approximately $16894.92 in
revenues. The majority of both the money and volume generated is attributed to the sugar
maple. Almost 87% of the revenue, along with 63% of the volume, comes from sugar
maple.
Table 8.1 Board foot volumes extracted in Stand 1.
STAND 1 BOARD-FOOTAGE FROM SHELTERWOOD CUT.
Species
$ per 1000 Total bd. Ft. MBF
Total $
Sugar Maple
472.73
29305.38 29.31 13853.53
Yellow Birch
273.98
2666.16
2.67
730.47
Paper Birch
83.27
7347.34
7.35
611.81
Black Cherry
168.98
3080.25
3.08
520.50
Totals
42399.13 42.40 $15,716.32
8.2
Table 8.2 Pulpwood extraction volumes for Stand 1.
STAND 1 PULPWOOD FROM SHELTERWOOD CUT.
Species
$ per cord Total cords MBF Total $
Sugar Maple
10.13
76.50
38.25 774.99
Yellow Birch
5.62
11.61
5.80
65.24
Red Maple
19.72
3.34
1.67
65.79
Paper Birch
6.10
32.75
16.37 199.76
Black Cherry
7.63
3.02
1.51
23.03
Balsam Fir
22.66
2.20
1.10
49.84
Totals
129.4
64.7 $1,178.6
Generating money from Stand 1 is of some importance. However, the residual
timber left after the implementation of the proposed shelterwood operation is the most
important attribute concerning this management option. The establishment of an adequate
shelter is the deciding factor in the success of future regeneration. The shelter itself is
actually a partial canopy that works to provide shade and protection to the already
established saplings; while laying down seed to promote the germination of new
seedlings (Cook 3). Most shelterwood operations involve two or more cuttings to
gradually thin the canopy, thereby imposing more direct sunlight upon the understory.
This is designed to facilitate the “telescoping effect” that leads to rapid height growth
within the established regeneration ( Smith et. al. 358). However, because Stand 1 is
sensitive to soil erosion, a secondary cut may not be conducted. After the shelterwood cut
is implemented, Stand 1 will be monitored periodically to assess whether or not a
thinning would benefit the current growing stock at that time. If the application of a
release operation does become a feasible option, then a secondary cut will most likely be
implemented on Stand 1 shortly there after. Moreover, tables 7.3 and 7.4 provide a
breakdown of the residual timber that will form the actual shelter.
Table 8.3. Residual board feet in Stand 1 after shelterwood cut.
STAND 1 RESIDUAL BOARD-FOOT VALUES.
Species
$ per 1000 Total bd. Ft. MBF
Total $
Sugar Maple
472.73
15312.06
15.31 7238.47
Yellow Birch
273.98
7406.00
7.41 2029.10
Totals
22718.06
22.72 $9,267.57
Table 8.4. Residual pulpwood in Stand 1after shelterwood cut.
STAND 1 RESIDUAL PULPWOOD VALUES.
Species
$ per cord
Total cords MBF Total $
Sugar Maple
10.13
39.97
19.99 404.93
Yellow Birch
5.62
32.25
16.12 181.22
Totals
72.2
36.1 $586.2
Soils:
Proper soil management techniques are an important part of any forest
management option. Soil is the most nonrenewable resource in a stand and is subject the
longest lasting disruption after a timber extraction if it is not proper managed for. The
8.3
most non-reparable kind of damage to soil is physical erosion from excessive vegetation
removal, skid trails, logging roads and rutting from equipment. The resulted rate of
erosion can negate thousands of years of soil formation and take thousands more to repair
itself. Regardless of how well a timber harvest is implemented there will always be some
damage done to the soils but with good techniques such as the implementing of lowpressure ground equipment this can be minimized.
The predominant soil type found on site 1 of the Wilkinson tract is an Amasa
cobbly silt loam D. This soil is characterized as a well-drained soil typically found on
steeply sloped areas. The surface of the soil is generally an O horizon of rich partially
decomposed black forest litter followed by a reddish brown A horizon roughly 3 inches
thick and a 24-inch thick horizon of reddish brown friable silt loam. . This type of soil
makes this site particularly susceptible to erosion and land sliding with the weak
structured organic based soils and steep slopes it is found on.
The overstory of the stand on this soil is hardwood that is predominantly White
Birch (Betula papyrifera), Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis) and Sugar maple (Acer
saccharum) with a seedling layer with sugar maple seedlings as the predominant species.
The management option we plan on implementing on this site is an irregular shelterwood
cut. This option will consist of harvesting most of the overstory thus opening up the
canopy and allow the sugar maple seedlings to move into the overstory. This option also
leaves some of the overstory to provide some shading and wind protection to the stand.
This opening of the canopy can cause problems for the soil for numerous years after the
harvest. One such problem is the lack of a canopy to soften the impact of rainfall, which
can compact and erode the topsoil. There will also be less leaf litter, which also protects
the soil from the impact of falling raindrops, and keeps the water running over the forest
floor from eroding soil particles and depositing them elsewhere. Reducing the amount of
large trees can also temporarily increase leaching by reducing the amount of root systems
that are intercepting water flowing into the soil. This may also increase the chances of a
major loss of topsoil for many years until the understory becomes well established and its
root systems hold the soil. And in the lowland swamps on our site the transpiration by
these large trees plays an important role in keeping the water table low enough for the
trees roots to not rot and allow for seedling regeneration. Thinning of the trees in this area
can have a major impact on the depth of the water table and may cause it to rise enough
to retard or inhibit regrowth of the understory. This can defeat the regrowth implications
of the shelterwood cut.
Despite all these problems with the shelterwood management option, it appears to
be a beneficial option by making the remaining trees more vigorous and in turn make
their root systems larger and deeper thus aiding in the soil enduring erosion and trampling
from recreational hikers and motor vehicle users.
Wildlife:
Thinnings are useful in the enhancement of the development and controlling the
composition of understory vegetation that may provide for age, browse, and seeds for
8.4
herbivorous animals. A tightly closed canopy inhibits an understory and generally keeps
this food supply out of the reach of all herbivores except birds.
Leaving the slash from a managed cut can provide habitat and food for small
game species like rabbits and grouse increasing their populations. The slash also provides
a food source to saprophytic beetles that feed on dead wood; this in turn provides
insectivores with an increased food source.
Possibly increase of small game species after primary cut to do an increase in the
amount of browse and an increase in the amount of shelter from due to the amount of
slash. This should only last for a few years because the slash will eventually decompose
and return to the soil and the understory will have grown above most of the small game
species reach.
Michigan’s Whitetail Deer can also benefit from leaving the slash left from the thinning.
The slash will give a light food source for the deer, and also with the opening of the
overstory, the residual trees left in the understory will be released allowing more food to
be provided for the Whitetail population. Though the deer population in Michigan seems
to be unaffected by such a small management plan, the area will be suited more for deer
grazing, and browsing within the Wilkinson area.
Leaving the Betula alleghaniensis that is currently on the stand will benefit many
local bird species because it provides habitat for Barred owls, Downy, Hairy, Pileated
woodpeckers, Hermit thrush, Veery, Red-eyed Vireos, and numerous swamp dwelling
warbler species. The increase in coarse woody debris left in our site will also benefit
these insectivores’ bird species by temporary increasing the amount of food for
saprotrophic insect species on the site.
With most of Michigan’s herbivorous species benefiting from a thinning, the
return of the Grey Wolf to Upper Michigan will also benefit from leaving any food
source for herbivorous animals. With the wolf population increasing, leaving more food
for their prey accompanies the helpful return of the Grey Wolf by keeping more prey
around for their food source.
The Habitat suitability index figures for before and after the shelterwood cut are
shown in Table 8.5. These figures represent how the suitability of the site for many of the
species by this management option. The cut will have little to affect on whether or not
Downy woodpeckers will live on this site. All the other birds besides the threatened Bald
eagle would favor from this cut. The Bald eagle habitat suitability figure dropped from a
.9 to a .75. This is most like because of the loss of a majority of the large trees on this site
that Bald eagles need for nest building in the breeding season.
Social Ramifications:
Hunting seems to be the only activity that site 1 of the Wilkinson tract is being
used for. There is a lot of game species on this site such as Ruffed grouse, deer, rabbits,
8.5
and moose. So the only activity that this shelterwood cut would affect would be hunting
in the area.
The cut would increase the amount of coarse woody debris on the forest floor of
the stand providing shelter for many of the smaller game species as well as providing a
temporary increase in the food supply which may increase population numbers in the
area. The slash piles may impede r the larger game like moose and deer for a while but it
will attract them back to the site because of the amount of browse.
The harvest would also improve the ascetic value by removing the diseased and
dying trees that will open up the stand. This will allow more light to reach the seedling
layer and will allow the maple saplings to move into the overstory. This will give the
stand that is less cluttered and easier to walk through and will create an uneven aged
stand that is appealing to the eye.
8.6
Chapter 9: Management Option 2
Sanitation cut and lowland site conversion.
Stand 2 provides for some unique problems and opportunities for management on
the Wilkinson tract. The dynamics of the lowland areas make conventional timber
operations unfeasible given equipment limitations and marginal timber values. In the
intermittent upland fingers, steep terrain and limited accessibility comprise only part of
the concern as these areas are infected with a considerable amount of mistletoe.
Fortunately, the problems are tempered by the directives of the university, allowing for
projects that are economically feasible, if not heavily profitable. With this in mind,
management options directed toward intensive management of stand 2 can be justified
based on the tax exempt nature of the property, and the availability of inexpensive labor
through school sponsored programs such as the FERM. The availability of grants to fund
research related procedures is also an advantage, eliminating a hand-tying devotion to
profit.
As such, the second recommended option for the Wilkinson tract involves a
lowland site conversion to tamarack plantation, using a variety of techniques designed to
minimize cost, improve diversity, and most importantly, have a benign impact on the
surrounding wetland, and wildlife communities. This will be combined with a tract wide
sanitation cut to curb the extent of disease, and promote health and release of high value
timber. It is first the priority of this overview to examine the economic feasibility of this
proposal from a cost/value point of view, and then to incorporate some of the unique
opportunities afforded by MTU.
Stand 1: sanitation cut. Because there are considerable
advantages involved in the promotion of larger tree growth
and better health within stand one, upland areas will be
subjected to a sanitation cut (fig. 9.1). In general, this will
involve the removal of all intolerant, disease prone trees, and
those exhibiting outward manifestation of poor health
(cankers, burls, rots, etc.) Extrapolated from field notes and
cruise data, percentages of trees to be removed were
calculated, and cross referenced with value data covered in
the timber assessment (tables 9.1 and 9.2).
Figure 9.1. Stand one (red).
Table 9.1. Extraction value and percent removal for pulpwood in stand 1 sanitation cut.
Species
Sugar Maple
Red Maple
Paper Birch
Yellow Birch
Black Cherry
Balsam Fir
Totals
STAND 1 PULPWOOD VALUES
% removed
$ per cord Total cords
15
10.13
17.47
15
19.72
0.50
100
6.10
32.75
10
5.62
4.39
0
7.63
0.00
100
22.66
2.20
57.3
9.2
MBF Total $
58.24 176.99
1.67
9.87
16.37 199.76
21.93 24.65
0.00
0.00
1.10
49.84
99.3
$461.1
RESIDUAL VOLUME FOR PULPWOOD IN STAND 1
Species
% remaining $ per cord Total cords MBF
Sugar Maple
85
10.13
98.60
49.50
Red Maple
85
19.72
2.81
1.42
Yellow Birch
90
5.62
39.51
19.73
Black Cherry
100
7.63
3.00
1.10
Totals
143.92
71.75
Total $
998.82
55.31
222.05
22.89
1299.07
Table 9.2. Extraction value and percent removal for sawlogs in stand 1.
Species
Sugar Maple
Paper Birch
Yellow Birch
Black Cherry
Totals
STAND 1 SAWLOG VALUES
% removed $ per 1000 Total bd. Ft.
15
472.73
6692.62
100
83.27
7347.34
10
273.98
1007.22
0
168.98
0.00
65117.2
MBF Total $
44.62 3163.80
7.35 611.81
10.07 275.96
0.00
0.00
65.1
4051.57
RESIDUAL VOLUME FOR SAWLOGS IN STAND 1
Species
Sugar Maple
Yellow Birch
Black Cherry
Totals
% remaining $ per 1000 Total bd. Ft. MBF Total $
85.00
472.73
37924.82 37.93 17928.20
90.00
273.98
9064.94 9.06 2478.90
100.00
168.98
3080.25
3.08
520.50
50070.0
50.1 20927.6
Under this regime, sugar maple and red maple are thinned to 85% their standing volume,
yellow birch to 90%, and paper birch and balsam fir are completely removed. All tallied,
total value of this procedure would be $4512.67. Because stumpage prices incorporating
extraction costs were used to calculate this value, it represents a net gain, making the
initial sanitation cut of the upland sites a profitable venture.
The social and wildlife ramifications of this type of procedure are negligible, and
are, in fact, desirable for a number of species such as deer, moose and grouse that prefer
an opened stand because of the increased understory forage. Recalculating HSI values
for indicator species is not necessary in this case because stand characteristics are not
relevantly changed under the initial wildlife models used. This is not to say that habitat
structure within stand 1 wouldn’t be significantly altered under this regime.
Unfortunately, models are limited to a few key factors such as number of large trees, and
percent canopy composition that take little account of density and understory diversity.
Many animals such as bears and moose, may be spooked by the presence of human
activity, but should gradually make the transition back to the area, once this operation is
finished.
Stand two: sanitation cut and lowland site conversion. Of immediate concern in the
stand 2 section of the tract is the intense establishment of mistletoe within the black
spruce. This makes the sanitation cut a more extensive and invasive procedure, as a
9.3
much larger percentage of the standing forest will need to be cut in order to contain the
disease, and salvage any standing timber. To this end, percentages of timber were
generated, based on field observations and cruise data, that
should optimally be removed. Crossed referenced with the
value data presented in the timber assessment, an
estimation as to the value of sanitation timber was
generated (table 9.3, 9.4).
Fig. 9.2. Stand 2 (red)
Figure 9.2. Stand two (red).
Table 9.3. Extraction value and percent removal for pulpwood in stand 2
Species
Sugar Maple
Red Maple
Paper Birch
Aspen
Black Ash
White Spruce
Black Spruce
Balsam Fir
STAND 2 PULPWOOD REMOVAL VALUES
% removed
$ per cord
Cords Removed
MBF Removed
100
10.13
17.21
8.61
100
19.72
29.15
14.58
90
6.10
200.39
100.19
100
16.96
43.17
21.59
100
8.19
12.62
6.31
10
25.77
7.54
3.77
50
26.32
176.49
88.24
10
22.66
40.13
20.06
Totals
Species
Yellow Birch
White Pine
White Cedar
Paper Birch
White Spruce
Black Spruce
Balsam Fir
526.69
263.35
RESIDUAL PULPWOOD IN STAND 2
% remaining
$ per cord
Residual cords
Residual MBF
100
5.62
6.11
3.05
100
21.88
8.60
4.30
100
25.00
59.64
29.82
10
6.10
22.27
11.13
90
25.77
67.89
33.94
50
26.32
176.49
88.24
90
22.66
361.14
180.57
Totals
702.13
9.4
351.07
Total $
174.34
574.85
1222.36
732.21
103.33
194.39
4645.10
909.27
8555.85
Total $
34.33
188.11
1491.10
135.82
1749.52
4645.10
8183.44
16427.41
Table 9.4. Extraction value and percent removal for sawlogs in stand 2 sanitation
SAWLOG HARVEST IN STAND 2 MGT. OPTION
Species
$ per 1000
Total bd. Ft.
MBF
Sugar Maple
472.73
3374.74
3.37
Red Maple
107.73
4984.48
4.98
Black Ash
62.68
1704.34
1.70
Paper Birch
74.94
8510.20
8.51
Totals
10063.6
10.1
Total $
1595.34
536.98
106.83
708.64
$2,239.1
RESIDUAL VOLUME FROM SAWTIMBER IN STAND 2
Species
$ per 1000
Total bd. Ft.
MBF
Total $
Paper Birch
8.33
945.58
0.95
7.87
Yellow Birch
273.98
1786.34
1.79
489.42
White Pine
158.26
30523.44
30.52
4830.64
Totals
33255.4
33.3
$5,327.9
Under this regime, all of the sugar maple, red maple, and black ash, 90% of the paper
birch, 50% of the black spruce, and 10% of the balsam fir and white spruce are removed.
This produces an extraction value of $10,794.95. Again, since extraction costs are
included in this price, a net gain is also yielded from this procedure, making it a fiscally
reasonable operation.
Site conversion. With the sanitation cut done, it is now possible to focus on the 66 acres
of lowland scheduled for site conversion under this regime. The plantation tree
recommended for introduction is the tamarack (Larix laricina) and will be cultivated
using a host of modern techniques. Though not widely employed as a plantation species
due to erratic seed supply, poor germination percentages, and devastating local attacks by
the larch sawfly (Pristiphora erichsonii) and the larch casebearer (Coleophora laricella),
new interest in tamarack has been peaked by its rapid juvenile growth rates (Stiell, 1986).
In fact, operational planting is being widely explored, especially in Canada, due to
tamaracks ability to out-produce all other northeastern conifer species at an early age.
Importantly noted is that site preparation is essential to any conversion operation because
lowland sites in stand two are more saturated than that optimal for plantation growth.
As mentioned before, drainage of wetlands is legally questionable and
ecologically unfriendly, requiring permits to implement. Thus a technique known as
bucket mounding will be used to prepare the site for planting. Using low pressure
equipment in winter months, backhoe apparatus will create pits and mounds mimicking
tip overs induced by wind throw. This has a number of desirable effects on the
landscape. First, it creates raised planting beds allowing seedlings more aerated space in
which to become established and grow (Taki and Hillman 2000). Second, the additional
benefits of increased root temperature, incorporation of organic matter into the soil, and
conservation of runoff water into pits, also provides more optimal growing conditions
(Sutton, 1993). Third, microtopographical variation can provide for increased diversity
in the lowland areas (Londo, 2001). With this in mind, a cutting of all speckled alder and
9.5
other shrubby debris will be implemented in these areas followed by a cool burn at the
end of August to prepare a bed favorable for tamarack growth. With the site prepared,
pressure sensitive equipment would then be utilized in a winter time pit and mounding
regime leaving three foot high mounds and alternating furrows. Planting of tamarack
seedlings would occur in the spring, at a density of 10 x 10ft. Operation costs for this
type of procedure generally run around $130/ac., making for an initial site preparation
cost of approximately $8580.
This is obviously an invasive procedure involving major site modification, which
will alter the dynamics of the lowland areas. Soils will be subject to a range of new
micro-topographical features as a result of the increased aeration/saturation inherent in
this mounding technique (fig. 9.3). In the
mounded areas, increased soil aeration
should lead to increased microbial activity,
leading to mineralization of humus in the
thick organic soils. This should then lead to
a release of previously immobilized
material, making for a bounty of nutrients,
exploitable by tamarack seedlings and a
range of other species that will eventually
colonize the area. Because of the soil
saturation range created by mounding, an
Figure 9.3. Microtopographical changes resulting
overall increase in diversity should be
from pit and mound regime.
witnessed in the lowlands, eventually
supporting a range of plants from obligate to facultative upland varieties. Add to this the
inevitable seedling establishment of the remaining legacy trees, and a range of cover will
be available to wildlife and should counteract the invasiveness of this procedure within a
few years.
Predicting tamarack growth. Because it is difficult to assume the type of site index
that the above procedure will elicit in the lowland areas, published yield tables were
referenced in order to get estimates as to the production of this plantation in years to
come. Specifically incorporating the results of the North Central Forest Experiment
Station (Rauscher and Barse, 1990), and Canadian Forestry Service (Stiell, 1986), a
reasonable prediction was made as to the development of our particular lowland area in
40 years (table 9.5). Because this operation would incorporate little management after
site preparation and planting, it is also assumed that some colonization of other tree
species would occur. To incorporate these numbers into our yield predictions
information as to volunteer establishment was also referenced (Rauscher and Barse,
1990), and added to the results of the plantation projection (table 9.5). These were then
totaled, and values were calculated indicating the future worth of the site conversion
operation (table 9.6). The results from this manipulation are hardly trivial. By year 40,
9.6
Table 9.5. Per acre yield estimates for the Tamarack plantation.
Tamarack
mean dbh
basal area
6.3
97
Volunteers
mean dbh
basal area
8.2
55
Total
mean dbh
basal area
7.25
152
# of trees
436
# of trees
147
# of trees
583
cords
29
cords
16.2
cords
45.2
Table 9.6. Future value of the tamarack plantation.
Tamarack
# of trees
28776
mean dbh
6.3
9702
8.2
38478
14.5
basal area
cords
6402
1914
Volunteers
3630
1069.2
Total
10032
$/cord
21.31
value
40787.34
20
21384
20.7
62171.34
2983.2
the tamarack plantation has an extractable net value of $62,171.34. Since volunteer
species in this area would most likely include balsam fir, black spruce, white cedar, red
maple, and perhaps some black ash, a conservative average was used to project these
values.
Implications of management option 2. It is important to consider the ecological and
social implications of any management regime, especially when considering methods
such as site conversion in wetland areas. Since the Wilkinson tract is relatively isolated,
and positioned in an area of low population and wetland abundance, we would expect
little public outcry concerning the modification suggested above. This by no means
excuses sloppy forestry, and the university would be wise to adhere to all relevant best
management practices within the area, not only to improve its goals of achieving SFI
certification, but to showcase the tract as a model in forest management, lending
credibility to the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science. However, even
with careful and environmentally friendly treatment, the dynamics of the area will be
changed if the above project is implemented. To give a general idea as to how this might
affect the wildlife, HSI models were recalculated (table 9.7). In most cases, these
Figure 9.7. Treatment influences on HSI models.
species
pre-treatment
wood duck
0.74
white tailed deer
0.61
pileated woodpecker
0.78
black bear
0.5
moose
0.79
9.7
posttreatment
0.66
0.45
0.78
0.5
0.79
40 years
0.74
0.7
0.87
0.5
0.79
numbers stayed relatively the same, and in the case of the pileated woodpecker, habitat
suitability increased by the end of the projection period because of the progression
toward larger diameter trees induced by the sanitation cut. The species seemingly most
affected by the management regime is the white tailed deer, showing an initial decrease
in suitability due to loss of winter browse, but showing overall improvement in the long
run due to reestablishment and potential increase in this important factor.
Not taken into consideration in these numbers is the disruptive influence this
regime will initially have on the wildlife because of “spooking” associated with
machinery and man. Undoubtedly, while these procedures are being implemented,
wildlife (especially moose, deer, and bear) will avoid these areas. Because the aim of this
management is to essentially let the stand go after initial preparations, we would expect
these species to eventually repopulate the area, though time scales are difficult to predict.
Summary. All in all, this proves to be a rather interesting option for the Wilkinson tract.
Total sanitation cut net revenue is $15,307.52. Initial site preparation cost was estimated
at $8580. This makes management option two immediately feasible given a profit of
$6727.62, and given the wide range of goals it addresses (done correctly). Since the
future value of the tamarack plantation seems to be quite profitable as well, the university
would do well to consider this as a viable option.
9.8
Chapter 10: Management Option 3
Introduction
Trails can provide access to the interior portion of a stand in an easier more
environmentally friendly manner than simply allowing traffic to pass through an area on
its own. By including interpretive signs, the value of the trail for educational purposes is
increased. One of the goals of the SFRES is to promote education on Ford Forestry
Center land. These trails will provide an excellent resource to students attending the
annual Fall Camp courses at Alberta, MI as well as being near enough for students from
other classes to utilize.
Financial
The total value of standing timber on Wilkinson tract is $60,078.54, this figure
breaks down to $26,748.68 and $33,329.86 by stand (see Table 10.1).
Table 10.1. Wilkinson tract values for standing timber broken down by stand.
Total Stand Value
Stand 1
Stand 2
Sawlogs 24983.89 8346.59
Pulpwood 1764.79 24983.26
Subtotals 26748.68 33329.85
Total
$60,078.53
Costs for installing the trails can be broken down into several categories. The total
is affected by several factors including the number of interpretive signs and how much of
the trail is included in the boardwalk. The total estimate, with labor, is $5,243.80. This
cost includes utilizing treated deck boards for the boardwalk at one foot wide and one
interpretive sign that is 24” x 36” (See Table 10.2). The labor estimate is based on five
workers, most likely students, earning $8.00 per hour and working for five 8-hour days.
The boardwalk will also make use of materials on site to help reduce costs.
Table 10.2. Cost estimates for trail construction on the Wilkinson Tract.
Item
Trail
Signs
Labor
Total
Total Costs
Cost
$ 3,253.80
$
390.00
$ 1,600.00
$ 5,243.80
This option, financially, does not stand as well against the other possibilities
because of the costs involved and the benefits being intrinsic things and not something
that a monetary value can be easily assigned to. Grants and donations would be sought as
funding for the trail in addition to volunteer help with the construction. Also, this could
be given to a team of students participating in SFRES’s FW3376 Forest and
Environmental Resources Management (FERM) course for implementation.
10.2
Culture and Heritage
This option provides for leaving the stand as is. By not disturbing the site in any
manner, heritage resources, know and unknown, will remain in their current state. This
includes any natural degradation of sites and structures.
Social Dimensions
In the construction of the trails, BMPs will be used as guidelines in an attempt to
reduce erosion and stream degradation. This includes putting bridges across stream
crossings and installing stairs on steep slopes. The stairs will also help provide easier
utilization of the trail to a wider range of audiences.
The trail is also being designed with multiple season use in mind. In the winter,
snowshoers will be able to use the trail. Because snow depth impacts the height of users,
the brush will be cleared to a height of 10 feet to avoid low hanging branches causing
injury.
Figure 10.1. An example of the EnviroReader signs available from Envirosigns through their website
http://www.envirosigns.com/enviroreader/ecomparison.htm
Interpretive signs pointing out interesting things and describing what trail users
may see represented on the tract will enhance the educational value of this option. There
would be one sign at the trailhead describing the tract and what is found there. Items of
interest described would include erosion control methods in place, plants and wildlife of
interest.
10.3
Wildlife
There is a range of wildlife present on the tract including waterfowl, moose,
white-tailed deer and more. Species may be affected minimally by the trail as it cuts
through varying habitats by introducing humans more frequently into the environment.
However, overall wildlife will be allowed to change as the successional process occurs on
the stand over time. This means that some habitats will degrade while others will
improve.
Soils
There are many sensitive soils on site due to saturation or severe slopes. To avoid
harm in the wetland areas the boardwalk will keep traffic off of the soil and on slopes
steps utilizing native materials such as course woody debris and stones to hold soil in
place. By not bringing in large equipment to construct and maintain the trail compaction
will be somewhat eliminated. Bridges will be constructed over stream crossings to
prevent damage to streambeds.
Summary
Educational trail development, as an option, still makes an impact on the tract,
just not as visible as a harvest regime being implemented or a site conversion. By
allowing the tract to follow its natural successional process, the choice to follow nature is
being made. This includes the affect on wildlife, heritage resources, soils and vegetation.
Installing the boardwalked trail allows easier access for students and instructors to
observe this process first hand.
10.4
Chapter 11: Management Option 4
Introduction
Evaluating no action as a management option serves two purposes. One it is
always a choice for how to manage land and two it is a good control to hold other options
against. Projections of what will happen to habitat and stand characteristics can be
compared between management options. This will lead to better decisions about what
management option should be implemented on a given tract or stand.
Financial
Stand values for timber on Stand 1 is $26,748.68 and for Stand 2 is $33,329.86.
The total value of standing timber on Wilkinson tract is $60,078.54 (see Table 10.1). This
option, financially, does not stand as well against the other possibilities as any value
currently there will not be extracted. However, no costs will be incurred in the
management of this tract.
Table 10.1. Wilkinson tract values for standing timber broken down by stand.
Sawlogs
Pulpwood
Subtotals
Total
Total Stand Value
Stand 1
Stand 2
$ 24,983.89 $
8,346.59
$
1,764.79 $
24,983.26
$ 26,748.68 $
33,329.85
$60,078.53
Culture and Heritage
By not engaging in a harvest regime, the cultural and heritage resources on the
tract will not be harmed by human intervention. However, things like the old camp will
continue to degrade. Hunters will be able to continue to utilize the tract as they do
currently with little change. However, over time, hunting conditions may change related
to the successional progress of the forest.
Social Dimensions
Social dimensions covered aesthetics, recreation, and laws and regulations. Any
impacts that this option will have on aesthetics and recreation are minimal. The laws and
regulations of note from chapter three have little direct impact on how this option is
implemented given that few laws cover how to leave things as is. This option will move
the stand along the successional path toward becoming old growth. This may be
considered an aesthetic improvement. However, by leaving the black spruce present on
the stand with the heavy dwarf mistletoe infestation, aesthetics will be affected by the
presence of diseased and dead trees. Recreational use will also be relatively unimpacted,
as changes will be occurring on a natural timeline.
Wildlife
11.2
As time passes, the wildlife present on the tract will change as habitats change.
This process will be allowed to occur in a natural manner given that this option is to not
implement any type of treatment on the tract. Current conditions on the tract should lead
to an improvement in moose habitat given the impact and benefit that beaver tend to have
on their surroundings. Given the presence of moose scat on the tract, this should be
beneficial.
Soils
The soils on this site are sensitive due to saturation and steep slopes. This makes
the soils susceptible to wind throw, compaction, and flooding. These can all have
negative impacts on the surrounding plant life. Compaction will not be as large an issue
under this management option because equipment will not be traveling across the tract.
Wind throw and flooding are concerns however. The saturation level of the soil has
already caused tree mortality in some areas, but as this is a natural process, it is of less
concern than if timber extraction was going to be taking place.
Summary
Not taking any action is a management decision. Active management causes a
more visible impact than no action does, but there an impact is still made. Natural
processes are allowed to occur at their own pace and in their own order. Effects on
wildlife, vegetation, soils, and heritage resources are directly caused by management
decisions and this option allows for nature to have the greatest impact on how things
happen.
11.3
Chapter 12: Preferred Management Option
Introduction
After considering the previous options, it becomes necessary to evaluate them as
to the landowner goals that they meet. Though all management regimes were initially
constructed with these goals in mind, in hind site, strengths and weaknesses in each
scenario were particularly analyzed. To this end, scenarios were quantified as to the
extent they met certain goals (Table 12.1).
Table 12.1. Evaluation of management options to select the preferred option.
Management Goal
1) Promote research and education goals of SFRES
2) Provide revenue to cover educational and Ford Center costs
3) Attain SFI certification
4) Provide demonstrations of forest and wildlife management practices
5) Abide by all relevant laws and regulations
Total
Management Alternative
1
2
3
4
2+
4+
2+
1+
4+
3+
0
0
4+
3+
1+
0
4+
4+
1+
0
4+
4+
4+
4+
18
18
8
5
Goal Quantification
Apparent immediately is that the above rating system has led to a tie,
quantitatively speaking, which will be broken based on the potential site limitations
rather than strict adherence to university goals. Thus said, our preferred management
option is the shelterwood and sanitation cut outlined in management option one.
Before expanding on this decision, it is relevant to discuss why the other options
were omitted. Option number two seems to be rather favorable on all levels rating out
just as positively as option one. Research and educational goals are optimally promoted,
provided an exciting opportunity to explore the effects of site preparation and
microtopography not only on crop trees, but also on volunteer species, and understory
composition as well. Ford Forestry Center costs are definitely considered given that the
implementation of this project would initially produce $6727.62 in revenue, and
encourage a pulp stand of short rotation in as little as forty years (possibly less) worth in
excess of sixty thousand dollars. SFI certification could be readily achieved given this
very active management scenario, assuming the university follows the guidelines outlined
within this paper and other appropriate legislation, which follows along with the goal to
abide all laws and regulations. Also, this provides an exceptional opportunity to provide
demonstrations on new and interesting forest management techniques.
For all these reasons we scored management option two at a score of 18 out of 20,
indicating that it is very favorable. The drawback associated with this course of action
deals with the accessibility of the lowland areas, and the uncertainty as to the equipment
limitations. It is very difficult to tell from our initial stand assessment exactly what
special, potentially costly dilemmas might be encountered in the saturated lowlands,
despite our best efforts to anticipate the problems. This is not to say that this option is
12.2
not feasible, in fact, it still remains highly regarded as a potential management
consideration on the tract.
Management option three rated somewhat less favorably than the shelterwood and
site conversion options, rating a score of 8 out of 20. This was the result of its inability to
address some of the major goals of Michigan Tech. For instance, it would not provide
any revenue to help alleviate Ford Forestry Center costs, and in fact would cost a
substantial amount just to get up and running. Though student involvement could
undoubtedly alleviate some of these costs, the result would nonetheless be a net loss.
Because some minimal forestry would undoubtedly have to be done to clear a trail and
build a boardwalk in some areas, minor steps toward achieving SFI certification could be
achieved, leading to equally minor demonstrations into sustainable trail development.
Because the Wilkinson tract is an excellent example of varying ecosystem types and
landscape and hydrological dynamics, the trails would be valuable as a teaching tool, but
its isolated nature would probably tend to discourage consistent use.
Option four rated the lowest of all the management applications mainly because it
did not involve any manipulation of the stand. This makes it a poor fit for most of the
university goals, as they tend to focus on active (though sustainable) forestry. By making
no steps towards attaining SFI certification, alleviating Ford Center costs, or providing
examples in management, many of the goals are not met. As is, the tract still has merit as
an educational facility, though quantitatively less than the trail option because of limited
access. Though not explicitly stated in the SFRES goals, this option and option number
three would have value as a preserve for wildlife and wetland species.
Preferred Option
As previously mentioned, the recommended option for the Wilkinson tract is option
one involving a sanitation and shelterwood cut of the hardwood stand in the southeast
corner. This would involve the removal of all diseased trees containing cinder conk,
eutapella canker, hypoxylon canker, or nectria, including a proportional harvest of sugar
maple to elicit a release of valuable timber while keeping the area aesthetically pleasing
and profitable. This initial cut would yield a net value in excess of sixteen thousand
dollars making it the most initially profitable venture. Because it is also important that
this operation be sustainable, the following factors must be considered to become SFI
certified:
"To practice sustainable forestry to meet the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs by practicing
a land stewardship ethic which integrates the reforestation, managing, growing,
nurturing and harvesting of trees for useful products with the conservation of soil, air,
and water quality, wildlife and fish habitat, and aesthetics."
* "To use in its own forests, and promote among other forest landowners, sustainable
forestry practices that are economically and environmentally responsible."
12.3
* "To protect forests from wildfire, pests, diseases, and other damaging agents in
order to maintain and improve long-term forest health and productivity."
* "To manage its forests and lands of special significance (ie, biologically,
geographically, or historically) in a manner that takes into account their unique
qualities."
* "To continually improve the practice of forest management and also to monitor,
measure and report the performance of our members in achieving our commitment to
sustainable forestry."
Summary
With these goals in mind, it should be fairly simple to attain SFI certification in
the shelterwood making it congruent with university goals. Also, though perhaps slightly
less of a research opportunity, some educational goals can still be met by showing
students proper harvest techniques and allowing them to participate in the management of
the tract. By abiding all laws and regulations, while still providing examples in forest
management, this option also scored an 18 out of 20. Because of the factors listed above
in conjunction with the immediate gratification of a profitable harvest, this seems to be
the best option for the school at this time.
12.4
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WC.1
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WC.2