Natural Features Inventory Recommendations for Flat River
Natural Features Inventory and Management Recommendations for Flat River State Game Area Prepared by: Joshua G. Cohen, Jesse M. Lincoln, Yu Man Lee, Peter J. Badra, Michael J. Monfi ls, David L. Cuthrell, Aaron P. Kortenhoven, and Helen D. Enander Michigan Natural Features Inventory P.O. Box 13036 Lansing, MI 48901-3036 For: Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division March 31, 2016 Report Number 2016-08 Suggested Citation: Cohen J.G., J.M. Lincoln, Y. Lee, P.J. Badra, M.J. Monfi ls, D.L. Cuthrell, A.P Kortenhoven, and H.D. Enander. 2016. Natural Features Inventory and Management Recommendations for Flat River State Game Area. Michigan Natural Features Inventory Report Number 2016-08, Lansing, MI. 133 pp. Cover Photo: Dry-mesic northern forest in Flat River State Game Area. Photo by Jesse M. Lincoln. Copyright 2016 Michigan State University Board of Trustees. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, natural origin, gender, religion, age, disability, politi- cal beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, or family status. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Flat River State Game Area (SGA) is a large block of semi-continuous public land in southwest Lower Michigan, consisting of approximately 11,235 acres of Ionia and Montcalm Counties. Flat River SGA is important ecologically because it provides critical habitat for a myriad of game and non-game species and supports over 8,865 acres of forest and over 582 acres of high-quality forest, primarily lowland forest (hardwood-conifer swamp and fl oodplain forest). Because the landscape surrounding Flat River SGA is dominated by agriculture and rural development, the large area of forest within the game area serves as an important island of biodiversity for the local region.
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