Landscape Stewardship Plan The Fish Forests of Michigan’s Eastern Upper Peninsula Luce, Schoolcraft, Eastern Alger, and Western Mackinac Counties The Two Hearted River, Luce County, MI © The Nature Conservancy The Nature Conservancy Christine Hall; Marquette Office March 2017 Report Author: Christine Hall, Director of Land Resource and Forest Conservation Marquette Field Office – 101 S. Front St. Suite 105, Marquette, MI 49855 906-225-0399 Ext. 4012 https://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/michigan/index.htm This Landscape Stewardship Plan is funded in part through a Fiscal Year 2015 Landscape Scale Restoration grant for “Developing Nine Landscape Stewardship Plans in Michigan” (15-DG-11420004- 175). The United States Forest Service, State and Private Forestry granted $336,347 in federal funds to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Forest Resources Division which along with its partners provided $337,113 in matching non-federal funds. The Department of Natural Resources administered the grant in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, Huron Pines, The Stewardship Network and the Remote Environmental Assessment Laboratory. In accordance with Federal law and the U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. | 2 Contents Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................... 6 1. Executive Summary ................................................................................................................ 6 2. Project Introduction ................................................................................................................ 9 2.1 Project Goals and Objectives ........................................................................................................ 12 2.2 The Need for Active Forest Stewardship ................................................................................... 13 2.3 Methodology: A Landscape Approach to Natural Resource Conservation ......................... 14 2.4 Previous Landscape Stewardship Plans in the Area ................................................................ 15 3. Landscape Context ................................................................................................................ 17 3.1 The Physical, Ecological and Cultural Landscape .................................................................... 17 3.1.1 Geographic Scope ....................................................................................................................... 17 3.1.2 Cultural Landscape ................................................................................................................... 21 3.1.3 Climate ...................................................................................................................................... 28 3.1.4 Climate Change ......................................................................................................................... 29 3.1.5. Forest Adaptation Resources .................................................................................................... 30 3.1.6 Geology ...................................................................................................................................... 31 3.1.7 Land Cover Type ....................................................................................................................... 34 3.1.8 Presettlement Vegetation ........................................................................................................... 39 3.1.9 Soils ........................................................................................................................................... 40 3.1.10 Water ....................................................................................................................................... 42 3.1.11 Wetlands .................................................................................................................................. 46 3.1.12 Biological Diversity ................................................................................................................. 47 3.1.13 Regional Landscape Assessments for Great Lakes – Michigan Natural Features Inventory . 56 3.1.14 Wildlife and Fish Habitat ........................................................................................................ 68 3.1.15 Timber ..................................................................................................................................... 72 3.1.16 Forest Health ........................................................................................................................... 74 3.1.17 Fire Management .................................................................................................................... 79 3.1.18 Archaeological, Cultural and Historic Sites ............................................................................ 86 3.1.19 Tourism and Recreation .......................................................................................................... 91 3 | 3.2 Local Resource Providers and Existing Stewardship Plans .................................................... 95 3.2.1 Government Agencies and Land Managers .............................................................................. 95 3.2.2 Nonprofit, Non-Governmental Conservation Organizations ................................................. 106 3.2.3 Private Sector Natural Resource Professionals, collaborative plans ....................................... 115 4. Landscape Stewardship Stories ....................................................................................... 116 5. Develop a Personal Story: Resources and Services for Landowners ........................ 118 5.1 Land Conservation Options ....................................................................................................... 118 5.1.1 Purchase or Donation of land .................................................................................................. 118 5.1.2 Conservation easement ............................................................................................................ 118 5.1.3 Bargain Sales ........................................................................................................................... 118 5.1.4 Remainder Interest Trust or Reserved Life Estate .................................................................. 118 5.1.5 Bequest, Living Trust, or Charitable Trust ............................................................................. 119 5.1.6 Gifts Conservation Buyer Land ............................................................................................... 119 5.1.7 Installment Gifts or Sales of Land ........................................................................................... 119 5.2 Forestry Options .......................................................................................................................... 119 5.2.1 Forest Stewardship Program ................................................................................................... 119 5.2.2 American Tree Farm System ................................................................................................... 121 5.2.3 Qualified Forest Program ........................................................................................................ 121 5.2.4 Commercial Forest Program .................................................................................................... 122 5.2.5 Environmental Quality Incentives Program .......................................................................... 122 5.2.6 Best Management Practices (BMP’s) for Forest Health, Water Quality and Wildlife ........... 122 5.2.7 Forest Economics ..................................................................................................................... 123 5.2.8 Other Financial Assistance Programs..................................................................................... 123 5.3 Wildlife Information ................................................................................................................... 123 5.3.1 Wildlife Management .............................................................................................................. 123 5.3.2 Creating Habitat ...................................................................................................................... 124 5.3.3 Enjoyment ............................................................................................................................... 125 Appendix 1. General Forestry Information and Related Programs .............................. 126 American Tree Farm System ................................................................................................................ 131 | 4 Qualified Forest Program ..................................................................................................................... 131 Commercial Forest Program ................................................................................................................. 132 Financial Assistance Programs ............................................................................................................. 132 Timber Sales ........................................................................................................................................