Great Lakes, Great Times, Great Outdoors www.michigan.gov/dnr Draft 2006 State Forest Management Plan Michigan Department of Natural Resources Forest, Mineral and Fire Management IC 4600 (07/24/2006) MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES MISSION STATEMENT "The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the State's natural resources for current and future generations." NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION STATEMENT The Natural Resources Commission, as the governing body for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, provides a strategic framework for the DNR to effectively manage your resources. The NRC holds monthly, public meetings throughout Michigan, working closely with its constituencies in establishing and improving natural resources management policy. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources provides equal opportunities for employment and access to Michigan's natural resources. Both State and Federal laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, disability, age, sex, height, weight or marital status under the U.S. Civil Rights Acts of 1964 as amended, 1976 MI PA 453, 1976 MI PA 220, Title V of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, and the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended. If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility, or if you desire additional information, please write: Human Resources, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, PO Box 30028, Lansing MI 48909-7528, or Michigan Department of Civil Rights, Cadillac Place, 3054 West Grand Blvd, Suite 3-600, Detroit, MI 48202, or Division of Federal Assistance, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Mail Stop MBSP-4020, Arlington, VA 22203 For information or assistance on this publication, contact the Forest Resource Management Section, Forest, Mineral & Fire Management, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 30452, Lansing, MI 48909-7952. This publication is available in alternative formats upon request. This information is available in alternative formats. Printed By Authority of: The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Total Number Of Copies 50 Total Cost:$ 1648.92 Cost Per Copy:$ 32.98 Printed 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents ......................................................................................................................... 3 Table of Figures............................................................................................................................ 5 Table of Tables ............................................................................................................................. 6 Table of Appendices.................................................................................................................... 7 Executive Summary..................................................................................................................... 8 1 – COMPONENTS OF THE STATE FOREST PLAN......................................................... 11 1.1 - Purpose & Use of the Plan.......................................................................................... 11 1.2 - Plan Organization and Relationship to Other Plans ................................................ 11 1.3 - Plan Communications, Implementation & Review Requirements......................... 12 1.4 – Mission, Vision and Strategic Goals for DNR-Managed Forest Lands................ 13 1.4.1 - DNR Mission and Vision for the State Forest.................................................... 13 1.4.2 - DNR Strategic Goals ............................................................................................. 13 1.5 –DNR State Forest Land Management System......................................................... 14 1.6 - Use of Criteria and Indicators...................................................................................... 16 1.7 – Statewide Ownerships and Management Unit Boundaries................................... 17 2 - FOREST HISTORY.............................................................................................................. 19 2.1 - Pre-European Settlement History (Glaciation to 1800’s)........................................ 19 2.2 - Post-European Settlement History (1600’s to 1900)............................................... 25 2.3 - Contemporary History (1900 to the present) ............................................................ 28 3 - CURRENT FOREST CONDITIONS, USES AND TRENDS ......................................... 32 3.1 - General Land Cover and Forest Resource Base..................................................... 34 3.1.1 - State-wide Forest Conditions and Trends ......................................................... 34 3.1.2 - DNR-Owned Forest Land Conditions and Trends............................................ 43 3.1.3 - Timber Harvest Trends ......................................................................................... 58 3.2 - Forest Health Conditions and Trends ........................................................................ 64 3.3 - Wildlife Habitat Conditions and Trends ..................................................................... 75 3.3.1 - Forested Habitats................................................................................................... 75 3.3.2 - Grasslands.............................................................................................................. 81 3.3.3 - Wetlands ................................................................................................................. 81 3.4 - Water and Fisheries Conditions and Trends ............................................................ 82 3.5 - Socioeconomic Context - Human Uses and Trends ............................................... 83 3.5.1 Timber Production.................................................................................................... 83 3.5.2 Oil, Gas and Mineral Production............................................................................ 85 3.5.3 Forest Recreation and Tourism ............................................................................. 86 3.5.4 Public Research and Education............................................................................. 89 4 - STATEWIDE MANAGEMENT DIRECTION..................................................................... 89 4.1 – Desired Future Conditions, Goals, Objectives, Standards and Guidelines ........ 89 4.1.1 - Recreation Management ...................................................................................... 90 4.1.1.1 – Boating and Fishing Access Sites and Marinas/Harbors ........................ 90 4.1.1.2 – Recreational Trails......................................................................................... 91 4.1.1.3 – State Forest Campgrounds.......................................................................... 93 4.1.1.4 – Hunting, Trapping, Fishing and Other Dispersed Recreation................ 93 4.1.1.5 – Areas Managed for Hunting ......................................................................... 95 3 4.1.1.6 - Visual Management ....................................................................................... 96 4.1.2 - Vegetation Management....................................................................................... 97 4.1.2.1 - Biodiversity...................................................................................................... 97 4.1.2.2 – Forest Resources .......................................................................................... 99 4.1.2.3 - Wildlife ............................................................................................................ 104 4.1.2.4 - Fisheries......................................................................................................... 106 4.1.2.5 - Rare Communities........................................................................................ 107 4.1.3 - Watershed Management .................................................................................... 108 4.1.3.1 - Soil Resources.............................................................................................. 108 4.1.3.2 - Riparian Areas & Wetlands......................................................................... 109 4.1.4 – Rare Species....................................................................................................... 111 4.1.4.1 - Federal and State Threatened and Endangered Species ..................... 111 4.1.4.2 – Species of Special Concern....................................................................... 113 4.1.5 - Land Ownership and Use Management........................................................... 115 4.1.5.1 - Easements..................................................................................................... 115 4.1.5.2 - Use Permits and Surface Lease Uses ...................................................... 116 4.1.5.3 - Acquisition and Disposal............................................................................. 116 4.1.5.4 - Boundary Designation and Signage.......................................................... 117 4.1.6 - Minerals & Geology............................................................................................. 117 4.1.6.1 – Oil, Gas and Metallic and Non-Metallic Mineral Development............. 117 4.1.6.2 - Unique Geologic Formations