MASTER PLAN FLAMBEAU RIVER STATE FOREST SEPTEMBER 2010 FLAMBEAU RIVER STATE FOREST SEPTEMBER 2010 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This plan has been developed through a team effort by many individuals from the Department of Natural Resources. Through their hard work and expertise, these people have developed a plan that will guide the Flambeau River State Forest into the Future. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Matt Frank, Secretary Paul DeLong, Chief State Forester Plan Acceptance Team Paul Cunningham Bureau of Fisheries Tom Hauge Bureau of Wildlife Management Erin Crain Bureau of Endangered Resources Bob Mather Bureau of Forest Management Steve Miller Bureau of Facilities and Lands Dan Schuller Bureau of Parks Plan Sponsors Kate Fitzgerald, Larry Glodoski, Mike Luedeke, and Jim Warren Planning Process Team Bob Dall, Tom Duke, Jim Halvorson, Kristin Lambert, Jamie MacAlister (former), Teague Prichard, Kristen Tomaszewski, and Tom Watkins Technical Team Heidi Brunkow, Drew Feldkirchner, Ryan Magana, Colleen Matula, Tim Miller, Jeff Pennucci, Scott Retallick (former), Jeff Scheirer, Mark Schmidt, Dave Schultz Other Contributors Judy Freeman, Roy Gilge, Randy Hoffman, Angela Jacobs, Don Monson, Andrew Stoltman, and Diane Stowell The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources provides equal opportunity in its employment, programs, services and functions under an Affirmative Action Plan. If you have any questions, please write to Equal Opportunity Office, Department of the Interior, Washington D.C. 20240, or Wisconsin’s Office of Diversity – WDNR Office of Diversity, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. This publication is available in alternative format upon request. Contact the Division of Forestry at 608-267-7494. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry 101 South Webster Street PO Box 7921 Madison, Wisconsin 53707-7921 For your convenience this document is available on the internet at: dnr.wi.gov/master_planning/flambeau/ F FLAMBEAU RIVER STATE FOREST SEPTEMBER 2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS Table OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION AND PLAN OVERVIEW .....................................................................................................................1 MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT ........................................................................................................................8 Forest Production Management Areas ....................................................................................................................12 Area 1: Exeland Plains Hardwoods .........................................................................................................................14 Area 2: Wet-Mesic Hardwoods ..............................................................................................................................18 Area 3: River Sands Hardwoods .............................................................................................................................22 Area 4: Back Country Hardwoods ..........................................................................................................................26 Area 5: Jump River Hardwoods .............................................................................................................................30 Area 6: Big Block ....................................................................................................................................................34 Native Community Management Areas ...................................................................................................................38 Area 7: Barnaby Rapids Forest and Wetlands ........................................................................................................40 Area 8: North Fork Pines ........................................................................................................................................44 Area 9: Oxbo Pines .................................................................................................................................................48 Area 10: Hanson Lake Complex .............................................................................................................................52 Area 11: Swamp Lake Forest .................................................................................................................................56 Area 12: Bass Lake Forest and Muskeg .................................................................................................................60 Area 13: Hackett Creek Watershed ........................................................................................................................64 Area 14: Flambeau Forks Interior Forest ................................................................................................................68 Area 15: Lake of the Pines Conifer Hardwoods .....................................................................................................74 Area 16: Flambeau River Hardwood Forest ...........................................................................................................78 Habitat Management Area .........................................................................................................................................82 Area 17: Ruffed Grouse Habitat ............................................................................................................................84 Scenic Resources Management Areas .....................................................................................................................88 Area 18: Flambeau River Scenic Area ....................................................................................................................90 Area 19: Upper North Fork Flambeau River Scenic Area .......................................................................................94 Wild Resources Management Area ..........................................................................................................................98 Area 20: Wild and Wilderness Lakes ....................................................................................................................100 Recreation Management Area ................................................................................................................................106 Area 21: Flambeau River Recreation area and Forest Headquarters ...................................................................108 State Natural Area Designations .............................................................................................................................112 Management Overlay Zones ....................................................................................................................................116 Scenic Lake Management Overlay Zone ..............................................................................................................118 Long Term Research Overlay Zones ...................................................................................................................118 General Forest Management Prescriptions by Primary Forest Type ....................................................................121 SEPTEMBER 2010 FLAMBEAU RIVER STATE FOREST G TABLE OF CONTENTS Wildlife Management ................................................................................................................................................126 Fish Habitat Management .......................................................................................................................................130 Recreation Management ..........................................................................................................................................131 Real Estate Management ..........................................................................................................................................150 Road Management ...................................................................................................................................................154 Non-Metallic Mining Policy .....................................................................................................................................157 Cultural Resources Management .............................................................................................................................158 General Land and Forest Management Policies and Provisions ...........................................................................160 General Administration Policies and Provisions ...................................................................................................162 Public Communications Plan ....................................................................................................................................164 BACKGROUND & AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT .......................................................................................................166 Regional Assessment ................................................................................................................................................169 Property Assessment ................................................................................................................................................183 Findings and Conclusions .........................................................................................................................................206