Every year, the U.S. Forest Service Gunflint District works on a habitat management plan for a different area within the district. This year, an area called the Lima Green Project Area, about 12 miles north of Grand Marais, is being analyzed, and the Forest Service is accepting public comments on its proposed plan until August 12. In addition, the district has invited the public to attend a field trip to view the area and discuss its management. This will take place on Monday, July 18.
The proposed management plan is intended to accomplish numerous objectives. According to Gunflint District Ranger Dennis Neitzke, “One of the objectives of this project is to improve moose habitat. The Lima Green Project Area has a relatively high population of moose, even though the moose population in northeastern Minnesota is declining. Although habitat alone is not likely limiting moose numbers, providing a constant supply of shrub and small tree forage near stands of conifer trees may encourage moose survival.
“Another objective of this project is to restore red and white pine. As red and white pines grow larger, they add scenic beauty to roads and trails, offer habitat for many wildlife species and provide timber products for the local economy. The Lima Green Project Area has some of the highest percentages of red and white pine forest types on the Gunflint District. However, young pine rarely becomes established in the understory of these stands, therefore it is important we establish young pine regeneration.
“Enhancement of the longterm scenic quality of the Gunflint Trail is a third important objective of the project. Some of the tree species along the Gunflint Trail are short-lived species and need some kind of disturbance to regenerate. District personnel have been working with the Gunflint Trail Scenic Byway Committee to develop actions that would improve the scenic quality, improve ecosystem health or reduce fuel hazards.”
To accomplish these and other objectives, proposed activities would include harvesting, reforestation, prescribed burning, and understory fuels reduction. Additional proposed actions include constructing and obliterating temporary roads to access projects and the decommissioning of roads no longer needed.
District Ranger Neitzke and Forest Service specialists including a silviculturist, a fuels planner, and a wildlife biologist will host the field trip. “We will look at various proposed treatment areas along the Gunflint Trail to discuss what the treatment would accomplish and what it would entail,” Neitzke said. “We have been working with tribal and state personnel, scenic byway committee members and members of the public to develop the proposal.”
Specific discussion topics include jack pine management, reducing fuel hazards through understory fuel reduction, and using fire as a tool to manage white pine.
The field trip will begin at 10 a.m. Monday, July 18 at the South Brule River parking lot at the junction of the Gunflint Trail and Forest Road 309. Those only interested in the afternoon discussion can meet the group at the moose viewing parking lot at noon.
To ensure smooth logistics, those planning to attend are asked to call Becky Bartol at the Gunflint District office at (218)387-1750 or email her at rbartol@fs.fed.us.
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