Below is a management plan given to us by Tom DeWitt, one of the Woodland Owners highlighted in the Woodland Owners' Perspective section. One hundred and twenty acres in Rusk County follow this management plan.
State of Wisconsin Section 77.82(3), Wis. Stats.
Department of Natural Resources Form 2450-132 Rev. 1-92
MANAGED FOREST LANDS STEWARDSHIP FORESTRY PLAN
Name(s) and Address of Landowner(s)
-
Thomas E. DeWitt Mary S. DeWitt 510 Oak St.
Spooner, WI 54801
Order # 55 227 2000
County: Rusk, Town Name: Big Bend
Town: 33 N; Range 8W; Section(s) 8 & 9
Town: N; Range ; Section(s) Total Plan Acreage: 120.00
Contract Length: 25 Years Starting January 1, 2000 through December
31, 2024
The map below from Tom DeWitt's management plan shows the different forest types and other features present on his property. To view a larger map, follow the link here or click on the map.
The purpose of the Managed
Forest Land Law is to encourage the growth of future commercial crops
through sound forestry practices which consider the objectives of individual
property owner, forest aesthetics, wildlife habitat, erosion control,
protection of endangered or threatened plants and animals, and compatible
recreational activities. Forestry under the law "means managing
forest lands and their related resources, including trees and other
plants, animals, soil, water and air." To guide the Department
in fulfilling this stewardship objective, a statement of the owner's
forest management objectives is required in the plan. The following
statement has been provided either by the landowner or developed with
the assistance of the Department. By signing this plan, the landowner(s)
agree to comply with it. (The law specifically prohibits use of Managed
Forest Lands for commercial recreation, industry, human residence, grazing
of domestic livestock or other uses the Department deems incompatible
with the practice of forestry.)
Landowner Objectives for Management
of the Enrolled Lands:
I wish to manage the hardwood stands for sawtimber and pulp and regenerate
oak in areas where possible. I wish to manage the red pine and spruce
for sawtimber and pulp also, while leaving two small areas of spruce
for wildlife. I would like to maintain the existing fields and manage
the edge for wildlife, possibly planting some clover and wildlife shrubs.
I am interested in the aesthetics along the road, which is the Ice Age
Trail in this location. I use the property for hiking and general outdoor
recreation activities. I would like to enhance or expand the existing
trail system and possibly do some work with the wetlands on the property.
I am also interested in harvesting a small amount of mixed hardwoods
to use for personal woodworking purposes.
The following pages include descriptions of vegetative or physical areas
called "stands." Mandatory forestry practices which must be
completed by the landowner(s) during the contract period are listed.
Optional forestry activities may also be provided. Regarding mandatory
practices, failure to complete them by the end of the specified year
may result in withdrawal from the program and payment of a substantial
withdrawal tax. The plan may be revised only with consent of both the
landowner and the Department. If timber is to be harvested, a cutting
notice on Department forms is required at least 30 days prior to cutting.
Cutting under the notice may be commenced within one year of the date
approved by the Department. Details concerning harvests, taxes, transfers,
and other terms of the managed Forest Law can be found under Chapter
77, subchapter IV, Wis. Stats., and in Chapter NR 46-of the Wisconsin
Administrative Code. (Copies of the law or rules are available from
the Department upon request. Landowners may also contact their local
DNR forester for assistance.)
STEWARDSHIP FORESTRY PLAN MANAGED FOREST LANDS
Stand # 1 --- O 15+2 / O 11-15(2) / NH 5-11 (3) ----- 30 Acres
ORDER # 55 227 2000
This is a stand of good quality hardwood sawtimber growing on a fairly productive site. Species present in this stand include red oak, basswood, white ash, red maple, and a few other scattered miscellaneous species. This stand had some scattered aspen removed from it in 1986. Then in 1991 a windstorm caused some scattered damage - with most of the damaged trees either being harvested or cleaned up in a TSI operation. The result of this activity has created a variable stand - with basal areas ranging from 50 square feet to 120 square feet. The average basal area is approximately 90 square feet, so a harvest will be needed when the basal area reaches 120 sq. ft., which should be in 12 years. The long-term goal for this stand is hardwood sawlog and veneer production, while providing for wildlife habitat. The successional trend will slowly take this stand to an all northern hardwood type (maple, ash, basswood). However there is established red oak regeneration in the more open areas, and these oaks will provide an opportunity to maintain some oak in the area for a long time. Selective harvests will be used approximately every 15 years to improve the stand quality and remove the inferior and overmature trees.
Mandatory Practice: Conduct a selective harvest in this stand in the year 2010. Reduce overall stand basal area to 80 square feet per acre —concentrating the harvesting efforts in the more heavily stocked areas. Poor quality, defective, leaning, and overmature trees shall be removed, leaving the higher quality, better formed trees for the future.
Maintaining as much oak as possible in this stand will greatly benefit wildlife. Hand releasing the established oak seedlings in the understory is recommended. Maintaining several large "den" trees per acre will improve the habitat for cavity nesting species of Wildlife.
Stand # 2 --- 0 15+1 / NH 5-11(2) --- 30 Acres
This stand was similar to stand #1 before the recent harvest activity occurred. However there likely was more aspen originally in this stand before the harvest in 1986. This area also received heavier damage from the '91 windstorm so the result is a more open, brushy, variable stand. Basal areas range from 40 to 90 with 60 being the average. The heavy understory in the stand consists of upland brush, ironwood, sugar maple, balsam fir, and some red oak. The long term goal for this stand is wildlife habitat and timber production. This stand will likely remain a mixed stand of hardwood for many years to come. There are scattered pockets of higher basal area that can be thinned at the same time as the harvest in Stand # 1. Over time selective harvests will periodically occur to slowly improve the stand.
Mandatory Practice: Harvest some scattered mature timber from this stand in the year 2010. Small areas of higher basal area can be thinned down to 80 square feet. As with stand 1, the trees left in the stand shall be the higher quality trees for the future.
The heavy growth of brush and saplings in the stand provide excellent food and cover for deer, grouse, and many other species of wildlife. Hand releasing the red oak saplings in this stand is also recommended.
Stand # 3 --- NH 11-15(2)
/ NH 5-11(3)
--- 10 acres
This is a stand of northern hardwoods in the NW portion of the property.
This area was more recently pastured and has less oak than stands 1and
2. Primary species include sugar maple, white ash, basswood, and red
oak. Hardwood sawtimber is the long term goal for this stand also. There
are a few small areas in this stand that were damaged by the '91 windstorm.
Periodic selective harvests every 15 years will improve this stand and
will continuously regenerate the stand to a maple, ash, basswood mix.
This stand would also be a good spot to develop a small sugar bush if
so desired by the landowner.
Mandatory Practice:
Conduct a selective harvest in this stand in the year 2010. Reduce overall
stand basal area from 120 sq. ft. to 85 sq. ft.. Poorer quality trees
shall be removed while leaving the better trees in the stand.
Specifically releasing the better sugar maple in this stand will improve
the site's potential for maple syrup production. Large, wide spreading
crowns on healthy trees produce the most sap. Therefore, removing the
smaller trees that are competing with the best maple trees will improve
their growth rate and will cause their crowns to grow larger.
Stand # 4--- NH 5 -11(2)
/ SH 5 -11(2) --- 14 acres
This is a moderately stocked stand of northern hardwoods, swamp hardwoods,
and swamp conifers along the road. This is an extremely variable stand
occurring on fairly wet soils. This area was also damaged by the '91
windstorm and the timber was not salvaged due to the low quality timber
and wet soils. Aesthetics are the main goal of this stand, as it occurs
along both sides of the road. This is also the location of the Ice Age
Trail in this area. This timber type will not produce high quality timber
due to the soils, but will slowly regenerate over time. Species present
include many species of hardwood, along with aspen, birch, balsam, spruce,
and cedar. Removal of any aspen, along with some scattered hardwoods
is only recommended in small amounts, while maintaining 60-80 sq. ft.
of basal area as a minimum.
Stand # 5 GH/UB --- 8 acres
This stand is 3 separate "old field" areas on the property.
Once actively farmed, these areas are now mostly grass and upland brush.
Aspen, birch, and other hardwoods ate rapidly encroaching in from all
sides, and will eventually take over the site. These open, brushy areas
are a great benefit to many species of wildlife, and thus it is recommended
to maintain these areas as open. Periodic mowing or herbicide application
every 2-4 years is recommended to hold back the trees and maintain these
openings. Mowing and brushing should also be used to maintain the existing
trail network.
Stand # 6 PR 5-9(4) --- 6 acres
This stand is several small areas of planted red pine and white spruce. The trees were planted in the early 1970s and are growing very well. The long term goal is pulpwood and sawtimber production for the pine, while also maintaining two small areas of spruce for winter cover for the wildlife. All of the pine and some of the spruce had every other row thinned in 1995. Periodic, selective harvests will be necessary every 10 years to maintain a good growth rate on the remaining trees.
Mandatory Practice: Conduct a selective thinning in this stand in the years 2005 and 2015. These thinnings shall remove the poorer quality and smaller trees each time, reducing the stand basal area down to 100 sq. ft. after each thinning. Pruning of 150 crop trees per acre to a height of 17' is recommended to improve the quality of the best crop trees in the stand.
Stand #7 --- NH 5-11(1) / NH, O 0-5(3) --- 18 acres
This is an area on the property that was most heavily damaged by the '91 windstorm. Most, if not all of the timber, was blown down and utilized. This has resulted in a heavy flush of growth of upland brush, and northern hardwood, oak, and aspen seedlings and saplings. There are pockets of scattered pole and sawtimber sized trees, but not large enough to manage on their own. The heavy understory in the stand does provide excellent wildlife habitat. As with stands 1and 2, there are oak seedlings and saplings that could be hand released if so desired by the landowner.
Stand # 8 ROW 4 acres:
This stand is the ROW for Right-of-Way road.
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
Wisconsin's Best Management Practices (BMPs) for water quality are
guidelines to help landowners and loggers protect water quality and
to minimize or eliminate soil erosion and disturbance. The University
of Wisconsin - Extension has developed a series of Forestry Fact Sheets
concerning the use of BMPs in the application of forestry in Wisconsin.
The following UW handouts have been included with this management plan
to address specific areas that are applicable to this property:
Handout No. 4 - Fuels, Lubricants, waste, and Spills Handout No. 6 -
Forest Roads
Handout No. 7 - Timber Harvesting Handout No. 11 - Wetlands
Existing wetlands on the property are very small ( less than 1/4 acre).
Further development to improve these sites would produce questionable
benefits and thus it would probably be best to leave them as is.
SUMMARY OF MANDATORY PRACTICES FROM 2000 TO 2024, INCLUSIVE
YEAR STAND ACRES MANDATORY PRACTICE REQUIRED
In 2005, Stand #6, 6 acres, Practice Required: Selective thin
In 2010, Stand #1, 30 acres, Practice Required: Selective thin
In 2010, Stand #2, 30 acres, Practice Required: Harvest scattered mature
timber
In 2010, Stand #3, 10 acres, Practice Required: Selective thin
In 2015, Stand #6, 6 acres, Practice Required: Selective thin
Provide the name, address, and telephone number of the preparer of this
plan:
Daniel J. Schumacher
Department of Natural Resources W 8945 Hwy 8
Ladysmith, WI 54848 715-532-3911
The owner hereby agrees to comply with the terms of this forest stewardship
management plan and the conditions of subchapter VI, Ch. 77, Wis. Stats.,
and Ch. NR 46, Wis. Adm. Code. The landowner further agrees to amendment
of the Petition for Designation to conform with the landowner objectives
and map as included in this plan.
To be signed by the President and Secretary of a corporation or by the
individual.