National Forests in Michigan

REBUILDING THE FORESTS

Men are planning for better use of the cut-over lands in Michigan; where she is given a chance nature with man's aid is reclaiming devastated areas; through planting and protection from fire lands unsuited to farming are being turned into productive forests. The new forests are producing timber to meet human needs and are helping to prevent further deterioration of the basic resource through soil erosion. They give effective aid in stream flow and water supply regulation; they provide a habitat for wildlife; they provide better fishing, hunting, and other recreation. Most important, perhaps, these forests are and will continue to contribute to employment and stabilization of forest communities.

RECKLESS LOGGING AND FOREST FIRES, MOSTLY MAN CAUSED, RESULTED IN VAST DEVASTATED AREAS LIRE THIS. F—243396

NATURE, AIDED BY PROTECTION FROM FIRE, IS RESTORING FORESTS ON MUCH OF THIS CUT-OVER LAND. (OTTAWA NATIONAL FOREST.) F—364639

In this program of forest restoration, State and National forests have been created. Back in 1909 the Michigan National Forest was proclaimed. Now there are five national forests in the State, the Huron and Manistee in the Lower Peninsula; and the Marquette and Hiawatha (administered as the Upper Michigan), and the Ottawa in the Upper Peninsula. All these are public forests and as such are managed so as to be of the highest service to the people.

Timber Production.

One great advantage of the forest is that it can be renewed and need never be exhausted. Protection from fire allows natural reproduction in some areas, but on much of the burned-over land the desirable types of trees have been killed and a new forest must be established by planting seedlings. Stock is provided by Forest Service nurseries—the Beal Nursery at East Tawas, the Wyman at Manistique, the Toumey at Watersmeet, and the Chittenden at Wellston. These nurseries provide an average of 97,000,000 seedlings each year for the national forests of Michigan. Much needed planting has been done in recent years with the help of the Civilian Conservation Corps.

UPON THOUSANDS OF SEVERELY BURNED AND ERODED ACRES FORESTS CANNOT SUCCESSFULLY RESTORE THEMSELVES. MILLIONS OF SEEDLING TREES TO REPLANT SUCH AREAS ARE RAISED IN FOREST SERVICE NURSERIES. (BEAL NURSERY, HURON NATIONAL FOREST.) F—243170

Reforestation of the thousands of acres in need of restocking is undertaken only after careful planning. The requirements of each species of tree are determined, and consideration is given to the areas to be planted. It is known, for example, that jack pine is the least exacting of the three native pines in Michigan, and that it can he grown on poorer areas. It is also most resistant to disease and drought and is, therefore, planted on the more arid and exposed lands. White pine requires better soil and a protecting overstory of other trees in its early growth. Red pine is hardy and requires no overstory, but it must have a somewhat better soil than jack pine.

The Forest Service continually carries on experimental work to learn the best methods of planting trees, the best way of preparing the ground for planting, and the most economical size and age of seedlings to be planted from the standpoint of survival. Timber-stand improvement is carried on to give the most desirable trees, shaded by worthless or low-value trees, a chance for a place in the sun.

Stands of second growth and mature trees provide timber for sales. Most important of all, perhaps, in scientific forest management is application of the principle of sustained yield, which means the annual cut of the forest will not exceed the annual growth and that the pines and the hardwoods of Michigan will never come as close to extermination as they did at the turn of the twentieth century.

IN ADDITION TO REMNANTS OF THE ORIGINAL MICHIGAN FORESTS THERE ARE TRACTS OF SECOND-GROWTH TIMBER. (MANISTEE NATIONAL FOREST.) F—367700

Wildlife.

Forests are valuable as game cover. They provide breeding places, refuge, and food, and they can be managed so as to offer maximum inducements for various species of wild animals, fish, and birds. The people of Michigan, through their State department of conservation, regulate and manage all wildlife whether on or off the national forests. Forest Service rangers cooperate in making the national forests a better place for wildlife to thrive and multiply.

The principal big-game animal of the Michigan forests is the white-tailed deer, which shares its woodland home with the less frequently seen bear, coyote, and fox, and small fur-bearers like the otter, mink, skunk, muskrat, weasel, porcupine, and snowshoe hare.

Ruffed grouse, prairie chicken, and several varieties of ducks provide good hunting. The fisherman is tempted by brook, rainbow, and brown trout in the streams, and, in the lakes, by muskellunge, great northern and wall-eyed pike, lake trout, bluegills, black bass, rock bass, sunfish, perch, bullheads, and crappie.

FISHING STREAMS MUST BE RESTORED AND KEPT STOCKED. THIS TROUT REARING POND IS ONE OF SEVERAL ON THE MICHIGAN NATIONAL FORESTS. F—384467

Recreation.

The forests provide rest, travel, sport, and inspiration to man. They have beauty and peace to satisfy the mind, and unchallenged facilities to exercise the body. Camp grounds, picnic grounds, shelters, and bathing beaches have been built within the national forests to provide for the thousands of vacationists who visit them yearly. Improvements have been made on naturally excellent winter sports areas. Fish and game are provided for the fishing and hunting seasons. Wilderness areas are preserved for the seekers of the forest primeval. In short, the national forests are managed with a view to contributing as much as possible to the physical, mental, and spiritual health of America.

TROUT FISHING REQUIRES SHADED RIVER BANKS AND COOL, CLEAR WATER. STREAM IMPROVEMENT IS AN ACTIVE PART OF THE PROGRAM ON NATIONAL FORESTS. (MARQUETTE NATIONAL FOREST.) F—384469

MICHIGAN WINTERS BRING WINTER SPORTS TO THE NATIONAL FORESTS. GLORIOUS AREAS ARE BEING DEVELOPED FOR PUBLIC USE; (NO. 1 SKI HILL, MANISTEE NATIONAL FOREST.) F—399256

FORESTS GIVE PROTECTION TO WATERSHEDS, HELPING TO REDUCE AND CONTROL BOTH FLOODS AND EROSION. (THE HISTORIC AU SABLE RIVER, HURON NATIONAL FOREST.) F—381656

Watershed Protection.

Not the least of the services of the forests is the protection of watersheds. A litter of leaves, twigs, and branches covers the ground in a forest, and rain, instead of running off, seeps through the litter into the ground. Gradually it finds its way to springs and streams, contributing to their regular, continuous flow. Forest cover, by holding back the rainfall helps to prevent floods and preserves water for homes, farms, and factories. It also keeps the "good earth" of America, the topsoil which nature patiently builds at the rate of 1 inch in 400 years, from being washed away never to be recovered.

Value to Local Communities.

There are several ways in which the national forests of Michigan contribute to the financial welfare of forest communities and residents.

Much of the land within Michigan's national forest boundaries is in private ownership. Much of it is unsuited for farming and, having long since been cleared of its timber, does not earn its taxes. In many cases land such as this, on which timber can be grown, is bought by the Forest Service with the result that the owners are benefited, the acreage of national forest land is increased, and wasted land is managed not only so that it pays its own way but also is put to its best possible use.

A CONSIDERABLE LUMBER INDUSTRY REMAINS IN SOME PARTS OF MICHIGAN. PROPER FORESTRY MANAGEMENT OF TIMBER AREAS IS NEEDED TO PERPETUATE THIS INDUSTRY AND PROVIDE PERMANENT EMPLOYMENT. (BONIFAS MILL, OTTAWA NATIONAL FOREST.) F—30081

NATIONAL FORESTS ARE DIVIDED INTO RANGER DISTRICTS IN CHARGE OF THOROUGHLY TRAINED FOREST RANGERS. HERE IS ONE MAKING GROWTH STUDIES ON THE HIAWATHA NATIONAL FOREST. F—384480

From stands of mature and second-growth timber on Forest Service lands, sales are made to small local operators. This provides a means of livelihood to many forest residents. Sold on the stump, the timber must be cut, hauled to sawmills, and manufactured into lumber.

Forest projects have relieved acute unemployment problems in recent years, providing worth-while jobs for idle hands. Dead and fallen timber is available for fuel wood at no cost to forest residents.

The forests act as large reservoirs of useful public work. The full value of such work as forest planting will become increasingly apparent and appreciated as time goes on, and especially so when the crop is harvested in the future. In doing this work the Civilian Conservation Corps has furnished a vast amount of labor and local people, paid with funds provided by Congress for that purpose, have rendered important assistance.

A notable contribution to the income of forest communities is made by the thousands of tourists who vacation in the national forests. Their purchases of gasoline, food, and souvenirs, and their rental of boats and other recreational facilities mean cash in the pockets of the year-round residents who provide these materials and services.