Healthy Forests Initiative - Fact Sheet
Making A Difference
Huron Manistee National Forest - Michigan
Historically, the forested lands of Iosco and Alcona Counties in
central Michigan have been susceptible to wildland fires. The jack
pine fuel type associated with the sandy soils predominant in these
counties is considered one of the most volatile and dangerous fuel
types in the United States.
In 1911, most of the structures of Oscoda and Au Sable were destroyed
when a fire approached from the western jack pine “plains”.
Currently, overtime dense stands of young trees and drought have
created conditions producing larger-than-normal wildland fires.
In addition, more people are living in the forests than in 1911
creating a “wildland urban-interface.”
The removal of jack pine through commercial harvest and mechanical
thinning is necessary to create grassy openings and shaded fuel
breaks since the Sand Lake and associated hazardous fuel reduction
projects are located in areas with historic high fire occurrence.
The goals of the projects are:
- To expand existing fuel breaks around the Oscoda School complex,
industrial park and subdivisions.
- To place projects in areas that had historically high fire occurrences
and in areas adjacent to “Communities at Risk” as
identified in the National Fire Plan.
Most of the material removed will be chipped and used at wood-burning
power plant, reducing the amount of woody debris, called “slash,”
left on the forest floor. The fuel breaks will be maintained by
mowing and using prescribed fire.
The Sand Lake Fuels Project is one of 15 pilot projects around
the US where the Forest Service has implemented an improved and
focused process for completing environmental assessments for priority
forest health projects.
The project was selected as a EA pilot project in October 2002
and a decision notice was issued in May 2003. The Forest has expedited
the fuels treatment projects more quickly using the improved EA
process.
Approximately 800 acres in four areas were selected for mechanical
treatment (clearcut and thinning through commercial timber sale
and chipping of woody material). No appeals were received; implementation
is under way with the first contract issued this fall; the balance
of the contracts will be awarded spring 2004.
For more information on the Healthy Forests Restoration Act and
the Healthy Forests Initiative, visit
http://www.fs.fed.us/projects/hfi/ or http://www.doi.gov/hfi/newhfi/
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