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Sawyer County hears forestry, DNR and U.S. Forest Service updates on sales and projects
Summary
County forestry staff reported active timber sales and early-year revenue; DNR and the U.S. Forest Service described recent road work, conservation easement repairs and multi-thousand-acre management projects.
Sawyer County forestry staff, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Forest Service gave updates on timber sales, forest projects and recreation access at the Natural Resources Committee meeting.
Forestry staff reported 15 active timber sales for January and three sales closed during the month. Timber sale value (sold and uncut on file) was reported as just over $4.1 million and starting revenue for the year was reported as just over $264,000. Staff said five timber sale contract tracks were turned in for review and noted work on recon acres for the year. The county is proceeding with its Good Neighbor Authority contracts with the state, completing year-25 reimbursement paperwork and negotiating year-26 terms.
Staff said ATV and snowmobile trail reroutes remain under review and that the county is preparing grant applications for the funding cycle with a deadline of April 15.
A Department of Natural Resources representative reported completion of a phase of a road reconstruction project within the Lake of the Pines conservation easement. DNR used county dump-truck staff along with private contractors to haul an estimated 300 cubic yards of breaker rock; staff said frozen conditions prevented full completion and that final grading is planned after spring breakup in June or July. The DNR report said the project is backed by grant funding secured by DNR wildlife in Hayward.
A U.S. Forest Service representative, Adam Wasell, said the district signed the Moose 2X project covering about 22,500 acres north of the Chip Flowage, and that the West Zone Aspen project targets overmature aspen stands across several districts. Wasell said the district planned to advertise multiple sales this fiscal year with a combined offered volume of roughly 13,000,000 board feet and reported seven active sales. He said market conditions and staffing have affected how much is offered and sold; the service plans to incrementally increase advertised volume in coming years.
Committee members asked for comparisons with previous years. Wasell said staffing reductions have lowered recent quotas but the district hopes to ramp back toward historical levels over the next two to three fiscal years. The committee also discussed wildlife benefits of aspen management and the role of elk openings in some sales.
Forestry, DNR and Forest Service staff answered committee questions about access, market conditions for hardwood pulp, and how bridge closures and trail reroutes can affect timber sale marketability.
