Committee approves Sawyer County Forestry 2025 work plan and sends it to County Board

The Sawyer County Land, Water and Forest Resources Committee approved the Forestry Department’s 2025 annual work plan and the partnership meeting minutes and voted to forward both to the County Board for final approval.

Forestry staff reported that annual revenues exceeded budget for 2024, citing year-to-date revenue of just over $2.5 million and sale value (sold and uncut on file) of about $4.4 million. Staff also said they completed key projects, including the Veil 5 rehab project, and finished a four-year Good Neighbor Authority contract with the U.S. Forest Service.

The work plan outlines the department’s schedule of work for 2025 and is a required document for the county to receive state cost-share for the county forest administrator position. The committee approved the plan by motion and agreed to include the partnership meeting minutes as part of the materials forwarded to the county board.

Committee members asked about staffing and implementation questions. Forestry staff said the department expects roughly steady sale levels for the year and described special project changes (ATV/UTV/vehicle trails) that vary annually. The committee approved the work plan and partnership minutes on voice votes with no recorded opposition and directed staff to forward the items to the County Board.

The committee also briefly discussed invasive species (gypsy moth) and Emerald Ash Borer monitoring and reported that no large active infestations were identified during recent monitoring.

The committee’s motion to approve the work plan and forward it to the County Board passed unanimously by voice vote.