June 1, 2011

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment will host an open house June 29 to provide information and receive public comment on proposed forest management treatments for 2013 in the Baraga Forest Management Unit. The open house will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Baraga DNR office, 427 U.S. 41 North in Baraga.

Each year, DNR personnel inventory and evaluate one-tenth of the state forest. Information gathered includes the health, quality, and quantity of all vegetation; wildlife and fisheries habitat and needs; archeological sites; minerals; recreational use; wildfire potential and social factors, including proximity to roads and neighborhoods; and use on adjacent public and private lands. Proposed treatments, which may include timber harvesting, replanting, and other management activities, are designed to ensure the sustainability of the resources and ecosystems.

The open house is an opportunity for the public to review proposed treatments and to provide input toward final decisions on those treatments. It also provides the public an opportunity to talk with foresters and biologists about issues of interest. Maps and information regarding the proposed treatments will be available at the open house, and can be accessed at www.michigan.gov/dnr under the Forests, Land & Water section.

Each management unit is divided into smaller units or compartments to facilitate better administration of the resources. Compartments under review this year are in Arvon, Baraga, Covington, and L'Anse townships in Baraga County; Elm River, Laird, Portage, and Torch Lake townships in Houghton County; and Bohemia and Ontonagon townships in Ontonagon County.

The formal compartment review to decide on prescriptions for these areas is scheduled for 9:30 a.m., Thursday, July 13, at the Best Western Baraga Lakeside Inn, 900 S. U.S. 41, Baraga.

Persons with disabilities needing accommodations for the Baraga Forest Management Unit Open House should contact Don Mankee at 906-353-6651 a minimum of five (5) business days before this event/meeting. Requests made less than five business days before this event may not be accommodated.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.