Michigan DNR to provide information, seek public comment on 2009 forest management treatments in Newberry, Mich.

Liling Tan

LANSING, Mich. , December 17, 2007 (press release) – The Department of Natural Resources will host an informal open house on Wednesday, Jan. 16, to provide information and receive public comment on proposed forest management treatments for 2009 in the Newberry Management Unit. The open house will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. at the McMillan Township Hall located at 405 Newberry Ave. in Newberry.

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 lands, public and private. Proposed treatments, which may include timber harvesting, replanting and other management activities, are then 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 http://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 McMillan, Pentland, Columbus and Lakefield townships in Luce County; and Whitefish Township in Chippewa County.

The formal compartment review to decide on prescriptions for these areas is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 30, beginning at 9 a.m. at the Training Center of the Newberry Correctional Facility.

Individuals attending the meeting are requested to refrain from using heavily-scented personal care products, in order to enhance the accessibility for everyone. Persons with disabilities needing accommodations for the open house and/or the compartment review should contact Les Homan at (906) 293-3293, ext. 4740, a minimum of five business days before the respective meeting. Requests made less than five business days before the event may not be accommodated.

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