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Managing the Basin's Resources
The Upper Chippewa River Basin contains some of Wisconsin's most scenic natural resources. The Upper Chippewa Basin is known for its undeveloped stretches of river, its big blocks of forest, and its historical flowages. Wildlife habitat is abundant and diverse and the Basin is known for healthy populations of game and non-game species. Outdoor recreational opportunities abound within the Basin. Whether you enjoy hunting, fishing, canoeing, hiking, or any other outdoor pursuit, you'll find a place within the Basin to enjoy nature.
Ecosystem Management
The Flambeau River State Forest (FRSF), located within the heart of the Upper Chippewa River Basin, is a prime example of ecosystem management in practice. Managers of the Flambeau River State Forest incorporate all dimensions of the environment when planning and managing for the sustainability of the forest's resources. These dimensions include but are not limited to: applicable federal and state laws, public involvement, water quality concerns, wildlife habitat needs, forest products, and the needs of forest visitors.
The managers of the property have protected a wilderness corridor along the Flambeau River to protect watershed and scenic values. Camping at one of the numerous riverside campsites is a very popular activity. Wildlife species benefit from the diversity of forest types and ages which can be found on the forest. Managers have begun managing the forests by mimicking the natural disturbances (such as wind, fire, and insects) which together have shaped the forest for millennia. Species whose populations have been in decline regionally (e.g. hemlock) are receiving special attention within the FRSF. The Flambeau River State Forest ecosystem is in excellent condition thanks to the dedicated staff who manages the land, water, and wildlife resources in a professional manner. Some credit also is due to the public who helps care for the resource by careful use and enjoyment.
For more information, contact the FRSF superintendent through mail at:
FRSF Headquarters, W1613 Co. W, Winter WI 54896;
or by phone at: (715) 332-5271
Wisconsin has always been known for its bountiful forests, especially the famed "North Woods" of Paul Bunyan fame. The landscape that the original settlers of northern Wisconsin experienced appears to be similar to that of today - heavily forested. However, the historical forests were somewhat different from those we see today. The Chippewa River Valley was known region wide for the quantity and quality of its pine resource. This resource attracted the lumberjacks and timber barons of the 1880's and widespread logging continued until the 1930's. After the loggers harvested the pine, they next cut the hemlock and finally the hardwood.
After logging, fire ravaged through the landscape - which became known as "the cutover." Finally, homesteaders brought the plow to the land and attempted to farm the depleted soils. During the Great Depression many farms folded and the land was left to slowly revert to forests, both naturally and through planting efforts by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The forests we see today in the Upper Chippewa River Basin are results of that process of abandonment and reforestation. Some changes in species can be seen, as more of the landscape is dominated by aspen and less is dominated by the pines of lore.
The Clam Lake Elk Herd - there's elk in Wisconsin again!
Wildlife found within the Basin include several threatened or endangered species like the eastern timber wolf and pine marten, numerous game species like the white-tailed deer, and special populations like the Clam Lake Elk herd managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. At last count, over 100 elk were known to be in the herd, which is growing yearly. To learn more about wildlife within the area, visit the Department of Natural Resources site.
In 1997, the U.S. Forest Service, University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources together reestablished an elk herd around the Clam Lake area. The 25 original elk were transplanted from Michigan's Upper Peninsula and were initially kept in a large enclosure so that biologists could monitor the herd's condition. In 1998, they were released from the enclosure and since that time have dispersed into a much larger area. As of this fall, the herd numbers approximately 75 animals with about 20 calves born annually. This project has gone so well that the DNR is planning to release another herd in the Black River State Forest area. Elk had been missing from northern Wisconsin since the early 1900's when they were over hunted and their habitat altered by logging, farming, and fires.
For more information about the Elk program, visit the DNR's Elk website: http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/wildlife/ELK/
Also, check out the UW-Stevens Point Elk Reintroduction Study page: http://www.uwsp.edu/wildlife/research/wers/elkpage.htm
How can fire benefit natural ecosystems?Forest fires are something everyone is aware of thanks to Smokey Bear, but was Smokey right about fires? Some ecosystems found in northern Wisconsin are very dependent upon fire for their existence. For one, the famed pineries of the Upper Chippewa River Basin have evolved with fire over the millennia. Pine trees, especially jack pine, require fire to reproduce. The cones of jack pine are serotinous, meaning that they are sealed shut with resin and require intense heat from fires to open. Jack pines successfully reproduces following fires by releasing their seeds onto the burned over landscape, which usually presents a perfect opportunity for seedlings to grow.
Since the 1930's fire has been successfully suppressed in the United States. Today, managers are returning prescribed fire to the landscape in an attempt to restore more natural processes. Unfortunately, as seen in some western states, the use of prescribed fire can lead to disaster if applied improperly. For that reason, the use of prescribed fire should be left up to natural resource professionals. Find out why at: http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/forestry/fire/burning-rp.htm
To learn more about using prescribe burning, contact your local DNR forester or fire control ranger.
How can wildlife benefit from active land management?
Managing our forests and protecting our sensitive shoreland and wetland areas creates and maintains a diversity of habitats for a diversity of species. Many species of wildlife from birds to bear need several different types of habitat during different parts of the year. A great example is the white-tailed deer which needs open areas to feed, dense cover to herd up in winter, and young and mast producing trees for forage. Historically, humans have driven many species of wildlife into extinction by over harvesting and destroying habitat. Today, natural resource professionals are preserving endangered species and also helping to return species previously lost. Land managers provide the habitat these species need through active management. Examples include the Karner blue butterfly, wild turkey, pine marten, the timber wolf, and the elk.
To learn more about managing your lands for wildlife, visit the Wildlife and Your Land Series. A majority of Wisconsin's forests are owned by non-industrial private forestland owners. How well are these lands managed?
Nobody is quite sure about this answer, but some statistics paint a scary picture. According to DNR statistics, only about 15% of private forest landowners utilize the knowledge and experience of a professional forester when harvesting timber from their property. Many landowners are simply unaware of proper scientific forest management, and therefore work directly with loggers who can be unscrupulous sometimes. This often leads to lower financial return and long-lasting damage to the land and its resources. If you are an owner of forest land in Wisconsin, we would encourage you to use the services of a professional forester. You can contact your local Wisconsin DNR office for further assistance, or visit the Wisconsin Woodland Assistance website.
If you own woodland in Wisconsin, you should check out the following websites:
Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association
Wisconsin Forest Productivity Council
Wisconsin DNR Private Forestry
UW-Madison Department of Forest Ecology and Management's Extension page