Gogebic County Forest Celebrates 76 Years of Forest Management
July 22, 2019
Nestled in one of the most remote parts of our state lies the Gogebic County Forest, Michigan’s largest county forest. On July 22 of this year it will celebrate 76 years of sustainable multiple use forest management.
County forests were established after 1931 when the Municipal Forest Act allowed the State of Michigan to transfer surplus land to counties and other municipalities. Gogebic County first acquired forest in 1941 and the Gogebic County Forest and Parks Commission was established on July 22, 1943. The first county forester was hired in 1950 and is currently managed by county forest director, Greg Ryskey.
Ryskey, who studied wildlife biology at University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, started managing the Gogebic County Forest eight years ago. Earlier in his career he managed public and private forests for 21 years with American Forest Management.
It’s his job to ensure that the forest and park is easily accessible and can be used be used by the public in just about any way possible.
“We have basically everything: camping, hunting, fishing, snowshoeing; multi-use, ATV and horse trails; cross country skiing, birdwatching… pretty much any recreation you would want,” said Ryskey.
The Forestry and Parks Commission continuously looks for ways to improve the visitor experience. For example, the commission is currently working with representatives from the North Country Trail to relocate a portion of the trail from a blacktop road to a more wooded area of the forest, to offer users the complete wilderness experience.
Ryskey says, “Living up here, I think you take it for granted. When people come from somewhere else, they can’t believe that they can hunt here or do just about anything they want.”
The forest is also home to Gogebic County’s only location where you can drive a vehicle right up to the Lake Superior shoreline.
“The biggest draw of Little Girl’s Point is the shoreline access. Black River Harbor has some access, but you still have to walk a little bit,” said Ryskey.
Besides a recreational area, the 50,000-acre county forest also serves as a revenue source for Gogebic County bringing in more than $5 million over the past 10 years and supporting over 60 jobs from timber sales. Camping and other sources of revenue make up an additional five percent.
“We’re unique in that we are fully self-sustaining. We don’t get an appropriation from the county, we actually give them an appropriation,” said Ryskey.
However, approximately $150,000 is set aside each year for park upgrades including improving camping areas, electrical and water system upgrades, protecting shoreline erosion and maintaining their own network of roads and trails. Ryskey says road and trail maintenance is crucial because he believes there is a visible return on investment for timber sales when access roads are maintained.
The Forestry and Parks Commission staff also work with the Gogebic Conservation District, Ruffed Grouse Society and Michigan Department of Natural Resources to improve wildlife habitat. Projects include deer and ruffed grouse habitat improvement, and grouse management systems that also benefit many migratory songbird species. These improvements generally involve timber cuts that thin a specific tree species to allow for a more animal-friendly tree species to grow and planting specific trees or shrubs that provide a higher quality food or shelter for native animals.
The Gogebic County Forest is superlative in many ways beyond its recreation and economic contributions. It is the largest forest in Michigan to be certified by the American Tree Farm System. It also spans the western-most tip of Michigan where the Montreal River, which divides Michigan and Wisconsin, enters Lake Superior.
Gogebic County joined the American Tree Farm System in 1985 to ensure and document that the forest is being managed in a sound and sustainable manner. To maintain their membership, the county forests are inspected at least once every five years by a certified Tree Farm Forester. The American Tree Farm System also has independent third-party audits with Price Waterhouse Coopers and this June the Gogebic County forest participated in one of those assessments.
The county forest’s remote location and steep topography make it challenging to implement proper management techniques, so it is very important that inspections are being conducted.
“We’ve got the extremes of the Lake Superior shoreline where you’ll find some steep drop-offs and gulley’s, but the further south you travel, the flatter the ground gets. It can also be difficult for logging at times because of some of the swamps,” said Ryskey.
“I think there will be a few opportunities for improvement related to special sites and best management practices, but that is understandable on a very large and actively managed forest with steep slopes. Tree Farmers are committed to continual improvement, so we are pleased to get external feedback from the assessment,” said DNR Forest Stewardship Coordinator, Mike Smalligan.
Forest management, clean water, recreation and wildlife habitat are important to all Tree Farms, regardless of size or ownership. Most Tree Farms are also much smaller and privately-owned forests, so a large well-managed county-owned forest is impressive and unique.
To learn more about this outstanding public forest, visit gogebicforestryandparks.com.
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About the American Forest Foundation
The American Forest Foundation (AFF), a forest conservation organization, works on the ground with families, partners and elected officials to promote stewardship and protect our nation’s forest heritage. A commitment to the next generation unites our nationwide network of forest owners working to keep our forests healthy and producing clean water and air, wildlife habitat and sustainable wood supplies.
Contact: Amanda Hattis
517-853-8880
asumerix@michiganforest.com
