By: Jim Schwiebert, Beaver Creek Reserve Naturalist & Land Manager
For the
first time, Beaver Creek Reserve will have an active timber sale on its
property. Over the years, Beaver Creek has basically had a “no management” policy
for timber harvesting despite a forestry plan made in 1981. Things were left
to follow a course of natural succession. Looking at the many different timber
stands on the property however, and one jack pine stand in particular, it soon
became apparent that some kind of a timber sale operation not only needed to be
done, but could benefit Beaver Creek as well.
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| South Trails Overlook at Beaver Creek. |
In 2014, a DNR Forester surveyed the existing timber stands around Beaver Creek and noticed that one particular area had a component of jack pine that was aging and in need of harvest. The jack pine is currently mixed with pin oak with an understory (trees that are growing beneath the canopy) of predominantly red maple and white pine. This parcel of land was donated to Beaver Creek after we were already established and had current forestry management recommendations. However, prior to allowing a cutting to take place at that time, we decided our previous forestry management plan should be updated to help our Board of Directors make a better recommendation for the proposed harvest. Most of the acreage at Beaver Creek Reserve was recently placed in "County Forest Special Use" lands. Special Use exceptions are given in light of the unique nature of Beaver Creek and the way we use the property.
This stand of timber, and the potential for harvesting, could be approached in two ways. One is to do nothing- let the jack pine mature, rot, and fall down. The other option is to conduct a tree selection harvest where only the jack pine, hazard trees (oak and others that border the hiking trails), and some of the oak that are dying from oak wilt, could also be harvested. Our Board of Directors decided that a tree selection harvest was the most desirable to capture the value of the jack pine before it became unusable. Also, this harvest would provide a safer space for hikers since the mature trees represented significant falling hazards near popular trails. The money generated from the sale will go back into operation and maintenance expenses for Beaver Creek.
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| Photo by My Wisconsin Woods. |
From a strictly silvicultural (the science of forest management) standpoint, this stand probably should have been clear-cut to allow the oak and jack pine to regenerate. Oak and jack pine cannot regenerate without full sun reaching the young seeds and saplings. This can only happen when the stands are clear-cut. With the selective removal of the jack pine only, the stand will eventually convert to a less desirable white pine/red maple forest type, which is typical succession for most of the oak/pine forest types in our area. I use the term ‘less desirable’ simply because the oak/jack pine forest type is diminishing in acreage and the maple/white pine forest is becoming more predominant. The oak/jack pine forest type also has obvious wildlife benefits with mast (seed) production and browse, benefiting many species. Both white pine and red maple grow well in the shade, so a clear-cut is not necessary to promote their growth. They will replace the oak and jack pine. Although there will be disturbance with the selective thinning, it won’t be to the same degree as a clear-cut. Considering the use of the area for hiking, snowshoeing, and nature exploration, the selective thinning was the timber harvest prescription approved by our Board. There is also a small strip of red pine in the sale area that was planted years ago and is in need of thinning. Those trees will also be selectively removed as part of the sale.
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| Red Loop Trail on South Campus. |
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