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DOUGLAS COUNTY FOREST COMPREHENSIVE LAND-USE PLAN 2006-2020 CHAPTER 3000 Accomplishments Section Page 3000 Objective and Policy 3000.1 3000.2 Policy 3100 Annual Accomplishment Reports 3105 Douglas County Forestry Department Annual Accomplishment Report 3105.1 3105.1.1 Douglas County Forestry Department Staff 3105.1.2 Douglas County Forest, Parks, and Recreation Committee 3105.2 Forest 3105.2.1 Timber Harvest 3105.2.2 Forest 3105.2.3 3105.2.4 Timber Stand Improvement 3105.3 Access Management 3105.3.1 County Forest 3105.3.2 Timber Access 3105.4 Land 3105.5 Forest 3105.6 Wildlife Projects 3105.7 Recreation Program 3105.7.1 Recreational 3105.7.2 Parks, Campgrounds, and Boat 3105.7.3 Boat 3105.7.4 Impoundment 3105.8 Douglas County Forest Comprehensive Land Use Plan 2006- 3105.8.1 Comprehensive Land Use 3105.8.2 Douglas County Access Management 3105.9 Buildings and Grounds 3105.9.1 Forestry Department Facilities and Infrastructure........ 3105.9.2 3105.10 Budget Summary 3105.10.1 Operating 3105.10.2 Capital Budget 3000 - 1 3000 - 1 3000 - 1 3000 - 1 3000 - 2 3000 - 2 3000 - 2 3000 - 3 3000 - 3 3000 - 3 3000 - 4 3000 - 4 3000 - 5 3000 - 5 3000 - 5 3000 - 5 3000 - 5 3000 - 5 3000 - 6 3000 - 7 3000 - 7 3000 - 7 3000 - 7 3000 - 7 3000 - 7 3000 - 7 3000 - 7 3000 - 7 3000 - 7 3000 - 8 3000 - 8 3000 - 8 3000 - 8 ---PAGE BREAK--- CHAPTER 3000 ACCOMPLISHMENTS 3000 OBJECTIVE AND POLICY 3000.1 Objective To provide a quantifiable means of evaluating progress on both short- and long-term goals on the Douglas County Forest. 3000.2 Policy Annual accomplishments will be recorded as a historical record to assist in future planning and to provide documentation for the County. This information is invaluable in addressing public and County Board inquiries on the operation of the Douglas County Forest and in assessing progress on meeting objectives. 3100 ANNUAL ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORTS A copy of each annual accomplishment report shall be prepared and provided to the FPRC and official copyholders of this Plan (see Section 305.2) for inclusion in this chapter. ---PAGE BREAK--- COMPREHENSIVE LAND-USE PLAN 2006-2020 3105 DOUGLAS COUNTY FORESTRY DEPARTMENT ANNUAL ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT (2006) Natural resources, such as those provided by the Douglas County Forest, are the based for satisfying ecological and socioeconomic needs of present and future generations. The mission of the Douglas County Forestry Department is, on behalf of Douglas County residents, to provide stewardship to these resources, develop and maintain recreational opportunities, and serve as an information resource to the public. This 2006 accomplishment report defines and supplements the Comprehensive Land-Use Plan 2006-2020 and emphasizes and adjusts for the current annual accomplishments of the County Forest and Recreational System. 3105.1 Positions 3105.1.1 Douglas County Forestry Department Staff The following personnel held the following positions with the Douglas County Forestry Department during 2006: Fulltime Positions Personnel Position Mark Schroeder (Interim) Director of Forestry & Natural Resources Mark Schroeder Parks & Recreations Supervisor Judy Nicoski Highway/Forestry Accountant (20% Forestry) Michelle Graskey Office Services Supervisor Jim Latvala Forester Craig Golembiewski Forester Dave Cizmas Forester Janelle Eggert GIS Specialist/Forester Jason Langenecker Inventory Forester Lance Wegner Forestry Technician I Charles Stensland Conservation Tech III Carol Schorik Accounting Technician Aimee Kruse Account Clerk 3000 - 2 ---PAGE BREAK--- CHAPTER 3000: ACCOMPLISHMENTS Parttime Positions Personnel Position Tammie Cramey Seasonal Park Employee - Lead Steven Schuyler Seasonal Park Employee - Lead Naomi Nelson Seasonal Park Employee Andrew Demming Seasonal Park Employee John Krawza Jr. Seasonal Park Employee Tom DeRosier Seasonal Park Employee Karen Stegmann Seasonal Park Employee Sam Yrjanainen Seasonal Park Employee Mark Halvorson Seasonal Forest Inventory Intern Christopher Firgens Seasonal Forest Inventory Intern Joseph Schommer Seasonal Forest Inventory Intern Dewey Smith Equipment Operator – Part Time 3105.1.2 Douglas County Forest, Parks, and Recreation Committee Members The following Douglas County Board of Supervisors were members of the Douglas County Forest, Parks, and Recreation Committee during 2006: Douglas County Board Member Mark Liebaert, Chair Robert Browne, Vice Chair Carol Johnson John Robinson George Graven Tom Stewart James O’Brian 3105.2 Forest Management 3105.2.1 Timber Harvest 67,818 total cords and 128,260 board feet of saw logs were harvested from 54 total sales covering 3,323 acres of the Douglas County Forest in 2006. The second highest revenue total of $2,862,304.14 was received from timber sale receipts with 70 percent going to Douglas County, 20 percent to the State of Wisconsin, and 10 percent prorated to the townships with County Forest acreage. The average harvested sale size was 62 acres and yielded and average 1,261 cords. The average paid price per harvested cord for all species was $42.03 and average revenue received per harvested sale was $53,005.63. The 67,818 total cords were broken down by species as follows: 3000 - 3 ---PAGE BREAK--- COMPREHENSIVE LAND-USE PLAN 2006-2020 Species Harvested Pulpwood (Cords) Harvested Saw-Timber (MBF) Total Harvested Cords Equivalent Total Value of Harvested Sales Aspen 20,717 20,717 $1,048,236.36 Paper Birch 6,076 6,076 $283,375.45 Mixed HW 25,756 128.26 26,038 $820,667.39 Scrub Oak 611 611 $8,863.25 Red Oak 577 577 $18,608.09 HARDWOODS 53,737 128.26 54,019 $2,179,750.55 Balsam Fir 1,588 1,588 $65,616.53 Jack Pine 9,853 9,853 $469,924.08 Red Pine 2,176 2,176 $132,965.22 White Spruce 464 464 $14,047.77 SOFTWOODS 14,081 14,081 $682,553.59 TOTAL 67,818 128.26 68,100 $2,862,304.14 In addition to the 54 harvested sales in 2006, 54 additional sales sold to 18 different purchasers for $3,038,086.55 covering 4,208 acres. 3105.2.2 Forest Inventory 14,957 total acres of commercial timber types throughout the Douglas County Forest were inventoried in 2006. This acreage represents approximately 7.3 percent of the total commercial type acreage. Encompassing the 14,957 total acres, 485 individual stands were visited where a total of 1,538 plots were taken. Field collected data for all plots was entered into the Department’s forest inventory database using the R.A.V.E.N. application. The 2005 Digital Orthophotography contract once again was not completed due to poor weather during the imagery collection window. Overcast skies and cloud cover prevented the successful aerial collection. The contract was extended into 2007. 3105.2.3 Reforestation Site Preparation - 439 total acres on the Douglas County Forest were treated with mechanical site-preparation methods in 2006 (70 acres tractor furrowed, 211 acres disk trenched, 158 acres roller chopped). 2006 experienced the first substantial efforts directed towards regenerating the initial jack pine budworm salvage harvests. These efforts will continue over the course of the next few years and may need to be expanded dependent upon replanting needs due to the current drought. Planting - 224 total acres on the Douglas County Forest were hand planted with over 200,000 (32,000 red pine, 149,000 jack pine, and 23,000 white spruce) seedlings through the use of 3000 - 4 ---PAGE BREAK--- CHAPTER 3000: ACCOMPLISHMENTS contracted crews. Due to the summer drought conditions, a large percentage of these plantings experienced very low survival rates and will be reevaluated next year for replanting needs. Bud Capping - 61 total acres of jack pine seedlings on the Douglas County Forest were bud capped in an effort to deter repeated overbrowsing by white-tailed deer. This site will continue to be monitored over the next several years to determine level of success. Prescribed Burning - No prescribed burning for silvicultural regeneration objectives were completed on the Forest in 2006. 3105.2.4 Timber Stand Improvement Approximately 227 acres of established plantations were released from competing woody vegetation through the use of mechanical hand treatments performed by contracted crews. 3105.3 Access Management Program 3105.3.1 County Forest Roads General maintenance activities of grading, brushing, and culvert replacement were completed on the County Forest Road system in 2006 by staff. A new rotating blade head attached to a rented excavator was used to complete the brushing on approximately 7 miles of road (14 miles of ditches). Culverts were reset and replaced on a case-by-case, as needed basis. The total 2006 mileage (95.65 miles) were graded at a minimum of one time. Roads that receive heavier use patterns were graded numerous times. The total County Forest Road mileage changed +0.95 miles since last year. 3105.3.2 Timber Access Trails Segments of newly constructed and reconstructed general forest access roads were completed throughout the forest as part of the timber sale program in 2006. Design and construction specifications were incorporated into sale contracts and construction activities were approved by designated sale administrator staff. 3105.4 Land Adjustments Overall, the Douglas County Forest increased in size by 1.1 percent (2,968.5 total acres). Under the Wisconsin County Forest Law, 40 acres were enrolled as County Forest Land and 2,928.5 acres were enrolled as Special Use Land. 3105.5 Forest Protection 2006 saw an increased threat from wildfire danger due to the drought conditions. Douglas County Forestry offered and staffed the D6 bulldozer, D5 bulldozer, semi and low-boy transport, 6x6 water 3000 - 5 ---PAGE BREAK--- COMPREHENSIVE LAND-USE PLAN 2006-2020 tanker, and 4x4 with slip-on to the WDNR as requested and available. In addition to equipment, three staff members offered themselves as members of the regional Incident Management Team (IMT). Staffed worked many late days and weekends throughout the early spring fire season and into late summer/fall. The Emergency Fire Regulations were approved for the first time in recent years during the month of August. Only one forest fire burned on the Douglas County Forest in 2006. The Erickson Creek Fire was first reported on September 4, 2006. The fire started from a lightning strike in a remote area within the Erickson Creek Natural Area. The fire had been smoldering and creeping in a black spruce swamp, and then eventually made a run through some longer marsh grasses in an open area. Due to dry conditions and access issues, the fire was difficult to suppress, and mop up went on for days. The fire was eventually declared out on September 12, 2006. Soil disturbed during the suppression efforts within the marsh area was rehabbed in October with consideration of the State Natural Area designation, and the sensitive resources present. 3105.6 Wildlife Projects Prescribed Burning - Approximately 710 acres of Douglas County Forest and Special Use lands were treated with a prescribed burn in 2006 to create/maintain favorable wildlife habitat. Wildlife Openings - Maintenance was completed on 208 openings throughout the Douglas County Forest in 2006. 171 openings were mechanically treated with the use of an All-Surface- Vehicle (ASV) and the remaining 37 were brushed by hand. The 208 openings covered approximately 229 total acres. Swan Round-up - Staff members assisted WDNR wildlife specialist with its annual Trumpeter Swan population survey as part of the WDNR’s Trumpeter Swan Recovery Program. Staff aided in the capture of young signets and the collection of individual specimen data. Oak Regeneration - Approximately 20 acres of Douglas County Forest lands were monitored and survival checked for success rates of oak regeneration on sites treated with prescribed burns and scarified shelterwood harvests. Jack Pine Regeneration - Approximately 105,000 jack pine seedling stock were purchased and planted throughout the forest. An additional estimated 700 acres were treated with site-preparation methods to encourage natural jack pine regeneration. Road/landing Restoration - Select timber sale access roads and harvest landings were planted with native ground cover mixes having high benefits to wildlife. 3000 - 6 ---PAGE BREAK--- CHAPTER 3000: ACCOMPLISHMENTS 3105.7 Recreation Program 3105.7.1 Recreational Trails The development of the North Country Scenic Trail continued on the Douglas County Forest. An additional 4.5 miles of trail was certified in the Douglas County Wildlife Management Area. 3105.7.2 Parks, Campgrounds, and Boat Launches A major improvement project was started in the Fall of 2006 at the corral area of the Douglas County Wildlife Management Area. Douglas County Forestry staffed worked in conjunction with the Northwoods Harness Club to remove the old corral structures, level the site, and reconstruct with improved materials. 3105.7.3 Boat Landings No projects were planned for 2006 3105.7.4 Impoundment Structures A major improvement project was completed on the Park Creek Pond in the village of Solon Springs. Project components included; repairs to the tin whistle, addition of a new catch basin, installation of two new sewer grates, replacement of damaged culverts on Railroad Street, and armoring the creek where it enters Lucius Woods Park. 3105.8 Douglas County Forest Comprehensive Land Use Plan 2006-2020 3105.8.1 Comprehensive Land Use Plan Due to the vacant Director of Forestry and Natural Resources position and overextended staff, progress on the Comprehensive Land Use Plan was minimal throughout 2006. 3105.8.2 Douglas County Access Management Plan As a specific targeted component of the 15-year Plan (Chapter 700), progress of the Access Management Plan also stalled throughout 2006 due to vacancies and overextended staff. 3105.9 Buildings and Grounds 3105.9.1 Forestry Department Facilities and Infrastructure No major maintenance or improvement efforts on the office buildings or maintenance facility were undertaken in 2006. 3000 - 7 ---PAGE BREAK--- COMPREHENSIVE LAND-USE PLAN 2006-2020 3000 - 8 3105.9.2 Equipment In 2006 the D5 bulldozer required considerable mechanical work for repairs. The vehicle fleet was maintained and repaired as needed throughout the year. One new 3/4 ton pickup truck was added to the fleet. A new ATV and snowmobile were purchased to replace machines that had been sold. Two new riding lawn mowers used in the parks were purchased to replace machines that had been sold. 3105.10 Budget Summary The budget summary for the Douglas County Forestry Department during 2006 was as follows: 3105.10.1 Operating Budget Revenues Account Category Amount Intergovernmental Revenues (Grants) $494,402 Licenses & Permits (Firewood, Christmas tree, etc...) $830 Public Charges for Services (Timber Sales & Park Fees) $1,936,945 Intergovernmental Charges for Services (Timber Cruises) $3,300 Miscellaneous Revenues (Mainly Facility Rentals & Other Misc.) $24,405 Other Financing Sources (Transfer to General Fund) ($670,000) TOTAL Revenues $1,789,882 Expenses Account Category Amount Personnel Services $874,093 Contractual Services (All Outside Service Fees) $511,980 Supplies & Expense (All Operating Supplies) $185,500 Fixed Charges (Insurance, Depreciation, Equipment Rentals) $185,109 Grants & Contributions (Bad Debt Expense) $500 Allocations (Machinery Operation & Data Processing Fees) $32,700 TOTAL Expenses $1,789,882 3105.10.2 Capital Budget $115,500 was the total capital amount budgeted by the Douglas County Forestry Department in 2006. This figure included land acquisition ($20,000), park improvement projects ($42,500), vehicle ($25,000), two riding lawn mowers ($10,000), two data recorders ($12,000), and a snowmobile ($6,000).