Mille Lacs Uplands SFRMP
3-Year Extension to the 7-Year Plan is Available Here
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has adopted a 3-year extension to the Subsection Forest Resources Management Plan (SFRMP) for two ecological subsections in central Minnesota. The subsections are the Mille Lacs Uplands and Glacial Lake Superior Plain. For planning purposes, these two subsections collectively are called, "Mille Lacs Uplands" or MLU. Approximately 232,000 acres of land administered by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) divisions of Forestry and Wildlife are included in this SFRMP. The public comment period on this extension to the plan closed on March 21, 2011; no comments were received during the comment period.
Windstorms damage within MLU area
Windstorms on July 1 and July 19 swept across Pine County, damaging forests within a 95,000-acre area in St. Croix State Park and Chengwatana, Nemadji, and St. Croix state forest. More information and storm damage area maps.
Much of the damage occurred in the MLU plan area; the Sandstone Forestry Area in particular. Approximately 17,000 acres of productive timberlands covered by the MLU SFRMP were damaged with more than 25 percent of the trees blown down. An additional 12,000 acres of timberlands were damaged in the St. Croix State Park. As a result, Sandstone is not likely to be able to examine/offer any stands from the three-year MLU extension over the next 2-3 years. Not much is known at this point about how much of the storm damaged area will be harvested or treated. By the time the extent of treatments to storm damaged acres is better known, the MLU is scheduled to begin a full plan revision. The adjustments from the storm damage and implications of Annual Stand Examination Lists that aren't accomplished will best be made in that full plan revision.
The original MLU SFRMP established long-term forest management goals, objectives, and strategies; and 7-year targets, a proposed 7-year stand examination list, and an estimate of new access needs. This 3-year extension proposes to field-examine approximately 23,382 additional acres of DNR forest lands for potential treatment over the next 3 years (fiscal years 2012-2014). The MLU SFRMP was among the first of the subsection plans to be undertaken by the DNR. At that time the standard was to prepare a 7-year stand examination list (in contrast to the current ten-year list). A 3-year extension to the original MLU 7-year stand exam list was needed to bring the MLU plan into line with the current 10-year planning timeframe for SFRMPs, and make the MLU plan consistent with others around the State. Bringing the MLU plan into a ten year cycle (FY 2005 through FY 2014) will allow for a smooth transition to completing the second generation of SFRMPs across the state. This 3-Year extension is viewed as continuing the overall policies, goals, DFFCs and directions of the original 7-year MLU SFRMP.
Download the 3-Year Extension to the Mille Lacs Uplands SFRMP, including the 3-Year Stand Selection Results and New Access Needs:
Plan documents are available in alternate formats by request. A printed version (100 pages, excluding Stand Exam List), or a CD of the complete MLU 3-Year Extension, including the proposed 3-year Stand Examination List can be made available by mail.
Lynn Sue Mizner, DNR Forest Planner
Minnesota DNR – Forestry
1200 Minnesota Ave., S.
Aitkin, MN 56431
Email: lynn.mizner@state.mn.us
Questions: 218-927-7500 ext. 245