Deer River Minnesota- On July 5, 2022 RGS/AWS signed a Shared Stewardship project agreement with the Deer River Ranger District of the Chippewa National Forest. Under this agreement, RGS/AWS will implement an aspen timber sale, install hunter walking trail gates, maintain a waterfowl impoundment dike and maintain and enhance wildlife openings.
Much of this Stewardship Agreement work will be completed at the Johnson Lake Hunter Walking trail area south of Deer River. On September 1, 2022 RGS/AWS awarded the 78 acre “Johnson Lake” Timber Sale to SAPPI North America for use in their Cloquet MN pulp and paper mill. This timber sale is an aspen regeneration and habitat treatment which will grow new aspen sprouts in patches scattered throughout the hunter walking trail area, as well as provide revenue from the harvested timber.
The unique feature of Stewardship Agreements is their ability to use timber revenue to complete additional forest health and habitat improvements. Plans for 2023 include mowing and prescribed burning, followed by seeding native pollinator plants to maintain and enhance wildlife openings and install gates at the Johnson Lake Hunter Walking Trail network. Planning for additional forest health and forest wildlife habitat projects to potentially include timber harvest preparations and tree planting through this Agreement are also underway.
