Copper Country Habitat Restoration Project (Michigan)

Agreement Narrative: Copper Country Habitat Restoration Project MOD01 

Primary Funder: Ottawa National Forest  

Location: Kenton Ranger District, Ottawa National Forest, Michigan 

Innovation: This cost-share agreement allows for the funding of an RGS-employed project coordinator who works with USFS staff to implement forest management projects on the Ottawa NF. This is mutually beneficial as it allows for RGS to implement on-the-ground habitat projects while assisting the often-understaffed Ottawa NF wildlife management division to implement goals outlined within the forest’s management plan.  

2023 MOD Update: In 2023, working with the Ottawa NF, a Modification that added $262,622.83 in Great Lakes Restoration funding extended the employment of our RGS-employed project coordinator by an additional year (to December 2025) and added an additional Limited Term (6 month) Forestry Technician to be supervised by the RGS-employed project coordinator. This addition of the Forestry Technician will extend the amount of timber sale establishment and non-commercial alder management RGS is able to assist the Ottawa with executing over the next 2+years. This MOD also adds the opportunity to engage the local Copper Country Chapter in on the ground habitat project work. 

Impact: The public lands project coordinator will improve upland wildlife habitat at a landscape scale and improve hunting opportunities across the forest by 1) improving hunter walking trails by renovating parking areas, trailheads, and constructing signage, 2) identify and implement timber harvests with the goal of creating young forest, 3) identify, contract, and mechanically shear mature alder to improve habitat for American woodcock and songbirds.  

2023 MOD Update: 

The 2023 MOD adds additional open ended timber sale establishment acres for both the project coordinator and the technician. The Modification also adds funding to contractually complete 40 acres of no-forested opening creation and 34.5 acres of forest regeneration (either, planting, mastication, alder sheering). All acres will be based upon site assessments and inventory work. 

Partners: In addition to USFS staff, we will be collaborating with the American Bird Conservancy as well as engaging local RGS & AWS chapter members for volunteer opportunities.