When a devastating winter storm swept through northwestern Wisconsin in December 2022, it left behind a level of forest damage few had ever seen before.
Dubbed the “Blue Blizzard” because of the heavy, moisture-laden snow that appeared blue in color, the storm caused widespread destruction across large portions of Douglas County. Trees snapped under the weight or bent permanently toward the ground, leaving thousands of acres of damaged forest that would never fully recover. The storm also blocked miles of forest roads and recreational trails, cutting off access for outdoor recreation, forest management and wildlife habitat work.
Now, through a collaborative conservation effort, recovery work is making a meaningful impact on the landscape.
A partnership between the RGS & AWS, Douglas County and Yamaha Motor Corporation has helped restore access and improve wildlife habitat in storm-damaged areas.
Through the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative, Yamaha awarded a $45,000 grant to RGS & AWS to support restoration work in Douglas County. The county matched the funding, allowing project leaders Craig Golembiewski, Douglas County Forest management supervisor and Jared Elm, RGS & AWS Wisconsin forest conservation coordinator, to begin planning and implementing recovery efforts.
Using the combined funding, crews rented a large forestry mulcher and got to work during the winter of 2025-26. The project wrapped up in late February after months of intensive restoration work.
The results were substantial.
More than eight miles of trails were reopened and nearly 70 acres of young forest habitat were treated. Reestablishing access to the trail system once again allows for snowmobile and ATV recreation, hunting opportunities and field trial access throughout the area.
The habitat benefits are equally important.
The treated areas will create valuable young forest conditions that support ruffed grouse, American woodcock and a wide variety of wildlife species that depend on diverse forest age classes. Reopened trail corridors also create important edge habitat that benefits wildlife movement, feeding and nesting.
In addition to the recreational and wildlife improvements, Douglas County Forest now has better access for future forest management activities and additional acres capable of generating long-term forest revenue.
Projects like this demonstrate the power of partnerships in conservation. By bringing together public agencies, private industry and nonprofit organizations, meaningful work can happen on the ground to improve forest health, wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation opportunities for future generations.
RGS & AWS thanks Yamaha and Douglas County Forest for their commitment to conservation and collaborative forest restoration efforts in Wisconsin.
For more information about Yamaha’s Outdoor Access Initiative, visit the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative.
To support RGS & AWS and our ongoing efforts to improve forest habitats for future generations, visit Ruffed.org.
