South Spur Restoration

The goal of this project is to restore habitat on approximately 968 acres of forested lands to pre-settlement conditions consisting of five habitat types, with a focus on oak savanna, oak woodlands, and tamarack swamp. The diverse vegetative and structural composition of the habitat types found in this area produces a highly diverse suite of wildlife species across multiple guilds (birds, turtles, and mammals). The project will mechanically thin 715 acres currently forested by pine or overgrown oak forests. Stumps will be ground to create fire breaks for prescribed burning, and herbicides will treat invasive species and control regeneration of undesirable trees in the savanna. Over 510 acres of the site will be planted into oak savanna, 146 acres will be planted as tamarack swamp, 235 acres will be managed as dry oak woodlands, and 77 acres will be managed as a buffer along the St. Francis River.