Management and Business

Forest Management

An active forestry program is in place on the Willow Flowage to maintain prime wildlife habitat, emphasize forest diversity and promote a natural and aesthetically pleasing appearance. Future thinnings of selected trees and occasional prescribed burns will help restore the shoreline to historic forest conditions dominated by long-lived tree species such as red and white pine.

Goals

• Maintain and enhance the aesthetic qualities and solitude of the Willow Flowage Scenic Waters Area.
• Protect the water quality, sustainable fisheries, undeveloped shoreline and aquatic and terrestrial habitats of the Willow Flowage Scenic Waters Area that led to its designation as an Outstanding Resource Water.
• Manage for and enhance the diverse range of native flora and fauna of the Willow Flowage Scenic Waters Area.
• In consultation with tribal governments, manage the land and other natural resources to provide for the exercise of Chippewa Treaty rights in accordance with applicable law.
• Provide access for persons of varying abilities to the resources and recreational opportunities of the Willow Flowage Scenic Waters Area.
• Provide and maintain a diversity of forest cover types and age classes in order to preserve forest health and to enhance aesthetic appeal and wildlife habitat.
• Provide a variety of renewable forest products consistent with forest capabilities.
• Acquire additional lands to maintain and enhance the aesthetic qualities, solitude and Outstanding Resource Water designation of the Willow Flowage Scenic Waters Area and surrounding area.
• Provide for a variety of information, education and interpretation opportunities about the Willow Flowage Scenic Waters Area and surrounding area.

Annual Property Implementation Plans

Implementation plans are posted every year in March and contain:

• major planned and scheduled forest and habitat management treatments;
• recreation and infrastructure development projects; and
• other property management actions.

Master plan

The Willow Flowage Scenic Waters Area master plan can be found on the completed plans page.

Timber sale program

Timber sales for the Willow Flowage Scenic Waters Area are included in the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest bid packages.