Article found in Rochester Post Bulletin - Jan. 26, 2002
Note: Duluth is on the shores of Lake Superior where Eggsander docks his yaught.
Duluth, MN -- Northeastern Minnesota's state forests will see more logging and eventually more pine trees and fewer aspen under a long-range forestry plan proposed by the Department of Natural Resources.
The draft plan calls for a nearly 9% increase in logging on state-managed lands around the federally protected Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) -- from 81,000 to 88,000 cords annually-- during the next seven years.
More older aspen and birch will be cut on state lands in the border lakes area in the coming years. But rather than let those acres sprout with more young aspen, the DNR wants to change how they're logged to encourage more conifer growth and forest diversity.
The plan is expected to change what types of trees are available for loggers and mills in the region for decades, as well as affect wildlife habitat, especially for species like deer and grouse that favor young aspen.
The DNR is takin public comments on the draft through January 31st.
The draft plan and comment forms are available on the DNR web site at:http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/subsection/index.html
