MARSHAL COUNTY MILL POND DEMONSTRATION WOODLAND 1999 REPORT
by Bruce Wakeland - Arrow Head Country RC&D Forestry Committee Chairman
In 1988 the Arrow Head Country RC&D Forestry Committee entered into an
agreement with the Marshall County Commissioners to manage the county's 34.9 acre Mill
Pond woodland. The management objectives were to maximize timber production and income
over the long term, to maintain an aesthetically pleasing woodland, to promote wildlife
habitat, to avoid erosion and pollution, to maintain walking access trails, and to use
this as a demonstration woodland to educate the public about good forest management.
In 1987 our committee selected 15 acres along the county road as the main demonstration
area and we did a 100% inventory of all merchantable trees 12 inches DBH and larger. We
then appraised the timber value at that time. We completed timber stand improvement work
in 1990 which was mostly crop tree release work. In 1994 we did a second 100% inventory of
all merchantable trees and appraised the value of the merchantable timber at that time.
The results of that inventory, appraisal, and the productivity of the 15 acres over that 7
year period were reported in the spring of 1995 issue of the Woodland Steward. In the fall
of 1999 we did a third 100% inventory, appraisal, and again calculated the productivity of
this 15 acres over the 12 year period. This article is a five year follow up to that 1994
inventory and article.
Our committee feels that the most interesting and useful number that our inventories
have yielded is the $184/acre/year increase in the timber value. This number is understood
by most landowners because it can be compared directly to the per acre per year value that
farmers pay to rent form ground. You can rent some very good farm ground for half of what
this woods is producing. Also notice that the stumpage value per acre for this woods
nearly tripled in the last 12 years from $1143 to $3345 while the timber volume nearly
doubled from 4822 board feet per acre to 8576 board feet per acre. The value tripled while
the volume doubled because we also had increases in timber quality and in market prices
paid for timber. The 1990 timber stand improvement work helped with both this good growth
rate and with the improvement in grade and quality. The quality improved because the trees
grew larger and because we killed many of the poor quality trees resulting in a higher
average quality for the remaining trees which then had more room to grow.
Our RC&D forestry committee recommended a timber harvest at this time that would include mature, and defective trees and that would reduce the stocking level of the woodland to promote continued future growth. The County Commissioners have given us the go-ahead on that timber harvest which we plan to mark and sell this winter if the markets are good.
Our Arrow Head RC&D committee plans to continue to manage this tract and to make periodic reports of its progress. The currently planned harvest should result in good income for the County and it will be interesting to see if we can maintain or improve on the productivity of the woods of the same time.