Greg Gatesy, Michigan DNR Forester, entertains new friends group members Ron and Mary Belanger, at the Jordan River NFH, during the “Autumn Series” - FWS photo

As part of a guest speaker series held at the hatchery, Greg Gatesy, Michigan DNR Forest Management Division was on hand the evening of September 11^th. 

Gatesy, who has been a forester and fire officer for over twenty years, started his presentation with a slide show of a variety of woodland scenes.  The rest of the evening turned into an “Ask the Expert” type forum. 

Gatesy fielded questions regarding clear cutting, thinning, and timber management for wildlife, private land timber management, old growth forests, the Jordan River Valley and wild fires.

The most popular topic was the recent “Sleeper Lake” area fire which burned 18,000 acres in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula near Newberry, Michigan.  

Gatesy was on-site coordinating control efforts. He told some interesting and exciting stories, which were both entertaining and informative. The fire was ignited by a lightening strike.  There were thousands of lightening strikes across the Upper Peninsula the weekend that the fire started.

The crowd was surprised to hear Gatesy say that this fire was “beneficial” to the ecosystem, since it burned through primarily marsh grasses. Together with the USFWS and other agencies Greg helps protect and manage the woods and watersheds of Michigan.  

Just days later new green growth was visible in the burn area.  Everyone let Gatesy know that we appreciate what he does for the resource and for the people of the state of Michigan.