A tree, a use and a partnership on the Chippewa National Forest

In 2007 the Blackduck District decided to take advantage of this process and create uses for the wood. A partnership evolved from this and it produced many benefits.

A tree, a use and a partnership…. Every year the Chippewa National Forest conducts a hazard tree inventory in our campgrounds to determine trees that must come down for safety reasons. In 2007 the Blackduck District decided to take advantage of this process and create uses for the wood. A partnership evolved from this and it produced many benefits -- even bluebirds and the wood ducks are happier!

The Chippewa National Forest partnered with Beltrami County and the Sentence to Service program to fall and cut the identified hazard trees. Some of the trees were cut into eight foot lengths and some were cut into firewood to be used by the campground hosts. The larger diameter logs were cut, piled and allowed to dry for a season. This winter a portable sawmill came to the Norway Beach Recreation Area and sawed the logs into various dimensions of lumber. The wood will be used for building bluebird houses, loon nesting rafts, duck boxes, and Camp Rabideau restoration.

The cost of cutting the trees was shared by the Natural Resources team and the Public Services team on the Blackduck District. The wood will be shared with The Beltrami County Sentence to Serve Program, the Dixon Lake Association, and various community groups. Beltrami County Sentence to Serve Program uses the wood to make bluebird house kits which are given to environmental education programs throughout the Forest. Fifty of the bird house kits were given to guests during the Chippewa's Centennial open house at the Blackduck District Office in 2008. At our Earth Day celebration this year another 100 kits will be given to local youth. Members of the Dixon Lake Association, a group of volunteers, used some of the lumber to make wood duck houses. They have installed and maintained over 500 houses in locations around the Blackduck Ranger District!

A tree, a use and a partnership! By working together, everyone has benefited from this project.