December 11, 2003 DNR Forum - Austrian Pine Clear-cutting Project The DNR held an informational meeting at Laketown Township Hall the evening of Thursday, December 11th. Conducted by Ray Fahlsing, Program Manager for the DNR's State Park Stewardship Program, the purpose of the presentation was to describe their impending pilot project to clear-cut Austrian pine in the park's natural area. Funded by a $94,000 grant from NOAA, the project targets 100% of the Austrian pine in the fore-dune area of the park's 281 acre designated natural area for clear-cutting. Austrian pine is a non-native species which Fahlsing feels poses a menace to indigenous plants, among them the un-assuming Pitcher's Thistle, federally listed as a threatened species, and the tiny Zig-Zag Bladder Wort. Scheduled to begin early in January, the pilot project is expected to take around three months to complete. During that period park users will encounter contractor's chainsaws as they cut and burn all Austrian pines in the 18.2 acre project area. Fahlsing stated the Stewardship Program's ultimate goal would be removal of all Austrian pine from the entire park, including the dense stand North of the parking area. Earlier in the summer, Fahlsing made a similar presentation to members of Concerned Citizens. At that time he described a considerably less ambitious project designed to check proliferation of the pines by culling of juvenal trees only, those of eight foot height and less. In addition, there were to be small areas of clear-cut in selected removal zones such as the swamp region near the south boundary of the current project area.   Area of Austrian Pine Clear-cutting Project   Dotted lines represent South loop trails. Questioned about the expanded scope of the project by Concerned Citizens members Phil Miller and Suzy Richardson, Fahlsing responded he hoped he had not conveyed the impression the project was in its final form at the earlier presentation. He said it had since been determined removal of juvenal trees alone would not provide the open areas needed by Pitcher's Thistle and the endangered Prairie Warbler. Another attendee observed there had been no official solicitation of comments regarding the project from users of the park and other concerned individuals. Fahlsing agreed that to his knowledge this is true but is not a requirement. He stated the project is mandated by the Wilderness and Natural Area Act, Public Act 451, Part 351, and compulsory under the act. The attendee asked, then user input would simply not be a factor? Fahlsing agreed, adding comments and questions are always welcome. Ray Fahlsing can be contacted at (517) 335-4823 or by email at mailto:fahlsinr@michigan.gov. Both the Lakeshore Press and The Holland Sentinel covered the forum in their Friday, December 12 editions. The Sentinel's article is available in their archives. Return to Concerned Citizens for Saugatuck Dunes State Park Resources & Reference page. www.SaugatuckDunes.org