1943 – 2003

  “60 Years of Progress and Growth”

Enabling Legislation – Created under authority of P.A. 217 of 1931.  (Municipal Forestry Act).  Formally organized on July 22, 1943.

Type of Administration – 3 member Forestry and Parks Commission.  Appointed by Gogebic County Board of Commissioners.

County General Fund Budget Allocation – None – completely self-supporting.

Land Base – As of 12/31/03 a total of 50,290.39 aces were under the jurisdiction of the Gogebic County Forestry and Parks Commission.  The County has timber rights on an additional 374 acres.

Acreage by Political Unit – Ironwood Township – 15,744.43; Erwin Township – 11,925.90; Bessemer Township – 17,243.11; and Wakefield Township – 5,376.95.

Timber Type of Acreage – Aspen (5968), Mixed Conifer (6238), Red Pine and Jack Pine (135), Lowland Hardwoods (2622), Tamarack (86), Cedar (2695), Hemlock (285), Upland Spruce/Fir (889), Northern Hardwoods (28,622).

Productive or Harvestable Forest Land – 40,312 acres.

Non-Productive or Limited Harvestable Land – 10,352 acres.

Total Timber Harvested Since Creation – 29,665,426  bd. ft. of Sawtimber;  271,327 cords Pulpwood.

Total Stumpage Dollars Generated - $4,969,392.

Total Program Dollars Generated - $5,921,997

Total Appropriation to General Fund - $1,150,779

Total Dollar Expenditures to Other Programs – Soil Survey, Range Trail Authority, EDC,  Courthouse Building  -  $119,794

Total Payment-in-Lieu of Taxes to Political Units - $193,296.

Total Dollar Expenditures to Parks since 2001  -  $164,401

Total Dollars Invested into Land Improvements – (Includes roads – gravel pit development – Aspen Regeneration) - $288,871.

Total Number Timber Sales Since Creation – 575

*Total Acres Prepared For Harvest – 1977 – 2003        

*Average Annual Harvest – 1977 – 2003  

Average Annual Income

Average No. of Woods Workers Employed on County Timber Sales – (Annually) 25.

Average No. of Free Use Firewood Permits – 25

No. of Lakes Within County Forest Boundaries – 5

No. of Campgrounds – 3 (Lake Gogebic, Little Girl’s Point, and McDonald Lake)

No. of Special Use Permits (Hunting Camps) – 60

No. of Miles of County Forest Roads (Maintained) – 30

No. of Full Time Employed – 3 - Director of Forestry and Parks, Assistant Director of Forestry and Parks, and Forester.

* Note:  1977 is the beginning point used for including acres treated and harvested as part of the 1980 – 1982 operational inventory data used to develop a long range timber management plan.  (See No. 2  B)