GOGEBIC COUNTY FORESTRY AND PARKS COMMISSION

GOGEBIC COUNTY FORESTRY AND PARKS COMMISSION

FACT SHEET

1943 – 2006         

“63 Years of Progress and Growth”

Authority – Created under authority of P.A. 217 of 1931 - Municipal Forestry Act, formally now Part 527, Municipal Forests, of Public Act 451 of 1994, the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 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 12/31/06 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 – 40,150 acres

Non-Productive or Limited Harvestable Land – 10,414 acres

Total Timber Harvested Since Creation – 32,210,426  bd. ft. of Sawtimber;  296,595 cords of Pulpwood

Total Forestry and Parks Revenues - $8,304,956

Total Forestry and Parks Expenditures - $7,840,363

Total Stumpage Dollars Generated - $6,614,831

Total Appropriation to County General Fund -  (2000 - 2006) - $823,530

Total Dollar Expenditures to Other Public Entities – Soil Survey, Range Trail Authority, EDC, Courthouse Building , Road Commission -  $161,600

Total Payment-in-Lieu of Taxes to Political Units - $243,113.

Total Dollars Invested into Land Improvements – (Includes roads – gravel pit development – Aspen Regeneration) - $327,934.

Total Dollars Invested into Land Purchases - $119,224

Total Number Timber Sales Since Creation – 593

Total Acreages Treated – 2002 - 2006 -          1.   Marked Hardwoods –  3,443

2.       Aspen -                        360

3.       Conifer -                         55

Total                                3,858

Average Annual Harvest – 2002 – 2006           3,814,700 bd. ft. various products or

                                                                        625,000 bd. ft. Sawtimber and

                                                                        6,380 cords Pulpwood

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

Average Annual Income – 2002 - 2006   - $449,241

No. of Special Use Permits (Hunting Camps) – 62

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

No. of Miles of Multiple Use Trails (Maintained) - 25

No. of Lakes Within County Forest Boundaries – 5

No. of Miles of Trout Streams Flowing Thru County Forest - 24

No. of County Parks – 3  Little Girl’s Point, Lake Gogebic , McDonald Lake

Total Dollar Expenditures to Rebuild Parks 2001 - 2006  -  $594,755

*Includes the Lodge at Little Girl’s Point.

Total Income from Campground Operations 2001 - 2006 - $429,5573

Total Expenditures from Campground Operations Since 2001 - 2006 - $405,909

2004  - 2007 - Occupancy Rate – Little Girl’s Point – 61%

2004 – 2007 - Camping Occupancy Rate – Lake Gogebic – 69%

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

No Part Tim e -  ½ time Secretary – 2 Park Managers - Seasonal

Last Updated on December 4, 2008