The Marshall County Commissioners agreed to manage the spread of an invasive plant species in a local forest.
Bruce Wakeland works with the County through Arrowhead Resource Conservation and Development’s Forestry Committee. He advised the commissioners the time was nearing for a timber sale in the Mill Pond Demonstration Woods.
“We started out with 4,800 board feet per acre, and we sold 1,200 board feet per acre in the year 2000,” says Wakeland. “Now we have 11,000 board feet. So we’ve tripled the amount of timber out there.”
Money generated has proven its value alongside Marshall County’s ability to maintain quality forest and recreation space for its residents.
Wakeland, however, says volunteers have worked a few times to remove Bush Honeysuckle. The plant entered the area from China and its growth patterns are considered quite aggressive. Removal of the plant can help the species from spreading to neighboring forested areas.
Wakeland says removing all of the Bush Honeysuckle at the Mill Pond Demonstration woods is difficult with their current resources.
“It’s hard to get good work days out of volunteers and get it organized and get it done,” says Wakeland. “So there’s still some out there even though we’ve had three volunteer days to control the Bush Honeysuckle out on that property.”
Wakeland also recommended the County Commissioners remove the plant from Memorial Forest at a cost.
The Commissioners approved the timber sale in winter, and removal of Honeysuckle in August and September, unanimously.
