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Boreal Community Media

Deer fencing, tree planting program offered to private landowners

Feb 25, 2018 11:24AM ● By Editor

The North Shore Forest Collaborative (NSFC) is again hosting a program this spring to provide low-cost fencing materials to private landowners who plant white pine and cedar seedlings on their lands along the North Shore of Lake Superior. The fencing keeps deer from eating the newly planted trees.

This is the third year of this program. In the first two years, 134 program participants planted and fenced over 3,500 white pine and white cedar trees on their properties along the shore. These same individuals planted an additional 14,000 young trees, including white spruce, which do not require fencing.

This program helps promote the mission of the collaborative: to revitalize and maintain a healthy and functioning ecosystem along the North Shore of Lake Superior with emphasis on restoring and maintaining native trees and associated forest communities.

Private landowners wanting to plant conifer trees on their land within the NSFC area may apply to receive reduced-cost materials for deer exclosures. Qualified landowners may purchase materials at one-third usual retail cost. The cost to landowners for a fencing package will be $25, which is one-third the cost of purchase of these materials via retail outlets.

The fencing is being provided specifically to protect young white pine and white cedar trees, as these are the tree species targeted for reforestation on the north shore. Help is also available to assist landowners who are physically unable to plant trees and erect exclosures on their property.

The fencing program is funded by a grant from the Weekes Family Foundation.

An application form is available at the NSFC website, northshoreforest.org, and applications will be accepted from Feb. 23 through March 16. Applicants will be contacted by email shortly after the close of the application period and provided further information if selected for the program, including how to pay and where to pick up the materials. Those not selected will be notified by email.

The North Shore Forest Collaborative was formed in 2011 as a coordinated effort between local, state and federal land management agencies as well as public and private organizations and individuals who desire to work together to assure a healthy forest environment along Lake Superior's North Shore.

Important Aspects of the Program:

  • White pine and northern white cedar are the focus of the program.  The program’s objective is to help restore white pine and white cedar trees to the north shore landscape. The fencing provided through this program should be used for fencing these two species.
  • Program is for private landowners living within the NSFC area.   (from Lake/St. Louis County Boundary to the Canadian Border, and from the shore of Lake Superior to 3 miles inland).   Businesses, organizations, governments, and schools are not eligible for the program.
  • Landowners are responsible for procuring their own tree seedlings. A list of sources can be found here.  It is important to order your seedlings early as nurseries often run out of white pine and white cedar, which are in high demand.
  • Double reimbursement is not allowed.  Landowners participating in this program cannot claim reimbursement from MN DNR for the trees fenced with NSFC materials.
  • Documentation of tree planting and completing a survey is required as part of the program.   As in past years, photo documentation or a site visit is required to complete your agreement to participate in the program.  A few participants did not provide the required documentation last year and will not be eligible for fencing this year.
  • Complete your application, and if successful, pick up your materials EARLY.   Suggestions from last year’s participants indicated that some people wanted smaller 4-foot re-bars, while others wanted the 7 footers.  We have equal supplies of each, but once one size is gone, you will have to take the other size.
  • Two pickup locations for materials:  Izak Hanson Hardware in Lutsen, MN and Two Harbors Lumber in Two Harbors, MN. Each pick-up location has an equal amount.  However, once the supply is exhausted at one location, you must travel to the other location to pick up your fencing.
  • Two sizes of rebar this year.  Based on comments from last year’s participants, we have ordered 2 sizes of rebar this year.   When picking up your fencing, you may choose either 7 foot or 4 foot rebar – as long as the supply of your preferred choice lasts.  Once one size runs out, you will need to take the size that is left.   If you prefer one size over the other, be sure to pick up your fencing materials soon after the pickup dates are announced.
  • No tree mats or pins this year.  The price of the steel fencing increased this year.   In order to provide as much fencing as possible, we decided to forgo the tree mats and pins.
  • Help with planting and erecting fencing is available to assist landowners who are physically unable to plant trees and erect exclosures on their property.
  • Repeat – Do not wait until the last possible time to  to order trees, to apply for the program, or to pick up your materials.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The cost to a landowner for each 50 foot roll of 6 foot high fencing, ten 7-foot lengths or 4 foot lengths of rebar and 30 zip ties (for anchoring) is $25.00, which is one-third the retail cost of these materials.

Each 50 foot roll will provide for 5 individual tree exclosures, or 1 small area exclosure.  We suggest that 10 to 15 exclosures be used per acre and be widely spaced and placed where there is an opening in the overstory created where a large tree has died.  The fencing is being provided specifically for protecting white pine and white cedar tree seedlings/saplings.

This is the third year we are offering this program.  In the first two years, 134 program participants planted and fenced over 3,500 white pine and white cedar trees on their properties along the shore.  These same individuals planted an additional 14,000 young trees, including white spruce, which do not require fencing.  This program helps promote the mission of the collaborative, which is:  To revitalize and maintain a healthy and functioning ecosystem along the North Shore of Lake Superior with emphasis on restoring and maintaining native trees and associated forest communities.

The program is funded by a grant from the Weekes Family Foundation.

You will be contacted by email and provided further information if you are selected for the program, including how to pay and where to pick up the materials.  Those not selected or not eligible will be notified by email.

Follow this link to apply to be a participant in the program.

http://northshoreforest.org/get-involved/2018-fencing-application/


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