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Boreal Community Media

DNR begins herbicide applications in Two Harbors area

Aug 16, 2018 07:46AM ● By Editor
From the Lake County News Chronicle - August 15, 2018

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will begin herbicide applications on select state lands to improve reforestation efforts in the Two Harbors area. Applications will begin around Wednesday, Aug. 15, on 131 acres in the Finland State Forest.

Signs will be posted on all herbicide treatment sites. Adjacent landowners within a quarter-mile of the treatment sites will be notified. Herbicides will not be applied within 100 feet of any water body or adjacent landowner, following DNR herbicide application guidelines.

"Herbicides will be sprayed on the ground to reduce competing woody vegetation," said Anna Heruth, Two Harbors area forester. "This gives the tree seedlings a better chance to grow and survive."

The DNR plants trees on state lands to reforest harvested areas, provide wildlife habitat, protect watersheds and maintain healthy state forests. Part of the reforestation process involves applying herbicides to the harvested areas prior to or following tree planting.

DNR foresters determine the right tree species for the site and private contractors do the planting.

Last spring in the Two Harbors area, including Finland the State Forest, the Division of Forestry planted more than 200,000 seedlings on 420 acres, and 870 acres were seeded.

Statewide, more than 1.9 million seedlings were planted on state forest lands and more than 5,300 acres were seeded this year.

More information about the DNR's Forestry Division can be found at mndnr.gov/forestry.


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