Mass Tract

The Mass Tract is located near Mass City in Ontonagon County. A capstone management plan was written for the tract in 1996. The Spring 2006 ferm Team has been tasked with reviewing the capstone report, conducting an initial site review and making recommendations as to how to proceed.

The tract is characterized by two basic stand types, a lowland conifer mixed forest type (hemlock, cedar red maple, yellow birch, balsam fir) and a hardwood forest type common to Ontonagon clay soils (Basswood, White Ash, Black Ash, Red Oak, Sugar Maple, Red Maple and Yellow Birch). The Red Oak, Basswood and Ash appear to be the best growing tree species in terms vigor and quality. Sugar Maple is not doing well in many areas.

During the initial site review, the students determined that the NE corner post of the property appears to have been moved approximately 60 feet west. Because of this, and given the fact that the section in which the property is located has been recently remonumented, the students started work on getting the corner reestablished in the proper location. The method of reestablishment was to GPS all of the remonumented corners of the section and use an Arcview utility to plot the corners of the tract using the rules for subdividing sections.

Completed Work (Spring 2006)

• Basic recon and assessment of property.
• Flag in property lines.
• Timber harvest recommendations.
• GIS/GPS work and maps.
• GPS all remonumented corners on section

Work to do....

• Obtain temporary access permit (property appears to be lacking legal access).
• Reestablish NE corner of property. (in progess Summer 2006 by Jim Blondheim.)
• Timber Cruise; marking; bid advertisement.