Tomahawk Northwoods
November 2002

Wisconsin closed the first two phases of the Tomahawk Northwoods project totaling 35,337 acres on November 20 and 27, 2002. These accomplishments in the northern part of the State are the first Wisconsin properties to be protected from development by the Forest Legacy Program. The conservation easements purchased from the Tomahawk Timberlands LLC, valued at $13,260,000, used $5,000,000 from the Forest Legacy Program and will be held by the State of Wisconsin. Forest management will continue on the property.

“The Forest Legacy Program is a cost-effective way to protect the right to practice commercial forestry, so that future generations will have a reliable forest resource to supply their forest products needs,” said Steve Guthrie, Forester, Tomahawk Timberlands.

In addition to the protection of the forest resources on the property, the forests also provide habitats for many wildlife species and abundant recreation opportunities that the public will continue to enjoy. The project also offers many unique habitats that will be protected from conversion to nonforest uses and are recognized as special areas in a State-approved multi-resources management plan.

“As we investigated the Tomahawk Northwoods land to photograph and interpret its features, we were overwhelmed by the opportunity available to the State of Wisconsin to perpetuate this legacy,” observed Dr. Dean Premo, Senior Certified Ecologist, White Water Associates, Inc. “As we hiked to the giant hemlock stand, we had to sidestep a large puddle in the trail. There in the mud was an enormous cloven footprint of a moose. We all paused—foresters, ecologists, citizens—silently appreciating the grove of giant eastern hemlocks that were part of the Tomahawk Northwoods lands.”

“The public really values large blocks of forest in the State,” commented State Forester Paul DeLong. “And the industrial forests often help connect our public lands into large tracts. But many private forests in the State are at great risk of being subdivided. We’re excited about getting this first Forest Legacy project under our belts.”