Recently Joe was interviewed by a Wisconsin agricultural reporter, and he brought forest land conservation to the forefront. You can listen to the interview here https://www.midwestfarmreport.com/2024/10/11/meet-another-wi-leopold-finalist/

October 31 2024 Forest Legacy & ADVOCACY FOR KNOWLES NELSON STEWARDSHIP

The K-N Stewardship program is vital to ongoing conservation efforts in this region, and we will need it to supplement the federal award and our local fundraising for the two Vilas County Projects. Thus our individual advocacy for the Stewardship Program is vital. Once again we thank all who attended Saturday’s gathering. It was great news earlier this week with the Forest Legacy awards, but we clearly have our work cut out for us in obtaining the match. As for the WI Forest Legacy awards, the new category -Smaller Tracts with Greater Strategic Importance- is funded under the IRA, and clearly revives land conservation in the Border Lakes area, as a huge benefit to both Michigan and Wisconsin. Cumulatively, the Vilas and Iron County projects receiving Forest Legacy awards, will be the largest conservation project in the Border Lakes since TNC took on the Catherine Wolter Wilderness about 30 years ago.

We would really appreciate it if you would help spread the word about the postcards campaign supporting K-N Stewardship.

The link is: https://knowlesnelson.org/postcards/

October 29 2024 The Partners in Forestry and Gathering Waters event on October 26 was a great success, with over 70 people in attendance and engaging discussions. Thanks to all who attended! If you missed the presentations, or wish to view the slides again, they are available on our new Presentations page.

On October 29 the USFS also released the 2024 funding list for the Forest Legacy Program. We congratulate and applaud this monumental level of land conservation in the USA. Three modest projects from WI made this funding list: Vilas County has Border Lakes ~1350 acres) and Upper Wisconsin River Legacy Forest addition 191 acres. With these two NWA projects, $745,000 of federal funds will support forestry and public recreation in Vilas County. NWA also supported a Iron County WI project, State Line Forest which will receive $600,000. Nation wide, the Forest Legacy Program is on the move, and we are grateful!

https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/private-land/forest-legacy/program/funded-projects#:~:text=The%20Forest%20Service%20is%20awarding,communities%20that%20rely%20on%20them.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/newsroom/releases/usda-forest-service-partners-states-conserve-private-forestlands

October 16, 2024

We are looking toward the joint gathering with Gathering Waters and Partners in Forestry on the 26th at Trees for Tomorrow in Eagle River. Please confirm- nwa@nnex.net or call 715-479-8528- if you will attend for lunch, other wise the presentations are open to all. While the meeting formally begins at 10 AM, at 8:45 there will be the presentation on the Wild and Scenic Rivers in the western UP, and include the connection to Border Lakes conservation. Hoping you can join us.

8:30 or by 8:45 am — Presentation by Joe Hovel on Wild and Scenic Rivers (if you missed it on 7-25, please make this)

10:00 am — Welcome and Refreshments

10:15 am — Presentation on Forest Ecology

10:45 am — Knowles-Nelson Policy Brief by Gathering Waters 

11:00 am — Break

11:15 am — Presentation by Joe Hovel

12:15 pm — Lunch

1:15 pm — Award Presentation by Gathering Waters

1:30 pm — Q&A with Gathering Waters, Partners in Forestry, and Northwoods Alliance

September 10, 2024

We give our appreciation to the John C Bock Foundation for the $10,000 toward the Land O Lakes Forest Legacy projects. This newest foundation support joins past support from the Chicago Community Foundation in memory of Margret Baack and the grant from the Weeden Foundation in 2023.

We hope to pick up the pace of fundraising to complete the Border Lakes and Upper WI projects in a timely manner.

July 26, 2024

What an amazing turnout last evening for the Wild & Scenic Rivers program at the Ottawa National Forest Visitors Center. We had not anticipated such a great group, with 91 headcount and many folks had no seat or a handout. An electronic version of the handout can be found here. We hope to do the program again this fall to engage those that missed it or just want more.

Besides the handout, the takeaway from the evening could be in the four River Notes below which were shared in the program. And these Facts: Michigan has more Wild & Scenic designated miles that any other state east of the Mississippi; the Ottawa National Forest rivers have at least half of the Michigan Wild & Scenic miles, and the Ontonagon has half of the Ottawa miles.

River Notes 7-25-24

1: Rivers are among the most biologically diverse ecosystems on the planet

2: The Lake Superior Action Management Plan ranks ‘Tributary Health’ as only fair. (this is disappointing as most of these rivers discussed here are Lake Superior tributaries and most other points in the Plan rank the health of the big Lake as good or excellent)

3: Rivers and freshwater ecosystems are the most imperiled ecosystems on Earth

4: Rivers are the veins and arteries of our landscape, sharing nutrients and living beings with land, lakes and sea. They deserve protection and it is our collective responsibility to care for them.

Please see our rivers information under Recommended Reading. Please care for a watershed near you. Proudly, much of our land conservation efforts offer value the the quality of these Wild & Scenic UP Rivers

June 25, 2024.

We express our gratitude to the Vilas County Board of Supervisors for their resolution of support toward the Land O Lakes Conservation Projects discussed below. On a voice vote with no objections the resolution passed, paving the way for a Forest Legacy Program opportunity enhancing public access in Vilas County.

Land O Lakes area— conservation through the Forest Legacy Program May 31, 2024

Northwoods Alliance Inc., a local conservation group, is working with two landowners in the Town of Land O Lakes to secure permanent public access on two forested tracts which offer sustaining community values.

The landowners are seeking conservation easements with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources through the Forest Legacy Program to maintain nonmotorized public uses on the Border Lakes Forest project. This project will protect approximately 1200 acres including the Forest Lake segment of the Wilderness Lakes bike-hike trail, Emil Lake as headwaters of the Tamarack Creek, as well as a long scenic corridor along County Roads B, S and Forest Lake Road. The project also contains a wide range of biodiversity with timber stands, flora and fauna.

Fronting on County Road E and US 45 is the Upper Wisconsin River Bird Habitat, which is an expansion opportunity to the ever-popular Upper Wisconsin River Legacy Forest. These 191 acres will connect the legacy forest to State and County Forest lands and offer easier access than now exists to the habitat of Haymeadow Creek and Spruce Grouse Swamp State Natural Areas, both birding hot spots.

“At this time of extreme forest conversion threatening public access, we are pleased to present these two great projects to the Vilas County Board of Supervisors as well as residents and visitors alike”, stated Joe Hovel of Northwoods Alliance, spokesperson for the landowners. Hovel also stated gratitude for project support which includes the Town of Land O Lakes as well as forestry, wildlife, conservation and trail groups.

The projects can be viewed at www.northwoodalliance.org, or reach Hovel at nwa@nnex.net or call 715-479-8528

————————————————————————————————————————————-

Wild Rivers in the Western Upper Peninsula

 The nation’s strongest river conservation program is showcased in the Ottawa National Forest, and several of these rivers begin in Wisconsin. In the Ottawa alone, there are 330 miles designated as Wild & Scenic, and about half those miles are in the Ontonagon system; which has a strong presence in the Border Lakes conservation area between Land O Lakes and Presque Isle. The Presque Isle and Black River watersheds also transcend south of the Michigan Border. This is the very same water we drink from our wells, swim in our lakes and observe in our wetlands.

 Join local conservationist and river explorer Joe Hovel to dive into the facts of Wild and Scenic designation, and to experience the vast array of benefits we receive from these rivers so close to us. From sightseeing with waterfalls, fishing or gathering to paddling everything from quiet segments to very challenging whitewater, these special rivers enrich lives.

 7PM, July 25 at the Ottawa National Forest Visitors Center in Watersmeet MI

There is no charge for these programs, the Ottawa National Forest and Northwoods Alliance are equal opportunity providers.

All are welcome.

Nov 30, 2023

As we end the year, we are reflecting on the past year with gratitude for our supporters. You can read the letter we sent to donors, listing some of our milestone of the year, here.

Conservation friend and author Paul Hetzler has yet another book out. See more about Paul’s collection under recommended reading, but don’t be blue get his book a-new. Birds of Happiness Aren't Blue

https://www.amazon.com/Birds-Happiness-Arent-Blue-Nature-Essay/dp/B0CCZSY8N9

November 10, 2023

There is an active timber sale on the Upper Wisconsin River Legacy Forest. This activity will be mainly within 1/4 mile of County Road E, and will be a simple selective thinning of red pine with the harvesting of several small pockets of aspen. This will not hamper public use or deer hunting, but please be respectful of the activity, and keep a safe distance.

October 27, 2023

The Headwaters Cedar Community Forest welcomes all. The gate at the main entrance has been moved down a ways, and now there is adequate parking. Do not block the driveway access. There are also other parking opportunities on the surrounding state forest.

Send us you favorite photos after visiting Headwaters Cedar and Wildcat Falls—-these are your community forests!

October 3, 2023

A beautiful stone bench was set at Headwaters Cedar Community Forest, next to the kiosk. The strength of the stone symbolizes and stands in memory of, the unwavering community spirit of Land O Lakes philanthropist Margaret Baack. Margaret recognized the needs of the greater community and helped so many in this area through her generosity. May her spirit live on at these Community Forests.

September 2023

The welcome sign assembly was erected at Headwaters Cedar Community Forest on September 20

We still welcome your comments about the Community Forest Management Plan. The plan is available by request. Enjoy your visit to Headwaters Cedar and to Wildcat Falls—these are your Community Forests! Also at the parking area of the Upper WI River Legacy Forest is a very large picnic table for your use. As always, on all projects, pack out your trash.

See events: next presentation of Headwaters Conservation: Need & Action will be at North Lakeland Discovery Center October 12.

AUGUST 2 2023

Northwoods Alliance Inc. successfully closed on the acquisition of Headwaters Cedar Community Forest on August 1. These 200 acres are now open for non-motorized public access and you are welcome to explore this beautiful forest with all its features. We are grateful to all who assisted with this community accomplishment! Two very important considerations if you should visit before we have the opportunity to move the gate in a bit, improve parking, and install signage.

1: Do NOT block the driveway, as this serves a private 10 acre parcel retained by the seller (a supporter of this Community Forest effort).

2: Please do not trespass on the 10 acres, as this is an in-holding in the southern most portion of the Community Forest.

Northwoods Alliance now owns two community forests within reasonable proximity to Land O Lakes WI, as well as managing partner and advocate for other worthy projects in the area, including the Upper WI River Legacy Forest. We need your support to continue this important effort, and ALL donations go directly to projects, we have no paid staff or excess overhead.

Your feedback on developing the community forest management plan is very welcome at this time. To learn more in person attend the event at the Land O Lakes Public Library on September 7 at 1PM. Joe Hovel will lead a discussion on area conservation efforts and talk of the history of developing Headwaters Cedar and Wildcat Falls as Community Forests.

July 2023

With Headwaters Cedar Community Forest closing set for August 1, the timing should be good for the August 3 event at the Boulder Junction Library. 7 PM that evening Joe will give a presentation covering his memoir and the connection to many of these projects.

https://www.boulderjunctionlibrary.org/event/conservationist-and-local-author-joe-hovel/

Joe has given all proceeds from his book to Northwoods Alliance to help advance area conservation.

We truly appreciate the financial assistance from individuals, foundations and the government programs to see these projects to completion!

June 2023

See details on the closing-acquisition of Headwaters Cedar Community Forest set for August 1.

https://partnersinforestry.com/Documents/News%20Letters/06-2023%20PIF%20Newsletter.pdf

We are extremely grateful to all who have supported this great effort, including the diverse community support and government agencies.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————

May 26, 2023 The Wisconsin Academy is sponsoring a Climate Stories Series to highlight impacts and solutions related to climate change in our landscapes and communities. The next event will be held on Friday, May 26 at the Kemp Natural Resources Station. Attendance may be in person or remotely via Zoom.

For more information or to register, visit the link below.

https://www.wisconsinacademy.org/evenings/stories-solutions

March 2023

The Northwoods Forest Conservation handbooks have been recently been updated and are available at no charge at the respective section of the website. We also have some print copies available on request with updated pages to place in. And we are excited to announce, through suggestions of colleagues in the north east, these books are available as a single hard cover or paperback version to anywhere in the world as a print on demand file at amazon. The combination will be 176 pages, including updates. When funding allows we will print some locally with the combined file.

In addition to our Border Lakes conservation efforts we are pleased to announce grants from the James D & Jane P Watermolen Foundation. The Watermolen Foundation was also a contributor to the Wildcat Falls Community Forest efforts in 2020. We are very grateful to all who have contributed to these land conservation efforts as we work collectively to conserve important habitat and open these lands to non-motorized public access.

We are especially grateful to those who have supported both the Wildcat Falls and Headwaters Cedars projects. So far this also includes The John C Bock Foundation, an anonymous fund of the Chicago Community Foundation, Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition and a number of you as individual supporters.

November 13, 2022

Recent donations and project updates

We are very thankful for the generosity of all who are assisting the advancement of the NWA Land Conservation Initiative and Community Forest efforts. Recently a generous grant from an anonymous fund at the Chicago Community Foundation has offered a boost to our land conservation work. And an award toward Headwaters Cedar Community Forest was received from the Boulder Junction Community Foundation. We thank everyone who contributes to this effort, and encourage your participation.

Two new members join the Northwoods Alliance Board of Directors

We welcome two bright young men as new members to the board.

Alex Graeff: Alex is a plant specialist, and has participated in data collection at Wildcat Falls Community Forest and the Headwaters Cedar project. Alex is currently the botanist for the National Ecological Observatory Network's Great Lakes Domain based in Land O Lakes, WI. He has a Master’s degree in biology with ecology emphasis, from Northern Michigan University, and has a deep love of the natural world in the Northwoods region. Alex has worked in a wide cross section of the Northwoods and will be a great help to the team as an expert in flora, botany, lichens and habitat. To quote Alex; “I feel most at home in our oldest, most natural, unmanaged forests and landscapes where the seemingly limitless human impact is least discernable”.

Andre Virden: Andre is a Tribal Member from the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Water Resources which combines fisheries, hydrology and water chemistry. He also has a background in soils and GIS mapping. Andre is the Habitat Manager for the Lac du Flambeau Tribal Natural Resource Department and has been with the Department for 3 years as an intern and 5 years as a program manager. The focus of his work is on creating, maintaining and restoring wildlife habitat for many species for our Tribal Members, including, but not limited to white tailed deer, sandhill cranes, rough grouse, black bear and wolf. Andre utilizes the Department’s Tribal Climate Resilience Plan while making wildlife and habitat management decisions and is the Great Lakes Restoration director of the department.

We thank both Andre and Alex, and look forward to working together.

September 9 2022

We are excited and grateful to announce that the momentum toward completing the Headwater Cedars Community Forest (HCCF) continues. We want to thank the WE Energies Foundation, and the John C Bock Foundation for a grant.

We are also grateful to WXPR for highlighting the HCCF project in a recent feature. You can read and listen here:

https://www.wxpr.org/podcast/wxpr-the-stream/2022-09-08/northwoods-alliance-secures-federal-grant-to-establish-headwaters-cedar-community-forest

August 8 2022

Northwoods Alliance Inc. (NWA) and conservation partners are pleased to announce a significant advance toward establishing a Headwaters Cedar Community Forest in the Town of Land O Lakes. This project is a forested tract just south of the Michigan border with unique ecological and recreational values. The project was recently awarded close to 50% of the funding necessary to complete the community forest, through a successful grant from the USFS Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program.  “We are grateful that the USFS recognized the conservation value of this project. Moving forward, the success of this project will depend on support from the community. We are optimistic, as we see strong community benefits from conserving this unique parcel”, said NWA vice-president John Schwarzmann. According to Schwarzmann, a Headwaters Cedar Community Forest will permanently protect 200 acres within the Northern Highland State Forest, valuable wetlands, unique flora & fauna and impressive areas of old cedar-hemlock forest. NWA is conducting biotic inventories of the parcel, and has worked for years to protect this parcel for the public good.

The goals of this project are; 1) to create perpetual public access to the 200-acre community forest, while obtaining community input; 2) permanently protect and responsibly manage the broad range of habitats on the property, to ensure that the diverse flora and fauna continue to thrive; and 3) establish a model of a community-managed forestland.  In addition, a Headwaters Cedar Community Forest would support tourism and forestry as primary economic drivers of the local economy while offering a venue for natural resource education.

Director Joe Hovel summarized the financial situation for completing the Community Forest project, “Final figures will be determined by a certified appraisal, but the proposed budget to accomplish this goal is $430,000. With the Community Forest award of $200,000 and the funds raised to date from conservation groups and foundations, we now need to step up our efforts in the community to raise the remaining funds. We are now reaching out to the public for help, as it truly is community action which will make this project a success.”

The Community Forest Program was authorized by Congress in 2008 to address forest fragmentation at the local level, and to engage communities as stakeholders in the management of the forests. In their efforts to engage the local community in protecting the Headwaters Cedar property, NWA has partnered with a number of local and regional organizations. Our current list of partners includes: the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, the Town of Land O Lakes, Partners in Forestry Cooperative, Land O Lakes Fish & Game Club, Wisconsin Green Fire, Northwoods Land Trust, University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives, The Nature Conservancy, Sustainable Resource Institute, and Wisconsin DNR Division of Forestry.

Supporting partners with significant financial assistance to date include the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition, the Weeden Foundation of Bedford Hills NY, and generous donors.

NWA thanks all those who have contributed in any way to these conservation effort, which has benefits that cross state lines. These projects protect the headwaters of the Wisconsin and Ontonagon Rivers and critical bird and wildlife habitat.

July 17 2022

This summer, we have made continual progress toward protecting some important and unique habitats as we continue to steward projects such as the Wildcat Falls Community Forest. We have several updates and gracious thank-you messages to share.

Wildcat Falls updates:

Forester John Schwarzmann, with help from forester Paul Stearns, has marked a timber thinning in the M-9 hardwood stands at Wildcat Falls. There will be no timber management in the hemlock-cedar stands, or in the rock and riparian areas, thus a walk to the waterfall will remain unchanged. This ‘thin from below’ harvest targets only poor quality, suppressed or deformed species and will benefit the impressive diameter hardwood stands by allowing dominant trees to grow to larger size under what is called ‘extended rotation’ management. Most of this management is on the 40 acres overlooking County Line Lake, but does include a smaller stand in the NW area north of the waterfall.

As markets allow, some future hardwood thinning may also occur on the adjunct 40 to the south west, and in the un-thinned parts of the new addition 40 acres (which may include some aspen harvest).

Wildcat Falls is your community forest. Enjoy it and please help support the holding expenses. The new 40 acres added last year has costly full property taxes this year, however we have made application to the MDNR-CFR with hopes that future years have affordable real estate taxes, as is with publicly accessible properties.

The Management Plan for Wildcat Falls was revised to reflect the addition of the new 40 acre parcel. Thanks to John Schwarzmann for drafting a sound plan recognizing the environmental, social and intrinsic values as well as the economic. Please reach out if you’d like to see a copy of the plan.

Fundraising updates and thank you:

Northwoods Alliance Community Forest projects are creating true community forests, thus ensuring community access and participation. As we continue efforts to protect special habitat, we express a sincere Thank You to:

• The Bedford Hills NY based Weeden Foundation for recognizing the importance of the Continentally Significant bird habitat on this region. Their award boosts our standing to match a state or federal grants, in turn protecting the Northern goshawk and other important species.

• The Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition for their award, as they recognize the value of this Border Lakes HCCF project to the UP and the Ontonagon River.

• An anonymous family foundation with ties to the UP for their award earlier this year to kick off the local-regional fundraising.

• The UW Center for Cooperatives, for listing ‘advancing Headwaters Cedar Community Forest’ as one of three priorities in their award along with outreach for forest conservation and realizing carbon markets with Partners in Forestry.

• Everyone who has contributed to these efforts in any way.

• Everyone who helped make Wildcat Falls Community Forest a reality, and now at 200 acres.

March 30 2022

Progress toward the Headwater Cedars Community Forest

We are very pleased that we’ve made significant progress toward fundraising the acquisition of what we hope will soon be the Headwater Cedars Community Forest. This project will open 200 acres to public foot access and has wide spread community support. Surrounded by the Northern Highland State Forest, and in close proximity to other protected lands the Headwaters Cedar project is strategically important to conservation goals in northern Wisconsin and the UP of Michigan.

We want to thank the following:

NWA gives a sincere thank you of appreciation to the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition (UPEC) for their community support grant award to be used for the Headwaters Cedar Community Forest project in the town of Land O Lakes. Their support, along with other local donors, has kicked off the fundraising effort for this great project, which protects the headwaters of the Ontonagon River, old growth cedar, important wildlife habitat and special plants, in the heart of the Border Lakes area. UPEC was the first substantial assistance to our Wildcat Falls Community Forest with their 2018. We value this partnership greatly.

We are also grateful to the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives. Their continuing support is critical to our overall efforts to enhance forest conservation, education and outreach.

December 2, 2021

NWA has begun working to complete a new community forest project: the Headwater Cedars Community Forest, named after an impressive stand of mature cedars on this forest tract, located west of Land O’ Lakes, WI in the headwaters of the Ontonagon River. For more information, see the page under “Current projects”.

September 20, 2021

Northwood Alliance was recently mentioned in a feature on NPR’s Morning Edition. You can listen to the story or read the transcript at the link below.

https://www.npr.org/2021/09/21/1039191120/to-conserve-vast-areas-of-land-biden-needs-help-from-private-landowners

August 9, 2021

Earlier this summer, Susan and Robert Ivancevich visited the Wildcat Falls Community Forest and sent these photos and reflection. We encourage you to get in touch with a trip report, if you visit!

The Japanese call it “forest bathing”and it literally is just that. Spending time in the vernal green forest, breathing the fresh air ,surrounded by nature’s gifts and bathed by sun light filtered through the leaves. A recent trip to the Wildcat Falls and the adjacent hemlock/cedar forest (which has been protected by the Northern Alliance working with Partners in Forestry) was a wonderful adventure. The falls are surprisingly-close. Just 20 minutes from Watersmeet. Sucker Lake Road west to County Line Lake Road. Then 1.2 miles north to trailhead on the left. 

The first thing to greet you are the bluetail damsel flies. Green male and blue females flood the sunny spots. It seems that the mosquitoes are virtually non-existent. Could it be the cedar aroma from downed trees? 

The terrain is surprisingly-varied with a large elevation over the creek and a stunning stone escarpment. More of what one might expect further north toward Rockland. The surroundings sometimes give the impression of a rain forest: moist, cool, mossy and reminiscent if the Imp Lake trail but absent the yellow birch found there. We cannot wait until spring when the steep drop of Wildcat will be a raging torrent. It is comforting to know that this lovely place is now safe.

 June 15, 2021

The 160-acre public treasure near Watersmeet Michigan, the Wildcat Falls Community Forest, was established under the USFS Community Forest Program only eight and a half months ago. Now, it is already being expanded.

The Northwoods Alliance has undertaken a forty-acre expansion of the 160-acre community forest to provide further public access and protect the water quality flowing to the waterfall. This expansion required yet another round of fundraising and the support of the community has been instrumental to achieve this goal.  “Without the luxury of time to apply for another USFS Community Forest grant, we reached out to the community for support in achieving the required funds. The large donations from a few generous individuals started the off the fund-raising effort, but in the end over three dozen individuals contributed to making this acquisition a reality. We are very grateful to all current and past contributors who made this special place available to future generations” said Northwoods Alliance president Casey Clark.

Following the creation of the Wildcat Falls Community Forest near Watersmeet Michigan in September of 2020, the Northwoods Alliance has been active in protecting the future for this public educational forest. The organization has established an endowment fund with the Community Foundation of the Upper Peninsula, has completed the community forest management plan, and is currently making signage to assist visitors.   

The Wildcat Falls Community Forest was created with widespread community support and a grant from the USFS Community Forest & Open Space Conservation Program.  The forest is managed by Northwoods Alliance Inc. and community partners.

May 20 2021

Last summer, Northwoods Alliance and Partners in Forestry released Northwoods Forest Conservation: A Handbook, supported with resources from the UW Center for Cooperatives. This was a very successful project, and we distributed 1000 books across Wisconsin, Michigan, and other states—and even fulfilled international requests. Since then, we been working toward completing two additional Handbooks.

First, we will release a book celebrating local wood uses and non- traditional forest products, and providing practical, specific tips for using your own sustainably-harvested wood products. Following this, we will release a handbook further exploring specific threats to northern forests, and a discussion of how to implement northern forest conservation. In this writing we discuss forest fragmentation, biodiversity, and climate factors, and focus on what you can do to further your conservation based land management and advocate for conservation. 

Please get in touch if you would like to request either of these Handbooks, or receive an electronic copy of our original Handbook from 2020 (and scroll down for additional information on the original Handbook).

We appreciate your support of these efforts!

May 18 2021

We’re excited to announce that the Wildcat Falls Community Forest already has potential for expansion, just months after it was established. This 40 acre addition will protect a pond which is a main feeder source to Scott & Howe Creek, flowing over Wildcat Falls. The parcel additionally provides great road frontage offering more access and parking, and connects to the MDNR boat landing on County Line Lake to offer even further benefits to the community forest parcel near the lake. With your help, we can make this happen in short order. Donations cumulating  up to $20,000 will be matched by a generous area family. Please help us further the benefits of the Wildcat Falls Community Forest, by conserving additional valuable land and water for future generations. See the map below, which highlights the new parcel in red. If you wish to donate toward this acquisition, navigate to the Donate page on our website.

March 4 2021

We are proud to announce that one of the projects featured in the Northwoods Forest Conservation Handbook has now been completed. This 220-acre parcel is located where the Wild and Scenic West Branch Ontonagon River feeds the Victoria Flowage, and protects rapids, rock bluffs, feeder streams with waterfalls, and birds eye sugar maple. This project is located in close proximity to the North Country National Scenic Trail, and the historic village of Old Victoria, a remnant of the copper-mining past of the region. We praise the Ottawa National Forest (ONF) for procuring this important parcel using a Tri-partite exchange process, which utilized revenue from timber sales on the forest to provide recreational opportunities for future generations. We are grateful to the short-term conservation owner in our network who worked with the ONF to make this happen. 

 Coupled with our recent success of the Wildcat Falls Community Forest, we have worked with the USFS to provide 380 acres of incredible scenic opportunities to the public in a few short months.

Dec 20 2020

NWA has established an endowment fund with the Community Foundation of the Upper Peninsula (CFUP) to support the Wildcat Falls Community Forest (WFCF). We are very grateful for the recent grant of $2500 from the Sustainable Forestry and Wildlife Fund of the CFUP, which was applied to the endowment.

The Endowment fund is critical for the future of the WFCF, and will focus on covering annual holding costs such as real estate taxes, community education, and outreach efforts. In the future, we hope that the endowment will also assist in future acquisitions if an expansion opportunity should arise. We much appreciate and have a critical need for community support of the community forest. If you would like to support the Wildcat Falls Community Forest, please contribute to this endowment. Gifts can be made either to Northwoods Alliance (via our Donation page) or to the Community Foundation of the UP (simply state Wildcat Falls on the gift).

Dec 4 2020

Recent visitors to the Wildcat Falls Community Forest include these three adventurers and their dog. For maps and more information on visiting, navigate to the Wildcat Falls page on our website (under “Current projects”), or request the Northwoods Forest Conservation Handbook. We’d be glad to see photos of your visit.

We are now finalizing the WFCF Management Plan, and are in the final days of accepting comments. If you wish to comment, use the link below (in the August 7 announcement) up until Dec 11.

Oct 28 2020

Partners in Forestry Cooperative (PIF) and Northwoods Alliance (NWA) are pleased to announce that their most recent project, with assistance from the UW Center for Cooperatives, is now off the printing press. We hope that this booklet will inspire woodland owners, regardless of the size of their forestlands, to further engage in conservation at this critical time.

The Northwoods Forest Conservation Handbook shares reflections from Northwoods conservation practitioners and landowners, assembles tools and resources for forest conservation, and celebrates completed projects. The Handbook is 66 full-size pages, with numerous color photographs of Northwoods forests and landscapes throughout. There is no charge to request this book, but donations are welcome to help offset costs. To donate, visit https://www.northwoodalliance.org/donationsor contact us at the phone or email addresses below. 

Want to be involved? We are eager to increase our team of dedicated conservationists working for a more sustainable Northwoods future.

Contact us for questions, or to obtain a copy of the Handbook: 

Email: nwa@nnex.net       partnersinforestry@gmail.com                

Phone: 715-479-8528                                  

Mailing address: PIF & NWA

6063 Baker Lake Road 

Conover WI 54519

Testimonials on the Handbook

“No matter where we live, we [humans] depend on forests; for the oxygen we breathe, for the water we drink, for the many products we use every day, for the diversity of plants and animals they sustain, for the beauty, tranquility, recreation, solitude and spirituality forests provide to make our lives better. I have not seen a more inspiring, practical, and easy to read “how-to” guide to common sense sustainable forest land conservation practices. Northwoods Forest Conservation: A Handbook is an must read for all who depend upon and care about forests.”

Mike Dombeck, PhD

Retired UW System Fellow and Professor of Global Conservation, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and former Chief of the U.S. Forest Service. Mike grew up in Northern Wisconsin where he spent 11 summers as a fishing guide.

"Poignant and practical, Northwoods Forest Conservation: A Handbook eclipses all the how-to, cookie-cutter manuals ever written on the topic. Its contributors reflect some of the myriad nuances of conservation in cogent, heartfelt voices informed by decades of experience. Looking to the future with a tone neither bleak nor jubilant, Handbook is a testament to the power of collaboration and of seemingly trivial acts; it is a universal call to action."

Paul Hetzler 

Author, natural resource educator and ISA-Certified Arborist

Sept 24 2020

Northwoods Alliance is proud to announce that the Wildcat Falls Community Forest project is now complete! See below for a press release celebrating this new community forest. Press inquiries are welcome at nwa@nnex.net.

We also welcome inquiries related to visiting the WCF Community Forest. NWA and Partners in Forestry will soon be releasing a conservation handbook as a resource for forest landowners who wish to pursue conservation strategies, and this will also feature a variety of conservation projects from the region, including the WCF Community Forest. Watch for further information on this exciting resource.

Press release: Wildcat Falls protected as a Community Forest

Following more than ten years of efforts by Northwoods Alliance (NWA) and Partners in Forestry Cooperative (PIF) to protect Wildcat Falls, this project is now celebrated as a success. This conservation acquisition was completed with the help of the USFS Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program, and wide community support.

The 160-acre project is an ecological marvel, even for the Upper Peninsula where natural bounty is plentiful. A challenging but short hike of less than a mile showcases old-growth forest, a 25’ waterfall on a trout stream with steep canyon walls, magnificent rock outcrops formed a billion years ago, and a plethora of understory flora and fauna including rich seasonal wildflowers. As described by PIF native plant guide Rod Sharka, “The synergistic combination of unusual plants, a waterfall on a pristine trout stream, rock outcrops, old growth forest, vernal pools and more make a visit to Wildcat Falls a special experience”.

Long considered a special place by generations of visitors, the property was an isolated part of the Ottawa National Forest for decades. About twelve years ago, the Forest Service initiated a land trade that included this tract. Justified by its isolated location, this property was to be swapped for increased acreage to help simplify forest boundaries. Conservationists opposed the trade over a period of years, and also developed a strategy to protect the ecological features and preserve access for the public. An interim conservation buyer negotiated a purchase with the trade recipient, and approached NWA about finding a permanent and publicly beneficial conservation solution.

Previously, NWA had experience with the USFS Community Forest Program and identified this program as a possible avenue to establish a Wildcat Falls Community Forest. NWA immediately began fundraising for the 50% financial match to the Community Forest Program. In very early 2018, the first of several significant grant awards was secured to complete the project. In spring of 2019, the USFS Community Forest Program ranked the Wildcat Falls proposal number 4 in the nation out of 15 funded projects, assuring 50% of the required budget. This grant paved the way for further necessary funding.

By mid-year 2020, the Wildcat Falls fundraising effort wrapped up with over 100 individual donations ranging from $10 up to $30,000. The project gained financial grant support from Friends of Sylvania Wilderness, John C Bock Foundation, James D & Jane P Watermolen Foundation, Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition, James E Dutton Foundation, Community Foundation of the Upper Peninsula, Copper Country Trout Unlimited, Johnson Foundation at Wingspread and the Weyerhaeuser Community Fund. As summarized by NWA president Casey Clark, “We are very grateful to the community and all contributors who have assisted in bringing this incredible project to conclusion. As a next step, we now encourage public input into developing the Wildcat Falls Community Forest management plan”.

Joe Hovel led the conservation effort by PIF & NWA for years, and acknowledged the dedication necessary to achieve this success. “We have had a long history on this project. Over a decade on one conservation project may seem daunting. However; ten years is insignificant in the life of 150-year old trees and billion-year old rock. Protecting this special place for future generations was well worth the effort” said Hovel.

At the time of this writing, Northwoods Alliance is seeking community input into the final decisions in the Community Forest Plan. Under the Community Forest program, a project must display community benefits, thus it is essential to develop a plan which defines these uses while protecting the unique ecological resources of this project. This makes the community input important in establishing the guidelines of the Community Forest. For more information and to comment on the Plan, please see www.northwoodalliance.org

September 10 2020

We have met our goal to complete the Wildcat Falls acquisition, with closing slated for September 24. We very much look forward to this important milestone, and are so appreciative of the outpouring of community support to make this happen. Now, we are also looking to the future and ongoing sustainability of the community forest, and still need to keep some fundraising efforts alive to cover costs such as property taxes.

We are looking to establish a Wildcat Falls Community Forest endowment fund to cover future expenses, to ensure continued smooth operations and stability for the future. Please consider helping if you are able, and see the donation page for how to contribute. We thank everyone who has made this worthy project a reality.

August 7 2020

The early summer brought some very good news: following 2 ½ years of fundraising, we have now met our financial goal for acquisition of the Wildcat Falls property. Currently, the USFS is processing the grant award, and we anticipate closing on the acquisition in early fall, making Wildcat Falls a Community Forest under the Community Forest and Open Space Conservation program.  

Under the program, community involvement is essential, and this often includes a committee of stakeholders hosting several meetings to finalize details for a Community Forest Plan. However, given the COVID situation, we will work to develop this plan for Wildcat Falls by engaging our network by email, discussing by phone, and talking while keeping safe distances outside. Now, we truly need to hear from the community, with your vision for future use of the community forest.

Certain aspects of the plan are already established, emerging out of conversations over the past two years. These include:

·      The old-growth cedar & hemlock will be protected, with no timber harvest on hemlock, cedar stands or near the rock outcrops, creek or wetlands.

·      The public use does not include motors off the public roads.

·      Fishing and hunting will be allowed in season with proper license.

·      A hiking trail network has been established to the falls & one of the outcrops. 

·      Natural resource education will be encouraged.

·      The well-stocked hardwood stands with substantial tree size will be ecologically managed on extended rotation, conducting harvests to remove poor quality, suppressed trees and culls while allowing sawtimber to develop to its full growth potential.

However, we still have numerous decisions to make as a community, and we need your feedback. We encourage you to fill out this brief survey, to provide any feedback that you wish. Your suggestions, feedback or concerns are very important as we work to develop the final community forest plan.

https://forms.gle/rCcN9wo8fUqfpSHj6

If it is easier for you, a simple email, letter or phone call will also suffice.

We are excited to see this project in its closing stages, and also wish to continuously thank the contributors to this effort to protect a public treasure. Contributions include over 100 donations from individuals, ranging from $10 to $30,000. Donations from foundations and nonprofits include the Friends of Sylvania, John C Bock Foundation, James D and Jane P Watermolen Foundation, Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition, James E Dutton Foundation, Community Foundation of the UP, Copper Country Chapter Trout Unlimited, Johnson Foundation at Wingspread, Weyerhaeuser Community fund, Conserve School, and the USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Community Forest Program.

June 24 2020

The Wildcat Falls Community Forest project was featured on a recent episode of 906 Outdoors. We thank the team at 906 Outdoors for covering this exciting project! You can watch the episode below.

June 13 2020

We have been incredibly fortunate to receive multiple recent generous donations, and the Wildcat Falls Community Forest is now very near to meeting its financial goals and moving the project to completion. A month ago, we set out to raise $30,000 of our $54,000 remaining funds necessary to complete the Wildcat Falls acquisition. Almost immediately, we received a $30,000 challenge from a local donor, as a challenge for us to raise the remaining $24,000 from other sources. In the last two weeks, we have received pledges for half of the remaining $24,000, leaving us just $12,000 to go in our quest to protect a public treasure for future generations. 

Can you help us finish this project and make Wildcat Falls a Community Forest? Please see our May 14 update (below) for how to help.

Thanks to Rod Sharka for these photos from a recent hike at Wildcat Falls!

May 14 2020

Northwoods Public Radio Station WXPR produced a feature on two conservation projects in northwoods watersheds, including the Wildcat Falls Community Forest. We encourage you to listen to the feature, and enjoy the photos and a video from the projects, here: https://www.wxpr.org/post/nearby-far-different-two-special-places-northern-wisconsin.

We are in the final stretches of completing the Wildcat Falls Community Forest, and still need to finish raising funds in order to establish the Community Forest by Fall 2020. Please see details here (and visit the “Donations” page on the NWA website).

April 22 2020

Northwood Alliance and its partner organization, Partners in Forestry, wish you all the best on this 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day. Especially in these difficult times, this is an Earth Day like no other. We hope you can take a moment to celebrate a moment of optimism.

Partners in Forestry released a special Earth Day issue of their newsletter, Partners News. You can read this timely issue here: Partners News Earth Day Issue.

January 10 2020

A group of snowshoers visited the Wildcat Falls loop trail, and observed fox and otter tracks, woodpecker activity, and striking ice formations. Now is a great time to visit!

Updated Jan. 13, 2020:

     We now hold $84,800 in hand toward the USFS grant match. Recent contribution from Copper Country Chapter of Trout Unlimited for $2,000 is recognized and continuing support from the Land O fitness center is also appreciated along with important community donations. Please help us raise the remaining $62,700 needed to make a Wildcat Falls Community Forest a reality. 

December 14, 2019

Wildcat Falls Community Forest: End of year progress report

Dear Friend of Wildcat Falls, 

As 2019 winds down, we would like to update you on what we have accomplished together toward the Wildcat Falls Community Forest. When we began this effort at the end of 2017, a community forest at Wildcat Falls appeared to be a huge undertaking, and it has been. In 2018, we undertook a serious public outreach campaign, and with your help we had raised about $30,000 by year end. The Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition significantly moved us forward, with their $10,000 Community Grant award to the Wildcat Falls project early in 2018. We kept up the effort and the Friends of Sylvania donated $3,000 in very early 2019 and offered another $3,000 if we could match it. With your help it was matched by springtime.

In early summer 2019, we were elated to learn that we had received a US Forest Service Community Forest and Open Spaces grant for this project. In this competitive program, our proposal for the Wildcat Falls Community Forest was ranked number 4 in the country. The USFS grant will cover a full 50% of our budget for acquisition of this wonderful property, and the fundraising continues to secure the rest of the matching funds. In mid-summer 2019, we received a $10,000 award from the James E. Dutton Foundation, a program focused on protecting wildlife habitat. In late August, the day after we presented the project to a receptive group in Iron River Michigan, we received an award letter from the John C Bock Foundation for $15,000. We were elated to have the Bock Foundation as partners, as their mission addresses protection of old growth forests. Their award had a stipulation that the project be completed in August of 2020, placing a clear timeline on our fundraising goals. 

Over this past fall we received several smaller but crucial awards. The Upper Peninsula Community Foundation awarded us $2500. The Johnson Foundation at Wingspread granted us $1000 for the second year, at the guidance of former USFS Chief Mike Dombeck, who sits on their board. The Weyerhaeuser Community Fund awarded us $1000 before they relinquished their Upper Peninsula land holdings. We followed these successes with several outreach events; in September and October, we held a group hike and gave a public presentation at the Land O Lakes library, and a surge in donations followed. We have received about 100 donations to date, ranging from $5 to $5,000, all of which are important and all much appreciated. As of mid-November we have almost $80,000 in the Wildcat Fund!

With this momentum, we look forward to realizing our fundraising goals over the next several months, and moving the Wildcat Falls Community Forest to completion. With the USFS grant of $147,500 and $82,000 in hand toward our non-federal match, we still need about $66,000 to complete this project. A certified appraisal is being conducted and will set the final acquisition cost. The forest management plan was recently drafted, and the draft recreation and management Community Forest plan was included in the grant request to the USFS.

We sincerely appreciate all you have done to be part of this special project. If and when you may be inclined to make another gift, we promise it will be used only for land protection. No one at Northwood Alliance receives a salary or benefits, other than the satisfaction created by accomplishments like the Wildcat Falls Community Forest. Near completion of this project we will recognize all donors. If you have any suggestions, questions or comments please do not hesitate to inquire. And please do share the word on this great effort!

December 1, 2019

Long-time followers will recall our passionate activism in the mid-2000s, to prevent fragmentation of lands held by the Upper Peninsula Power Company at the Bond, Victoria and Prickett flowages in the UP. Our efforts were a true grassroots campaign to expose a large-scale proposal for the loss of these lands.  Common sense did prevail, and we are happy to share the following.

In a recent conservation success, the Ottawa National Forest is poised to now purchase a 220 acre parcel where the Wild and Scenic West Branch Ontonagon River feeds the Victoria Flowage. Rapids, rock bluffs, feeder streams falling over cliffs, and the nearby North Country Trail are all important scenic attributes of this public land purchase. There is even Birds Eye sugar maple present on this parcel. This time, it is not Land and Water Conservation Fund funding being used, but a very positive federal land process called Tri-Partite exchange. Through this program, timber sale revenue will be used to open this land to the public in perpetuity. We hope to see this success completed in the first half of 2020. We applaud the Ottawa National Forest and the land owners, for their everlasting vision to protect this very scenic river corridor and its critical habitat.

November 30th 2019

The Wildcat Falls project was featured in the November 26th issue of The Mining Journal, a Marquette based paper. You can read the full article here: https://www.miningjournal.net/life/friday-outdoors/2019/11/funding-a-forest/.

September 25 2019

Recently, volunteers helped complete the loop trail at Wildcat Falls, which travels through forest with old-growth character, past rock outcrops, and to the falls. Many thanks to all who helped complete this trail. Now is a good time to visit and enjoy the fall colors.

Aug 12th 2019

Trail work update

A special thank you to the Great Lakes Conservation Corps, from the Superior Watershed Partnership, for helping with trail construction to Wildcat Falls! The new trail is marked in yellow. The full loop is still under construction, but one can now hike to the falls and rock outcrops and view the trout stream along the marked trail.

Aug 10th, 2019

Northwoods Alliance (NWA) and its conservation partners are pleased to announce a significant advance toward establishing a community forest at Wildcat Falls, a forested tract just north of the Wisconsin border with unique ecological and recreational values. The project was recently awarded 50% of the funding necessary to complete the community forest, through a successful grant from the USFS Community Forest and Open Space Conservation program. This project ranked fourth in the nation, out of fifteen funded proposals in this competitive program. “We are grateful that the USFS recognized the immense conservation value of this project. Moving forward, the success of this project will depend on support from the community. We are optimistic, as we see strong community benefits from conserving this unique parcel”, said NWA president Casey Clark. According to Clark, a Wildcat Falls Community Forest will permanently protect 160 acres, including a trout stream, waterfalls, valuable wetlands, unique rock mounds and impressive areas of old growth cedar-hemlock forest. NWA has lengthy and detailed biotic inventories of the parcel, and has worked for years to protect this forest for the public good.

The goals of this project are; 1) to ensure perpetual public access to Wildcat Falls and the special features around it while developing hiking trails with community input and promoting non-motorized recreation; 2) permanently protect and responsibly manage the broad range of habitats on the property, to ensure that the diverse aquatic and terrestrial flora and fauna continue to thrive; and 3) establish a model of a community-managed forestland.  In addition, a Wildcat Falls Community Forest would support tourism and forestry as primary economic drivers of the local economy.

Director Joe Hovel summarized the financial situation for completing the Community Forest project, “Final figures will be determined by a certified appraisal, but our initial proposed budget to accomplish this goal is $295,000. With the Community Forest award of $147,500 and the $48,000 raised so far from over 80 donors in the community, we need to step up our efforts to procure the remaining funds. We are reaching out to conservation foundations for help, but it truly is community action which will make this project a success.” 

The Community Forest Program was authorized by Congress in 2008 to address forest fragmentation at the local level, and to engage communities as stakeholders in the management of the forests. In their efforts to engage the local community in protecting the Wildcat Falls property, NWA has partnered with a number of local and regional organizations. Our current list of partners includes: Copper Country Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Conserve School, Friends of Sylvania Wilderness, Keweenaw Land Trust, Northwoods Native Plant Society, Partners in Forestry Cooperative, Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition, and the Wilderness Society as well as a number of individuals.

For more information on Northwoods Alliance Inc. and Wildcat Falls, contact Joe Hovel at 715-479-8528 or nwa@nnex.net

WXPR coverage

https://www.wxpr.org/post/wildcat-falls-closer-being-community-forest#stream/0

UPCOMING EVENTS