Huron National Forest

The Huron National Forest is a National Forest in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. It was established in 1909 after the logging era began to decline. In 1945, it was administratively combined with the Manistee National Forest, to create the Huron–Manistee National Forest. However, these are not connected and are separate forests. It provides recreation opportunities for visitors, habitat for fish and wildlife, and resources for local industry. The headquarters for the forest is located in Cadillac, Michigan.

History

File:United States Statutes at Large Volume 35 Part 2 scan image 1151.png

United States Statutes at Large Volume 35 Part 2 scan image 1151

During the Great Depression land was bought by the U.S. Forest Service to help farmers and landowners and to inject money into the economy. However, some landowners only sold the unproductive land and kept the productive areas, thus breaking up the land purchases. The Forest Service established the Huron National Forest in 1909.

The Huron National Forest is Template:Convert spreading Template:Convert east to west and Template:Convert north to south. The forest was renamed in 1929 after an Iroquoian tribe of the Great Lakes Region—the Huron.

Geography

File:Huron National Forest Overlook.jpg

Trail in the Huron National Forest, Michigan

The Huron National Forest is prone to frequent seasonal forest fires, due to ecological and geological factors including the domination of the jack pine in sections the forests, the needles of which are extremely flammable,<ref name="USDA Forest Service">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> sandy soil composition as a result of glacial outwash plain geology of sections of the Huron National Forest,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> and jack pine barrens management practices to create nesting habitat for the Kirtland's warbler resulting in dense, young stands of jack pine that are extremely susceptible to crowning wildfires.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2010, the Meridian Boundary Fire burned over Template:Convert in and near the Huron District of the Huron National Forest. The fire destroyed 13 homes, damaged two others, and destroyed or damaged 46 outbuildings.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Features

File:Lumbermans Monument Statue.JPG

The Lumberman's Monument, dedicated to the workers of the early logging industry, is located within the eastern part of the forest near Oscoda.

The Bull Gap ORV Trail is located in the Huron National Forest. It contains Template:Convert of off-road vehicle trails.

The threatened Kirtland's warbler nests in the area, and tours are available, subject to time restrictions.<ref>Tours, Huron-Manistee National Forest.</ref>

See also

• The Michigan AuSable Valley Railroad is a Template:Track gauge, 1/4-scale ridable miniature railway, located in Fairview, Michigan.

External links

• Template:Official website