Au Sable State Forest
Encyclopedia
The Au Sable State Forest is a state forest
in the north-central Lower Peninsula of Michigan
. It is operated by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources
.
The Au Sable State Forest is a byproduct of the lumber
ing boom in Michigan during the late 19th century. Many parcels of old growth timber were stripped of their largest trees. After forest fires had consumed the resulting detritus, the land had no economic value. Typically, it was sold to subsistence farmer
s or was reverted to the state in lieu of unpaid property tax
es.
Today, the Au Sable State Forest is a valuable asset to the state of Michigan. Much of it surrounds the fast-growing communities of Houghton Lake
, Higgins Lake
and Lake St. Helen
adjacent to U.S. Interstate 75
. In addition, much of the forest is used for wildlife game management and the fostering of rare and endangered species, such as the Kirtland's warbler
. Much of the area sits on the "Grayling outwash plain", a unique habitat.
s. See List of National Natural Landmarks.
, is described by its owner/operator, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment, as "an exceptionally large example of a northern white cedar
swamp, considered to be the climax in bog forest development."
, (Location 8 miles east of Roscommon, Michigan
, off Sunset Drive) is an old-growth stand of red pine
, which includes a former national champion red pine.
State forest
A state forest is a forest that is administered or protected by some agency of a sovereign state.The precise application of the term varies by jurisdiction...
in the north-central Lower Peninsula of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. It is operated by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is the agency of the state of Michigan charged with maintaining natural resources such as state parks, state forests, and recreation areas. It is governed by a director appointed by the Governor and accepted by the Natural Resources Commission...
.
The Au Sable State Forest is a byproduct of the lumber
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
ing boom in Michigan during the late 19th century. Many parcels of old growth timber were stripped of their largest trees. After forest fires had consumed the resulting detritus, the land had no economic value. Typically, it was sold to subsistence farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
s or was reverted to the state in lieu of unpaid property tax
Property tax
A property tax is an ad valorem levy on the value of property that the owner is required to pay. The tax is levied by the governing authority of the jurisdiction in which the property is located; it may be paid to a national government, a federated state or a municipality...
es.
Today, the Au Sable State Forest is a valuable asset to the state of Michigan. Much of it surrounds the fast-growing communities of Houghton Lake
Houghton Lake (Michigan)
Houghton Lake is a large lake in Roscommon County. The unincorporated community of Prudenville is at the southeastern end of the lake, while the unincorporated communities of Houghton Lake and Houghton Lake Heights are on the southwest and west shores...
, Higgins Lake
Higgins Lake
Higgins Lake is a large recreational and fishing lake in Roscommon County, in the U.S. state of Michigan. The 9,900 acre lake is known for its deep, clear waters and is the 10th largest in Michigan with a shoreline of . It is named after Sylvester Higgins, Michigan's first chief of the...
and Lake St. Helen
Lake St. Helen
Lake St. Helen is a public lake located in Roscommon County in the U.S. state of Michigan, and borders on the community of St. Helen, Michigan...
adjacent to U.S. Interstate 75
Interstate 75
Interstate 75 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes and Southeastern regions of the United States. It travels from State Road 826 and State Road 924 in Hialeah, Florida to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, at the Ontario, Canada, border...
. In addition, much of the forest is used for wildlife game management and the fostering of rare and endangered species, such as the Kirtland's warbler
Kirtland's Warbler
Kirtland's Warbler is a small songbird of the New World warbler family , named after Jared P. Kirtland, an Ohio doctor and amateur naturalist. Nearly extinct just 50 years ago, it is well on its way to recovery. It requires large areas of dense young jack pine for its breeding habitat...
. Much of the area sits on the "Grayling outwash plain", a unique habitat.
National Natural Landmarks
Two land parcels within the Au Sable State Forest are designated as National Natural LandmarkNational Natural Landmark
The National Natural Landmark program recognizes and encourages the conservation of outstanding examples of the natural history of the United States. It is the only natural areas program of national scope that identifies and recognizes the best examples of biological and geological features in...
s. See List of National Natural Landmarks.
Dead Stream Swamp
An 11680 acres (47.3 km²) parcel within the Au Sable State Forest, the Dead Stream Swamp, located 30 miles northeast of CadillacCadillac, Michigan
Cadillac is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is the county seat of Wexford County. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 10,000. The city is situated at the junction of US 131, M-55 and M-115...
, is described by its owner/operator, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment, as "an exceptionally large example of a northern white cedar
Thuja occidentalis
Thuja occidentalis is an evergreen coniferous tree, in the cypress family Cupressaceae, which is widely cultivated for use as an ornamental plant known as American Arbor Vitae. The endemic occurrence of this species is a northeastern distribution in North America...
swamp, considered to be the climax in bog forest development."
Roscommon Virgin Pine Stand
A 160 acres (647,497.6 m²) parcel within the Au Sable State Forest, the Roscommon Virgin Pine Stand 8 miles (12 km) north of St. Helen, MichiganSt. Helen, Michigan
St. Helen is an unincorporated community in Richfield Township, Roscommon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a census-designated place for statistical purposes and has no legal status as an incorporated municipality. The population was 2,993 at the 2000 census...
, (Location 8 miles east of Roscommon, Michigan
Roscommon
Roscommon is the county town of County Roscommon in Ireland. Its population at the 2006 census stood at 5,017 . The town is located near the junctions of the N60, N61 and N63 roads.-History:...
, off Sunset Drive) is an old-growth stand of red pine
Red Pine
Pinus resinosa, commonly known as the red pine or Norway pine, is pine native to North America. The Red Pine occurs from Newfoundland west to Manitoba, and south to Pennsylvania, with several smaller, disjunct populations occurring in the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia and West Virginia, as well...
, which includes a former national champion red pine.