Forests

The UP is heavily forested to say the least. It turns out there is money in forests. Who knew. You will note that Baraga County isn't getting any money.
I'm not sure this is a good use of tax payer money when money to schools is being cut and cut again. I thought we were going to get some better roads. A new road across the UP would be my vote if we can't bring our schools up to par.

Five counties in Northern Michigan have received more than $2.4 million to restore forest health conditions in federal, state, and private forests recovering from fires, forest insects and disease outbreak.

Alger, Delta, Houghton, Mackinac and Schoolcraft Counties received the funding from the US Forest Service as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Projects in the UP are:

•$200,000 for Alger County to restore native plants on Grand Island National Recreation Area in the Hiawatha National Forest.
•$2,243,000 for Delta, Houghton, Mackinac and Schoolcraft Counties to slow the loss of ash trees as a result of Emerald Ash Borer infestation in the U.P.
•$2,244,000 to six counties in Michigan and Ohio, including Keweenaw, Mackinac and Schoolcraft Counties, for Emerald Ash Borer containment and ecosystem restoration.

A complete list of those projects can be found at www.fs.fed.us/recovery.