Report Nr. 3255 Northern White Cedar Regeneration in Menominee County, Michigan

The northern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis) forest type currently occupies approximately 920,000 acres in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and is increasing in acreage due to shorter-lived tree species dying and the longer-lived cedar persisting on low site index wetland sites. However, the amount of cedar in younger age classes (<40 years old) is declining which raises concern for the long-term viability of cedar. Deer browsing and inappropriate silvicultural techniques are frequently implicated in the failure of cedar to regenerate. The study area for this report was located within Ecological Management Unit-30 of the Escanaba River State Forest. Given the existing habitat conditions, deer population density and distribution, and behavioral patterns of deer, it seems prudent to delay efforts to regenerate cedar in EMU-30.