Steigerwaldt – Chequamegon NEON - United States of America

The Steigerwaldt tower site is managed for timber production and recreation. It is a young, even-aged stand, with aspen (Populus tremuloides), red maple (Acer rubrum), and balsam fir (Abies balsamea) among the most abundant tree species. The stand was cut in 2005, with some scattered oak and hemlock left for wildlife food and roost. It has approximately 4000 aspen stems per hectare, naturally regenerated from roots. Roads are planted with clover as additional food source for deer and ruffed grouse. The NEON study area in the CHEQ Park Falls District encompasses a diversity of forest stands. The area includes pine, hemlock, aspen, northern hardwoods, including CCC-planted red and jack pine plantations. Logging is active in the area, although different management systems may vary. The CNNF Park Falls District’s timber program has recently been dominated by salvage timber projects following ice and hail damage, windstorms, tornadoes, and spruce decline, followed by a recent focus in over-mature aspen stands in both Price and Taylor County. Over the last several years, the District has been moving out of salvage mode with recently approved vegetation management / forest health projects in pine and hardwood management areas. Early successional habitat also continues to be a focus