2001 CFAS News Release

CEDARS FOR THE AU SABLE
An Au Sable River System Cedar Tree Planting and Protection Project

Originated and administrated by the Au Sable River System Property Owners Association (ARSPOA), P.O. Box 15, Grayling, MI 49738. Funding sponsors for this project are: Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation, Trout and Salmon Foundation, AJD Forest Products, Anglers of the Au Sable (Grayling), George W. Mason Chapter (Grayling) of Trout Unlimited, William B. Mershon Chapter (Saginaw) of Trout Unlimited, Paul H. Young Chapter (Detroit) of Trout Unlimited, Clinton Valley Chapter (Rochester Hills) of Trout Unlimited, Challenge Chapter (Bloomfield Hills) of Trout Unlimited, Lansing Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Upper Manistee River Association, Au Sable River Watershed Restoration Committee, and Mr. Craig Hinkle, Re/Max of Grayling.

Contact: Howard N. Johnson, Project Chair
ARSPOA
3157 Church Street
Saginaw, MI 48604
989-753-6373
hnjohnson@aol.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ninety-one river property owners planted over 1,100 northern white-cedar seedlings this fall in an effort to preserve and protect the cold-water fishery of the Au Sable and Manistee River watershed. Now, in its fifth year, the “Cedars for the Au Sable” project encourages river property owners to replant their native northern white-cedar seedlings along the river’s edge to help maintain the delicate balance of the river’s ecological system. Since the beginning of this project in 1997 by the Au Sable River System Property Owners Association (ARSPOA), over 5,500 northern white-cedar seedlings have been planted and protected in enclosures.

The northern white-cedars along the river’s banks provide needed shade to maintain the cold water fishery of the river. The presence of the cedar sweepers at the water line provides protection for the fish, increases the amount of large woody debris in the water, as well as the preservation of the riverbank by locking in the soil.

There is virtually no natural reforestation of northern white-cedar in northern Michigan. Many believe it is due mainly to the tremendous deer populations in our northern counties. River property owners have long recognized the complete absence of any young cedars in our area. They have attempted to plant replacement cedar seedlings only to have the deer and hares eat them again. Recognizing that this problem existed and a solution needed to be found, volunteer members of the ARSPOA pre-packaged northern white-cedar seedlings into a planting kit. Included in this planting kit are: 10 northern white-cedar seedlings, protective fencing material, wooden stakes, and complete planting instructions. The “planting kits” were distributed this year from the rear parking lot of Lucky Laura’s Party Store on the corner of Stephen Bridge Road and M-72. Volunteer members of the Au Sable River System Property Owners Association assisting with this year’s distribution included: Pat Schmid, April Andrus, Ron and Ruth Joyce, Jerry Gosnell, Jesica Fowler, William Fowler, and Jim Sixberry. Committee members included: Bernie Fowler, Ed Parks, Don Zelenka, Rodney Ney, and Howard N. Johnson. Technical Committee members include: Brian Benjamin, Watershed Coordinator, Huron Pines RC&D; Keith Martell, NRCS State Forester, USDA; Craig Kasmer, Roscommon-Crawford Conservation District; Ivan Witt, Register Forester, Forestry Consultants, Inc.

Project chairman Howard N. Johnson announced that a program to further protect the maturing northern white-cedar that have been planted in previous years has been prepared. Past project participants may pick up the larger, permanent enclosures at McLean’s Ace Hardware in Grayling when their seedlings out-grow their existing enclosures.

To order planting kits for next summer, (or to start a similar project on your favorite river) please contact project chairman Howard N. Johnson at 989-753-6373, or visit the web site: www.cedarsfortheausable.org.

The actual cost for all the material in the planting kit was substantially more than the asking price. The purchase price was subsidized by: Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation, Trout and Salmon Foundation, AJD Forest Products, Anglers of the Au Sable (Grayling), George W. Mason Chapter (Grayling) of Trout Unlimited, William B. Mershon Chapter (Saginaw) of Trout Unlimited, Paul H. Young Chapter (Detroit) of Trout Unlimited, Clinton Valley Chapter (Rochester Hills) of Trout Unlimited, Challenge Chapter (Bloomfield Hills) of Trout Unlimited, Lansing Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Upper Manistee River Association, Au Sable River Watershed Restoration Committee, and Mr. Craig Hinkle, Re/Max of Grayling.