2015 Mason Tract Planting Report

During the Au Sable River Clean up on September 12, 2015, three crews totaling 12 volunteers maintained sites within the Mason Tract. The downstream site at Downey’s Stairs had several larger fallen trees removed from cedar cages and three dead cedars removed. The upper site has seven cages to be replaced, however were not completed this year.  The larger cages remain on site and will be installed in the spring of 2016.

The area below Donwey’s Wall had three 6-ft cages installed and maintenance work performed on additional cedar cages.

Three different sections around Baldwin’s Red Gate had maintenance completed and three 6-ft cages installed.

The upper site at Canoe Harbor had five 6-ft cages installed and repairs made to the smaller cages.  The downstream site had two dead cedars removed and two 6-ft cages installed.

The test of planting of one-gallon size cedar seedlings did not show significant results during the first year of growth within the Mason Tract. These seedlings will continue to be monitored.

This initiative is part of the “Cedars for the Au Sable” project which is administrated by the Au Sable River Property Owners Association.   Additional partners in this project include Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Forest management Unit and Huron Pines RC&D.