2006 CFAS News Release

Cedars for the Au Sable
An Au Sable River System Cedar Tree Planting and Protection Project

Presented by the Upper Au Sable River Preservation Association (UARPA), P.O. Box 15, Grayling, MI 49738.

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For the past ten years, the “Cedars for the Au Sable” project has been providing northern white-cedars seedlings to property owners along the Au Sable and Manistee rivers to facilitate the reforestation of this native species. The cedar seedlings are planted close to the river to provide shade to help keep the river cool, preserve the riverbank and eventually provide fish cover.

Each newly planted cedar seedling is placed inside a three-foot high enclosure to protect it from deer browse. In time, this original enclosure becomes too small for the growing cedar and a larger enclosure is needed to continue to protect the cedar sapling from the local deer population.

If you are participating in the “Cedars for the Au Sable” project and have growing cedars that need larger enclosures, please visit Mc Lean’s Hardware Home Center in Grayling. Bob McLean is assisting the project us by keeping in stock six-foot high replacement fencing for your maturing cedars. The fencing material is black PVC coated poultry fencing so that it is less visible on the river. Each pre-cut section of fence and replacement wooden stakes will cost $5.00 …about one-half its retail value.

The “Cedars for the Au Sable” project is administered by the Upper Au Sable River Preservation Association and chaired by Howard N. Johnson. Please contact Howard with any questions or comments at 989-753-6373 or email hnjohnson@aol.com.

Growing northern white-cedar protected from deer browse in a six-foot high enclosure.