2019 Lansing TU Does Great Work at Guide’s Rest

Members of the Frank “Bob” Perrin – Lansing Chapter of TU completed installing 15 larger 6-ft cages to continue to protect the maturing Northern White-cedars planted on the main branch of the Au Sable River at Guide’s Rest. During the work-day project on Saturday, June 29, 2019; twenty previously installed cages were removed completely to allow the growing cedars to continue to grow without the need of protection from deer browse. 

Volunteer chapter members include (left to right):  Bob Ceru (chapter president), Ed Michael, Ric Lewandowski.

This property, owned and managed by Trout Unlimited, is the planting site for 50 cedars originally planted by the Lansing Chapter in 2000. The planting site is continually monitored by the chapter’s volunteers. Cedar maintenance work-projects are planned and completed when there is a need.  

Additionally, the chapter meets annually at Guide’s Rest to help with other general maintenance issues, such as replacing wood chips on the trails and the painting and repair of signage. 

Past Lansing chapter president Greg Bovee, together with representatives of the Trout Unlimited Property Management Committee and Cedars for the Au Sable, developed this project.  The Lansing chapter continues today to monitor the project under the supervision of chapter project coordinator Dan Oberst. Dan commented, “the area is special to many of our chapter members and has been a source of much enjoyment and satisfaction in protecting the resource and making it a great place for others to enjoy.”

Howard N. Johnson, founder and chairman of the Cedars for the Au Sable Project stated, “once all the cedars out-grow the browse of the local deer population, all the protective cages will be removed from the site allowing the fifty maturing cedars to provide shade to the river.  Not only does the river have fifty new cedars to help maintain lower river temperatures, protect the river’s edge from erosion and provide future fish-cover. These new cedars will also produce seed-stock for future cedar trees along the river.”