The Stoney Corners Forest Road displays several examples of forest management practices. The species of trees growing along the Stoney are the result of its geology and fire history. Ancient Lake Agassiz left a series of gently rolling sandy ridges along the west half of the road. The east half of the road travels through a level area with poorly drained silty loam soils. The entire area surrounding the Stoney was burned by a catastrophe forest fire in 1930. As a result, almost all the trees growing along the Stoney today are less than 60 years old.

After the fire the east end of the Stoney regenerated to Aspen. Aspen is a hardwood tree that grows vigorously for 40-50 years and then slowly declines. Aspen stands are gradually harvested as they reach the end of their life cycle. Young Aspen needs full sunlight to thrive. For that reason Aspen is harvested by removing all the trees on a site except for snag trees left for cavity nesting birds. Sunlight then warms the forest floor and a new Aspen forest sprouts from the root systems of the harvested trees. A newly harvested area may look like a disaster but within a year it will become a dense thicket of new trees.

Aspen harvests are planned to benefit many species of wildlife by cutting blocks in a manner that creates a variety of different aged Aspen stands in close proximity to one another. You will see many examples of Aspen stands in various stages of maturity along the Stoney.

The west end of the Stoney is forested mainly with Jack and Red Pine trees. Both species of trees do well on the dry, sandy soils found there.

The Red or Norway Pine will continue to grow vigorously for 100-120 years before its growth slows. It's valuable for saw timber and poles when mature. Red Pine stands are thinned periodically starting at about age 40. Thinning the stand reduces competition for sunlight, moisture, and nutrients for the remaining trees. Old homestead fields throughout the forest were planted to Red Pine by CCC and WPA workers in the 1930's. Drive the Faunce road between the Stoney and the Spina Forest Road to see what those plantations look like today.

The Jack Pine is the most common pine tree in the Beltrami Island State Forest. It matures at around 50 years of age. It only grows well in full sunlight. It is harvested by cutting entire blocks of trees. Harvested Jack Pine sites are nearly always hand planted back to Pine to insure that sites are reforested. There are numerous Jack Pine stands along the Stoney that have been harvested and replanted within the past few years.

The trees harvested along the Stoney become number of different wood products. Some logs go to local sawmills to become lumber, railroad ties, pallets, crating, and wire spools. Other logs become treated wood landscape timbers and fence posts. The Red Pine trees thinned from plantations often become log homes. Trees too small to be sawed become paper, cardboard and sheets of flakeboard.

All timber harvests in the Beltrami Island State Forest are planned by wildlife managers and foresters. This cooperation insures that the forest will continue to provide recreation, productive home for wildlife, and wood products for our use.

To order additional information Click Here or call 1-800-382-FISH.