FOREST SURVEYS ON THE MICHIGAN STATE FORESTS 



By Russell Watson 

 Instructor in Forestry, University of Michigan 



In making a forest survey of the Michigan State forests some prob- 

 lems have been encountered which are so interesting that a discussion 

 of them, with the methods of surveying used to overcome them, will, 

 it is believed, be of some value to the profession. 



State Forester Schaaf desired that the survey should collect those 

 data needed in the preparation of working plans for the forest, the 

 data desired to be embodied in the following maps and descriptions : 



1. A topographic map, showing form of the ground by contours and 

 indicating all culture and subdivision lines. 



2. A map of the land, indicating its value for the growth of timber — 

 that is, a map of forest sites. 



3. A map showing those areas which are so poorly stocked with trees 

 that artificial reproduction is necessary— that is, planting map. 



4. A map indicating the composition of the stands of the forest — 

 that is, a type map. 



5. A timber estimate. 



6. Forest description, both of the plantations and of the natural 

 forest. 



PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS 



Control. — The State forests average about 30,000 acres in area. 

 They are scattered unconnectedly over the northern part of the State. 

 The expensive geodetic surveying used by the Forest Service in extend- 

 ing horizontal control over the great National Forests of the West is 

 not required here. 



The Government land subdivision lines had been accurately rerun 

 with transit and tape in connection with the construction of fire-lines 

 and administrative work before the present forest surveys were started. 

 The length and bearing of these lines has been determined, thus, suffi- 

 ciently accurate to serve as base lines to which the strip survey lines 

 arc tied. The lines were very well marked at the time they were rerun. 

 Indeed, fire-lines a rod wide have been built upon these lines over a 

 large jiart of the forests. As a result, the lines are very easily found, 

 which assists materially in lowering the cost of the work. 



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