Ottawa National Forest sign
BRUCE CROSSING, MI (WSAU-WXPR) – The Ottawa National Forest is growing more than just trees.
It recently purchased 1,200 acres of land that straddles the West Branch of the Ontonagon River.
The National Forest worked with the Trust for Public Land to secure the land. Susan Schmidt is the Upper Midwest Director for TPL: “The west branch of the Ontonagon River is designated as a National Wild and Scenic River for its beauty and environmental importance, so protecting the land, the 1,200 acres that straddle that wonderful wild and scenic river was really, really important to the Ottawa National Forest.”
Aside from its environmental value, this land also has great recreation value.
It offers views of the Victoria Reservoir.
A portion of the 4,800 mile long North Country Trail also traverses the land. “This segment was critical to them. They’ve been able to use it because the owner, Lyme Timber the prior owner, was nice enough to let them use it, but now it’s permanent. It’s a permanent connection. They can hike through and be comfortable it will be there for their kids and their kids, kids,” Schmidt said.
The Ottawa National Forest bought the land using money from the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
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