Lake Superior GMU

Below are statistics, charts and general information on the Lake Superior GMU. All chart and map links open in a separate window.

About 85% of the land area of the Lake Superior GMU lies in Bayfield, Douglas and Ashland counties and half of this is in Bayfield County alone. This GMU is heavily forested.

Forest acreage

The area of timberland in the Lake Superior GMU decreased by about 31,100 acres or 2% over the past decade. The most recent survey (2001-2005) indicates that productive forest land makes up about 1.4 million acres or 74% of the total land area of the GMU, the highest percentage of all management units in Wisconsin.
View bar chart: Timberland acreage in the Lake Superior GMU

Forest types

The aspen forest type accounts for the highest percentage of acreage (34%). Sugar maple-dominated types account for another 26% and bottomland forest types, mainly black ash/american elm/red maple, northern white-cedar, black spruce and tamarack, together make up about 12% of timberland acreage.
View bar chart: The most important forest types in the Lake Superior GMU

Growing stock volume

Total growing stock volume in the Lake Superior GMU is 1.7 billion cubic feet which is the third highest of all management units in Wisconsin. Quaking aspen (P. tremuloides) accounts for the largest percentage of growing stock volume or 16%. The maples (A. rubrum and A. saccharum) account for another 23%. The pines, mainly P. resinosa and P. strobus, make up 12% of volume.

Ratio of growth to removals

Net annual growth of trees (52.4 million cubic feet) in the Lake Superior GMU exceeds annual removals (31.6 million cubic feet) by 66%. The highest volume of growing stock removals is quaking aspen which accounts for 21%. Jack and red pine together make up 26% of removals.

Habitat type

Much of the land bordering Lake Superior is dominated by heavy clay soils. Because of this, nearly half (47%) of timberland in the Lake Superior GMU is classified as either mesic-wet mesic or lowland. Sandier soils, indicated by very dry to dry habitat types dominate the uplands mainly in central Bayfield County.
View pie chart: Major habitat types in the Lake Superior GMU

Timberland ownership

Only half of all timberland in the Lake Superior GMU is owned by private entities. Nearly 1/3 is owned by local and state government and another 20% by the federal government.
View pie chart: Ownership of Timberland in the Lake Superior GMU