Tomahawk Northwoods

The Tomahawk Northwoods is a three-phase project that began in 2001.  This Forest Legacy project protects 70,337 acres, encompassing four north-central Wisconsin counties, through two conservation easement and a state purchased fee simple acquisition. 

The Tomahawk Northwoods Project is a large tract of working forest integrated with significant public lands and industrial forests open to public use.  The project lands enhance and protect these large unbroken tracts by maintaining connecting corridors along river systems and between large forest blocks.  Existing public lands that directly benefit from this project include: Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Northern Highlands and the American Legion State Forests, Big Rib River Fishery Area, New Wood Wildlife Area, Willow Flowage Scenic Waters Area, Moose Lake State Natural Area, and Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area and more.

The Tomahawk Northwoods tract consists of several large blocks of undeveloped forestland.  The tract offers a renewable source of timber products, ample public access, and outstanding ecological values.  In additional to opportunities for continuing traditional forest uses, the landscape offers fish and wildlife habitat for the benefit of both humans and the natural ecosystem.  Among its residents are several threatened and endangered species of animals and plants and many interior bird species that require large forest habitat.  This tract is also the home to both gray wolves and moose.  Its many habitats include numerous riparian and wetland areas, winter deer yards, and the increasingly rare hemlock forest type. 

These lands also host myriad recreational activities for the public including hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, hiking, birding, and sightseeing.  Concerns have been raised by user groups that, if this tract were to be developed instead of conserved, it future access for such sports as snowmobiling and ATVing, both economically important industries in the region, would be in jeopardy.  The Tomahawk Timberlands site also contains cross county ski trails and a portion of the Ice Age Trail.