Forest service chooses LaCroix landscape plan

COOK- The LaCroix Landscape Project in the Superior National Forest is set to move forward after District Ranger Sunny Lucas announced last week that a plan had been selected for the first implementation cycle.
The project is a landscape-scale vegetation management project that will use flexible methods to apply various management strategies targeted to particular types of terrain and vegetation. Implementation will occur over a 15-year time period.
“We are excited to begin implementing the first cycle of the LaCroix Landscape Project,” Lucas said. “The approach we’re taking for this project allows us to select the right treatment for the right acre at the right time. We’ll also have the flexibility to work with other landowners and partners to take advantage of opportunities to make landscape scale improvements to forest health, increase wildlife habitat, and reduce hazardous fuels.”
The chosen option, called Alternative 2 in project documents, was selected as a balance between resource use and protection while best meeting the project’s purpose. Specifically, this alternative will contribute to landscape ecosystem objectives and minimize wildfire effects through vegetative treatments. Additionally, this alternative will help restore fire to the project area, provide sustainable timber products, manage the transportation system, and improve moose and grouse habitat through management actions.
The selected option provides for coordinated management in an area with a diverse landownership pattern with other agencies and organizations in the Arrowhead Landscape Collaborative.
First announced in July 2022, proposed alternatives were mailed to interested parties, made available online, and discussed in an open house at the LaCroix District Office in Cook last December, the same time a draft environmental assessment was shared with tribal government and subsequently published for public comment.
Only four comment letters were received during the comment period. A final environmental assessment and draft decision notice was shared with tribal government and subsequently published for objection in July. No objections were received.
Detailed information including all actions associated with the decision, and the rationale of the selected actions for implementation is available on the Superior National Forest webpage at https://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/superior/landmanagement/projects, under the LaCroix Landscape Project.