Sustainable Management 1998 - page 3
Trees will be managed on a individual basis, to maximize the many benefits from a healthy and productive forest.  Traditional Stand Management or Species Management are not as specific for the highly variable timber and site conditions, as well as higher timber values that we see here today. 

Factors affecting single tree management decisions include:
1.  Present quality and future potential of the valuable lower trunk.
2.  Quality of the trees crown (width, depth, vigor, position, etc)
3.  Tree Species.  Species priority will vary from stand to stand depending on  relative timber values as well as the desirability of the species in the future  fully stocked stand.
  A.  First Priority Species:  climax species to produce a seed source
  Sugar Maple and Basswood on mesic sites
  White Pine and Red Maple on dry sites
  Shade tolerant species
  B.  Second Priority:  high value species (will change with markets)
  Walnut, White Oak, Cherry, Red Oak
  C. Third Priority: intermediate value species
  Ash, aspen, red maple, hickory,
  D.  Fourth Priority:  any sound tree
  The general trend is that every sound tree will be valuable in the future. 
 
Insect and disease problems will be monitored and dealt with as the need arises.  Prompt salvage of oak wilt trees and other mortality will be made when possible.  Large vigorous trees are more resistant to defoliation by Gypsy Moth and other insects.  Maple and ash are two of the less favorite targets of the gypsy moth, while red oak is favored food.  A natural variety of vigorous healthy trees will be maintained to minimize risk of catastrophic loss due to pests or storms.

Management Work:
      Management Plans will include:  Stand Description, Volume Estimate, Value Estimate, and Annual Growth Rate.  A similar description will be given for the future fully stocked condition of each stand to estimate the  prospective sustainable harvest level. 
      High Grade Harvesting in the past has left most forest stands in poor condition.  Grazing of cattle and pasture fires have also left long lasting damage in many forests.  Low value trees, damaged individuals, and undesirable species  now dominate many areas.  Efforts will be directed at restoring the natural balance of mature native trees to appropriate sites.  Restoration of all types of native vegetation will be encouraged.
      Overcrowded stands that have been affected by human management, and over stocked plantations that have not been properly thinned, will not be considered acceptable as a naturally diverse fully stocked stand.  Our goal is to restore, or if necessary create, natural diversity when this has been disturbed or altered in the past.   
      We will manage timber by using annual growth ring analysis to fine tune crop tree growth in each stand area.  Examining stumps of trees cut for TSI or harvest gives valuable information on the history of the stand and current timber growth rates.  Regular diameter measurements of selected crop trees will also give information on timber growth.  Stands will be gradually thinned until crop trees reach optimum diameter growth.  This way is much more practical and accurate to specific site conditions than traditional basal area, trees per acre or volume per acre determinations. 
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