To report resource damage found on state forest lands in Roscommon and Ogemaw Counties (including forested roads made impassible by ORV damage, rutting, erosion, or public saftey concerns on state forest lands), contact the Unit Manager at 989-275-4622.

The Roscommon Unit manages state forest lands in Roscommon and Ogemaw Counties. You can reach the Unit Manager, Steve Anderson at 989-275-4622 - or send an email to him at DNR-Roscommon-FMU@michigan.gov.

What Forest Management Activities are Occurring?

Approved Annual Forest Management Plans
Forest management activities may begin as early as the year listed on the approved plan (Year-of Entry/YOE), and will be carried out during the 10-year period that follows.

2011 YOE State Forest Compartment Reviews Schedule

Go to Compartment Review Packets

NEW Fuelwood Permit process begin again April 1, 2009.

Instructions for requesting State Forest Fuelwood Permit by mail.

State Forest Fire Permit Requirements - IC 4166A

County maps showing where Fuelwood Permits are NOT allowed:

• Ogemaw County
• Roscommon County

The Roscommon Unit consists of approximately 275,000 acres of state land within Ogemaw and Roscommon Counties. Duties of the staff within the unit include wildfire suppression, forestry, land management, pathways management, and administration of several snowmobile and ORV trail systems, as well as several state forest campgrounds.

The main area office is located in Roscommon, and satellite offices are located in West Branch and Houghton Lake. .

The geographical area contains many natural water features including Houghton Lake--the states largest inland lake-- as well as Higgins Lake, Lake St Helen, Clear Lake, and the headwaters of the AuSable, AuGres, Rifle, Muskegon and Tittabawassee River systems. The two counties are bisected by a northwest to southeast central ridge, with broad outwashes sandy plains to the north and east, and lower areas to the south and west.

In terms of forest cover types the area varies from large expanses of jack pine on the sandy plains of eastern Roscommon and western Ogemaw Counties, to low conifer swamps along the headwaters of the river systems. The tree species are primarily associations of jack pine, red pine, pin and black oak, in the sandy areas. As the water holding capacity of the soil increases, red maple and aspen can be found on upland sites. Finally on the ridges along the higher elevations bigtooth aspen and red oak are found on the better quality soils. Red maple, balsam fir, white pine and white cedar predominate in the lowland areas. Most of the lands have come under state ownership from tax reversion, as well as purchases through wildlife funding. Much of the state forest land in these two counties originated after the large forest fires during the early 1900's, and many areas were replanted by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). In the 1930's. CCC camps could be found at Higgins Lake, Ambrose Lake, and in the Wolf Creek area.

Roscommon unit is one of the major areas involved in the Kirtland's Warbler Recovery Program, providing nesting habitat for this endangered species through a program of harvesting, prescribed burning and planting of jack pine in eastern Roscommon county and northern Ogemaw County. In 2005, Ogemaw County was home to the largest population of nesting warblers in the state.

The Roscommon Unit offers many hiking trails, including the Lost Twin Lakes trail south of Houghton Lake, the Midland to Mackinac Hiking Trail, the Red Pine pathway near Kirtland College, The Tisdale Triangle trail at Roscommon and the Ogemaw Hills pathway. The last two also offer excellent cross country skiing opportunities and are groomed during the winter months.

Snowmobilers have several trails to choose from spanning the Roscommon Unit. Among these are the Ogemaw Hills trails north of West Branch, the St Helen trail system between St Helen, Roscommon and Houghton Lake, and the Houghton Lake Trails which lead to neighboring trails on the south and west side of the unit. ORV enthusiasts can ride the Rose City Loops, the Ogemaw Hills, Ambrose Lake, St. Helen, Denton, Geels, and West Higgins trails, as well as explore the two square mile St Helen Motorsport area near St. Helen.

A wealth of camping opportunities can be found in the Roscommon Unit, with state forest campgrounds at Ambrose Lake, Houghton Lake, Reedsburg Dam, Canoe Harbor, and Rainbow Bend. Each of these facilities has its own special features which make it unique, as well as the proximity of the forested area which surrounds them.

Forest Management and Forest Fire Suppression are very active programs within the Roscommon Unit. The unit is divided into 202 compartments, which vary in size from 900 to 2500 acres. Each of these compartments are examined by a forester every 10 years, and are evaluated as to the health of the tree species, regeneration needs, recreational trails, road system, wildland urban interface, wildlife usage and needs, species and age diversity, and other ecological aspects. From these findings a map and prescription of activities over the next ten years are developed, and reviewed. Our foresters then carry out these prescriptions as they set up and manage timber sales, reforestation plantings, and assist the fire officers in doing prescribed burns.

Forest Fire Officers within the Roscommon unit have one of the busiest wildfire areas within the state, averaging between 30 and 50 wildfires unit wide each year, and varying in size from 0.1 acre to upwards of 2000 or more acres. Fuels vary from volatile jack pine to peat, and the fire season may last from March through early August, and at times carry well into November on a dry year. Our prescribed burning program plays a major part in reforestation efforts, wildlife habitat maintenance, and in creating and maintaining firebreaks in fire prone areas. Fire Officers manage the snowmobile, pathway, campground and ORV programs, and assist the foresters with timber sale preparation.

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All State Forest Compartment Review maps and documents are drafts to be used for general planning purposes. Links to these documents will be removed after the review occurs.

For a map of the Roscommon Forest Management Unit's compartments, view the Roscommon Locator Map.

Compartment 005 Narrative, Reports and Maps

Compartment 005 Stand Listing

Compartment 008 Narrative, Reports and Maps

Compartment 008 Stand Listing

Compartment 016 Narrative, Reports and Maps

Compartment 016 Stand Listing

Compartment 044 Narrative, Reports and Maps

Compartment 044 Stand Listing

Compartment 051 Narrative, Reports and Maps

Compartment 051 Stand Listing

Compartment 066 Narrative, Reports and Maps

Compartment 066 Stand Listing

Compartment 074 Narrative, Reports and Maps

Compartment 074 Stand Listing

Compartment 087 Narrative, Reports and Maps

Compartment 087 Stand Listing

Compartment 100 Narrative, Reports and Maps

Compartment 100 Stand Listing

Compartment 109 Narrative, Reports and Maps

Compartment 109 Stand Listing

Compartment 114 Narrative, Reports and Maps

Compartment 114 Stand Listing

Compartment 123 Narrative, Reports and Maps

Compartment 123 Stand Listing

Compartment 147 Narrative, Reports and Maps

Compartment 147 Stand Listing

Compartment 164 Narrative, Reports and Maps

Compartment 164 Stand Listing

Compartment 173 Narrative, Reports and Maps

Compartment 173 Stand Listing

Compartment 177 Narrative, Reports and Maps

Compartment 177 Stand Listing

Compartment 187 Narrative, Reports and Maps

Compartment 187 Stand Listing

Compartment 194 Narrative, Reports and Maps

Compartment 194 Stand Listing

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