Forestry

Roundhouse Road
Spooner, WI 54801

Map to the Forestry Office and Shop

(715) 635-4490
Fax: (715) 388-7947
forestry@co.washburn.wi.us

Office Hours:
Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Forest Administrator:
Mike Peterson

Assistant Forest Administrator:
Duran Bjorklund

Forester:
Derrick (Matt) Graham

Recreation Coordinator: 
Brandon Shutt

Recreation Officer:
Drew Knoop

Forestry Technicians:
Jeremy Erickson
Alex Maas

Natural Resources Technician:
Sam Clair

Administrative Assistant:
Shauna Lindstrom

WDNR Liaison Forester:
Adam Nelson

Washburn County Forest

The Washburn County Forest consists of 149,000 acres of public land in northwest Wisconsin. The forest is comprised of a wide variety of forest types ranging from the Pine Barrens in the northwest; to the large unbroken tracts of aspen, hardwood, and swamps in the northeast; to the rolling oak hills and pothole lakes in the southeast. The management of this forest makes a wide variety of recreational uses in Washburn County possible.

The County Forest is operated under the direction of the 15-year County Forest Comprehensive Land Use Plan. The 15-year County Forest Comprehensive Land Use Plan is set through the input of Washburn County, the State of Wisconsin, local townships, public input and various other groups. The 15-year County Forest Comprehensive Land Use Plan sets policy on all actions conducted on the County Forest. This plan is vital because it involves the public in how the County Forest is managed.

Included in the 15-year County Forest Comprehensive Land Use Plan is the Road and Access Plan. This plan regulates motorized access on the County Forest. This plan allows for areas of no motorized access, areas of limited motorized access, and areas open to motorized uses. This plan alleviates some of the conflicts between motorized and non-motorized users.

Washburn County is a managed forest. The forest provides revenue to the County while practicing sustainable forestry. This revenue also supports recreational uses and environmental protection.

Mission Statement

Natural Resources, such as those provided by the Washburn County Forest, are one of the bases for addressing ecological and socioeconomic needs of present and future generations.

The mission of the Washburn County Forest is to manage and protect its natural resources on a sustainable basis.

County Forest Resources should be protected from natural catastrophes such as fire, wind, insect and disease outbreaks, and from human threats such as encroachment, over utilization, environmental degradation and excessive development.

While managing for environmental needs including, and maintaining native plant and animal diversity, these same resources must be managed for socioeconomic needs which include provisions for recreational opportunities and the protection of raw materials for wood using industries.

Management must balance local needs with broader concerns through integration of forestry, wildlife, fisheries, endangered resources, water quality, soil and recreational recommendations and practices. Management will provide this variety of products and amenities for the future through the use of sustainable forest management practices.

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