Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Part of the Lake Linden School Forest is seen Tuesday. Plans call for 3,000 to 6,000 seedlinigs to be planted following a recent logging operation at the forest.

LAKE LINDEN – With a recent logging operation at the Lake Linden School Forest concluded, the district is looking at how to replenish the forest.

At Monday’s board meeting, Trustee Lori Ambuehl said the school forest committee had seen some recent logging areas while at the forest a recent meeting, and it appeared to look nice.

The committee discussed covering some expenses for the Michigan Technological University forestry department, although it is still waiting for bills on mileage.

The committee is also discussing what to do with logging revenue. The company did a couple of thousand dollars worth of trail improvements at the forest.

The district is also looking at increasing the storage facilities at the area, currently limited to one building. Ambuehl said the committee will revisit the issue in the spring once it has more information on the costs of replanting. The work would be done in the spring.

“We felt everybody in the past has kept the forest going for us, and we wanted to keep doing that for the future,” Ambuehl said.

Internet access continues to be investigated, although availability and cost makes it feasible at this time, Ambuehl said.

Dan LaVergne, transportation supervisor for the district, said he had met with planters Monday to discuss areas of replanting, including strips to the right of the cabin at the forest had been clear-cut at one point.

“They would handplant those areas,” he said.

Another area of a white pine cut to the right of the cabin will also be replanted. Red pines, which have more market value than white pines, will be used in the replanting.

Plans call for 6,000 to 8,000 seedlings over 10 acres, which would cost between $3,600 and $4,800, LaVergne said. Recommendations were to cut some of the one-inch-diamater hardwood to give the new trees more sunlight, which enables growth.

“He said if you cut them once, that’ll probably be enough. The pine will outgrow the hardwood,” LaVergne said.

A jail crew would cost about $200 a day for the group, LaVergne said.

The board will revisit the issue in December.