Pressure was put on the U.S. Forest Service to sell more timber and it appears that is the case. The Forest Service and the state DNR signed an agreement last September under what's called "Good Neighbor Authority" to have the state help manage the national forest woods.
Chequamegon Nicolet National Forest spokesperson Hilary Markin...
"....it's come a long way in a year, the state(DNR) has done some wonderful things preparing those sales and getting them out for contract and awarded and we've actually cut the first timber, so things are moving right along...."
Markin says they hit some significant markers..
"....the CNNF is going to sell about 96 million board feet, that's our own program here in the Forest, and then we're looking to sell through the Good Neighbor Authority through the DNR an additional 16 million board feet...."
Bid openings are set to happen before September 30.
Markin says the last time the Forest sold more than 100 million board feet was 2001. The Forest Management plan projected a maximum of 131 million board feet. Markin says actual output was around 71 million board feet per year over the past 10 years.
