Regional Thunderstorm Downburst Damages Menominee Forest Submitted by: Marshall Pecore, MTE Forest Manager, July 1997 |
Aerial and ground photos of the wind damage
On Wednesday, July 16, 1997 at about 4:30 P.M. a significant thunderstorm with associated high winds occurred in north central Wisconsin, creating timber and related damage on the Menominee Reservation. This same storm system created extensive damage in isolated areas throughout the state of Wisconsin. This particular thunderstorm moved through a section of the reservation from the northwest corner of the reservation, southeasterly and exiting south of Neopit -- over an area of approximately 45,000 acres.
According to Mr. Gene Brusky of the National Weather Service in Green Bay, this storm was classified as a significant thunderstorm downburst (microburst) event, and probably the strongest storm of this type observed by Doppler radar since this system went into operation about three years ago. Estimated maximum winds near the surface were between 80 - 100 mph as the storm moved through Menominee County, stated Brusky. All indications point to a strong downburst or straight line winds, although Brusky added," That it is possible that a brief spin up (F0 tornado) occurred along the leading edge of the downburst winds, with a brief tornado touchdown in the Neopit area."
Such heavy storms and wind systems are not new or infrequent to Wisconsin or the Menominee Reservation. Looking back to 1905 - ironically on July 16 - a huge storm system passed through the reservation, damaging more than 40,000,000 board feet of scaled timber, with large volumes unreported. This event was in fact the impetus for the eventual forming of the Neopit sawmill complex which has been in operation since 1908. Over the years, the Menominee forest has experienced and recovered from a series of heavy winds, blow downs and tornados. Table One, for example, examines about a 20 year period between the 1930's and 1950's.
TABLE ONE
Historical Blow downs: Estimates
Year
Acreage
Board Feet
1933
3,840
1934 38,400
30,000,000
1937 22,400
20,000,000
1943
160
750,000
1950
3,200
1,000,000
1951
1,280
1,000,000
In more recent times, many recall the 1984 Tornado which affected over 2,500 acres and some 9 million board feet of timber.
Preliminary estimates for the July, 1997 event are as follows:
Year
Acreage
Board Feet
1997 45,000
35,000,000
To put these numbers in perspective, 45,000 acres is approximately 14% of the total forested acreage in the Menominee Forest, and 35 million board feet is approximately 2% of the total standing timber in the forest. So although a fairly large geographic area was affected by the winds, the actual timber damage was sporadic throughout this area, with a range from heavy damage to large sections avoiding any damage at all.
As of this writing, Mr. Marshall Pecore, MTE Forest Manager and the Forestry Division staff are working to fine tune an emergency disaster recovery plan. Thus far, procedures in this development plan have included:
- Several flyovers and aerial photography work as well as extensive walk through and ground by the Forestry Staff of the damaged areas.
- Development of comprehensive damage estimations of volumes by species in compartments within Windstorm area compiled by the Forest Inventory Specialist.
- Development of a salvage program designed to remove the largest volumes possible of down saw timber to be delivered to the Neopit Wood Processing Facility - Note that this is an plan to remove all material within a six month period to reduce potential for saw log and devaluation, and to reduce potential for insect infestation and disease to standing in the Spring of 1998.
- Several meetings with Menominee Reservation Logging Contractors to brief them on the extent status of damage areas, as well as a new lottery to have loggers bid on specific salvage areas removal operations.
- Development of a Forest Management Plan of Work to redevelop the forest, the forest inventory, schedules and cruising.
- Development of a roads maintenance plan to address access needs in damaged areas.
- Development of a forest rehabilitation plan including, scarification, removal of slash for replanting, planning, Hardwood Timber Stand Improvement and planting.
- Fire protection plan to reduce likelihood of fire through preventative measures.
These disaster relief plans will require the one year postponement of harvesting operations in marked timber areas as well as pulping operations for Fiscal Year 1997-98.
In addition, plans and preparations for processing and marketing a considerably large volume and variant specie mix than budgeted for FY97-98 are now taking place at MTE in Neopit. Mr. Lawrence Waukau, MTE President stated that a second shift wood processing crew is now being developed to go on line as soon as possible (in August, 1997) which will most likely remain in operation throughout the end of the fiscal year (June, 1998). Additional positions and overtime at areas such as the log landing, scalers, sorting and handling will no doubt occur. Mr. Waukau also indicated that a plan to bring new and modified production equipment and training programs on line with in the near future is also being designed to facilitate the efficient processing of these large volumes of saw timber, as well as setting the stage for new value-added product development operations.
Mr. Waukau stated that it is essential for the Menominee economy, manufacturing job creation and retention, and expansion of MTE's value-added operations that all efforts are made to process the maximum volumes possible from this down and damaged material.
Work is now underway to calculate direct costs and opportunity cost related to the July, 1997 wind damage. Preliminary estimates suggest that the forestry, salvage, and processing operations will create several millions of dollars of cost above and beyond operating costs for a typical fiscal year. Furthermore, if we do not recover damaged and down saw timber in a timely fashion, MTE could lose an estimated $10,000,000 in revenues for the down and damaged saw log material alone. Therefore it is of the utmost importance that careful planning, sufficient funding, coordinated implementation of our plans, and the cooperation of all involved occurs to achieve the best possible performance and minimized loses. Furthermore, the United States of America is the trustee of these timber resources, which are held in trust by the United States for the Menominee Tribe and the Menominee People. "It is incumbent upon the United States to participate in the process of restoration and damage control, so we remain optimistic that damage relief funds will be forthcoming," states Lawrence Waukau.
It is clear from preliminary reports that the down and damaged timber is all inclusive across the range of species and forest management areas - hardwoods, softwoods, cut stands, uncut stands, shelter woods and uncut pines. However, MTE's advanced forest management principles and practices interfaced with decades of experience in these disaster situations and the securing of sufficient financial resources will enable Menominee to recover quickly, efficiently and effectively both in the near and long terms. Management practices will create rapid regeneration of damaged stands to allow us to get back to business as usual.
Marshall Pecore stated that, "Our community-wide commitment to sustained yield forestry is untiring, as we all work together to sustain our priceless Menominee forest-based environment, economy and community for today and for future generations of Menominee's. We will be periodically submitting progress and status reports on the wind damage recovery program as new information and developments take place".
