US Plans Massive Clear-Cutting in Michigan Forest, Raising Concerns

The Silver Branch Vegetation Management Project would span 40 miles and impact endangered species habitat

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The US Forest Service is proposing a large-scale project in Michigan's Ottawa National Forest that would involve clear-cutting around 25,000 acres, expanding gravel mining, and building new roads. The project has drawn concerns from environmental groups and other stakeholders who worry it could harm endangered species like the northern long-eared bat and the Kirtland's warbler, as well as impact mature forests that help sequester carbon.

Why it matters

The proposed project highlights the competing priorities and interests in managing national forests, which must balance timber harvesting, recreation, and environmental protection. Environmental groups argue the scale of the clear-cutting is too large and will damage sensitive habitats, while the Forest Service says active management is needed to maintain forest health.

The details

The Silver Branch Vegetation Management Project would span about 40 miles on the eastern edge of the Ottawa National Forest near the Wisconsin border. It would involve around 1,500 acres of clear-cutting, 24,000 acres of a type of clear-cutting that leaves some trees, and 57,000 acres of more targeted logging, totaling around 130 square miles. The project also includes a wild rice seeding effort, campground improvements, and habitat enhancements for protected species. The Forest Service says the logging is not the primary goal, but rather part of an effort to restore ecological balance by addressing overstocked and aging tree stands.

  • The Forest Service previously offered a 30-day comment period for the project beginning December 23, 2025.
  • The Forest Service is planning to open a window for objections in March 2026, with a decision expected that same month.
  • If approved, the project is expected to begin in June 2026.

The players

US Forest Service

The federal agency that manages national forests, including the Ottawa National Forest where the proposed project would take place.

Environmental Law & Policy Center

A Midwest-based legal advocacy group that has raised concerns about the project and submitted a 73-page document to the Forest Service outlining their objections.

Trevor Hahka

The district ranger in the Bessemer, Iron River and Watersmeet Ranger Districts of the Ottawa National Forest, who has defended the project as necessary for forest health.

David Carter

A forestry professor at Michigan State University who believes the project is a "run-of-the-mill" Forest Service effort and that opposition is often a "not in my backyard" reaction.

Northern long-eared bat

An endangered species found in the project area whose habitat could be impacted by the proposed clear-cutting.

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What they’re saying

“It involves 25,000 acres of national forest clear-cutting and yet the determination has been that there would be no significant impacts from such activities. That's just not plausible.”

— Kelly Thayer, Senior policy advocate, Environmental Law & Policy Center (wane.com)

“The mature forest is most important for sequestering carbon and helping to stabilize our climate. Replanting with young trees in their place will not replicate the kind of benefits that the public receives now.”

— Kelly Thayer, Senior policy advocate, Environmental Law & Policy Center (wane.com)

“Active management in overstocked or aging stands prevents decline and promotes long-term forest health.”

— Trevor Hahka, District ranger, Ottawa National Forest (wane.com)

“People's demand for wood products has not gone down. It only goes up. And so if we don't harvest it here, we're just going to harvest it from somewhere else.”

— David Carter, Forestry professor, Michigan State University (wane.com)

What’s next

The Forest Service is planning to open a window for objections to the project in March 2026, with a decision expected that same month. If approved, the project is expected to begin in June 2026.

The takeaway

This proposed project in Michigan's Ottawa National Forest highlights the ongoing tensions between environmental protection, timber harvesting, and forest management. While the Forest Service argues the logging is necessary for forest health, environmental groups contend the scale of clear-cutting could have significant negative impacts on sensitive habitats and carbon sequestration. The outcome of this dispute will shape the future of this national forest and set precedents for how such projects are evaluated and approved.