March ice storm devastated Michigan’s forest resources

The devastating ice storm in late March that wreaked havoc on northern Michigan did multiple millions of dollars of damage to state forest resources, and its effects are likely to be felt for the next half century.
Scott Whitcomb, who runs the Office of Public Lands for the Department of Natural Resources, said officials are constantly calculating the cost of the ice storm that affected more than 900,000 acres – 22% of the state’s forest system. The DNR will face not only significant lost timber revenue, but will also incur dramatic costs for replanting the red pine plantations that were damaged or destroyed.