The Blodgett Forest will be actively managed to provide diverse structural conditions suitable for a variety of animal and plant species, while at the same time providing revenue from these management activities for the College of Forestry. These conditions will range from open, “early seral” to mature forest, but not old growth.

Using active management, rather than a reserve strategy, to move contiguous blocks of the Blodgett Forest towards mature forest characteristics is the central approach to the Blodgett Forest Plan. Through active management we will accelerate the development of large trees and some other structural components of mature forest while meeting the revenue goal, using thinning techniques suggested by COPE results.

Riparian areas along large perennial streams will be managed to develop stands that alternate between hardwood dominated and conifer types. The hardwood type is dominated by alder but may contain conifers or other hardwoods. The conifer type is dominated by Douglas-fir, redcedar, hemlock and Sitka spruce and may contain some hardwoods.

Recognizing the dynamics of riparian forests from COPE studies, riparian areas along intermittent streams will be managed to develop like the upland stands, but will contain hardwoods where they occur naturally.

Natural hemlock regeneration under thinned stand.