Northern Michigan landowners still waiting for federal dollars to restore ice-damaged forests

Federal money meant to help restore Michigan forests damaged by last year's ice storm has dried up because national demand for the Emergency Forest Restoration Program outstripped the $357 million Congress appropriated. The storm damaged roughly 3 million acres across 12 counties, and the state alone needs about $14 million just to recover a third of its own managed land.

The Farm Service Agency, which typically handles agricultural crops rather than hardwood forests, has struggled with the program's rollout for 17 months, leaving around 600 Michigan landowners in limbo. Its own statement tells applicants they may start restoration work at their discretion, but anything done before federal approval is at their personal expense.

Foresters who've worked the case files describe watching red pine and aspen become total losses while landowners wait, worried that further delay will leave damaged land more vulnerable to the next storm, disease, or fire. Parts of the region already saw another ice storm this spring.

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