Timber Property

School trust land total acreage by county

Balanced Intentions

BCPL holds land and other assets in trust for its beneficiaries. As such we have a fiduciary duty to prudently manage, protect and enhance the value of these trust lands. To meet these obligations, our staff engage in a range of forest land management activities that include sustainable timber harvesting in addition to land sale/purchase and exchanges - with the goal of enhancing long-term timber revenue and to increase public access.

Timber Sales

Timber production and other land management activities are planned and scheduled to provide a stable flow of revenue. Timber harvests are used as a tool to: 1) generate revenue; 2) maintain a healthy forest; 3) encourage forest types that are more adapted to existing site and climatic conditions; 4) increase the value and growth of residual trees; and 5) increase public access through road construction and maintenance. View the ​​​​Timber Property Management Map.

Timber sales are offered to the logging community via a sealed bid auction twice each year. View lists of all upcoming bids and past timber sales. BCPL continues to meet sustainable annual harvest levels, while also identifying and protecting unique or High Conservation Value areas.

Timber Harvest

We’re permanent fund managers with a long-term planning horizon. As such, it makes sense to manage those lands in a way that protects and preserves them for future generations of beneficiaries. During harvests, we intentionally leave some big trees in place to provide for the benefit of wildlife and forest diversity. We also identify and protect areas of unique ecological value. BCPL harvests trees in an ecologically and responsible and sustainable manner.

Carbon Credits

BCPL is working on developing a process for selling carbon sequestration credits. In accordance with our goals and priorities, we have taken a good long honest look at our land portfolio and determined that the highest and best use for some of the lands is in fact as carbon offset revenue generation. Developing that plan with enough flexibility to still sell some land and still harvest timber requires a careful and thoughtful approach. We are convinced that there is a path to success which includes that flexibility, and we are looking forward to completing that plan and sharing it with the board.

Forest Legacy

BCPL owns some of the best pristine lands in Wisconsin, This is because many of our lands came to us back in 1848 and have been under BCPL ownership ever since. We have worked hard to sell or exchange lands that have special natural area qualities (or high conservation values) to the Department of Natural Resources, US Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Parks Service, Counties and local Land Trusts that have a conservation mandate. We are proud that our efforts have resulted in more than 19,000 acres of unique and sensitive land being conveyed to such groups for protection. This provided us with the funds to purchase a commensurate amount of other timber lands to manage for our beneficiaries.

Good Neighbors

We have also worked hard at being good neighbors and good partners to the other stakeholders in our land holding areas.

Forest Inventory

Management Planning

The management of BCPL woodlands is guided by a comprehensive management plan, along with a detailed Geographic Information System (GIS). This plan and the associated GIS data contain site-specific information about timber management including timber harvest schedules, forest monitoring, and non-commercial treatments, as well as information about water features, wetlands, rare species, roads, historical sites, and past management activities. We have analyzed the historical records of over 1,000 timber sales going back to the onset of logging on Trust Lands in 1943. This data is also stored in the management GIS which allows us to efficiently review treatment history for any given area of our property.

Forest Certification

 

Forest Landowners that sell forest products benefit from “third party” certification to verify that they are practicing forestry in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable manner. A growing number of consumers prefer proof of a forest certification when purchasing wood or paper products. The BCPL forest management program and land base have been third-party certified through the American Forest Foundation Eight Standards of Sustainability (AFF Sustainability Standards). This certification program is administered by the American Tree Farm System under a Group Certificate (#: US015101). The BCPL land base and management procedures are audited annually to verify that they continue to adhere to the Tree Farm sustainability principles and guidelines.

Timber Sales

Annual Timber Sale Bidding

Summer Bids

Bids are advertised the first Monday each June
Bid opening: Second Friday in July @ 10:01 am

Winter Bids

Bids are advertised the first Monday each December
Bid opening: Second Friday in January @ 10:01 am

Bids are organized by State Fiscal Year (FY). For example, the Fiscal Year 2026 Summer Timber Sale bid opening was 10:01 am on Friday, July 11, 2025.

Visit the Timber Sale Bid Result Archive to view past timber sale bidding results.

Fiscal Year 2027 Timber Sale Work Plan - Summer Bids

Recovery of sunken logs from submerged State lands

Long ago, timber companies used lakes and rivers to transport their logs to a sawmill. The sawmills also created “hot ponds” at the mill to pre-soak their logs to clean and thaw them before sawing. Unfortunately, some of these logs sank to the bottom of the water body and have remained there to this day. Logs that sank in deep water or were buried in the mud have been very well preserved and are sought after today for their unique old growth characteristics.

By law, these logs are owned by the state of Wisconsin if they are located on submerged State lands (§ 170.12). Should an individual or company wish to recover these sunken logs they must get a permit from BCPL and they must pay the State a fee for the logs that are recovered. Permits also require approvals from the DNR Waterways Program, the State Historical Society, and possibly the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - if they have jurisdiction.

Information on the permit application process

Complete Application for a Permit to Remove Sunken Logs

BCPL
7271 Main St., P.O. Box 277
Lake Tomahawk, WI 54539
715-277-3366

A Little Submerged Logging History

• It is true that if there are any hardwood logs that have been submerged for a long time in deep water, the logs may have considerable value for musical instrument and furniture makers.
• Over 30 years ago, many people applied for permits to recover logs from virtually every water body where submerged logs might be found.
• Unfortunately, very few submerged logs of any value were ever recovered pursuant to this program.
• Every entity that received a submerged logging permit has gone out of business with most of them filing for bankruptcy. The operating expenses of those entities were very significant but their revenue was nonexistent.
• The permitting path is lengthy and requires approvals not just from BCPL but also from the DNR and the State Historical Society and, depending on what body of water, the US Army Corps of Engineers.

It is strongly recommended that you receive a preliminary approval from the DNR as well as from the State Historical Society prior to applying for a permit.

Wisconsin DNR Waterways Program

Wisconsin Historical Society: statearcheologist@wisconsinhistory.org

US Army Corps of Engineers - St. Paul District: USACE_Requests_WI@usace.army.mil