The federal government has announced it will close all four U.S. Forest Service research sites in Michigan.

The state has three national forests totaling nearly 3 million of acres of land.

The U.S Department of Agriculture announced the closures as part of a “sweeping restructuring” of the USFS “to move leadership closer to the forests and communities it serves.”

Michigan’s four offices are among 57 slated for closure nationwide. There are two research sites each in Michigan’s Upper and Lower peninsulas: Houghton and L’Anse in the U.P., and East Lansing and Wellston in Lower Michigan. A timeline for the closures has not been announced.

These research sites study forest health, ecosystems, invasive species management, and more.

Information on retained research facilities and research facility closures is available at this webpage.

USDA also announced it will move the USFS headquarters to Salt Lake City, Utah, and open new regional research sites. Michigan will be served by an office in Madison, Wis., which will also serve Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois and Indiana.

“This is about building a Forest Service that is nimble, efficient, effective and closer to the forests and communities it serves,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. “Effective stewardship and active management are achieved on the ground, where forests and communities are found—not just behind a desk in the capital. Through this transition, we will strengthen our connection to the forests and the people who depend on them, while supporting our employees and honoring the dedication that has always defined our service."

The announcement does not mention any changes to supervisor’s offices or ranger districts for Michigan’s Huron-Manistee, Hiawatha and Ottawa national forests.

USFS manages about 193 million acres of land across the United States.

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