Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest

Over the night of July 19–20, 2019, a powerful derecho storm caused widespread destruction across northern Wisconsin, impacting approximately 131,000 acres within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. The storm left behind extensive damage, with downed trees and disrupted forest structure across large areas.

In the years following the storm, restoration efforts initially focused on clearing debris to reduce fuel loading and lower wildfire risk. By 2023, conditions allowed for reforestation to begin, with nearly 600 acres replanted using over 400,000 trees. These efforts focused on longer-lived species such as red pine, white pine, and tamarack, which do not naturally regenerate as easily but are critical for long-term forest health and diversity.

In 2026, restoration efforts expanded with the Chequamegon-Nicolet Tree Planting project, which introduced 364,912 native tree seedlings across impacted areas. This large-scale initiative continues the work of restoring forest structure, rebuilding wildlife habitat, and reestablishing natural stand diversity across the landscape.

Together, these efforts play a key role in stabilizing soils, improving ecosystem resilience, and supporting long-term forest recovery following large-scale disturbance events.