Much of Michigan was historically forested with wetlands, lakes, and streams which are prevalent throughout the state.
Read more to find out about ecosystems and local resources.
Surrounded by four of the five Great Lakes, Michigan has more freshwater coastline than any other state and is home to over 11,000 natural lakes and 36,000 miles of streams. The abundant fresh water drives many ecosystems—there is no place in the state where you are more than 6 miles away from a body of water.
A fairly well defined floristic tension zone bisects the lower peninsula, separating low Michigan’s deciduous forests from the mixed evergreen-deciduous forests of the northern portions of the state. Tallgrass prairies and savannas were historically limited to southern Michigan, although scattered prairies, openings, barrens, and savanna can be found throughout.
The maps below show the northern and southern regions of mesic forest in Michigan.
Images provided by Michigan State University of Northern and Southern Mesic Forest regions.
Useful links for natural resource managers:
Michigan Natural Features Inventory
The Stewardship Network
West Michigan Conservation Network
Michigan Wetlands Association
Michigan Prescribed Fire Council
Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership
Contact your MWGL SER State Representative:
Brian Majka, bmajka@geiconsultants.com