The forests of West Michigan are shaped and supported by the soil that lies beneath our feet. Join Rod Denning, our District Forester and host, for this exploration of the origins and ongoing earth surface processes that form the soils of Oceana County and provide the basis for the forest communities we love to explore. Rod will be hosting two guest speakers that will present their work on geology and forest soils, and provide a forest health update.
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Guest Speaker Trevor Hobbs
Forest Soil Scientist for the USDA Forest Service Huron-Manistee National Forest
Title: From glaciers to forests – exploring the connection between glacial landforms and forest ecology in Michigan.
Description: This presentation will explore some of the variety of landforms in and around Oceana County with emphasis on how geomorphology (the study of earth surface processes) influences patterns of forest vegetation. We will examine the dominant patterns of soils in the area, illustrate the connection between soils and plants, and showcase some informational tools to help forest land owners understand the ecology of their land.
Guest Speaker Pat Colgan
Professor of Geology at Grand Valley State University
Title: Ice, Water, and Wind: Geologic History of Lakeshore Counties in West Michigan
Description: Pat will outline what we know about the geological history of our lakeshore counties. Most of the sediments and landforms were formed by ice, water, and wind. This landscape has formed over the last ~20,000 years, and continues to be shaped by both natural and human-driven processes today. Older more mysterious buried landscapes lie below this younger landscape. Currently, Pat is working with the Michigan Geological Survey (MGS) to complete geological and resource maps for area, and understand the sediment overlying bedrock in the lakeshore counties. In the last five years, the MGS has drilled dozens of exploratory wells in order to understand the geology, groundwater resources, and aggregate potential of West Michigan.
