Sanford Natural Area
Category I Area
The Sanford Natural Area a 34 acre floodplain forest which is part of the
original 676.57 acres of forested land purchased in 1855 from A.R. Burr
of Lansing for the original Michigan Agricultural College campus. It was
originally called North Woodlot, Woodlot No. 1 and later River Woodlot.
In 1941 Professor Paul A. Herbert, Head of the Forestry Department, renamed
it Sanford Woodlot, after Frank Hobart Sanford (1880-1938; B.S., 1904;
M.S., 1913 Forestry faculty, 1906-1920; the second full-time forester appointed
by the college). An interpretative trail guide
was published by the Division of Campus Park & Planning in 1974. Photocopies
of this trail guide are available at 412 Olds Hall.
References:
Beaman, J.H. 1970. A botanical inventory of Sanford Natural Area. I.
The Environment. The Michigan Botanist 9:116-139.
Beaman, J.H. 1970. A botanical inventory of Sanford Natural Area. II.
Checklist of vascular plants. The Michigan Botanist 9:147-164.
Walline, E. 1940. Management plan for River Woodlot. Manuscript, Michigan
State University Forestry Department. 24 pp.
Westveld, R.H. 1931. Management plan for River Woodlot. Manuscript,
Michigan State University Forestry Department. 17 pp.
Wilcox, A.T. 1949. Recreation management in the Sanford Woodlot. Manuscript,
Michigan State University Forestry Department. 2 pp.