Michigan DNR Proposes Islands Management Plan

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AndyS
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Joined: Mon Dec 23, 2013 4:49 pm

Michigan DNR Proposes Islands Management Plan

Post by AndyS »

Michigan officials are asking the public for input on the management of northern Lake Michigan islands.

The Department of Natural Resources said Wednesday it will hold three public meetings on its preliminary management plan for state-owned island land. It says the proposal is based on meetings with groups including conservation organizations and tribal governments.

The Beaver Island Natural Resources and Ecotourism Steering Committee also recently outlined recommendations for conservation and economic development. The proposals also aim to foster environmental awareness among residents.

Meetings will be held in East Lansing on Nov. 3, Traverse City on Nov. 5 and Beaver Island on Nov. 6. Written comments can also be submitted to the state until Nov. 30.
BI Community Center
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Post by BI Community Center »

MDNR Seeking Input on Northern Great Lakes Islands Management Planning Effort

November 6, 2014 from 7:00â??8:30 PM
Beaver Island Community Center
26215 Main Street
Beaver Island, MI 49782


The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), Wildlife Division has initiated a process for developing a management plan for state-owned lands on Northern Lake Michigan Islands. Based on meetings with internal and external partners, tribal governments, and collaborators, we have developed a preliminary vision and set of draft goals and objectives that could be used in the plan (see below). This management planning effort is just one of the outcomes of the MDNRâ??s 2013 Managed Public Land Strategy (http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-15 ... --,00.html). We are seeking additional input and comments from those interested in management of these island properties. We are soliciting written comment and will be conducting 3 public meetings. Meetings will be occurring on:

November 3, 2014 from 2:00â??4:30 PM
DNR Rose Lake Field Office
8562 East Stoll Road
East Lansing, MI 48823

November 5, 2014 from 7:00â??8:30 PM
Northwest Michigan Horticulture Research Center
6686 S. Center Highway
Traverse City, MI 49684

November 6, 2014 from 7:00â??8:30 PM
Beaver Island Community Center
26215 Main Street
Beaver Island, MI 49782


Written comments can be submitted to kintighk@michigan.gov until November 30, 2014.

Recently, the Beaver Island Natural Resources and Ecotourism Steering Committee outlined a set of recommendations that focus on natural resource protection, economic development, and an environmentally-informed public. Our management plan for state-owned lands will leverage the Beaver Island Plan and the Public Land Strategy to focus our management efforts where we can have the greatest impact to help meet the Governorâ??s, Departmentâ??s, and Divisionâ??s goals. Most of the state land on the Lake Michigan islands is administered by the Wildlife Division.
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Plan Vision: â??Maintain ecological and cultural integrity of Northern Lake Michigan Islands while providing Island-appropriate recreational opportunities and effective administration of state-owned properties.â?￾
Goal 1: Strengthen and broaden coalitions that focus on the effective stewardship of the cultural and ecological resources of the State-owned Lake Michigan Island Properties.
1 Establish a coalition with local and tribal governments and non-government organizations to increase capacity for stewardship on State-owned Lake Michigan Island Properties.
2 Collaborate with State Historic Preservation Office, Tribal Historic Preservation Office, and other partners to protect cultural/historical sites on State-owned Lake Michigan Island Properties.

Goal 2: Collaborate with partners to identify, monitor, protect, and manage important ecological characteristics on State-owned Lake Michigan Island Properties.
1 Continue to identify/document important ecological characteristics of Lake Michigan Islands.
2 Monitor key elements through time, as appropriate.
3 Use coalition discussions to help prioritize management efforts.
4 Provide education and outreach to increase awareness of important cultural and ecological attributes.

Goal 3: Facilitate opportunities for island-based recreation on State-owned land compatible with the maintenance of ecological and cultural integrity.
1 Collaborate with partners to create, improve, and maintain recreational infrastructure on State-owned Lake Michigan Island Properties.
2 Promote recreational opportunities on State-owned Lake Michigan Island Properties.

Goal 4: Develop and implement an effective framework for the administration of State-owned Lake Michigan Island Properties.
1 Identify roles and responsibilities for land management of the Island Properties across the MDNR.
2 Identify partners that can help meet administrative goals.
3 Identify and prioritize existing infrastructure issues/needs.


Keith M. Kintigh
Wildlife Field Operations Manager
Northern Lower Peninsula
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Cadillac Operations Service Center
8015 Mackinaw Trail
Cadillac, MI 49601
W: (231) 775-9727x6030
C: (989) 619-2296

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