MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Historic Grand Traverse Lighthouse

Leelanau State Park GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN DRAFT FEBRUARY 2021 Prepared with the assistance of PLAN APPROVALS

ENLARGEMENT SEE ENLARGEMENT

9!

!o 9! 9" y !@ a B d a e th N a F !i !3 C o N r es t B ee ch

S

h o r e Lake Michigan s

N LighthouseN Point ºI

i! N PurkissN

m? Kehl !i Mud Lake

e l Keh N Lake

E Otti s

Lake l sey oo W E

LEELANAU STATE PARK GENERAL M ANAGEM ENT PLAN 0 0.5 1 Miles Draft Management Zones Data Sources: Michigan CGI Data Library, Michigan Department of Natural Resources Date: 2/2/2021 Leelanau State Park Boundary Primitive !@ Contact Station Roads Backcountry !o Lighthouse Hiking Trail Natural Resource Recreation Mini Cabin Winter Recreation Trail Developed Recreation !3 Pavilion Lakes Administrative Services 9" Campground Conservancy Land H istory Education i" Parking Lighthouse West Conservation Easement Cultural Landscape Overlay 9" Playground This project was directed by Deborah Jensen, Management Plan Administrator, Department of Natural Resources, DNR Parks & Recreation Division with assistance from Beckett & Raeder, Inc.

PLAN APPROVALS:

DNR Chief, Parks & Recreation Division Date

DNR Natural Resources Deputy Date

DNR Director, Department of Natural Resources Date PLAN APPROVALS

PLAN APPROVAL RECOMMENDATIONS The following dates reference when the plans were presented for recommendation. In some instances, additional time was allotted for plan review following the presentation with subsequent approval received by email.

PRD - Section Chiefs Date

DNR - Resource Management Bureau Date

MSPAC - Stewardship Subcommittee Date

NRC - Michigan State Parks Advisory Committee Date PLAN APPROVALS

Place holder for Resolution TABLE OF CONTENTS

General Management Plan Executive Summary...... 1 Significance of Leelanau State Park...... 2 Twenty-Year Management Zones...... 3 Ten-Year Action Goals...... 4 Chapter One: Core Values & Guiding Resources...... 5 1.1 Mission Statements ...... 5 1.2 Guiding References ...... 5 1.3 Summary of Legal Mandates ...... 8 Chapter Two: Plan Process Overview...... 9 2.1 Planning Objectives...... 9 2.2 Planning Process ...... 10 2.3 Planning Team ...... 10 2.4 Summary of Input Opportunities...... 10 2.5 Resilience Planning...... 12 Chapter Three: Purpose and Significance...... 13 3.1 Purpose of Leelanau State Park...... 13 3.2 Statements of Significance...... 13 3.3 Public Affirmation of Significance...... 15 3.4 Community Connection...... 15 Chapter Four: Management Zones...... 17 4.1 Project Boundary...... 17 4.2 Primitive Zone ...... 19 4.3 Backcountry Zone ...... 20 4.4 Natural Resource Recreation Zone...... 21 4.5 Developed Recreation Zone ...... 22 4.6 Administrative Services Zone...... 23 4.7 History Education Zone...... 24 4.8 Cultural Landscape Overlay...... 25 Chapter Five: Ten-Year Action Goals...... 27 5.1 Action Goals Summary...... 27 Chapter Six: Implementation Strategy...... 33 6.1 Implementation Toolbox...... 33 6.2 Documentation of Changes...... 34 6.3 Documentation of Accomplishments...... 34 6.4 Five-Year Review Process...... 34 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Appendix A: Supporting Analysis...... A-1 A.1 Park Overview...... A-1 A.2 Demographics...... A-2 A.3 Regional Recreation Resources...... A-3 A.4 History of Leelanau State Park...... A-8 A.5 Land Ownership...... A-10 A.6 Legal Mandates...... A-12 A.7 Landscape Context and Natural Resources...... A-15 A.8 Recreational Resources...... A-20 A.9 Historic and Cultural Resources...... A-21 A.10 Education, Interpretation, Programming and Events ...... A-22 A.11 Park Use Statistics...... A-22 Appendix B: Public and Stakeholder Input...... B-1 B.1 Project Website ...... B-1 B.2 Summary of Public Input Survey...... B-1 B.3 Summary of Stakeholder Input Workshop...... B-9 B.4 Tribal Engagement...... B-14 B.5 Public Input Survey Data...... B-16 B.6 Summary of Draft Plan Public Input...... B-48 Appendix C: Opinion of Probable Costs...... C-1 C.1 State Park Funding...... C-1 C.2 Estimated Cost of Proposed Developments...... C-1 Appendix D: Agreements...... D-1 D.1 Lighthouse West Conservation Easement...... D-1 D.2 Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum Lease...... D-20 D.3 Grand Traverse Light Station Reservation Patent...... D-50 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

A sandy trail through the woods

LEELANAU STATE PARK EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Watching the sun set by the campfire General Management Plan Executive Summary

Leelanau State Park covers 1,533-acres at the northern tip based public recreation and educational opportunities.” The of the Leelanau Peninsula in northwest lower Michigan. The management plan brings together DNR staff, stakeholders, park contains 2.25 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, a rustic and the public into a process that defines the following for the campground, three mini cabins, land open to hunting, 8.5 state park: miles of hiking trail with scenic overlooks, winter recreation trails, a picnic area, and a new accessible playground. One • Purpose and significance that captures the unique identity of Leelanau State Park; of the main draws of the park is the historic Grand Traverse Lighthouse, which is one of the most visited attractions • Twenty-year management zone plan reflecting the resource protection goals and level of development in Leelanau County. The park includes a north and south appropriate for different areas of the park; unit that are currently not contiguous but are connected by a public road. The majority of the park’s southern unit • Ten-year action goals that address the desired future condition within the park as a whole and within each of includes Critical Dunes with high-quality exemplary natural the designated management zones. communities. The lakeshore also provides habitat for the federally- and state-threatened piping plover and much of the The supporting analysis, included as Appendix A of this plan, area is recognized as a Natural Area Registry Site through an provides important background information on Leelanau agreement with The Nature Conservancy. State Park that informs this planning initiative. It includes a comprehensive review of the park setting, area demographics, The purpose of this general management plan (GMP) is to history, land ownership, legal mandates, and cultural, guide the future long-term management and development natural, and recreation resources. Furthermore, several of Leelanau State Park. Overall, this plan seeks to uphold existing planning documents, including the Michigan State the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Parks Parks Outdoor Recreation Blue Ribbon Panel Report, the & Recreation Division’s (PRD) Mission: “to acquire, protect, Managed Public Land Strategy, and the Michigan Statewide and preserve the natural and cultural features of Michigan’s Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, were used as unique resources, and to provide access to land and water guiding references (see Chapter One).

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Significance of Leelanau State Park This general management plan was developed in consideration of the property’s significant features that make it distinct from other parks in the state park system. Leelanau State Park was determined significant due to the aspects that are summarized below. The full statements of significance can be found in Chapter Three. • Leelanau State Park’s historic and natural features and scenic views bring many visitors to the peninsula, yet it maintains a peaceful and “off-the-grid” feeling, which is part of the attraction. • The historic Grand Traverse Lighthouse welcomes visitors to the park year-round with its lighthouse museum, rotating exhibits, educational tours and gift shop. • The park offers 8.5 miles of trails that are open year-round and are seasonally expanded to provide winter recreation. These trails allow visitors to access natural areas, scenic views, hunting land, and Cathead Bay. • Critical Dunes, both forested and open dunes, cover roughly 1,000 acres of the park. This fragile and invaluable resource provides numerous natural, economic, and recreational benefits. • The park’s unique location at the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula is a landing place for multiple species of migrating birds, providing abundant birding opportunities. • The park’s dedicated non-profit partners provide support and programming for the park, which include managing the lighthouse, organizing clean-up days, annual events, educational programs, and fundraisers.

A family enjoys their rustic campsite

2 LEELANAU STATE PARK EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Twenty-Year Management Zones A key goal in the development of this general management plan is to continue to protect the park’s natural and cultural resources, while providing recreation and education opportunities. Taking this into account, the planning team, with stakeholder and public input, established appropriate management zones for the park from a palette of nine standard zones. The management zone map and a thorough review of each management zone are found in Chapter Four of this plan. A condensed description of each of the applied Camping chairs set out to view Lake Michigan management zones is as follows: Natural Resource Recreation Zone The natural resource recreation zone supports active Primitive Zone recreation conducted in natural settings with medium- to high- This zone reflects a desired condition that emphasizes the density use. There is still an emphasis on resource quality over natural resources. It is managed to allow only dispersed and recreation, but in this zone, higher levels of use are allowed. low-frequency use for low-impact recreational purposes and The natural resource recreation zone makes up approximately allows foot traffic only. This zone covers 12% of the park and 34% of the park and includes the rustic campground and includes the open dunes along the Lake Michigan shoreline in remnants of the original lighthouse foundation in the northern the southern unit of the park. unit, as well as undeveloped land in the southern unit of the park. Backcountry Zone The character of the backcountry zone is natural, with Developed Recreation Zone minimal evidence of human impact. This zone allows for a This zone allows for active high-density recreation conducted slightly higher level of use than the primitive zone, including in areas not designated for natural resource significance. non-motorized trails and low-impact modifications of the In this zone, recreation dominates with natural resource landscape to accommodate that use. This zone is 53% of attributes enhanced as possible. The developed recreation the park and includes the forested Critical Dunes in the zone is approximately 11 acres, or 0.7% of the park land, and southern unit of the park, as well as the undeveloped portion includes the day use area, mini-cabins, and a contact station. of the northern unit. A trailhead leading to hiking trails and seasonally groomed winter recreation trails is located in the southern unit. Administrative Services Zone This zone encompasses areas required for the administration and operations of the park. It makes up 1.6 acres of the park and includes the park’s shop area on North Purkiss Road.

Historical Education Zone The emphasis of this zone is education, with cultural and historic resources restored and interpreted for visitor understanding. This zone covers 1.8 acres encompassing the Grand Traverse Lighthouse complex, currently operated under a lease agreement.

Cultural Landscape Overlay The cultural landscape overlay is used to highlight not only historic structures, but also non-structural evidence of the traditions, beliefs, practices, arts, crafts, and social intuitions of any community. This overlay is applied to 3% of the park and is located in the northern unit. It contains the remains of a previous lighthouse and has a high potential for archaeological sites to be discovered, as no formal archaeological survey has Children play on the lakeshore been conducted.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Ten-Year Action Goals Infrastructure and Development: Capital Outlay Once the planning team has established management zones Goals to complete larger construction projects involving to guide Leelanau State Park for the next 20 years, a series of capital improvement funds include studying the options for action goals are identified. The planning team has determined drinking water and restroom upgrades, conducting a cost/ that these action items can be accomplished in the next benefit analysis for development of a group campground; ten years. The action goals are broken down into categories designing and constructing a storage garage at the day-use pertaining either to an area of management and operations, area; and exploring the potential to relocate some campsites infrastructure/development projects that require capital and/or expand the campground with a limited number of outlay, small infrastructure and development projects, or rustc campsites or camping opportunities that would maintain partner projects. Below is a summary of the action goals for the natural character of the park. the park. The full list of ten-year action goals can be found in Chapter Five. Infrastructure and Development: Small Projects Smaller infrastructure and development projects involve Management and Operations updating the interpretive, wayfinding, and regulatory signage Goals for the management and operations of the park focus in the park, as well as constructing additional accessible on completing a stewardship plan for the park including recreation amenities at Mud Lake. Park staff will also realign invasive species management; selectively managing vegetation the campground to ensure long-term sustainability from to enhance beloved viewscapes while maintaining erosion changing lake levels. protection; and continuing to assess the resiliency of the park’s infrastructure to changing lake levels, natural disasters Partner Projects and climate change. Park management will improve the The park will partner with the Grand Traverse Lighthouse connectivity of the land by pursuing land acquisitions within Museum to implement the items within the lighthouse the project boundary, including completing the acquisition of historic structures report, as well as improve the accessibility the Lighthouse West property on which the park already has of the lighthouse by providing a remotely-operated camera a conservation easement, as well as acquiring an easement and display for visitors to experience the panoramic views to connect the north and south units of the park. In addition, without the need to climb the lighthouse tower. In addition, an land open and closed for hunting will be clarified in a wildlife artifact storage facility will be constructed at the Purkiss Road conservation order. Finally, the historic structures report for administrative services zone to protect cultural resources. the Grand Traverse Lighthouse will be updated, and a natural area dedication for the open dunes along the Cathead Bay shoreline will be proposed to protect this fragile natural resource.

Lakeshore vegetation

4 LEELANAU STATE PARK CORE VALUES & GUIDING RESOURCES

The wide horizon of Lake Michigan Chapter One: Core Values & Guiding Resources

1.1 Mission Statements PRD Mission Statement Throughout the planning process, the core values of the The Parks & Recreation Division’s mission is to acquire, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) were the foundation protect, and preserve the natural and cultural features of the planning team’s decisions. These include the mission of Michigan’s unique resources, and to provide access to statement of the DNR, the DNR Evergreen Goals, and the DNR land and water based public recreation and educational Parks & Recreation Division (PRD) Mission Statement. These opportunities. values set the protection of natural and cultural resources and the provision of recreational and educational opportunities at 1.2 Guiding References the forefront of the plan. The general management planning process is guided and shaped by several resources developed to provide recommendations for managing Michigan’s parks and DNR Mission Statement recreation system. In particular, these resources have helped The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed shape the ten-year action goals established in this plan. to the conservation, protection, management, use, and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. Michigan State Parks & Outdoor Recreation Blue Ribbon Panel Report (2012) The Blue Ribbon Panel’s report to Governor Snyder identifies DNR Evergreen Goals a number of recommendations for system-wide changes to natural and cultural resources • Protect programs, management, infrastructure type, and investment • Ensure sustainable recreation use and enjoyment strategies that set up the visionary framework for the next • Enable strong natural resource-based economies 30-50 years of park and outdoor recreation management in • Foster effective business practices and good governance Michigan. Recommendations in the report include: • Improve and build strong relationships and partnerships, • Identify and protect important natural, cultural, historic, internally and externally and prehistoric resources

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 5 CHAPTER ONE

• Diversify funding • Prioritize development of statewide and regional systems of connected trail networks • Encourage connections between communities and their recreational assets to strengthen regional identities • Integrate tourism and economic development marketing • Prioritize investment in parks and recreation

Michigan Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan 2018-2022 (SCORP) SCORP is a five-year strategic plan that shapes investment by the state and local communities in priority outdoor recreation infrastructure and programming. The plan’s overarching goal is to “Protect and manage Michigan’s diverse and abundant natural and cultural assets to provide relevant, quality experiences that meet the fun, relaxation, and health needs of Michigan’s residents and visitors, and support economic prosperity” by meeting the following objectives: • Foster stewardship and conservation • Improve collaboration • Raise awareness • Improve recreational access • Provide quality experiences A stone fireplace is the remnant of a past homestead • Enhance health benefits Michigan Comprehensive Trail Plan (2013 - 2018) • Enhance prosperity The Trail Plan, developed by an 11-member committee appointed by Governor Snyder, includes eight priority recommendations with associated key actions that should be implemented to assist in achieving the vision of establishing a high quality, nationally-recognized, state-wide trail system. The eight recommendations are as follows: • Trails are maintained to ensure a sustainable and quality trail system • Expand trails, trail experiences, opportunities to ensure accessibility to trail systems, outdoor recreation opportunities, and natural and cultural resources • The Michigan Snowmobile and Trails Advisory Council leads the effort to maintain and enhance Michigan’s reputation as the trail state • Link trails, trail users and adjoining towns to create memorable trail experiences and enhance economic prosperity • Develop, enhance and celebrate partnerships and collaborations • Implement a marketing plan including an electronic portal that allows citizens and visitors to be aware of all trails and related amenities • Develop funding sources and mechanisms for trail maintenance, acquisition and development • Ensure that the state’s trail system compliments other Michigan Comprehensive Trail Plan plans and planning efforts

6 LEELANAU STATE PARK CORE VALUES & GUIDING RESOURCES

Managed Public Land Strategy (2013) important issues facing the PRD and helps to define where The DNR-Managed Public Land Strategy provides a framework resources should be focused for maximum benefit. The goals for the continued conservation, use, and management identified in the plan are: of public lands to provide an enhanced quality of life for • Be exemplary stewards of Michigan’s natural and cultural Michigan residents, create jobs, and protect the essence of resources Michigan: its woods, waters, wildlife, and other natural and cultural assets. The Strategy identifies three broad goals with • Provide users with quality outdoor recreation experiences in balance with resource protection desired outcomes, metrics, and measurable objectives for each. These goals are to: • Continue to advance Michigan as the “Trail State” • Provide a relevant gateway to connect people to nature • Provide quality outdoor public recreation opportunities and Michigan’s cultural heritage, and foster understanding • Foster regional economic prosperity and support for PRD’s mission among future generations • Protect natural and cultural resources for future • Improve and maintain strong public, stakeholder generations and department communication, relationships and partnerships PRD Strategic Plan (2017-2022) • Engage in strategies to increase community and state The PRD Strategic Plan is the overarching document that economic prosperity guides the Parks & Recreation Division in carrying out its • Sustainably support PRD programs, operations, and mission. This plan establishes long-range goals, objectives, and facilities strategies for Michigan’s state parks and recreation system for • Foster and adopt effective and safe business practices the five-year period beginning in 2017. It identifies the most

Sunset colors paint the sky

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 7 CHAPTER ONE

1.3 Summary of Legal Mandates For all park general management plans, legal mandates are identified that serve to further guide the development of the plan, park management, and park operations. For the DNR’s planning purposes, the term “Legal Mandates” refers to not only state law, but also the administrative tools of “Policy” and “Directive” of the Natural Resource Commission, the Department, and the Parks & Recreation Division. The general and site-specific legal mandates applicable to Leelanau State Park are listed in Appendix A: Supporting Analysis.

The legal mandates that most directly impact planning and management at Leelanau State Park focus on the following areas: • Federal and state protected species including the piping plover and bald eagle • Preservation of natural and cultural resources • Water resources, wetlands, Great Lakes submerged bottomlands, and inland streams protection • Protection of Critical Dunes • Hunting area and control • Requirement for a Recreation Passport for entry into the park • Public health code requirements for campgrounds, swimming areas, and swimmers’ itch • Michigan Natural Areas Registry voluntary agreements for the lakeshore area of the Cathead Bay Unit

Trees by the lakeshore

8 LEELANAU STATE PARK PLAN PROCESS OVERVIEW

A bench overlooks the dunes Chapter Two: Plan Process Overview

2.1 Planning Objectives Lighthouse Museum, recreational users and uses have Leelanau State Park has developed as a public recreation site changed, and environmental threats have evolved. over many decades. It began with the transfer of 31 acres This general management planning process sets out a new of surplus lighthouse property at the tip of the Leelanau framework for protecting park resources while providing for Peninsula from the U.S. Government to the State of Michigan meaningful visitor experiences. The long-range vision and in 1932 for park use. Initially known as the Northport Site, management objectives for Leelanau State Park are derived this area was developed with a parking and picnic area, vault from the missions of the DNR and the Parks & Recreation toilets and campsites. Following a report by the National Park Division (PRD), applicable legal directives, the purpose of the Service recommending the area for preservation and public park, and the park’s significant natural and cultural resources. recreation, the state purchased additional lakefront and dune land, and dedicated Leelanau State Park in 1964. Targeted The objective of the general management plan (GMP) is to land acquisition continued prior to the park’s first master plan bring together PRD staff, staff from other resource divisions, being approved in 1976. This master plan was designed to stakeholders, and the public into a planning process that accommodate a maximum of 250,000 visitors annually and defines and clarifies the unique purpose and significance proposed two separate administrative units: the Lighthouse of Leelanau State Park. Collectively, those attributes will be Unit, focusing on rustic camping and the lighthouse, and reinforced in the planning and management decisions that the Cathead Bay Unit with foot trails, parking lots, and land impact the park through the implementation of the 20- for hunting. An effort to update the Leelanau State Park year management zone plan, used to guide park planning master plan in the mid-1980s was not completed. Although decisions, and 10-year action goals that establish specific the principles outlined in the 1976 plan are generally still action strategies for the park as a whole and within each of recognized today, much has changed in the last 40 years. The the management zones. Each GMP is reviewed every five park acreage has almost doubled, the lighthouse complex is years to ensure there have been no major changes that would now owned by the state and managed by the Grand Traverse warrant a revision to the approved plan.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 9 CHAPTER TWO

2.2 Planning Process 2.4 Summary of Input Opportunities The planning team met periodically over a __ month period Public input is a critical part of the planning for Leelanau State to develop the GMP, beginning in June 2019 and ending in Park. Below is a summary of the public and stakeholder input ______. Throughout the process, the team sought the input methods that were used to inform the development of the of the public and stakeholders to guide the decisions made GMP. Several different methods were used to ensure everyone in the plan. A stakeholder workshop was held in October had an opportunity for input. Full reports for each of the 2019 to gather insight from organizations tied to the park. outreach methods are included in Appendix B of this plan. In addition, an online public input survey was available for interested parties to comment on their current use of the park and their priorities for the future. Following the input sessions Project Website A public-facing website was maintained throughout the and survey, the team developed a list of action goals and duration of the GMP process. This website was updated with developed the draft plan. general information about the park, park maps, results of the public input survey, and the draft of the GMP. The website 2.3 Planning Team contained a contact form so that the public could contact This plan was developed with the direct assistance, input, and the planning team at any time with questions, concerns, and expertise provided by all members of the planning team. input.

PLANNING TEAM Stakeholder Input Workshop To gather targeted input from governmental, non-profit, and DIVISION TITLE NAME business/tourism entities, the planning team invited a group PRD Management Plan Debbie Jensen of over 50 stakeholders to participate in a facilitated input Administrator workshop held on October 29th, 2019. The stakeholders were PRD Lands Liaison Matt Lincoln initially given a brief overview of the park and the general PRD GIS Analyst Jessica Orlando management planning process. Next, the stakeholders were PRD Unit Supervisor Stephanie Rosinski divided into small-table discussion groups to complete a series of exercises describing the park’s current status, opportunities PRD Cadillac District Kasey Mahony Supervisor for partnerships, the park’s potential benefit to the larger community, and the stakeholders’ vision for the park’s future. PRD Lead Ranger Joshua Drage Each table then reported out to the larger group. PRD Regional Planner Annamarie Bauer PRD Stewardship Unit Ray Fahlsing Manager Online Public Input Survey One of the methods the planning team used to gather input PRD N. Lower Trails Scott Slavin from park users was an online survey. This approach provides Coordinator a convenient way for those who have access to the internet PRD Cultural Lisa Gamero to provide feedback and accurately transfers all responses for Resources Analyst analysis. However, it is not designed to be representative of FD (Fisheries) Fisheries Biologist Heather Hettinger Leelanau State Park users or uses, as respondents self-select FRD (Forestry) TC Unit Manager Dave Lemmien and are not sampled on a random or systematic basis that WLD (Wildlife) Wildlife Habitat Steve Griffith would ensure a statistically accurate representation of users Biologist or uses. Nevertheless, the online survey does provide valuable information about what certain individuals or groups (those LED (Law) District 4 Area Sgt. Dan Bigger Law Supervisor who are motivated to comment about the park, those likely to receive DNR communication about the survey, and those FOD (Finance Geologist Peter Rose and Operations) who have easy access to the internet) hope to see in the park’s future management. This survey was advertised through a History Center Museum Director Suzanne Fischer press release, sent to those who registered for camping in the MEDC Archaeologist Stacey Tchorzynski last year, shared with park stakeholders, and was also shared on social media.

Five-hundred twelve (512) individuals responded to the survey. Of those, 479 (94%) visited Leelanau State Park in

10 LEELANAU STATE PARK PLAN PROCESS OVERVIEW the last five years. Those who had not recently visited the park were screened out from the remainder of the survey. The survey included questions on what activities the visitors participated in during their visit, their thoughts on the day-use and overnight park amenities, the Grand Traverse Lighthouse, hunting and trapping, fishing, special events and programs, their overall satisfaction with their experience, and their demographic information.

Public Input Meeting [Placeholder for input received at the public meeting]

Tribal Communication The department’s liaison reached out to the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians and the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe with a letter notifying them of the GMP process and timeline and asking for any input.

Stakeholders engage in brainstorming activities

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 11 CHAPTER TWO

2.5 Resilience Planning to ‘bounce back’ after hazardous events such as hurricanes, According to “Planning for Community Resilience in Michigan: coastal storms, and flooding – rather than simply reacting A Comprehensive Handbook” (www.resilientmichigan.org), to impacts.” The guidebook suggests several categories of “Resilience has become an umbrella term for the planning techniques to improve resilience. and design strategies needed to help communities meet the Resilience planning is critical for communities and facilities, economic, social, environmental and climate challenges of the such as the Leelanau State Park, that encounter risks due to future. Community resilience is a measure of the sustained rising lake levels, increased storm intensity and frequency, ability of a community to utilize available resources to wildfire, extreme temperatures, flooding, erosion, and other respond to, withstand, and recover from adverse situations.” A hazards. The park has experienced the effects of these events, resiliency plan involves assessing vulnerabilities, weighing the most recently record-high lake levels that have caused flooding relative risks of various hazards, planning for plausible future and erosion of the campground roads and campsites that are scenarios, and tracking the progress toward resilience through close to the lakeshore. In addition, the arrival of beech bark measurable goals. disease is causing depletion of the American beech overstory, Although the local community has not gone through a formal resulting in landscape-level environmental change. The GMP resilience planning process, a “Framework for Our Future: A recognizes the risks facing the park and proposes the following Regional Prosperity Plan for Northwest Lower Michigan” was measures to create a more resilient park (see Chapter Four written in 2014 that points to some of the same key issues. It and Chapter Five for more information): recognizes the importance of the region’s natural resources • Stewardship staff will complete a natural resource and scenic beauty to its economic prosperity and suggests stewardship plan for the park, identifying targets for ways that communities can maintain, improve and protect conservation and related natural resource management the quality of surface and ground water resources, habitat, strategies. forestland, and green infrastructure assets. These include • Park staff will continue to assess the resiliency of the identifying sensitive features, implementing stormwater park's infrastructure to mitigate potential future threats best practices, limiting development in or near sensitive from changing lake levels, natural disasters, and climate landscapes, and working with community stakeholders and change. non-profits to ensure the preservation of interconnected • Park staff, in conjunction with the field planner, will realign undeveloped lands. the campground road to ensure long-term sustainability. Increasing resilience and mitigating hazards will continue to In addition, in 2017, Networks Northwest created a resource be an important goal for the park management staff. While titled “Planning for Coastal Resiliency in Northwest Michigan’s this plan addresses some of the issues present, a full hazard Dunes: A Guidebook for Local Leaders”. It points to the mitigation plan, or resilience plan, for the park would be a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s definition useful tool for the future. of coastal resilience as “building the ability of a community

High lake levels threaten the campground roads

12 LEELANAU STATE PARK PURPOSE AND SIGNIFICANCE

One of three mini cabins Chapter Three: Purpose and Significance

3.1 Purpose of Leelanau State Park 3.2 Statements of Significance Park purpose statements are based on park legislation, special Each General Management Plan (GMP) developed by the designations and Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Michigan DNR Parks and Recreation Division (PRD) is built policies. These statements reaffirm the reasons for which upon the foundation of the park’s significant features that Leelanau State Park was included as part of the state park make it distinct from other parks in the state’s system. system. Leelanau State Park was determined significant due to the following: The overarching purpose of Leelanau State Park is to be used as a public park “for the purposes of public recreation or the preservation of natural beauty or historic association”, in Peninsula Destination accordance with Public Act (PA) 218 of 1919, which created Leelanau State Park is a destination drawing large numbers the Michigan State Park Commission. PA 451 of 1994, the of visitors to the northern tip of the scenic Leelanau Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA), Peninsula. Visitors are attracted by the historic Grand Traverse states that the Department of Natural Resources shall “create, Lighthouse, high vantage points atop the sand dunes offering maintain, operate, promote, and make available for public scenic views of Lake Michigan and surrounding islands, and a use and enjoyment a system of state parks to preserve and rustic campground on the shore of Lake Michigan. Although protect Michigan's significant natural resources and areas highly visited, the park maintains a peaceful and “off-the-grid” of natural beauty or historic significance, to provide open feel due to the remote location and rustic amenities, which space for public recreation, and to provide an opportunity are part of the attraction. to understand Michigan's natural resources and the need to protect and manage those resources”. Historic Lighthouse Leelanau State Park, specifically, was dedicated by the One of the park’s main attractions is the historic Grand Department of Conservation in 1964 as a Great Lakes state Traverse Lighthouse, which is listed on the National Register of park “with excellent potential for day use and camping”. Historic Places and is a destination on the Lake Michigan Circle Tour. The associated lighthouse museum, rotating exhibits,

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 13 CHAPTER THREE educational tours and gift shop draw many visitors to the park Birding year-round. An archaeological site, consisting of the remains of The park’s location at the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula an earlier lighthouse, is also located within the park. provides unique birding opportunities. Migrating birds, such as raptors, warblers and other neotropical songbirds, make landfall and congregate here before/after crossing Lake Trails Michigan. As such, the park is listed as a destination on the Leelanau State Park offers 8.5 miles of high-quality trails that Sleeping Bear Birding Trail, as well as within an Audubon are open to foot traffic. The trails are expanded seasonally to Society designated Important Bird Area, highlighting this provide for a variety of winter recreation activities - the only exceptional migratory flyway in the region. In addition, the public, groomed winter recreation trails in the area. The hiking western lakeshore is a protected Critical Coastal Habitat for trails allow visitors access to natural areas, scenic overlooks, the piping plover, a federally- and state-listed endangered Cathead Bay, and public hunting land. species.

Sand Dunes Collaboration and Support Visitors can experience roughly 1,000 acres of open and The park has several non-profit partners that provide support forested dunes within the park, designated as Critical Dunes, and programming. The Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum which are protected by state law. They are a fragile and operates and maintains the lighthouse property and hosts invaluable resource that provide numerous natural, economic, annual events and educational programs. The Friends of and recreational benefits. There are several high-quality Leelanau State Park hosts a variety of annual events, clean-up exemplary natural communities associated with the dunes: days, and fundraisers that support park improvements. The Great Lakes barrens, open dunes, interdunal wetlands and park partners with The Leelanau Conservancy to preserve and mesic northern forest. provide public access to the Lighthouse West Natural Area and other properties on the peninsula.

A rowboat turned into a planter adorns the grounds of the Grand Traverse Lighthouse

14 LEELANAU STATE PARK PURPOSE AND SIGNIFICANCE

3.3 Public Affirmation of Significance 3.4 Community Connection Stakeholder and public input assisted the planning team Leelanau State Park’s historic lighthouse, shoreline with affirming the significant features and opportunities at campground, and expansive wooded dunes and trails Leelanau State Park. The feedback from the online survey draw many people to the area. In fact, the Grand Traverse confirmed that the park’s unique peninsula destination, Lighthouse is one of the most visited attractions in Leelanau historical lighthouse, trail systems, sands dunes, birding County. The lighthouse is listed as a destination on the opportunities and events and programming are key aspects Lake Michigan Circle Tour, a designated scenic road system of the park. Comments from survey respondents relating to featuring many picturesque locations. those significant features are provided below. The park is situated remotely enough to feel serene and “Hiking trails were beautiful. Plenty of choices to uncrowded yet still near the cafes, services, and unique shops vary the length as well.” of alluring towns such as Northport, Leland, and Suttons Bay. This provides a mutual economic benefit between the towns “We truly love the remoteness of this park and and the park. In the public input survey, 70% of respondents walking the rocky shoreline without any view hindrance to the Lake's huge expanse.” reported visiting other attractions in the area during their most recent visit to Leelanau State Park. These included “It is a treasure of the peninsula and Great Lakes to Sleeping Bear Dunes, wineries, the Turtle Creek Casino, and be maintained for future generations.” Fish Town (Leland), among many others. “We thoroughly enjoyed the abundance of nesting The Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum is closely connected birds near our campsite.” to the surrounding community. It provides visitors a window into the state’s maritime history and culture. The original/ “Its a great park! One of my favorites. I also like early lighthouse keepers were part of the community and the Friends of the Park Facebook page for timely their families have donated time, stories and materials to updates, photos and more. You can tell they love the museum, adding to its richness. The Grand Traverse the park!” Lighthouse Museum and Friends of Leelanau State Park “The campsites are nicely separated from one continue to enhance the park experience by providing another. The views are beautiful. It is nice and historical and educational programs for local residents and quiet. The views of the night sky are incredible. I visitors. woke my son up at 1:00 in the morning just to stare at the stars.” “This is honestly my favorite park in Michigan. The shoreline is so beautiful but it's still not nearly as crowded as many other parks in the surrounding area. I wouldn't change anything about it.” “It’s lovely and historic and it was full when we were there but never felt like we were on top of each other.” “The lighthouse, grounds, outbuildings & shoreline show the history of the area.” “Birding is excellent there during migration.”

Lighthouse keepers in costume enjoy the park’s Halloween festivities

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 15 CHAPTER FOUR

MANAGEMENT ZONE PROGRESSION MANAGEMENT ZONE RESOURCE CONDITION VISITOR EXPERIENCE DEVELOPMENT LEVEL ECOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE Pristine Restricted None PRIMITIVE BACKCOUNTRY CULTURAL LANDSCAPE HISTORY EDUCATION SCENIC NATURAL RESOURCE RECREATION DEVELOPED RECREATION Active Management Significant Use Extensive Development ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES Chapter Four: Management Zones The 20-year management zone plan was developed in keeping • Administrative services zone with the park’s purpose and significance. The primary goal in • History education zone the development of the management zones is to protect and • Cultural landscape overlay enhance the park’s natural and cultural resources while also supporting outdoor recreation and education opportunities 4.1 Project Boundary to the greatest extent practicable. From a palette of nine Project boundaries are geographic lines that help define management zones, the planning team studied the park and the state’s public lands acquisition and disposal strategy applied zones that best fit distinct areas of the park based on (land strategy). These boundaries contain a majority of state existing and desired future conditions. Management zones ownership, as well as privately owned lands that, should describe a variety of activities that may be appropriate within they ever become available for sale, would be a priority the zone and address the desired future condition for the for the DNR to pursue acquiring. The DNR undertook a following categories: comprehensive statewide Project Boundary Review in 2020. The GMP planning team provided recommendations on the • Natural resources proposed boundary for Leelanau State Park and supports the • Historic/cultural resources 2020 Project Boundary approved by the Natural Resources • Recreation opportunities Commission and the Director of the DNR. The Project • Education/interpretation opportunities Boundary includes land that complements the existing park • Visitor experience land, considering natural and cultural resources, economic value, recreational value and ease of access and management. • Management focus The resource condition, visitor experience, and level of The approved project boundary proposes to add land that development vary in each of the nine standard zones, as would envelop Mud Lake within park boundaries, connect indicated in the figure above. Leelanau State Park was divided the park to Conservancy land with additional undeveloped into the following six zones and one overlay: acreage, and connect the park’s north and south units with additional undeveloped land, protecting the important • Primitive zone migratory bird flyway. In total, all the land within the proposed • Backcountry zone project boundary would add 1,325 acres to Leelanau State • Natural resource recreation zone Park. • Developed recreation zone

16 LEELANAU STATE PARK MANAGEMENT ZONES

!o !@

!i !3 y a B d N Lake Michigan a N LighthouseN Point F e o th r a es C t B N ee ch

S

h o r e s

ºI N PurkissN

Kehl Lake Mud m? Lake

E Otti s

e l Keh N

Lake l sey oo W E

!@ USDA FSA, GeoEye, Maxar !o

LEELANAU STATE PARK GENERAL M ANAGEM ENT PLAN 0 0.5 1 Miles !3 Proposed Project Boundary £! Data Sources: Michigan CGI Data Library, Michigan Department of Natural Resources Date: 1 /21/2021 9" Leelanau State Park Boundary 2020 Approved Project Boundary i" Roads Lighthouse West Conservation Easement Trails Conservation Land Rivers / Streams Lakes Current Park Boundary A project boundary is a geographic area in which the DNR is seeking to acquire property that supports the mission of the DNR on a willing buyer / willing seller basis, approved by the Natural Resources Commission in 2020

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 17 CHAPTER FOUR

ENLARGEMENT SEE ENLARGEMENT

9!

!o 9! 9" y !@ a B d a e th N a F !i !3 C o N r es t B ee ch

S

h o r e Lake Michigan s

N LighthouseN Point ºI

i! N PurkissN

m? Kehl !i Mud Lake

e l Keh N Lake

E Otti s

Lake l sey oo W E

LEELANAU STATE PARK GENERAL M ANAGEM ENT PLAN 0 0.5 1 Miles Draft Management Zones Data Sources: Michigan CGI Data Library, Michigan Department of Natural Resources Date: 2/2/2021 Leelanau State Park Boundary Primitive !@ Contact Station Roads Backcountry !o Lighthouse Hiking Trail Natural Resource Recreation Mini Cabin Winter Recreation Trail Developed Recreation !3 Pavilion Lakes Administrative Services 9" Campground Conservancy Land H istory Education i" Parking Lighthouse West Conservation Easement Cultural Landscape Overlay 9" Playground

18 LEELANAU STATE PARK MANAGEMENT ZONES

4.2 Primitive Zone cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hunting/trapping, fishing, The primary purpose of the primitive zone is the protection swimming, paddling, nature observation). of the natural resources and natural processes. The zone is managed to only allow dispersed and low-frequency use for Education Opportunities low-impact recreational purposes. Attaining and maintaining Education opportunities for this zone are primarily off-site. a high-quality natural resource condition dictates the extent Interpretive signage is allowed at trail heads and with low to which recreational improvements or uses are allowed. This frequency on trails and at overlooks. zone covers about 188 acres (12% of the park) and includes the open dunes along the lakeshore on Cathead Bay, which are designated Critical Dunes. Visitor Experience The visitor can expect a low frequency of encounters with others. Visitors are engaged in high-solitude, on- or off-trail Natural Resources outdoor activities. This zone requires a high time commitment Native species and natural processes take precedence over and can involve high levels of challenge and adventure. visitor accommodation in this zone. Native Michigan natural It is considered a “discovery” area with minimal on-site communities/ecosystem components and processes are interpretation. The noise tolerance in this zone is low, and maintained, restored, and protected, and human-caused visitors can expect low interaction with DNR staff. habitat fragmentation is eliminated. The Stewardship Plan will determine the appropriate habitat management for the park. Management Focus The focus is to maintain the low-impact character of this zone Historic/Cultural Resources with an emphasis on natural resource quality. Although there are no recorded historic sites within this zone, there is potential for archaeological sites to be found. Cultural resources may be preserved or allowed to remain Development undisturbed. This zone maintains a very low level of development for visitor accommodation (e.g., foot trails). Site hardening is only allowed to protect sensitive resources (e.g., boardwalks). Recreation Opportunities There should be little evidence of human activity in this zone. This zone allows dispersed, low-density, self-reliant (no bicycle, This zone is largely undeveloped open dunes. equestrian, or motorized use) outdoor activities (e.g., hiking,

Rolling open dunes

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 19 CHAPTER FOUR

4.3 Backcountry Zone trapping, fishing, and snowshoeing, may be allowed in this The character of the backcountry zone is natural, with minimal zone. Snowmobiling is not permitted in the backcountry zone. evidence of human impact through recreational use. Whereas Year-round bicycling within Critical Dunes presents a serious the primitive zone is highly restrictive for recreational use erosion risk; therefore, is only permitted on trails specifically and human impact, this zone allows for slightly increased use designated for that purpose and when the ground is covered and may include modifications of the landscape, such as trail with at least six inches of snow. development, to accommodate that use. This zone is about 811 acres (53% of the park) and includes the wooded Critical Education Opportunities Dunes in the park’s south unit, hiking and winter recreation Education opportunities, such as interpretive signage at trails, scenic overlooks, the west shoreline of Mud Lake, and a trailheads, on the trail, and at overlooks, are allowed. trailhead. It also includes undeveloped woodlands in the north park unit. Visitor Experience Moderate visitor encounters are accommodated in this zone. Natural Resources Visitors will be engaged in non-motorized outdoor activities. Natural resources may be modified slightly to support visitor Moderate challenge and adventure should be expected, with use, but tolerance for natural resource impacts is typically low. low noise tolerance and interaction with DNR staff. Native Michigan natural communities/ecosystem components and processes are maintained, restored, and protected, and human-caused habitat fragmentation is minimized. Management Focus The management focus is to maintain the low-impact character of this zone, with an emphasis on natural resource Historic/Cultural Resources quality. There is one known archaeological site in the Cathead Bay Unit of the park at the extreme west boundary of the backcountry zone. There is potential for additional archaeological sites to Development be found. Cultural resources may be preserved or allowed to This zone may contain a low level of development to support remain undisturbed. visitor access to outdoor activities such as trails, trailhead parking, designated backcountry campsites, pit toilets, and educational opportunities. Development shall be unobtrusive Recreation Opportunities and blend with the natural environment. Site hardening, Moderate levels of recreation (non-motorized) that are such as boardwalks, fencing, and pedestrian paths, may be compatible with the natural character of the zone are allowed. necessary to protect sensitive resources. This zone currently Outdoor activities in diverse, natural land and water settings, contains hiking trails, winter recreation trails, and a trailhead. such as hiking, backpacking, or bicycling on designated trails, paddling, nature observation, cross-country skiing, hunting/

A trail through the woods

20 LEELANAU STATE PARK MANAGEMENT ZONES

4.4 Natural Resource Recreation Zone The natural resource recreation zone supports active recreation conducted in natural settings with medium- to high- density use. There is an emphasis on resource quality over recreation. The natural resource recreation zone makes up about 520 acres (approximately 34% of the park) and includes the portions of the southern park unit that are outside of the Critical Dunes, the rustic campground, and some undeveloped portions of the northern park unit. There is a 65-foot-wide corridor of natural resource recreation zone along North Lighthouse Road to allow for a potential future bicycle path.

Walking on a boardwalk bridge Natural Resources In this zone, the natural resources may be managed or for cultural resource management. modified to support visitor activities with only moderate impacts, while being protected to the degree possible. This zone will reflect natural processes, with vegetative Recreation Opportunities management to restore and maintain natural ecological Moderate to high levels of recreation compatible with the structure and function. Vegetation may also be managed to natural character of the zone are permitted. Visitors may be facilitate recreational infrastructure and use and to maintain engaged in outdoor activities in diverse, natural land and an aesthetically appealing landscape. water settings. Activities that may be allowed in this zone include hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, viewing historic sites, snowshoeing, rustic camping, picnicking, nature Historic/Cultural Resources observation, hunting, trapping, fishing and snowmobiling. The foundation of the original Grand Traverse, or Cat’s Head, lighthouse is located within this zone (site #20LU127). There is also a stone chimney from a former residence located in the Education Opportunities southern unit. Extant historic resources may be preserved, Interpretive signage may be provided at campgrounds, day use restored, allowed to molder in place, or adaptively used facilities, trailheads, on the trails, and at overlooks. for operational or educational purposes. There is potential for archaeological sites to be found, especially along the Visitor Experience lakeshore. Cultural resources may be preserved or allowed Visitors can expect moderate to high encounters with others to remain undisturbed. Part of this zone is also covered by a and moderate interaction with DNR staff. This zone requires a cultural landscape overlay which has additional requirements variable time commitment, as well as variable challenge and adventure. There is a moderate noise tolerance in this zone.

Management Focus The management focus is to maintain use of the zone appropriate to the PRD mission, to protect public safety, protect natural resources, and provide accessibility.

Development A moderate level of development of facilities for support of visitor activities is acceptable including vault toilets, concrete/asphalt/gravel trails and small parking lots, benches, picnic tables, and shelters for recreation and educational opportunities. Site hardening, including boardwalks and surfaced pedestrian paths, is allowed, as necessary, to protect sensitive resources and provide accessibility. Current development includes a rustic campground with a gravel road, hiking trails, winter recreation trails, and a trailhead. A smiling family reading a book at their campsite

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 21 CHAPTER FOUR

4.5 Developed Recreation Zone Education Opportunities This zone allows active recreation with high density of use Interpretive and informational signage is encouraged at conducted in areas not designated for natural resource trailheads and at gathering areas such as the picnic shelter, significance. In this zone, recreation dominates with natural registration buildings, and other day-use areas. Active resource attributes enhanced as possible. The developed programming may also be provided. The park contact station recreation zone is about 11 acres (approximately 0.7% of the is in this zone, where face-to-face contact occurs for general park land) and includes the day-use area (parking lots, picnic information, both verbally and written. shelter, playground), contact station, and three mini cabins. Visitor Experience Natural Resources Visitors should expect a high frequency of encounters with Natural resources may be actively managed and modified to other visitors and DNR staff. Visitors may be engaged in indoor support visitor activities. Vegetative management in this zone or outdoor activities in diverse land and water settings for will facilitate development and recreational use and maintain recreation and education. Activities in this zone may require an aesthetically appealing landscape. a variable time commitment, variable levels of challenge, adventure, and exertion. This zone has a high noise tolerance.

Historic/Cultural Resources Although there are no recorded historic sites within this Management Focus zone, there is potential for archaeological sites to be found; The management focus in this zone is to maintain use of however, little evidence may remain. Cultural resources may the zone appropriate to the PRD mission, protect the park’s be preserved or allowed to remain undisturbed. Refer to resources, maintain public safety, effectively manage visitors, cultural landscape overlay description. and provide universal access.

Recreation Opportunities Development High levels of recreation in a highly structured environment A high level of development of facilities to support visitor are found in this zone. Visitors may be engaged in recreation activities is permitted in this zone such as restrooms, in diverse and modified land and water settings such as walkways, parking, campground facilities, cabins, trails, hiking, modern and semi-modern camping, bicycling, playgrounds, benches, picnic tables, and shelters for nature observation, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, recreation and educational opportunities. Site hardening is snowmobiling, picnicking, playground use, and participating in allowed, as necessary, to facilitate activities, protect natural educational programs or events. resources, and provide accessibility. Current development includes parking areas, a picnic shelter, a playground, three mini cabins, and a registration station.

Playground in the day-use area was constructed in September 2019 (Photo: Friends of Leelanau State Park)

22 LEELANAU STATE PARK MANAGEMENT ZONES

Park entrance sign

4.6 Administrative Services Zone provided in this zone. At Leelanau State Park, public contact This zone encompasses the developed areas required for with park staff for verbal and written information primarily program administration and operations such as the park occurs at the contact station in the developed recreation zone headquarters, maintenance area, sanitary infrastructure, and of the northern unit. all related land required to conduct the business of running the state park. This zone is about 1.6 acres, or approximately Visitor Experience 0.1% of the park and includes the park maintenance facility on The visitor experience in this zone is related to park business North Purkiss Road. and information only. A high level of noise is tolerated in this zone. Natural Resources Natural resources may be actively managed and modified Management Focus to facilitate administrative support activities. Vegetative The management focus in this zone is the business of running management, primarily consisting of tree removal for safety, is the park. This includes safety for employees, universal public allowed. access to the office, and providing appropriate facilities for staff, equipment, and materials. Historic/Cultural Resources There are no known historic or cultural resources in this zone. Development This zone supports a high level of development of facilities for Recreation Opportunities support of park infrastructure and administrative activities, There are no recreational activities provided in this zone. such as office space, meeting rooms, an employee locker room, employee seating area, shop space, storage space, and other related spaces. A high level of accessibility is expected. Education Opportunities Person-to-person contact for general information is typically

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 23 CHAPTER FOUR

4.7 History Education Zone Historic/Cultural Resources The emphasis of this zone is education and cultural resource Cultural resources found in this zone, such as the Grand preservation. Historic resources are restored and interpreted Traverse Lighthouse and associated structures, are preserved, for visitor understanding. A high level of development is restored, rehabilitated or reconstructed to the specific period common in this zone for the management and control of of significance. The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for people and traffic, protection of the resources, and historical the Treatment of Historic Properties are followed. interpretation. This zone is about 1.8 acres (approximately If essential for visitor access, comfort, or education, buildings 0.1% of the park land) and includes the area defined by the may be rehabilitated to support visitor and staff activities Grand Traverse Lighthouse lease. for in-depth interpretation of historic periods. The Michigan History Center and the State Historic Preservation Office are Natural Resources often consulted. Natural resources that have been identified as important to the integrity of the historic (cultural) landscape are managed to perpetuate those qualities. This can include non-native Recreation Opportunities Visitors may be engaged in sightseeing and educational species (those that are non-invasive) specific to the era and/ activities in a cultural setting such as visiting the historic or location. Vegetation may also be managed to enhance structures at the Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum, scenic education/interpretation and to protect historic structures and viewing at overlooks and at the top of the lighthouse tower viewscapes. and viewing interpretive exhibits.

Education Opportunities Structured interpretive/educational activities related to the historic resources, such as guided or brochure tours, in-depth history exhibits, media, and programs, may be found in this zone. Off-site interpretation may also be provided.

Visitor Experience High visitor encounters are accommodated in this zone. Visitors are engaged in structured interpretive/educational activities related to the historic resources. Visitors should expect a moderate time commitment, high on-site interpretation and some off-site interpretation, moderate noise tolerance, and high interaction with staff.

Management Focus The management focus is to maintain the historic/cultural integrity of the zone. Development should be kept consistent with the zone with a goal of a quality visitor experience of historic interests.

Development Developments necessary for visitor understanding and/or staff support that are compatible with the historic periods are permitted or are accommodated off-site. Restored or rehabilitated areas include the necessary protection, security, and heating/cooling systems and visitor/staff support uses such as restrooms and offices. Development is consistent with historic periods. Developments found in this zone include the Grand Traverse Lighthouse and associated structures, the gift The lighthouse shines under the stars shop, vault toilets, and interpretive signs.

24 LEELANAU STATE PARK MANAGEMENT ZONES

4.8 Cultural Landscape Overlay Recreation Opportunities The cultural landscape overlay is used to highlight not only Visitors may be engaged in recreation activities in accordance historic structures, but also non-structural evidence of the with the underlying zone. traditions, beliefs, practices, arts, crafts, and social intuitions of any community. This zone covers about 45 acres of the Education Opportunities park (3%) and encompasses most of the northern tip of Education opportunities in this zone are consistent with the peninsula. This includes the foundation of the original the underlying zones. On-site interpretation of the cultural lighthouse, day-use area, campground, shoreline, and some resources is appropriate and may be supplemented by off-site surrounding undeveloped areas. education and interpretation.

Natural Resources Visitor Experience Vegetation management will be in accordance with the The visitor experience will be consistent with the underlying underlying zone. Within the developed recreation and zones. education zones, vegetation may also be managed to enhance education/interpretation uses, which can include non-native species (non-invasive) specific to the era and/or location Management Focus and maintaining an aesthetically appealing landscape that is Management focuses on maintaining and preserving the sensitive to the historical resource and interpretation of the cultural resources in the area consistent with the underlying zone. zones.

Historic/Cultural Resources Development Cultural resources are the focus of this overlay and will be Development will be consistent with the underlying zones and preserved for visitor education and understanding. These will not negatively impact the cultural resources. include the foundation of the original Grand Traverse, or Cat’s Head, lighthouse (site #20LU127). Cultural resources may be preserved or allowed to remain undisturbed.

An interpretive sign at the ruins of the original Grand Traverse Lighthouse

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 25 CHAPTER FIVE

The lakeshore at sunset

26 LEELANAU STATE PARK TEN-YEAR ACTION GOALS

A picnic table and fire ring at a rustic campsite Chapter Five: Ten-Year Action Goals The planning team has developed 10-year action goals should be addressed within 2-5 years. Priority Level 3 projects that it believes are necessary to guide management and are desired but can be tackled in the next 5-10 years once development within Leelanau State Park to achieve the funding has been identified. Some goals are intended to desired resource protection and user experience. Action goals continue throughout the plan timeframe and are an “ongoing” are recommended that address the following categories: priority. Opinion of probable costs have been developed for natural resources, cultural resources, recreation opportunities, each capital outlay action goal identified (see Appendix C), and education/interpretation opportunities, and development. these projects will be included in the statewide master project These goals apply either to the whole park or to specific list. locations within the park, as appropriate, and according to the management zone. Refer to the zone descriptions in Chapter 5.1 Action Goals Summary Four for appropriate activities in each zone. The park currently faces threats from climate change, invasive species, and human impacts. Record-high lake levels in Management plans do not guarantee future funding to 2019, continuing into 2020, caused erosion and flooding of achieve the actions identified but are based on funding the campground roads, but water levels will likely continue realities and sound investment policies. PRD will seek internal to change. Park management will continue to assess the funding, alternative funding sources, partnerships and other resilience of the park’s infrastructure to changing lake levels potential mechanisms for implementing the desired future and natural disasters. The park’s Critical Dunes are under conditions defined in this plan. On an annual basis, PRD threat from erosion as well, which can be exacerbated by districts determine priorities for project planning and project heavy or inappropriate use that degrades the vegetation capital outlay. Each district’s top projects are then evaluated at protecting the dunes. For this reason, only foot traffic will a state-wide level for available funds. continue to be allowed in open dune areas.

Action goals are prioritized based on health, safety, and Goals for the management and operations of the park focus welfare, as well as ease of implementation (cost, ability to on completing a stewardship plan for the park, continuing to implement with own staff, partnerships, etc.). Priority Level detect and prevent invasive species, and selectively managing 1 projects indicate those that should be addressed within vegetation to enhance beloved viewscapes while maintaining the next 2 years. Priority Level 2 projects include those that

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 27 CHAPTER FIVE erosion protection. Park management will seek to improve that would maintain the natural character of the park. the connectivity of the land by exploring land acquisitions within the project boundary, integrating the Lighthouse West Smaller infrastructure and development projects involve property into the park, and seeking an easement to connect updating the interpretive, wayfinding, and regulatory signage the north and south units of the park. In addition, land open in the park, as well as constructing additional accessible and closed for hunting will be clarified with a revised wildlife recreation amenities at Mud Lake. Park staff will also realign conservation order. Finally, the historic structures report for the campground road to ensure long-term sustainability from the Grand Traverse Lighthouse will be updated, and a natural changing lake levels. area dedication for the open dunes along the Cathead Bay The park will partner with the Grand Traverse Lighthouse shoreline will be proposed to protect this fragile natural Museum to implement the items within the lighthouse resource. historic structures report, as well as improve the accessibility Goals to complete larger construction projects involving capital of the lighthouse by providing a remotely-operated camera improvement funds include studying the options for drinking and display for visitors to experience the panoramic views water and restroom upgrades and potentially constructing without the need to climb the lighthouse tower. In addition, an a toilet/shower building; conducting a cost/benefit analysis artifact storage facility will be constructed at the Purkiss Road for development of a group campground; designing and administrative services zone to protect cultural resources. constructing a storage garage at the day-use area; and exploring the potential to expand the campground with a limited number of rustic campsites or camping opportunities

Grand Traverse Lighthouse Sign

28 LEELANAU STATE PARK TEN-YEAR ACTION GOALS

LEELANAU STATE PARK TEN-YEAR ACTION GOALS The following 10-year action goals are ranked in terms of priority based on health, safety, and welfare, as well as ease of implementation (cost, ability to implement with own staff, partnerships etc.). Priority Level 1 projects indicate those that should be addressed within the next 2 years. Priority Level 2 projects include those that should be addressed within 2-5 years. Priority Level 3 projects are desired, but can be tackled in the next 5-10 years, once funding has been identified. Some goals are intended to continue throughout the plan timeframe and are an “ongoing” priority. In the program input column, the bolded party is the program lead. MANAGEMENT & OPERATIONS GOAL PRIORITY MANAGEMENT ZONE PROGRAM INPUT FROM Continue to explore land acquisition of properties within the Ongoing All Park Supervisor GMP Proposed Project Boundary. Lands Liaison

Continue to selectively manage vegetation to maintain Ongoing All Park Supervisor viewscapes from shoreline campsites, scenic overlooks, and Regional Planner the lighthouse, while maintaining erosion protection. Stewardship Ecologist

Continue to assess the park's infrastructure resilience to Ongoing All Park Supervisor changing lake levels, natural disasters and climate change. Regional Planner

Continue to pursue an easement and/or land acquisition to 1 N/A Land Liaison connect the north and south park units. Park Supervisor

Update the wildlife conservation order to resolve 1 All Regulatory Unit discrepancies between land that is open and closed to Park Supervisor hunting. Wildlife Law Enforcement

Complete a natural resource stewardship plan for the park, 1 All Stewardship identifying targets for conservation and related natural Park Supervisor resource management strategies, including invasive species management.

Integrate the Lighthouse West property into the park 2 All Park Supervisor through fee acquisition, integration of management and Lands Liaison access, and create hiking trail connections to the rest of the park.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 29 CHAPTER FIVE

MANAGEMENT & OPERATIONS, CONTINUED GOAL PRIORITY MANAGEMENT ZONE PROGRAM INPUT FROM Propose a Natural Area Dedication for the open dunes along 2 Primitive Stewardship the Cathead Bay shoreline to protect the natural resources in Park Supervisor perpetuity.

Conduct a cost/benefit analysis and study demand for 2 Natural Resource Regional Planner development of a group campground within the park Recreation Park Supervisor

INFRASTRUCTURE & DEVELOPMENT: CAPITAL OUTLAY GOAL PRIORITY MANAGEMENT ZONE PROGRAM INPUT FROM Explore the potential for relocated and/or a limited number 1 Natural Resource Regional Planner of additional rustic campsites/camping opportunities in Recreation Park Supervisor keeping with the natural character of the park.

Update the historic structures report for the Grand Traverse 2 History Education Cultural Resources Lighthouse. Analyst Park Supervisor Grand Traverse Lighthouse SHPO Michigan History Center

Design and construct a storage garage at the day-use area 3 Developed Recreation Regional Planner Park Supervisor

Study options for drinking water and restroom upgrades and 3 Developed Recreation Regional Planner the feasibility of adding showers at the campground Park Supervisor

30 LEELANAU STATE PARK TEN-YEAR ACTION GOALS

INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT: SMALL PROJECTS GOAL PRIORITY MANAGEMENT ZONE PROGRAM INPUT FROM Update interpretive, wayfinding, and regulatory signage 1 All Park Supervisor Regional Planner Marketing and Outreach Michigan History Center

Realign the campground road and modify or relocate 1 Natural Resource Regional Planner campsites to ensure long-term sustainability from changing Recreation Park Supervisor lake levels

Design and construct amenities for increased accessible 3 Backcountry Park Supervisor recreation opportunities at Mud Lake Natural Resource Regional Planner Recreation Fisheries

A campsite with a tent and a hammock in the trees

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 31 CHAPTER FIVE

PARTNER PROJECTS GOAL PRIORITY MANAGEMENT ZONE PROGRAM INPUT FROM Implement improvements to the lighthouse complex in Ongoing History Education Grand Traverse accordance with the historic structures report. Lighthouse Park Supervisor Stewardship Michigan History Center

Improve accessibility by providing a remotely-operated 1 History Education Grand Traverse camera and display so that visitors can experience views Lighthouse from the lighthouse without the need to climb the tower Park Supervisor Michigan History Center

Construct an artifact storage facility at the Purkiss Road 1 Administrative Services Grand Traverse administrative services zone. Lighthouse Regional Planner Park Supervisor Michigan History Center

Two visitors smile by the Evergreen Cabin

32 LEELANAU STATE PARK IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY

The sun rises over the lake Chapter Six: Implementation Strategy

This chapter of the general management plan (GMP) Coordination/ Communication provides guidance for implementation of the action goals • Meet regularly with the Regional Field Planner and District and maintaining the plan so it remains relevant in the Supervisor to coordinate and prioritize large capital long term. These guidelines will also help the park align projects for capital outlay requests. the action goals with park, district, and statewide annual • Maintain an open dialogue with local partners and funding processes and annual tasks outlined in the Parks stakeholders to coordinate community-related projects as and Recreation Division’s Strategic Plan or other planning identified in the action goals. documents. Although the implementation of the GMP will • Follow-up regularly on progress for action goals that are require commitment from staff at every level, it will be the not the primary responsibility of the Unit Supervisor with the responsible program position. primary responsibility of the Unit Supervisor to oversee plan implementation. Funding A long-range plan such as this must maintain a degree of • Identify estimated cost for each capital improvement/ flexibility to be responsive to changing circumstances or infrastructure project, with assistance from Regional Field opportunities that cannot be foreseen. It is recognized that Planner or other planning and infrastructure section staff as needed. some goals may be accomplished in a short time frame, while others may carry over through multiple years. It will be • Identify potential funding sources for each project/task. Liaise with PRD grants coordinator as appropriate. important to track progress so that the plan remains a relevant park management tool. The GMP will be reviewed every five • Align potential funding sources with the annual “call for years to ensure it remains viable. projects” in July for capital outlay funding requests. • Review action goals list and determine which projects can be requested to receive District Small Project funding 6.1 Implementation Toolbox through the District Supervisor. The following is a list of items to consider when reviewing and prioritizing the implementation of action goals identified in the GMP.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 33 CHAPTER SIX

Scheduling • Further prioritize projects based on need, funding, staffing and other constraints and opportunities. • Incorporate project/task assignments into annual staff performance objectives. 6.2 Documentation of Changes The Unit Supervisor should keep a record of any major changes to the park since approval of the GMP and note potential updates that may be required in the future. Documenting these changes will assist in the five-year plan review or when the GMP is updated. Changes may include: • New user requests or conflicts • Emerging recreation, funding or partnership opportunities • Changes in land management • Land transactions or changes to the Approved Project Boundary • Major infrastructure projects or removal of structures Changes may be documented by marking up the park’s copy of the GMP or maintaining a log that is kept with it. In reviewing the action goals for changes, documentation should be provided for goals that may become irrelevant or are no Children play in the water longer viable, as well as proposed new action goals, including justification. 6.3 Documentation of Accomplishments The management zoning map should also be reviewed As action goals are completed, the Unit Supervisor should regularly. Any proposed changes to the map related to land mark them as such in the park’s copy of the GMP, including acquisition or disposal, errors in the original zoning, or land the completion date. This will also help to maintain a log management changes should be documented. Note that the of accomplishments for district and division-wide reporting park zoning is intended to be a long-term document: changes purposes, including PRD’s strategic plan. will only be considered with adequate justification and are subject to a formal review and approval process. 6.4 Five-Year Review Process General management plans are reviewed every five years from the date of approval of either the Phase 2 plan or the complete GMP. The planning team for the five-year review is made up of the Park Management Plan Administrator, Unit Supervisor, Regional Field Planner and District Supervisor, with other team members included as may be necessary. A Five-Year Review Form will be used to record all changes to the plan within the past five years. Upon reviewing the GMP and the documented changes, the planning team will determine whether the changes warrant a complete update of the plan.

If there are no major changes required in either the zoning or the action goals, the planning team will complete the Five-Year Review Form and attach it as a supplement to the existing GMP. If zoning changes are needed, the GMP will be revised or updated following the complete GMP planning process led by the Park Management Plan Administrator. If changes to the action goals only are required, the Phase 2 GMP planning process will be implemented. Cooking by the fire

34 LEELANAU STATE PARK SUPPORTING ANALYSIS

PARK PROFILE AREA 1,533 acres COUNTY Leelanau County TOWNSHIP Leelanau Township LATITUDE 45.184600 LONGITUDE -85.564608 Leelanau State Park ADDRESS 15310 N Lighthouse Point Rd. Northport, MI 49670 PHONE 1-231-386-5422

Appendix A: Supporting Analysis A.1 Park Overview County population in winter months, and over 40% of the Leelanau State Park is located on the northern tip of the population during the summer, demonstrating the major influx Leelanau Peninsula in the northwest of Michigan’s Lower of visitors in Leelanau County. Agriculture thrives in the region Peninsula. The park features the Grand Traverse Lighthouse due to climate and landscape. Sweet cherry, tart cherry, and Museum, a rustic campground with 51 sites and three mini- apples are popular crops. The economy of Leelanau County cabins, 8.5 miles of hiking and cross-country ski trails and is highly influenced by the seasonal population and visitors land open to hunting. The 1,533-acre park includes 2.25 coming to the peninsula for recreation and tourism, including miles of Lake Michigan shoreline with cobble beaches. A large agricultural tourism such as winery and heritage tours. proportion of Leelanau State Park (900 acres) is designated Leelanau State Park, in Leelanau Township, Leelanau County, as the Cathead Bay Natural Area (The Nature Conservancy is approximately eight miles north of the city of Northport, registered), featuring open and forested dunes with numerous 20 miles from the historic town of Leland and 20 miles from non-forested blowouts. The shoreline is also protected as Suttons Bay. The nearest major population center is Traverse nesting habitat for the state and federally threatened piping City, 34 miles to the south, which connects to Northport, plover. Suttons Bay, and Leland via Highway M-22. The area is a popular tourist destination with the Lake Michigan Circle Location & Community Tour running the length of the Leelanau Peninsula. Visitors Leelanau County consists of five islands and the Leelanau to the region enjoy scenic Lake Michigan views; orchards, Peninsula (the “little finger” of the mitten) in the northwest vineyards, and wineries; local casinos; art galleries and unique of the Michigan Lower Peninsula. Two of the largest industries shops; historic attractions; as well as opportunities for hiking, in the county are agriculture and tourism. The Land Policy fishing, or exploring public beaches. The cherry industry plays Institute at Michigan State University published the Northwest an important role in both the history and the present-day Michigan Seasonal Population Analysis, an assessment based economy of the area. on studies conducted in 2012. It was estimated that the seasonal and transient residents made up 6% of the Leelanau

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN A-1 APPENDIX A

A.2 Demographics rest of the state (16.7%). There is a higher proportion of The U.S. Census Bureau reports that the 2010 population of American Indians in Leelanau County (3.8%) than in Michigan Leelanau County was 21,708. This is an approximate 2.8% as a whole (0.7%). The main administration office for the increase from the reported population in the 2000 census. The tribal government of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and population estimate for 2017 shows numbers holding steady Chippewa Indians is in Peshawbestown, 16 miles south of from 2010. The county is composed of several small townships Leelanau State Park. with unincorporated communities, as well as three villages Compared to Michigan overall, Leelanau County appears to and a small portion of Traverse City. The County Seat is the be more financially secure with a higher median household Village of Suttons Bay, although it was historically the town income, as well as a higher per capita income. The county of Leland. Many of the towns within Leelanau County have poverty rate is 8.1%, which is 6.1% lower than the state relatively small populations, which expand significantly in the poverty rate (14.2%). The population of Leelanau County has summer due to tourism. The Leelanau General Plan indicates a moderately high rate of secondary education completion that around 31% of the County’s housing stock in 2010 was and 41.1% of residents possess a bachelor’s degree or higher classified as “seasonal”. The population is most dense within (among individuals 25 and older) compared to 27.4% for Elmwood, Bingham, and Leland townships. The racial makeup Michigan overall. of the county is predominately white (93%) and has a higher proportion of persons 65 years or older (29.9%) than the

GEOGRAPHY QUICKFACTS LEELANAU CO. MICHIGAN Population per square mile, 2010 62.5 174.8 Land area in square miles, 2010 347.17 56,538.9 POPULATION QUICKFACTS LEELANAU CO. MICHIGAN Population estimates, July 1, 2017 21,657 9,962,311 Population, Census, April 1, 2010 21,708 9,883,640 Persons under 5 years, percent, July 1, 2017 4.2% 5.8% Persons under 18 years, percent, July 1, 2017 16.4% 21.8% Persons 65 years and over, percent, July 1, 2017 29.9% 16.7% Female persons, percent, July 1, 2017 50.7% 50.8% White alone, percent, July 1, 2017 93.0% 79.4% Black or African American alone, percent, July 1, 2017 0.7% 14.1% American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent, July 1, 2017 3.8% 0.7% Two or More Races, percent, July 1, 2017 1.9% 2.4% Hispanic or Latino, percent 4.4% 5.1% Veterans, 2012-2016 1,869 602,630 Foreign born persons, percent, 2012-2016 3.4% 6.4% Housing units, July 1, 2017 15,615 4,595,158 Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2012-2016 86.0% 70.8% Households, 2012-2016 8,984 3,860,394 Persons per household, 2012-2016 2.38 2.51 Language other than English spoken at home, % age 5 yrs+, 2012-2016 5.3% 9.3% High school graduate or higher, % age 25 years+, 2012-2016 94.8% 89.9% Bachelor's degree or higher, % age 25 years+, 2012-2016 41.1% 27.4% Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2012-2016 21.8 24.3 Median household income (in 2016 dollars), 2012-2016 59,018 50,803 Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2016 dollars), 2012-2016 35,954 27,549 Persons in poverty, percent 8.1% 14.2%

A-2 LEELANAU STATE PARK SUPPORTING ANALYSIS

The interior of the Evergreen Cabin A.3 Regional Recreation Resources • Interlochen State Park is located between Green Lake Leelanau State Park is in a region that is known for its outdoor and Duck Lake, 50 miles south of Leelanau State Park. This was the first state park, established in 1919, managed recreation and tourism, with a range of facilities within 50 under the Michigan State Park Commission. The National miles of the park. The primary resources in the region are Music Camp has operated on land adjacent to the park described below. since 1928. Visitors may rent boats, fish, paddle, and swim here, and the park also features picnic areas, 52 rustic and 392 modern campsites, three camper cabins, two rental Federally Owned Resources tents and a playground. • Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is located approximately 41 miles south of Leelanau State Park. • Fisherman’s Island State Park is approximately 85 miles Visitors may climb sand dunes, swim in Lake Michigan and from Leelanau State Park by road, but just 7.4 miles across smaller inland lakes, or take a trip back in history and visit Grand Traverse Bay by boat. The park is 3,097 acres and Glen Haven Village or the USLSS Maritime Museum. There features six miles of Lake Michigan shoreline as well as a are two campgrounds (D.H. Day Campground and Platte wide expanse of dune area. Facilities include picnic area, River Campground) on the mainland of Sleeping Bear beach, hiking trails, rustic campsites, and the park is open Dunes, which offer both full electric hook-up and rustic to hunting and trapping. sites. Visitors may also backcountry camp at select sites in the park and on the Manitou Islands. North and South State Forests Manitou Island are both part of the National Lakeshore • Traverse City Forest Management Unit covers Kalkaska, and may be accessed by ferry service from Leland Grand Traverse, Benzie, Manistee and Leelanau counties. for backpacking, hiking, swimming and exploring the It is approximately 330,000 acres with a wide variety shipwrecks and ghost towns around the islands. of cover types, including northern hardwoods, aspen and red pine. It is an actively managed forest typically State Owned Resources harvesting 7,000 acres annually for wildlife and timber management purposes. Other forest recreation opportunities are available including hunting, fishing, State Parks mushroom picking and dispersed camping, as well as • is a 79-acre Keith J. Charters Traverse City State Park concentrated recreation on numerous designated trail park, 40 miles southeast of Leelanau State Park. The systems for motorized and non-motorized specific modern campground offers 347 sites for camping and recreational opportunities. State forest roads are open to can accommodate trailers or RVs up to 40 feet long. The ORV/ATV use unless posted closed to users. Public Act 288 park has accessible facilities including its 2 mini cabins, (PA 288), enacted in September 2016, requires the DNR to modern lodge, beachfront, playground and restrooms. inventory and map all state forest roads. The DNR Roads The park is open for biking and hiking on the adjacent Web Map is an interactive tool that identifies which roads TART Trail; swimming, fishing, and boating on Grand are opened, closed, or seasonally closed to ORV use. The Traverse Bay; and metal detecting. forest has a history of white-tailed deer, black bear, ruffed grouse, woodcock and other game species harvest.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN A-3 APPENDIX A

• State Forest Campgrounds The following state forest campgrounds (SFCG) are located within 50 miles of Leelanau State Park and are administered by the Parks and Recreation Division.

STATE FOREST CAMPGROUNDS

STATE FOREST LOCATION NUMBER OF AMENITIES MANAGEMENT CAMPGROUND SITES Garey Lake 8 miles SE of Empire 13 Fishing Interlochen Garey Lake Trail Camp 8 miles SE of Empire Equestrian Groups Fishing Interlochen Lake Ann 2 miles SW of Lake Ann 30 Boat launch, fishing, trails Interlochen Lake Dubonnet 4.5 miles NW of Interlochen 50 Boat launch, fishing, trails Interlochen Lake Dubonnet Trail Camp 4.5 miles NW of Interlochen Equestrian Groups Fishing Interlochen Platte River 2.5 miles southeast of Honor 26 Fishing, hunting, Interlochen paddlesports, boat launch Veterans Memorial 3.5 miles east of Honor 24 Fishing, paddlesports, boat Interlochen launch

Boating Access Sites The following Leelanau County boating access sites (BAS) are administered by PRD out of the Grawn Field Office.

BOATING ACCESS SITES BAS WATER BODY TYPE PARKING SPACES Lake Leelanau North Lake Leelanau Hard surfaced, limited depth 8 Lake Leelanau West Lake Leelanau Hard surfaced 5 Lake Leelanau East Lake Leelanau Hard surfaced 21 The Narrows Lake Leelanau Hard surfaced 33 West Arm Lake Michigan Hard surfaced 36 Lime Lake Lime Lake Hard surfaced, limited depth 6 Glen Lake Glen Lake Hard surfaced 20 Armstrong Lake Armstrong Lake Gravel: medium to small boats 3

A small pond

A-4 LEELANAU STATE PARK SUPPORTING ANALYSIS

State Trails Area for nearly a mile. Two “food forests” along this trail • Vasa Pathway is 44 miles southeast from Leelanau are part of the Grand Traverse Edible Trails, an effort to State Park and crosses parts of the Traverse City Forest increase access to local sustainable food. Management Unit. The 20-mile non-motorized trail • Michigan Shore-to-Shore Trail, also known as the offers loops of varying lengths for hiking, biking, and Michigan Riding and Hiking Trail, is a 220-mile non- cross-country skiing with several picnic and camping motorized trail which spans from Lake Michigan in Empire areas available along the trail. The trail is maintained and (near Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore) in the west groomed by TART Trails under an agreement with the to Lake Huron in Oscoda (in the Huron-Manistee National Michigan DNR. Forest). It features a northern spur up toward Cheboygan • Snowmobile Trail #3 travels approximately 40 miles from and a southern spur toward Cadillac. Most areas of this Maple City (Leelanau County), then through state forest trail are limited to hiking and horseback-riding, but some land in Benzie County, and links to the Betsie Valley Trail do intersect with trails which allow snowmobiles. The and other trails leading south into Manistee County. Michigan Trail Riders Association works with the Michigan The trail is maintained by the DNR Parks and Recreation Department of Natural Resources and the US Forest Division with assistance from the Benzie-Manistee Service to maintain and coordinate trail rides and rest Snowmobile Club. sites along the trail. • Betsie Valley Trail – This 22-mile non-motorized trail • Sleeping Bear Birding Trail (SBBT) spans an exceptional extends from Frankfort through Elberta and Beulah migratory flyway and thousands of public acres along the to Thompsonville in Benzie County. Surfacing from Lake Michigan coastline. The trail is anchored by Sleeping Frankfort to Crystal Lake is paved with the remainder of Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, an Important Bird Area the trail aggregate. The trail is excellent for bicycles and (IBA) with 71,000 acres of public land and 35 miles of pedestrian use and the 13 Mile stretch between Beulah beaches. The SBBT covers all 123 miles of Michigan and Thompsonville is open to snowmobiles December Highway M-22, which stretches from Manistee to the tip through March. The trail is maintained by Benzie County of Leelanau Peninsula. The diverse habitat, significant with support from The Friends of the Betsie Valley Trail. public access, and many miles of shoreline make the trail a birder’s paradise. Leelanau State Park is noted as a migrant trap, with nearby Leelanau Conservancy land also Regional Trails listed as important birding locations. • Great Lakes Circle Tour (Great Lakes Commission) is a 6,500-mile road tour around the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River and runs through eight states and two Canadian provinces. The Lake Michigan Circle Route is approximately 1,100 miles long and runs through Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan. A portion of the tour follows M-22 north through the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and into the town of Leland. • Leelanau Scenic Heritage Route spans approximately 68 miles along the M-22, M-109, and M-204 highways. This route travels through small towns, vineyards, and orchards in the area, moving up the Leelanau Peninsula from M-72 junction in northern Traverse City in the southeast and from M-22 on the Benzie/Leelanau county line in the southwest. • U.S. Bike Route 35 is a 505-mile route which runs along the western edge of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula and into the eastern portion of the Upper Peninsula, traveling between New Buffalo and Sault Ste. Marie. The section from Traverse City to Ludington runs up the Leelanau Peninsula, through Suttons Bay and around Lake Leelanau, and uses a combination of trails and roads. • TART Trail (Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation Trail) is a 10.5-mile urban trail open to hiking and biking that runs through parks and downtown Traverse City. The TART Trail links to other trails throughout the area including the Leelanau Trail. • Leelanau Trail (TART) is 17 miles long and connects Traverse City to Suttons Bay on the Leelanau Peninsula. This trail is open to biking, hiking, and cross-country skiing. The Leelanau Trail crosses the DeYoung Natural A hiker consults the trail map

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN A-5 APPENDIX A

• Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail is a non-motorized trail that • Lighthouse Park & Old Mission Point Park (Peninsula showcases destinations within the Sleeping Bear Dunes Township) are adjacent parks located at the tip of Old National Lakeshore and the two lakeshore towns of Glen Mission Peninsula, a 55-mile drive from Leelanau State Arbor and Empire. Currently the trail is 20 miles, end to Park, due to the Grand Traverse Bay separating the sites. end, including a 3-mile route on the road through Glen The 646-acre Old Mission Point Park has been leased from Arbor. The Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail was developed the Michigan DNR by Peninsula Township since 1949. as a partnership between the Leelanau Scenic Heritage Lighthouse Park hosts the historic Old Mission Lighthouse Route Committee (LSHR), the Michigan Department of and the Hessler Log Cabin. There are opportunities for Transportation, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, swimming, biking, hiking and cross-country skiing. Old Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes, and TART Trails. Mission Point Park features more trails and parking areas. • Peterson Park (Leelanau Township) is located in Municipal Recreational Land Northport and features 1,000 feet of rocky lakeshore providing opportunities to hunt Petoskey stones. The park Marinas & Water Recreation includes a picnic area, playground and small platform There are several municipally managed marinas and boating overlooking Lake Michigan. access sites along the Leelanau Peninsula. A few have access to Grand Traverse Bay or Lake Michigan, while others are along Nature Preserves Lake Leelanau. • Lighthouse West (Leelanau Conservancy) is a 42-acre parcel that is the last stop for migrating birds to rest and • G. Martsen Dame Municipal Marina (Northport) is a feed before crossing the big water to the Upper Peninsula. marina with 115 total boat slips. This marina is equipped Over 125 species of birds have been spotted here. The with utilities, showers, pump-out and a launch ramp. DNR has a conservation easement on this property. • Leland Township Marina (Leland) features 46 boat slips, • Kehl Lake Natural Area (Leelanau Conservancy) sits just utilities, showers, pump-out, and a launch ramp. south of Leelanau State Park, near Cathead Bay. With 279 acres of wetlands near Lake Michigan, Kehl Lake is (Suttons Bay) is located along Lake • Suttons Bay Marina an important piece of the migratory flyway and offers Michigan and features both transient and seasonal slips, numerous opportunities for birding and wildlife viewing. water, electricity, restroom/ showers, gasoline, pump- Visitors may hike the two miles of trails in the area, as well out, boat launch, long-term parking, day use dockage and as canoe, kayak, fish, or hunt (by permit only). other site amenities. (Leelanau Conservancy) is a 40- • Water Access Sites are dispersed around Lake Leelanau • Whaleback Natural Area acre preserve featuring a one-mile trail up a 300-foot bluff and the Leelanau River. These range from carry-in sites to to an overlook offering fantastic views of the Manitou fully developed hard-surfaced launch ramps. Passage. The preserve includes over 1,200 feet of Lake Michigan shoreline. Parks • Houdek Dunes Natural Area (Leelanau Conservancy) is The townships and villages along the Leelanau Peninsula located approximately 5 miles north of Leland. The 370- feature parks managed at the county or local level. Many offer acre property features dunes, mature forested backdunes, picnic areas, playgrounds, hiking trails and some have access and Houdek Creek, a spring-fed trout stream that flows to Lake Michigan, Lake Leelanau, or other small lakes and into Lake Leelanau. Several trail loops provide for quiet rivers with opportunities for swimming or fishing. exploration of the dune environment demonstrating the process of succession. • Bartholomew Park & Nedow’s Bay (Leelanau Township) • Teichner Preserve (Leelanau Conservancy) consists of 43 is a beach and park area with swimming areas, docks, and acres of land with 200 feet of undeveloped shoreline on a boat launch on Lake Leelanau. Lime Lake. It contains giant elms and chestnuts, which • Veronica Valley Park (Leelanau County) is a 92.3-acre are rare trees most likely planted by early settlers. It is a park, formerly a privately-owned golf course, featuring short half-mile trail to the shore and back but it shows the rolling hills, ponds, and forested wetlands. It is also natural beauty of wetlands and offers views of a vibrant bisected by Mebert Creek, a designated trout stream. The and healthy ecosystem. park is open for hiking, fishing, cross-country skiing, as • Clay Cliffs Natural Area (Leelanau Conservancy) is a 105- well as youth/adult outdoor education. acre recreation area with shoreline on both Lake Michigan • Lake Michigan Beach Park (Empire) is 46 miles south and north Lake Leelanau. Recreation opportunities of Leelanau State Park. The beach is close to Sleeping include fishing, wildlife viewing, hiking and cross-country Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and features the Richard skiing. H. Manning Memorial Lighthouse, opportunities for swimming and picnics, and historic landmarks related to the Empire Lumber Company.

A-6 LEELANAU STATE PARK SUPPORTING ANALYSIS

Grand Traverse Region Lighthouses The following are some of the lighthouses in the greater Grand Traverse region.

GRAND TRAVERSE REGION LIGHTHOUSES NAME LOCATION NOTES Point Betsie South of Sleeping Original 1858 lighthouse, keepers residence, fog signal building, and Boathouse Lighthouse Bear Dunes, North Museum are open to the public of Frankfort Grand Traverse Leelanau State Park Constructed to guide ships through the Manitou Passage in 1858. Features a Lighthouse restored keeper’s dwelling, a tower providing spectacular views of Lake Michigan, a fog signal building, interpretive displays and a giftshop, all open to the public seasonally. Mission Point North end of Guided mariners through West Grand Traverse Bay from September 10, 1870 until Lighthouse the Old Mission it was decommissioned in 1933. Now offers visitors a peek into what life was like Peninsula around the turn of the century for lighthouse keepers and for others who lived and worked in the area at the time. South Manitou South Manitou Established in 1839 to mark the location of the only natural harbor between Island Lighthouse Island harbor northern Michigan and Chicago. Its 100-foot tower dates from 1871. Decommissioned in 1958, the lighthouse is now part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. North Manitou In Lake Michigan “The Crib” was established in 1935 to mark a dangerous shoal and is still in operation Shoal Light between North today as an automated navigational light. Not open for tours but can be viewed up Manitou Island close from the ferry from Leland to the Manitou Islands or from the top of Pyramid and the Leelanau Point in Leelanau County. The North Manitou Light Keepers purchased the light Peninsula in 2016 from the Coast Guard after the structure had been empty for 36 years following automation in 1980. Efforts to restore the lighthouse are in progress. South Fox Island South Fox Island The State of Michigan owns one third of the island, which includes the lighthouse Lighthouse complex under the jurisdiction of the DNR. With seven buildings and two light towers, the station is one of the biggest light stations in the USA.

Points of Interest: Arts and History • The Old Art Building, located in Leland, is a cultural The region is home to a variety of historic sites. In addition to center with the mission to promote cultural enrichment the Grand Traverse Lighthouse within Leelanau State Park, the programs and events, provide a gathering place for surrounding area is home to serveral lighthouses, listed in the the community, and preserve the Old Art Building as a significant part of Leelanau History. table above. • Leland Historic District (Fishtown Preservation Society), Many of the towns on the Leelanau Peninsula feature historic also known as “Fishtown”, was a thriving fishing district in districts, preserving the history of the fishing, shipping, and the 1900s and still has one commercial fishery operating in 2021. Visitors may tour shanties, visit galleries and agricultural industries that have thrived in the region over the shops, and enjoy the view of the historic fishing tugs. years. The following historic districts, museums, arts facilities and preserves are in close proximity to Leelanau State Park. • Leelanau Historical Society Museum (Leelanau Historical Society) is just south of Fishtown in Leland. The museum • Northport Arts Association is a non-profit organization may feature exhibits about the influence of Michigan’s that fosters and promotes artistic expression in the timber and fur trade, lighthouses, shipwrecks, the Northport community. Their Village Arts Building facility Manitou Islands and more. hosts varied arts classes and activities and is available for • Grand Traverse Bay Preserve is an underwater special event rentals. preserve that covers 295 square miles of Lake Michigan • Omena Historic District (Omena Historical Society) bottomlands and surface waters (both the East and West was added to the National Register of Historic Places in Arms of Grand Traverse Bay) and protects several known 2017. Omena began as a settlement for the Ottawa and shipwreck sites and many other potential shipwreck Chippewa Tribes. sites, docks, wharves, and piers from the region’s early development. • Eyaawing Museum & Cultural Center (Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians), located in • Manitou Passage Underwater Preserve offers diving Peshawbestown, is 17 miles south of Leelanau State opportunities at numerous shipwrecks located between Park. Visitors may learn about the culture, language and the Manitou Islands and Sleeping Bear Dunes National regional history of the Anishinaabek. Lakeshore, as well as opportunities to explore historic docks and wharves built during the heyday of Michigan’s lumber industry. Some of the most famous shipwrecks in

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN A-7 APPENDIX A

the area date back to the 1880s. conducted around the Grand Traverse Light Station found • Interlochen Center for the Arts is located south of evidence of a prehistoric site of an “undetermined age or Traverse City and offers arts education programs for occupation type”. Odawa and Ojibwe people hunted, students in grades 3-12 and adults of all ages. It also hosts gathered and fished here. They traded with French and hundreds of concerts and events. British voyageurs and settlers when they arrived in the 1600s. European exploration of the Grand Traverse Bay area began Private Recreation Opportunities in the 18th century, followed by Leelanau County’s official There are numerous private recreation offerings in the area, establishment in 1863. In the 1836 Treaty of Washington, including campgrounds, vineyards, private marinas, and Odawa and Ojibwe bands ceded most of what is now the others. northern Lower Peninsula to the United States including the Leelanau Peninsula. They retained hunting and fishing rights, There are over 20 vineyards and wineries in the Leelanau- which they still retain today. Dispossession continued with the Grand Traverse area, producing a variety of local wines, ciders, Treaty of Detroit in 1855, which provided for tribal lands to be spirits, and microbrews. Visitors may drive, bike, or take a broken into individual allotments. shuttle or bus tour to explore wineries and distilleries, attend tastings, and take behind-the-scenes tours. The Leelanau Beginning in the 1840s, the Great Lakes became busy Peninsula Wine Trail consists of three loops: Sleeping Bear, thoroughfares for moving wheat, corn, lumber, coal, and Grand Traverse Bay, and the Northern Loop, which goes up iron ore. The northern tip of the Leelanau Peninsula served the peninsula toward Northport. Many of the vineyards in as an important navigational marker for vessels traveling the region participate in the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail, between the Manitou Passage and the Straits of Mackinac but it is not an exhaustive list of all the vineyard and winery and those turning into Grand Traverse Bay. In 1849, the experiences the area has to offer. recommendation to erect a light on Cat’s Head Point was made by leaders in Washington. Campgrounds in the Leelanau and Grand Traverse Bay area range from rustic tent sites to full-service resorts for both tent Congress appropriated funds for a lighthouse and tower on and RV camping with modern facilities. Many sit along Lake the tip of the peninsula in 1850. President Fillmore designated Leelanau and offer fishing, boating and swimming. Some host land from public properties and signed an executive order on their own campground and park events, lodges, shops and June 30, 1851. The original single-story, brick light keeper’s picnic tables. Numerous hotels, resorts, bed and breakfasts, house was built in 1852 on low ground close to the water’s and motels are also located in the area. edge. As there were no roads when the first lighthouse was built, waterways were used to transport materials and crew Local gaming establishments, such as the Turtle Creek Casino for construction. After only six years in operation, likely due and the Leelanau Sands Casino and Showroom, are popular to poor construction and location, the tower was found to attractions in the region. be eroding and funds were requested for a more substantial replacement structure. The keeper’s quarters and lighthouse A.4 History of Leelanau State Park tower were torn down in 1958, with stone from the keeper’s People have been attracted to the natural resources of the quarters reportedly used to construct a home in Northport. Leelanau Peninsula for thousands of years – first to live off the land, and later for recreation. An archaeological survey

The GMP planning team at a trailhead

A-8 LEELANAU STATE PARK SUPPORTING ANALYSIS

In 1858, the Grand Traverse Light Station, also known as a hunting area with plans for seven miles of trails. A scout the Cat’s Head Point Lighthouse, was constructed as a building within the Lighthouse Unit was to be moved to the replacement for the original lighthouse on higher ground. In Cathead Bay Unit, near Mud Lake, and the surrounding area the early days of the U.S. Lighthouse Service, lard and sperm would be turned into an organizational campground. It was oil were used for fueling the lamps, and being relatively non- proposed that park manager housing would be established volatile, the oil was stored in the cellar of the main lighthouse. near this area as well. The organizational camp and the With a change to the more volatile kerosene and following manager’s housing were not implemented. Other planned a number of dwelling fires throughout the U.S. Lighthouse improvements for the Cathead Bay Unit included parking lots Service system, a separate brick oil storage building was with vault toilets and hand-pump water spigots for visitors. erected in 1895. In 1899, a Fog Signal Station was added to The renovations proposed in the plan were intended to allow the complex to better serve the ships. Further modifications the park to accommodate no more than 900 visitors at a time were subsequently made to the lighthouse building to between the two units. accommodate an additional lighthouse attendant to help with the added work the fog signal created. The station remained in The 16-acre lighthouse complex was leased to the state from operation until 1972, when it was replaced with an automated 1974 until 2003 when the U.S. Department of the Interior beacon on a steel skeletal tower. transferred the area to the State of Michigan. The buildings stood vacant until 1985 when the Grand Traverse Lighthouse The U.S. government deeded 31 acres of surplus lighthouse Foundation (now known as the Grand Traverse Lighthouse property to the Michigan Conservation Commission for park Museum, a non-profit corporation) organized with the purposes in 1932, retaining 16 acres for lighthouse use. After intention of preserving the buildings and opening them to improvements and the development of a campground, the the public. The Women’s Club of Northport was instrumental site, then known as the Northport Site or Northport State in promoting interest in the lighthouse and formation of the Park, was leased to Leelanau Township in 1947. The township foundation. After renovation, the station was opened as a managed the land until 1974, at which time, the park featured museum in 1987. The Grand Traverse Lighthouse, Fog Signal a 42-site rustic campground, picnic area, playground, and Building, Garage, Oil House, and surrounding land is leased to parking lot. and operated by the Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum.

In 1963, the purchase of 364 acres, with one mile of Lake Leelanau State Park has continued to grow since the 1976 Michigan frontage, was approved by the Commission in Master Plan was approved. Additional land was acquired in response to a National Park Service report recommending the both units through gifts and grant purchases (see A.5, Land site for preservation and public recreation. A 1960 Michigan Ownership). In 1978, the Michigan Natural Areas Council Natural Areas Council report also highlighted the special recommended dedication of a portion of the Cathead Bay features of the area, describing it as “one of the few remaining Area as a natural area. At the time, this was not supported by undisturbed duneland areas typical of those which were once the Parks Division, believing that the Master Plan provided so common along the shorelines of the Great Lakes”. Following adequate protection and that designation would not be this purchase, Leelanau State Park (then 450 acres) was compatible with existing recreational uses. This proposal officially dedicated in 1964. remains as “pending.”

In 1976, the first Leelanau State Park Master Plan was Over the years, park facilities have remained relatively approved for the park, which had then reached 784 acres unchanged and rustic in nature. In 1993, two mini cabins in size including land leased from the federal government were developed in the campground and another one added encompassing the lighthouse complex. The plan proposed in 2006. The latter was moved from the DH Day Campground separating the park into two administrative units, with and used as the contact station before being converted to a the hopes of further land acquisition. The Lighthouse Unit cabin. A new playground was added at the day use area in the was to receive facility renovations that would not alter the fall of 2019, with the assistance of funds raised by the Friends area’s rustic atmosphere. This unit featured the lighthouse, of Leelanau State Park and labor by volunteers with Michigan campground, and allowed for beach access. Plans included Cares for Tourism. adding an additional parking lot, opening a portion of the lighthouse to the public, establishing walking trails, and improving campground conditions. It was recommended that the Lighthouse Unit be closed to hunting due to the development and traffic of the area.

The second unit, the Cathead Bay Unit, was proposed as

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN A-9 APPENDIX A

A.5 Land Ownership Land Exchange Facilitation Fund (LEFF) Land purchased through general real estate powers, with non- Funding Sources game sub fund, under Part 21, Subpart 10, PA 451 of 1994, as The lands that comprise Leelanau State Park were acquired amended. This fund was used to purchase 21.5 acres of land. by the state through a variety of funding sources. Often, conditions attached to the original funding source or other details of the property transaction encumber the future use or Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is a federal disposition of the land. program administered in Michigan by the Department of The primary funds used to purchase land in Leelanau State Natural Resources on behalf of the National Park Service Park include the Old Recreation Bond Fund, the Michigan under Part 703, PA 451 of 1994 as amended. Lands purchased Natural Resource Trust Fund, and the Federal Land and Water using LWCF funding must be used for public outdoor Conservation Fund. Numerous parcels of this park were recreation purposes and resource protection. These funds purchased using multiple funding sources in conjunction were partially used, with matching funds from the Recreation with special legislation funding for the purpose of public Bond Fund and some from Special Legislation, to purchase 578 recreation, wildlife management, and resource protection. acres. See table below for more information on these grants. The funding source map at the end of Appendix A identifies the sources used in acquiring land within Leelanau State Park. Michigan Land Trust Fund The following outlines in more detail each funding source The “Kammer Recreational Land Trust Fund Act of 1976” associated with the park. (PA 204 of 1976) created the Michigan Land Trust Fund (MLTF) program to provide a source of funding for the public Federal Government Land Patent acquisition of lands for resource protection and public outdoor The 16.37-acre Grand Traverse Light Station Reservation was recreation. Funding was derived from royalties on the sale and transferred to the DNR from the Federal government in 2003 lease of State-owned mineral rights. This fund was replaced under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act, 1926. The by the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund in 1984. Two United States retains mineral rights and certain rights relating parcels, totaling 54 acres, were purchased using MLTF in 1982. to access, operating and maintaining aids to navigation, and historical artifacts (see Appendix D). The property must be Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund maintained consistent with the provisions of the National The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) was Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. created by a state constitutional amendment in 1984, which required that oil, gas, and other mineral lease and royalty State Game Fund payments be placed into the Trust Fund, with proceeds used Public Act (PA) 17 of 1921 established a funding source for to both acquire and develop public recreation lands. To land purchased with revenue from a $1.50 tax on hunting implement the constitutional amendment, the Legislature licenses. Land purchased with this fund is primarily intended passed the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Act of for hunting and fishing purposes and the development of 1985 (PA 101 of 1985). The MNRTF was used to purchase other recreation facilities is restricted. Approximately 122 222 acres scattered across Leelanau State Park including land acres of land was purchased using the State Game Fund west south and east of the lighthouse complex and land east and of Mud Lake in 1964. north of Mud Lake. In 2008, a 42-acre perpetual conservation easement was purchased from Leelanau Conservancy for public recreation access. Recreation Bond Fund Lands purchased using the Recreation Bond Fund, as directed by PA 257 of 1968, must be used for the purpose of public Special Legislation recreation. Over 600 acres in the central portion of the park Acquisitions for park purposes through this source are tied were purchased using Recreation Bond Fund, primarily as a to specific funding established by the legislature established match for Land and Water Conservation Fund between 1975 under PA 27 and PA 50 of 1944. Approximately 592 acres were and 1982. purchased using Special Legislation. A portion of this acreage was purchased in conjunction with the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund.

A-10 LEELANAU STATE PARK SUPPORTING ANALYSIS

Gift Acquired Easements Several parcels of land were acquired through gifts. The The DNR purchased a 42-acre conservation easement at the Nature Conservancy donated 1.06 acres of land near Mud Lighthouse West property from the Leelanau Conservancy Lake and a platted section of approximately 4,680 square feet (split within two parcels) including development rights, near Lake Michigan. A gift of $125,820 from the Leelanau hunting rights, and public recreation access easements. The Conservancy assisted in the purchase of approximately 41.5 easement is subject to an agreement that outlines permitted acres of land. A 33.56-acre parcel of land located northeast uses and management of the property (see Appendix D). of Mud Lake was donated to the park by James and Marilynn Cavanaugh in 1980. Lease The DNR entered into a lease with the Grand Traverse Tax Reversion Lighthouse Museum in September of 2003 to allow for The state acquired the balance of the land through reversion the operations and management of the Grand Traverse due to non-payment of taxes. A section of land at the Lighthouse, Fog Signal Building, Garage and Oil House and the southern tip of Leelanau State Park was acquired as tax surrounding grounds on the 16-acre parcel. reverted lands in 1961. Mineral Rights Granted Easements The DNR owns the mineral rights for most of the land within The following easements grant access or construction rights the park with the exception of: in Leelanau State Park. The documentation was obtained through the DNR’s Land Ownership Tracking System and may • 41.50 acres acquired in 2012 in the northern part of the park not be complete. • 16.37-acre Grand Traverse Lighthouse parcel There are two granted easements on a 16-acre parcel in the Lighthouse Point Unit. These are to the Leelanau County Road Commission (for the purpose of constructing and maintaining a highway), and Oceana Electric Company (for an overhead electric line).

State and Federal Grants The following table provides additional information on MNRTF and LWCF grants that were received for either land acquisition or development.

STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS GRANT YEAR TITLE AMOUNT DESCRIPTION NUMBER TF06-142 2006 Leelanau State Park $2,043,800.00 Acquisition of 51 acres, including 1,400 feet of Lake Michigan Acquisition shoreline, northern forest and wetlands. (South end of the park with walking trails and beach) TF05-147 2005 Lighthouse $330,000.00 Acquisition of a conservation and access easement on 42 West Property acres with 640 feet of Lake Michigan shoreline, adjacent to the Conservation Leelanau State Park. Easement TF04-181 2004 Lighthouse West $630,000.00 Purchase of a conservation easement on 42 acres and 640 feet Property/Leelanau of Lake Michigan shoreline State Park 26-00624 1975 Leelanau State Park $93,914.99 Acquire 293.62acres for outdoor recreation (Main park Acquisition acquisition including camping and day use) 26-00808 1976 Leelanau State Park $85,121.42 Acquire 338 acres for public outdoor recreation (Main park Acquisition acquisition including camping and day use) 26-01625 2004 Leelanau State $160,000.00 Construct new entrance, roadway, parking lot, contact station Park Day Use and associated utilities to improve access, traffic flow and safety. Improvements

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN A-11 APPENDIX A

A.6 Legal Mandates For all park general management plans, legal mandates are identified that serve to further guide the development of the general management plan and subsequent action plans. For our planning purposes, the term “Legal Mandates” refers not only to federal and state law, but also the administrative tools of “Policy” and “Directive” of the Natural Resource Commission, the Department, and the Parks & Recreation Division. Examples include Orders of the Director, Park and Recreation Areas State Land Rules and all other laws, commission orders, and rules or directives that apply to the park.

Specific to Leelanau State Park, the following legal mandates have been identified.

FEDERAL STATUTE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT, 1973 This Act authorizes the determination and listing of species as endangered and threatened, and prohibits unauthorized taking, possession, sale and transport of endangered species BALD AND GOLDEN EAGLE PROTECTION ACT, 1940 AND AMENDMENTS This Act prohibits anyone, without a permit issued by the Secretary of the Interior, from “taking” bald eagles, including their parts, nests, or eggs. The Act defines “take” as “pursue, shoot, shoot at, poison, wound, kill, capture, trap, collect, molest or disturb.” “Disturb” includes actions that may result in injury to the eagle, a decrease in its productivity or nest abandonment. NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT, 1966 AS AMENDED This is the primary federal law governing the preservation of cultural and historic resources in the United States. The law establishes a national preservation program and a system of procedural protections which encourage the identification and protection of cultural and historic resources of national, state, tribal and local significance.

Trillium blooming in the woods

A-12 LEELANAU STATE PARK SUPPORTING ANALYSIS

STATE STATUTE NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT (NREPA) AND AMENDMENTS PA 451 OF 1994, PART 5 Gives the DNR authority to make rules to support its mission. This includes State Land Rules, Land Use Orders, Wildlife Conservation Orders, Fisheries Orders and Watercraft Control. PA 451 OF 1994, PART 31 Provides authority to EGLE to require a permit for any occupation, construction, filling, or grade WATER RESOURCES change within the 100-year floodplain of a river, stream, drain, or inland lake. PROTECTION PA 451 OF 1994, PART 301 Requires a permit from the state (EGLE) to undertake certain activities relating to inland lakes INLAND LAKES AND and streams, such as dredging, fill, marinas, structures, alteration of flow, etc. STREAMS PA 451 OF 1994, PART 303 Requires a permit from the state (EGLE) to undertake certain activities in regulated wetlands, WETLANDS PROTECTION such as, dredging, fill, construction or drainage. PA 451 OF 1994, PART 323 This act enables the EGLE to designate and control use through permitting of “Environmental SHORELANDS Areas” (an area of the shoreland determined to be necessary for the preservation and PROTECTION AND maintenance of fish and wildlife) and “High Risk Erosion Areas” (an area of the shoreland that is MANAGEMENT determined to be subject to erosion). PA 451 OF 1994, PART 325 A permit is required for all filling, dredging, and placement of permanent structures (i.e., GREAT LAKES SUBMERGED docks, piers, pilings, etc.) below the “ordinary highwater mark” and on all upland channels BOTTOMLANDS extending landward of the “ordinary highwater mark” of the Great Lakes. PA 451 OF 1994, ARTICLE Allows for the designation of wilderness and natural areas and management of those areas. III, CHAPTER 1, PART 351 PA 451 OF 1994, PART 353 The law defines a “critical dune area” as a geographic area designated in the “atlas of critical SAND DUNE PROTECTION dune areas” dated February 1989 that was prepared by the department of natural resources. AND MANAGEMENT Sec. 35304. (1) states that: A person shall not initiate a use within a critical dune area unless the person obtains a permit from the local unit of government in which the critical dune area is located or the department (EGLE). PA 451 OF 1994, PART 365 Allows for acts necessary for the conservation, protection, restoration, and propagation of ENDANGERED SPECIES endangered and threatened species in cooperation with the federal government pursuant to PROTECTION the Endangered Species Act of 1973. NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT (NREPA) AND AMENDMENTS (CONTINUED) PA 451 OF 1994, PART 419 Section 324.41901 establishes the powers of the Department to establish safety zones for HUNTING AREA CONTROL hunting. PA 451 OF 1994, PART 741 The department shall create, maintain, operate, promote, and make available for public use STATE PARK SYSTEM and enjoyment a system of state parks to preserve and protect Michigan’s significant natural resources and areas of natural beauty or historic significance, to provide open space for public recreation, and to provide an opportunity to understand Michigan’s natural resources and the need to protect and manage those resources. PA 35 OF 2010, PART 741 This act amended the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code to provide for a State Park and State- RECREATION PASSPORT operated public boating access site “Recreation Passport” that a Michigan resident may obtain by paying an additional fee when registering a motor vehicle. PA 451 OF 1994, PART 761 The state reserves the exclusive right and privilege to all aboriginal records and other ABORIGINAL RECORDS antiquities including those found on the bottomlands of the Great Lakes. AND ANTIQUITIES

PUBLIC HEALTH CODE PA 368 OF 1978, PART Established to protect and promote the public health by establishing health code requirements 125, CAMPGROUNDS, and regulations that all public (including DNR) and private campgrounds must meet. Includes SWIMMING AREAS AND permitting, licensing, inspections and rules regarding sanitation, safety standards and public SWIMMERS’ ITCH health. Also covers testing and evaluating quality of water at bathing beaches, safety, and rescue equipment.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN A-13 APPENDIX A

Orders The following Orders apply to Leelanau State Park.

LAND USE ORDERS OF THE DIRECTOR 5.7 CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AND PIPING PLOVER NESTING AREAS, PROHIBITED CONDUCT, EXCEPTIONS. Order 5.7 (1) A person shall not do any of the following: (b) Enter, use, or occupy any of the following described state-owned lands, as posted, from April 15 through August 31 except with proper written permission: (iv) Leelanau SP - state-owned lands in Section 6, T32N R10W, and Sections 12-14, T32N R11W, Leelanau County. (c) Possess a dog or allow a dog to enter into or upon state-owned lands, as posted, from April 15 through August 31 at Waugoshance Point, Sturgeon Bay, Leelanau SP, or Fisherman’s Island SP, being all or portions of Sections 23, 24, and the Temperance Islands, T39N R6W; Sections 19-21, 29-30, and 32, T39N R5W; Section 13, T38N R6W; Sections 5, 7-8, and 18, T38N R5W; and Sections 33 and 34, T38N R6W; Emmet County; Section 1, T33N R9W, Charlevoix County; and Sections 7 and 13, T32N R11W, Leelanau County (2) This order is provided to protect environmentally sensitive areas and piping plover nesting areas from disturbance and destruction.

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION ORDERS Wildlife is owned by all the people of the state of Michigan, and protection is administered and managed by the Mich- igan DNR. Hunting and trapping regulations including methods of take, bag limits, license quotas, and season dates are established by the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) and are described in the Wildlife Conservation Orders. 7.19 LEELANAU STATE PARK, HUNTING AND TRAPPING ALLOWED, EXCEPTIONS. Sec. 7.19 Hunting and trapping shall be allowed during the established seasons on all state-owned lands within the dedicated boundary of Leelanau State Park in Sections 6, 7 and 18, T32N R10W, and in Sections 12, 13 and 24, T32N R11W, except all state-owned lands in Section 6, T32N R10W; also except the entire state park shall be closed to the taking of waterfowl from September 1 to Labor Day.

STATE LAND RULES Parks and Recreation Areas – State Land Rules are issued by authority conferred on the Michigan DNR by Section 504 of 1994 PA 451 MCL 324.504. The rules cover entry, use and occupation of state lands and unlawful acts.

Consent Decrees Federal treaties exist between the United States government and tribes residing in Michigan. Although the entire state of Michigan is covered by treaties, only two treaty areas are currently subject to fishing by tribal entities. The Treaty of Washington, signed in 1836, covers the eastern Upper Peninsula and the northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan. The Treaty of La Pointe, signed in 1842, covers the western Upper Peninsula, and areas of northern Wisconsin.

Two Consent Decrees have developed from these treaties. The 2000 Great Lakes Consent Decree is a legal document that defines the extent of tribal rights and describes how the state and the tribes will cooperatively allocate and manage the fisheries resources in the 1836 Treaty-ceded waters of the Great Lakes. The 2006 Inland Consent Decree is a legal document that defines the extent of tribal rights and describes how the state and the tribes will cooperatively manage natural resources and inland treaty rights to hunt, fish, and gather on land ceded to the United States in 1836.

Michigan Natural Areas Registry In 1983, the DNR entered into a voluntary agreement with The Nature Conservancy to register the lakeshore area of the Cathead Bay Unit on the Michigan Natural Areas Registry.

A-14 LEELANAU STATE PARK SUPPORTING ANALYSIS

A.7 Landscape Context and Natural Resources A regional landscape ecosystem classification has been developed for Michigan, which distinguishes major landscapes based on macroclimate, physiography, soil and vegetation. The following information was obtained from theRegional Ecosystems of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin prepared by Dennis Albert in 1995.

Leelanau State Park is located in the northwestern portion of ecoregion sub-subsection VII.5.2 Leelanau and Grand Traverse Peninsula – Traverse City. The Traverse City sub-subsection is made up of multiple peninsular sections, separated by Grand Traverse Bay and other large inland lakes. Elevation in the Leelanau and Grand Traverse Peninsula subsection ranges from 580 feet to 1,220 feet and land features are influenced by the Great Lakes and the retreat of glaciers with narrow drumlin fields and low sand dunes.

Climate Lake Michigan moderates the climate of this subsection. The region is known for having a climate ideal for farming, with a growing season ranging from 110 (inland) to 150 days (along Lake Michigan), relatively mild thunderstorms and an early, but cool, spring. There is an average annual rainfall of 30 to 34 inches. Proximity to Lake Michigan causes heavy lake-effect snow, with an average of 100 to 140 inches of snowfall annually. Source: Albert, Dennis A. 1995. Regional landscape ecosystems of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin: a Working Map and Classification.

A view of the dunes and Lake Michigan

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN A-15 APPENDIX A

Water Resources established a 100-year flood (a flood which has a 1% chance The Leelanau Peninsula sits between Lake Michigan to the of occurring any given year) elevation of 584 feet on the Great west and Grand Traverse Bay to the east. The park features Lakes. approximately 2 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline within the Cathead Bay and Lighthouse Point units combined. Leelanau State Park lies within the northern section of the Platte Topography The Lighthouse Point Unit of Leelanau State Park slopes gently Watershed Basin, and features Mud Lake, a lake with a surface up from the lakeshore to an elevation of approximately 660 area of approximately 180 acres, surrounded by wetlands. feet above sea level. The Cathead Bay Unit is characterized The Lake Michigan Water level fluctuates seasonally and by undulating sand dunes rising from 585 feet along the long-term from a record low of 576.02 feet in January 2013 lakeshore to a high elevation of 700 feet. The area around to a record high of 582.35 feet in 1986. Lake Michigan was Mud Lake is largely flat. within 1 inch of its all-time high for June in 2019 and water levels are expected to continue to rise. Great Lakes levels have Soils been above their monthly average levels since September Soil in the Leelanau and Grand Traverse Peninsula subsection 2014. Lake Michigan’s annual average lake level was 580.24 in shows evidence of glacial activity and predominantly consists 2018, compared to a total mean annual elevation of 578.84. of sandy soil on end moraines and gravelly sandy loam derived The December 2018 elevation was 4 feet higher than the from till on drumlins. Park soils are dominated by sand, with December low in 2012 of 576.15 feet. This has a big impact on small areas of sandy loam, loam, loamy sand in the back dunes the shoreline area of the park. and some muck in the low-lying areas around Mud Lake. The The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has soils around the lighthouse complex are characterized as gravelly sandy loam.

A-16 LEELANAU STATE PARK SUPPORTING ANALYSIS

Geology and Mineral Resources The surface geology of the Leelanau Peninsula consists of lacustrine gravel, sand, and clay from the succession of proglacial lakes that preceded Lake Michigan. The glacial sediments are believed to be greater than 200 feet thick across most of the state park. Areas of the Leelanau Peninsula, especially along the lakeshore, are covered by younger (post- glacial) dune sand, and much of the state park is designated as a Critical Dune Area. Michigan’s glacial sand and gravel deposits are frequently quarried for construction aggregate. Several active sand and gravel mining operations are located on the Leelanau Peninsula, outside of the park. Dune sands have also been historically mined in Michigan. However, Critical Dune Areas on state land currently cannot be leased for mineral exploration and development.

Bedrock underlying the glacial sediments in the park consists of the Devonian-age Traverse Formation, which is primarily Trees with beech bark disease limestone in this area. The Traverse Limestone is mined for other species dominant in the Canadian boreal forest. The aggregate and cement products in other parts of the state proximity to the waters of Lake Michigan moderate climate where it is near the surface. The Traverse Limestone is also and allow this more northern collection of species to flourish. well known for its fossil invertebrate fauna. Fossil corals from the ancient reefs are frequently targeted by rock hounds in the northwest Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Current Vegetation Much of current vegetation of the park is very similar to the Across Grand Traverse Bay to the east there has been historic condition, especially the open dune and Great Lakes extensive development and production of natural gas from the barrens. Beech-maple mesic northern forest still dominates Antrim Shale. The Antrim Shale is not known to occur beneath the forested dune. Most is “second growth” but the trees the park, and there is no other known oil and gas potential in are large and of considerable age. However, the lethal beech this area. bark disease is wide-spread and soon catastrophic loss of The state does not own all the mineral rights within all of the American beech canopy will fundamentally change the the park (see Land Ownership map). Where the state is not forested dunes. Much of the non-dune portions of the park the mineral rights owner, the state is required to provide the were farmed, primarily orchards and pastures. Old fields mineral rights owner reasonable access to the surface for the and young forests now dominate these former agricultural purpose of mineral exploration and development, if the owner areas. Vegetation cover in the back-dune area is more mixed, of the mineral estate elects to develop their interest in the with areas of emergent and non-forested wetland, lowland property. coniferous and mixed forest, areas of low-density trees on former agricultural land, and conifer plantations in the eastern area of the park on flatter land. Non-native invasive species Early 1800s Vegetation such as autumn olive are common. Notes recorded by General Land Office surveyors during the mid-1800s provide insight into the vegetation of Leelanau State Park prior to European settlement. Open dunes, Great Rare Flora and Fauna Lakes barrens and mesic northern forest dominated the Piping plover, a federally-and state-listed endangered park much as they do today. Primary canopy species on the shorebird, have nested at the park. The last year the park forest dune included American beech, sugar maple, hemlock produced young was in 1998, which was the first time in a and basswood. Eastern hemlock and white pine were also decade of nesting that plovers were fledged at the park. It present but did not dominate the canopy. Around Mud Lake is likely that piping plover will nest at the park in the future, and other low areas, northern white cedar and mixed conifer dependent on when Great Lake water levels and coastal swamps were present. The surveyor notes did not distinguish dynamics create the broad cobble-strewn beaches preferred the boreal forest extant within the park near the tip of the by piping plover. The open dunes are home to the state peninsula from other conifer dominated lowlands, but it was threatened Lake Huron locust. The park has also historically likely there. The boreal forest is characterized by conifer and been home to the common loon, which is state-listed as threatened. The last confirmed sighting within Leelanau

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN A-17 APPENDIX A

State Park was in 2000 on Mud Lake, with the last successful Natural Communities breeding documented in 1996. Bald eagles have nested on the Five natural communities of element occurrence quality have shores of Mud Lake and fish the lake. Other rare birds may been documented by Michigan Natural Features Inventory potentially occur within the park, including American bittern, (MNFI) in Leelanau State Park: boreal forest, open dunes, merlin, and northern goshawk. interdunal wetland, mesic northern forest and Great Lakes barrens. Descriptions of these communities can be found on Threatened and endangered plant species observed in the the MNFI website. park include state and federally threatened Pitcher’s thistle and state threatened Lake Huron tansy. GLOBAL RANK NATURAL COMMUNITY RANK RARE FLORA AND FAUNA Boreal Forest GU COMMON SCIENTIFIC PROTECTION NAME NAME STATUS Great Lakes Barrens G3 Pitcher’s thistle Cirsium pitcher State Threatened, Interdunal Wetland G2? Federal Threatened Mesic Northern Forest G4 Lake Huron tansy Tanacetum State Threatened Open dunes G3 huronense Common loon Gavia immer State Threatened Natural Areas Bald eagle Haliaeetus Special Concern leucocephalus The lakeshore area at Cathead Bay is listed as a Natural Areas Registry site. The Registry promotes preservation through Lake Huron locust Trimerotropis State Threatened huroniana voluntary (non-binding, non-regulatory) agreements between Piping plover Charadrius State Endangered, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the DNR, requiring the melodus Federal Endangered DNR to notify TNC if management practices at these sites are changed.

Wildlife Wildlife habitat at Leelanau State Park is a result of glacial geology and the moderating influence of Lake Michigan. Much of the park is situated on a Large Dune Complex. Sand dune-based communities along the western shore of the peninsula provide a variety of habitats. Mature northern hardwood forests with mesic conifers provide habitat for songbirds like black-throated green warblers, black-and-white warblers, scarlet tanagers and other forest interior species. Look for fresh twigs on the forest floor from the feeding of red squirrels or porcupines. Sharp-shinned hawks and gray fox will patrol the woods for unwary songbirds and the occasional squirrel, chipmunk, or mouse. Other terrestrial prey could include gray treefrogs or northern ringneck snake. Locations where upland conifers dominate, such as cedar, hemlock, white and red pine, will harbor pine siskins, blackburnian warblers, and provide nest trees for eagles, osprey, red- shouldered hawks, and other raptors. Dense conifers will provide winter thermal cover for white-tailed deer and other species. Dead standing timber will attract woodpeckers and provide homes for owls and other cavity nesters. Emergent and interdunal wetlands, situated in depressions within open dunes, provide habitat for dragonflies, spring peepers, mink, provide habitat for spotted sandpiper nests, and locations for migrating songbirds to forage.

Monarch butterfly

A-18 LEELANAU STATE PARK SUPPORTING ANALYSIS

Young campers watch the sun set

The spring and fall bird migrations provide excellent Fisheries opportunities for bird watching by being situated along Leelanau State Park is part of the Central Lake Michigan the Lake Michigan shore and near the tip of the Leelanau Management Unit, managed by Fisheries Division out of Peninsula, which serves to funnel the migrating birds. Large the Traverse City Customer Service Center. Inland fishing dune complexes often have areas of exposed sand with opportunities within the park boundaries are limited to shore scattered vegetation where you might find eastern hog-nosed or kayak fishing on Mud Lake. A shallow and highly eutrophic snake, field sparrows, and eastern bluebirds. A stealthy lake, Mud Lake contains small bluegill, yellow perch, and northern harrier may be seen gliding over grassy or barren largemouth bass. Great Lakes fishing opportunities within or in patches or emergent marshes looking for prey. the vicinity of the park boundaries are much more abundant. Shore fishing opportunities exist for anglers looking to wade Surrounding the dune complex is relative flat topography of the Lake Michigan nearshore areas and target smallmouth variable soils, which support conifer and/or shrub swamps in bass from May through mid-July. For anglers who bring boats, the lowlands and mainly northern hardwoods in the uplands. nearby boat launches provide access to Northport Bay, West There are also several old fields, which are remnants of Grand Traverse Bay, and Cathead Bay. Northport Bay boasts a abandoned farms. Common milkweed, goldenrod, black-eyed popular spring walleye and yellow perch fishery. West Grand Susan, various grasses, raspberry/blackberry patches, and Traverse Bay is known for its abundant smallmouth bass, lake old fruit trees can often be found in these old fields. Visitors trout, and cisco fisheries in the spring and summer, as well as to these fields might see white-tailed deer browsing on forbs Chinook and coho salmon in the fall. Cathead Bay is often a or apples, and possibly badger excavations in the soil from popular spot for spring anglers to try trolling for early Chinook hunting rodents. American kestrels, northern shrikes, and red- salmon, as well as lake trout and cisco. tailed hawks will hunt these openings. Eastern bluebirds may find these sites beneficial for the wealth of invertebrates they provide.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN A-19 APPENDIX A

A.8 Recreational Resources

Activities

Trails Approximately 8.5 miles of foot trails are open for hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. From the trail head there are two main trails that lead through the park. The Mud Lake Trail (or Orange Trail) travels along the western edge of Mud Lake and through wooded areas. A section of the Mud Lake Trail is ADA compliant and accessible. The Lake Michigan Trail (or Blue Trail) leads to a Lake Michigan scenic overlook or transitions into the Cathead Bay Trail, taking hikers down to the beach to enjoy the view, search for Petoskey stones, or enjoy the water. Leelanau State Park also hosts four miles of groomed, seasonal trails for winter recreation.

Hunting & Trapping Hunting and trapping are allowed throughout the majority of the park. The park has opportunities for deer, rabbit, woodcock, duck, goose, and squirrel hunting, and trapping of aquatic furbearers around Mud Lake. Terrain includes mature hardwood forest, open meadows, and open brush land.

Wildlife Watching Leelanau State Park is home to a wide variety of wildlife. Visitors may view deer, porcupine, raccoon, and eagles. Michigan sits within the Mississippi flyway and the western portion of the Atlantic flyway, making the park, situated on The view from a tent on the lakeshore Lake Michigan, a key location for viewing migratory birds, especially in the spring when raptors move through the area. Facilities The park’s shoreline is a protected area, home to nesting Grand Traverse Lighthouse habitat for piping plover. Restored and transformed into a museum, the Grand Traverse Lighthouse includes exhibits illustrating the life of a lighthouse keeper and family in the 1920s and 1930s. Visitors may climb the lighthouse tower, see a demonstration of the working fog horn, view historic and educational exhibitions, and visit the gift shop. The Fog Horn Building and gift shop are ADA accessible facilities, but the lighthouse itself is not. The lighthouse is operated by the Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum non-profit and there is a fee to enter.

Rustic Campground Rustic campsites have access to spigots with potable water and there are several vault toilets throughout the campground. There are 51 sites which feature varying levels of shade, grass, and gravel and may be open to tents, truck campers, and trailers or RVs up to 35-feet, depending on site condition. Each site has a picnic table and fire pit. No sites include electric or water hookup and there are no modern Winter fat tire bicycling restrooms or showers.

A-20 LEELANAU STATE PARK SUPPORTING ANALYSIS

A.9 Historic and Cultural Resources

Historic Structures The Grand Traverse Light Station now standing on the site (also known as the Cat’s Head Point Lighthouse) was in operation from 1858 until 1972, when a steel skeletal tower with an automated beacon was erected. The station and associated buildings were listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 (#84001799). In 1990, the station was added to the state register.

The lighthouse consists of a two-story, rectangular, brick, lightkeeper’s dwelling with a light tower topped by a cast iron lantern room extending from the roof. The fourth-order Fresnel lens is no longer in place, and its current location is unknown. A lens from the Alpena lighthouse is on loan from the U.S. Coast Guard and is displayed on the second floor. The lighthouse living quarters have been restored to a period in history with some furniture and artifacts original to the lighthouse and other pieces donated by family members of the former lighthouse keepers and others.

Aerial view of Lighthouse Fog Signal Other buildings include a rectangular, brick fog building Building. Photo courtesy of Grand Traverse constructed in 1899. None of the fog signal apparatus is Lighthouse Museum, 2011. extant: the boilers are believed to have been dismantled and buried on site. A small rectangular brick oil house has also Mini Cabins survived, and the garage now houses the museum gift shop. Three mini cabins are located in the Leelanau State Park campground: Evergreen, Hemlock, and Cedar. Cabins are ADA EXISTING HISTORIC STRUCTURES accessible and capable of sleeping five people with two bunk beds, with one bed being a double bunk. The Hemlock and STRUCTURE DTMB TAG # Cedar mini cabins allow up to two pets while the Evergreen Lighthouse 84396 cabin must remain pet-free. An extra fee is charged for pets. Keepers Dwelling 84396 Each cabin has electricity and is equipped with a mini-fridge, Fog Signal Building 84271 microwave, and electric wall heater. Outside the cabins, Garage / Gift Shop 84273 visitors will find Adirondack chairs, a picnic table, a fire pit, and Oil House (Shed) 84398 a grill for cooking. Archaeological Resources Picnic Area A comprehensive archaeological survey has not been Picnic tables are available for day use and includes grills for completed for the park. There are known archaeological cooking. An ADA accessible picnic shelter is available for day sites from the historic period which have not been formally use and reservations may be made. The picnic shelter is pet documented by SHPO. There are two documented friendly and features, picnic tables, parking, and 20-amp archaeological sites within Leelanau State Park: electrical service (available only with rental). • Prehistoric site of undetermined age or occupation type (site #20LU34) Playground • Foundation of the original Grand Traverse or Cat’s Located in the day use area one can find a swing set, Head lighthouse in the northern part of the park (site # tetherball, volleyball, horseshoes, and hammock posts. A new 20LU127) playground was constructed with assistance from the Friends Additionally, there are unconfirmed reports of lithic scatter of Leelanau State Park in the fall of 2019. This ADA accessible within the park. There is also the potential for additional playground is located behind the pavilion and features slides, sites, as land has been added to the park. A potentially a crow’s nest with telescope, balance beam, log climber and historic apple orchard is located within the park and may be nature panels. associated with a homestead.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN A-21 APPENDIX A

A.10 Education, Interpretation, Programming approximately 16,118 campers, a significant increase from 2017. Campers are recorded using the reservation system and Events while day use visitors are estimated based on a count of the The Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum features period number of vehicles multiplied by the mean number of people restoration of the lighthouse dwelling with permanent and in each vehicle. In 2018, the most popular months for both temporary exhibits. Currently, exhibits include history of day use and camping were July through September. Grand Traverse Light, Shipwrecks of the Great Lakes, and information on the U.S. Lighthouse Service (which was Leelanau State Park attracts both local residents (Traverse absorbed into the U.S. Coast Guard) and the lighthouse City area) and those from further afield, primarily southeast, keepers that lived and worked at Grand Traverse. Admission to central and southwest Michigan. A large number of visitors the lighthouse includes a self-guided tour, with guided tours also originate from Chicago. available to groups if reserved in advance. VISITATION DATA 2015 2016 2017 2018 Leelanau State Park hosts a variety of different events CAMPERS 12,899 13,587 14,915 16,118 throughout the year, including: DAY USE 169,404 189,441 241,662 279,671 VISITORS Park Events • Meteors and S’mores in August: The events are planned TOP TEN CITIES FOR CAMPING to take advantage of the Perseid meteor shower’s peak RESERVATIONS (2017) • Fireworks Free Fourth: The DNR and the Michigan CITY & STATE NUMBER OF NIGHTS Veterans Affairs Agency are highlighting quieter camping Grand Rapids, MI 452 options over the Fourth of July weekend Traverse City, MI 166 • Snowshoe hikes: Guided hikes around the park by DNR Kalamazoo, MI 126 staff Ann Arbor, MI 122 Lansing, MI 94 Friends of Leelanau State Park Events Midland, MI 72 • Rock the Light Virtual 5k: Participants sign up to run/ walk a 5k anywhere in the world and receive a t-shirt and Chicago, IL 71 medall. The proceeds go towards the Friends of Leelanau Holland, MI 69 State Park projects Grand Haven, MI 66 • Pancake breakfasts: Pancake breakfasts are held each Royal Oak, MI 66 summer with funds going towards Friend Group’s projects • Trail cleanup for National Trails Day: Volunteers come out and help the park staff clean up trails for the season

Grand Traverse Lighthouse Events: • Haunted Lighthouse: Spooktacular fun for people of all ages. The lighthouse will be decorated for a haunting good time. • Lobster Festival: Fundraiser dinner for Lighthouse projects • Christmas at the Lighthouse: The lighthouse is decorated for the Christmas season. • Autism Awareness: The lighthouse is lit up blue with special activities to participate in. • Shipwreck programs: Programs held to tell the stories of local shipwrecks found around the local area. • Lighthouse Keeper Program: Visitors can stay in the lighthouse for a week and volunteer with the museum, gift shop and grounds. A.11 Park Use Statistics Park use figures taken from 2018 indicate that Leelanau State Park received around 279,671 day use visitors and

A-22 LEELANAU STATE PARK

SUPPORTING ANALYSIS LIGHTHOUSE LIGHTHOUSE POINT RD

DR PURKISS RD

AD BAY E

CATH

F O R E

S LIGHTHOUSE LIGHTHOUSE POINT RD T B

EA

C

H

S

H O

R

E

DR PURKISS PURKISS RD

RUSCHKE RD Leelanau State Park KINNIKIN ICK D

R CATHEAD CATHEAD POINT RD Leg

A C Lake Mud Lake ADIA DR DS W O O

DE KEHL KEHL RD

N OTTIS RD SM O R E RD

HOWELL HOWELL RD E RD LAK Grand Traverse Bay LSEY SUGAR BUSH RD WO O

RD POINT

KILCHERMAN KILCHERMAN RD NORTHPORT

SNYDER RD

0 0.75 1.5 MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Miles . Leelanau State Park - Park Boundary

State Park Boundary NRC 2020 Approved Project Boundary* Conservation Easement Road

Updated: 02/10/2021 *A project boundary is a geographic area in which the DNR is seeking to acquire property that supports the mission of the DNR on a willing buyer / willing seller basis, approved by the Natural Resources Commission in 2020

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN A-23 APPENDIX A

North Fox Island

South Fox Island

Fisherman's Island State Park ® ®9 9 CHARLEVOIX

¤£31

Lake Michigan Leelanau ® State Park 9 ("!66

North Manitou Island ("!22 erse Bay av ANTRIM

South Manitou Island Grand Tr ("!204 LEELANAU ("!88

e

r

o h

s

ke 37

La ("!

l

a n

o i

t

a N

s

e "!72 n ( u

D 9®

ar e ® B 9 ® g 9 n pi G R A N D Keith J. Charters Slee Traverse City ® 9® T R A V E R S E State Park 9 ("!72 ("!22 9® ® ("!66 ("!37 9 9® ¤£131 BENZIE 9® 9® ¤£31 9® 137 ("!115 ("! Interlochen 9® State Park KALKASKA 9® MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES 0 10 20 Miles Regional Recreation Resources .

County Boundary 9® State Park Campground State Park 9® State Forest Campground State Forest Lighthouse State Game/Wildlife Management Area Non-motorized Trail Federal Lands Motorized Trail Municipal/County Park Designated Water Trail Nature Reserve Railtrail Updated: 03/13/2020

A-24 LEELANAU STATE PARK SUPPORTING ANALYSIS

Lake Michigan DR

AD BAY E H

AT C

F O RE

ST LIGHTHOUSE LIGHTHOUSE POINT RD B

EA

C

H

S

H O

RE

D

R PURKISS PURKISS RD

Leelanau RUSCHKE RD State Park KINNIKI NICK

DR CATHEAD CATHEAD POINT RD Leg DR Lake Mud Lake DS WOO A CA DIA

D KEHL KEHL RD E

N S OTTIS RD M O RE RD

HOWELL HOWELL RD E RD LAK Grand Traverse Bay LSEY SUGAR BUSH RD WO O

RD PORT POINT KILCHERMAN KILCHERMAN RD NORTH

SNYDER RD

0 0.75 1.5 MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Miles . Leelanau State Park - Funding Sources

State Park Boundary Gift Recreation Bond Fund Conservation Easement Land Exchange Facilitation Special Legislation Road Fund State Game Fund River/Stream Michigan Natural Resources Federal Land Transfer Lake/Pond Trust Fund Tax Reverted Land Federal Land and Water Michigan Land Trust Fund Conservation Fund

Updated: 02/08/2021

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN A-25 APPENDIX A

Lake Michigan DR

AD BAY E H

AT C

F O RE

ST LIGHTHOUSE LIGHTHOUSE POINT RD B

EA

C

H

S

H O

RE

D

R PURKISS PURKISS RD

Leelanau RUSCHKE RD State Park KINNIKI NICK

DR CATHEAD CATHEAD POINT RD Leg DR Lake Mud Lake DS WOO A CA DIA

D KEHL KEHL RD E

N S OTTIS RD M O RE RD

HOWELL HOWELL RD E RD LAK Grand Traverse Bay LSEY SUGAR BUSH RD WO O

RD PORT POINT KILCHERMAN KILCHERMAN RD NORTH

SNYDER RD

0 0.75 1.5 MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Miles . Leelanau State Park - Ownership Rights State Park Boundary Lake/Pond Conservation Easement Surface and Mineral Rights Road Surface Rights River/Stream Other Rights

Updated: 02/09/2021

A-26 LEELANAU STATE PARK SUPPORTING ANALYSIS

Lake Michigan DR

AD BAY E H

AT C

F O RE

ST LIGHTHOUSE LIGHTHOUSE POINT RD B

EA

C

H

S

H O

RE

D

R PURKISS PURKISS RD

Leelanau RUSCHKE RD State Park KINNIK IN C I K DR

Leg DR Lake Mud Lake DS WOO A CA DIA

D KEHL KEHL RD E

N S OTTIS RD M O RE RD

HOWELL HOWELL RD E RD LAK Grand Traverse Bay LSEY SUGAR BUSH RD WO O

RD PORT POINT KILCHERMAN KILCHERMAN RD NORTH

SNYDER RD

0 0.75 1.5 MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Miles . Leelanau State Park - Topography State Park Boundary Percent Slope* Conservation Easement 0% – 1% Road 1.1% – 4% River/Stream Lake/Pond 4.1% – 8% 8.1% – 13% 13.1% – 21% 21.1% – 64% Updated: 02/08/2021 *Slope calculated from the 30 meter resolution National Elevation Dataset DEM for Michigan using Arc/Info GRID v9.0

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN A-27 APPENDIX A

Lake Michigan DR

AD BAY E H

AT C

F O RE

ST LIGHTHOUSE LIGHTHOUSE POINT RD B

EA

C

H

S

H O

RE

D

R PURKISS PURKISS RD

Leelanau RUSCHKE RD State Park KINNIKI NICK

DR CATHEAD CATHEAD POINT RD Leg DR Lake Mud Lake DS WOO A CA DIA

D KEHL KEHL RD E

N S OTTIS RD M O RE RD

HOWELL HOWELL RD E RD LAK Grand Traverse Bay LSEY SUGAR BUSH RD WO O

RD PORT POINT KILCHERMAN KILCHERMAN RD NORTH

SNYDER RD

0 0.75 1.5 MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Miles . Leelanau State Park - Soils State Park Boundary Soils* Sandy loam Conservation Easement Sand Loam Road Loamy sand Silt loam River/Stream Gravelly sandy loam Lake/Pond Muck

Updated: 02/02/2021 *Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Map Sheets, Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, 2000

A-28 LEELANAU STATE PARK SUPPORTING ANALYSIS

Lake Michigan DR

AD BAY E H

AT C

F O RE

ST LIGHTHOUSE LIGHTHOUSE POINT RD B

EA

C

H

S

H O

RE

D

R PURKISS PURKISS RD

Leelanau RUSCHKE RD State Park KINNIKI NICK

DR CATHEAD CATHEAD POINT RD

DR DS WOO A CA DIA

D KEHL KEHL RD E

N S OTTIS RD M O RE RD

HOWELL HOWELL RD E RD LAK Grand Traverse Bay LSEY SUGAR BUSH RD WO O

RD PORT POINT KILCHERMAN KILCHERMAN RD NORTH

SNYDER RD

0 0.75 1.5 MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Miles . Leelanau State Park - Land Cover, 1800s State Park Boundary Land Cover* Cedar Swamp Conservation Easement Alder/Willow Swamp Emergent Marsh Road Hemlock Swamp River/Stream Aspen/White Birch Beach/Open Dune Lake Beech/Sugar Maple Low Conifer Swamp

Updated: 02/01/2021 *Mapping derived from original notes of the State of Michigan General Land Office Survey conducted in the early to mid-1800s

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN A-29 APPENDIX A

Lake Michigan DR

AD BAY E H

AT C

F O RE

ST LIGHTHOUSE LIGHTHOUSE POINT RD B

EA

C

H

S

H O

RE

D

R PURKISS PURKISS RD

Leelanau RUSCHKE RD State Park KINNIKI NICK

DR CATHEAD CATHEAD POINT RD Leg DR Lake Mud Lake DS WOO A CA DIA

D KEHL KEHL RD E

N S OTTIS RD M O RE RD

HOWELL HOWELL RD E RD LAK Grand Traverse Bay LSEY SUGAR BUSH RD WO O

RD PORT POINT KILCHERMAN KILCHERMAN RD NORTH

SNYDER RD

0 0.75 1.5 MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Miles . Leelanau State Park - Forest Stands and Land Cover

State Park Boundary Oak Types Lowland Coniferous Forest Lowland Shrub Conservation Easement Aspen Types Lowland Mixed Forest Emergent Wetland Road Mixed Upland Deciduous Non-Forest Covertype Mixed non-forested River/Stream Roads/Parking Lot wetland Lake/Pond Planted Pines Forest Stands and Land Cover* Natural Pines Herbaceous Openland Sand/Soil Forest Covertype Other Upland Conifers Low Density Trees Exposed Rock Northern Hardwood Upland Mixed Fores Parks/Golf Courses No Stand Data Water

Updated: 02/10/2021 *Forest Stand Covertypes as determined by DNR forest stand examiners during the DNR's forest inventory process

A-30 LEELANAU STATE PARK SUPPORTING ANALYSIS

Lake Michigan DR

AD BAY E H

AT C

F O RE

ST LIGHTHOUSE LIGHTHOUSE POINT RD B

EA

C

H

S

H O

RE

D

R PURKISS PURKISS RD

Leelanau RUSCHKE RD State Park KINNIKI NICK

DR CATHEAD CATHEAD POINT RD Leg DR Lake Mud Lake DS WOO A CA DIA

D KEHL KEHL RD E

N S OTTIS RD M O RE RD

HOWELL HOWELL RD E RD LAK Grand Traverse Bay LSEY SUGAR BUSH RD WO O

RD PORT POINT KILCHERMAN KILCHERMAN RD NORTH

SNYDER RD

0 0.75 1.5 MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Miles . Leelanau State Park - Wetlands State Park Boundary Wetlands* Conservation Easement Freshwater Emergent Wetland Road Freshwater Forested/Shrub Wetland River/Stream Freshwater Pond Lake/Pond

Updated: 02/02/2021 *The National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) dataset (2012)

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN A-31 APPENDIX A

Lake Michigan DR

AD BAY E H

AT C

F O RE

ST LIGHTHOUSE LIGHTHOUSE POINT RD B

EA

C

H

S

H O

RE

D

R PURKISS PURKISS RD

Leelanau RUSCHKE RD State Park KINNIKI NICK

DR CATHEAD CATHEAD POINT RD Leg DR Lake Mud Lake DS WOO A CA DIA

D KEHL KEHL RD E

N S OTTIS RD M O RE RD

HOWELL HOWELL RD E RD LAK Grand Traverse Bay LSEY SUGAR BUSH RD WO O

RD PORT POINT KILCHERMAN KILCHERMAN RD NORTH

SNYDER RD

0 0.75 1.5 MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Miles . Leelanau State Park - Coastal Conservation Areas

State Park Boundary Critical Coastal Habitat (Piping Plover)** Conservation Easement Critical Dunes*** Road Barrier Dune Formations Designated Pursuant River/Stream to 1976 P.A. 222 Lake/Pond Exemplary Dune Associated Plant Communities Outside Designated Dune Michigan Natural Areas Registry* Formations

Updated: 02/10/2021 *Non-Dedicated Natural Area administratively recognized by public agencies (Michigan Natural Areas Registry agreement between DNR and The Nature Conservancy) **Critical habitat for the Great Lakes Breeding Population of the piping plover as designated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and DNR Wildlife Division ***Critical Dunes as designated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

A-32 LEELANAU STATE PARK SUPPORTING ANALYSIS

Lake Michigan DR

AD BAY E H

AT C

F O RE

ST LIGHTHOUSE LIGHTHOUSE POINT RD B

EA

C

H

S

H O

RE

D

R PURKISS PURKISS RD

Leelanau RUSCHKE RD State Park KINNIKI NICK

DR CATHEAD CATHEAD POINT RD Leg DR Lake Mud Lake DS WOO A CA DIA

D KEHL KEHL RD E

N S OTTIS RD M O RE RD

HOWELL HOWELL RD E RD LAK Grand Traverse Bay LSEY SUGAR BUSH RD WO O

RD PORT POINT KILCHERMAN KILCHERMAN RD NORTH

SNYDER RD

MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES 0 0.75 1.5 Miles . Leelanau State Park - Natural Communities State Park Boundary Natural Communities* Hardwood-Conifer Swamp Conservation Easement Boreal Forest Interdunal Wetland Road Mesic Northern Forest River/Stream Dry-mesic Northern Forest Lake/Pond Great Lakes Barrens Open Dunes

Updated: 02/11/2021 *Natural Communities of Michigan (Michigan Natural Features Inventory)

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN A-33 APPENDIX A

9®

Lighthouse West Lighthouse@! Natural Area West Natural Area

Lake Michigan

AD BAY DR E

H DR TNIOP ESUOHTHGIL TNIOP DR

AT C

F O R E ST B E

A

C

H

DR SSIKRUP DR

S

H O

RE

D R

Leelanau RUSCHKE RD !i DR TNIOP DAEHTAC TNIOP DR State P ark KINNIKI NICK DR

Kehl Lake Leg Kehl Lake !i DR Natural S Natural Lake Mud Lake OD Area Area WO A CA DIA

D

E

N S OTTIS RD M ORE RD erse Bay

av KEHL KEHL RD

HOWELL HOWELL RD E RD LAK Grand Tr LSEY SUGAR BUSH RD WO O Finton FintonNatural

DR REDYNS DR NaturaArel a Finton Area

KILCHERMAN KILCHERMAN RD Preserve RD POINT NORTHPORT

0 0.75 1.5 MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Miles . Leelanau State Park - Park Amenities

State Park Boundary Lake/Pond Mini Cabin Conservation Easement Huntable Lands Pavilion Leelanau Land Designated Hiking Trails Light House Conservancy Winter Recreation Trail Playground Road 9® State Park Campground !i Parking River/Stream @! Contact Station Updated: 02/10/2021

A-34 LEELANAU STATE PARK SUPPORTING ANALYSIS

9® Section 6 Section 5

Lighthouse West Lighthouse@! Natural Area West Natural Area

Lake Michigan DR

AD BAY DR AD BAY E E H

DR TNIOP ESUOHTHGIL TNIOP DR H

AT AT C C Section 7 Section 8 Section 12

F F O O R RE E S T ST B B E EA

A

C

C

H

H

DR SSIKRUP DR

S

S

H

H

O O

RE RE

D D

R R

RUSCHKE RD Leelanau Section 18 Section 17 !i Section 13 DR TNIOP DAEHTAC TNIOP DR State Section 15 Section 14

LIGHTHOUSE POINT RD P ark Leelanau KINNIKI KINNIKI State NIC T32N,R11W K NICK T32N,R10W

DR DR LAKE RD Park R SEY L D CATHEAD CATHEAD POINT RD OO W DS Kehl Lake Leg !i Leg OO Kehl Lake DR A W Natural S DI Natural Lake Mud Lake OD Lake Mud Lake A Area Area WO AC A CA DIA

D

E KEHL KEHL RD N Section 20 S Section 19 OTTIS RD M Section 24 ORE Section 22 Section 23 RD erse Bay

av

KEHL KEHL RD HOWELL HOWELL RD E RD HOWELL RD LAK Grand Tr OLSEY SUGAR BUSH RD WO Finton SUGAR BUSH RD FintonNatural

DR REDYNS DR NaturaArel a Finton RD Area POINT

KILCHERMAN KILCHERMAN RD PORT Preserve RD KILCHERMAN RD NORTH POINT NORTHPORT SNYDER RD Section 25 Section 30 Section 26 Section 27

0 0.75 1.5 0 0.75 1.5 MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Miles . MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Miles . Leelanau State Park - Park Amenities Leelanau State Park - Hunting and Trapping

State Park Boundary Lake/Pond Mini Cabin State Park Boundary River/Stream Conservation Easement Huntable Lands Pavilion Town Range Lake/Pond Leelanau Land Designated Hiking Trails Light House Section Hunting and Trapping* Conservancy Winter Recreation Trail Playground Conservation Easement Open Road 9® State Park Campground !i Parking Road River/Stream @! Contact Station Closed Updated: 02/10/2021 Updated: 02/10/2021 *Wildlife Conservation Order Chapter VII State Parks and Recreation Areas. Sec. 7.19 Hunting and trapping shall be allowed during the established seasons on all state-owned lands within the dedicated boundary of Leelanau state park in sections 6, 7 and 18, T32N R10W, and in sections 12, 13 and 24, T32N R11W, except all state-owned lands in section 6, T32N R10W; also except the entire state park shall be closed to the taking of waterfowl from September 1 to Labor day (History: Eff. Mar 31, 1989; Am. @, 2016, Eff. April 15, 2016).

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN A-35 APPENDIX A

Smiling hikers Reaching the top of the lighthouse

Roasting marshmallows Relaxing at the campsite

A-36 LEELANAU STATE PARK PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT

Map depicting the zip code of survey respondents’ primary residence. Brighter colors indicate a greater concentration of respon- dents. A small number of respondents were located outside of the map area. Appendix B: Public and Stakeholder Input B.1 Project Website to those who camped at the park within the last year, and was A project website was available for public viewing throughout shared on social media. Due to the survey advertisement to the duration of the planning process and was updated with the camping reservation system email list, campers may be maps, survey results, and the draft plan. Members of the disproportionately represented in the responses as compared public could contact the planning team through the website to day users. contact form. Responses were collected from October 10, 2019 through B.2 Summary of Public Input Survey November 10, 2019. During the collection period, 512 One of the methods the planning team used to gather input individuals responded to the survey. Of those respondents, from park users was an online survey. This online approach 479 (94%) have visited the park in the last five years. Those provides a convenient way for those who have access to the who did not visit the park within the last five years gave internet to provide feedback. However, it is not designed to reasons such as the park having only rustic camp sites with be statistically representative Leelanau State Park users or no electricity and not having any shower facilities to use. The uses, as respondents self-select. The on-line survey provides largest age group of respondents was between 50 and 64 valuable information about what certain individuals or groups years old (38%) and most respondents were located in central (those who are motivated to comment about the park, those and southern lower peninsula of Michigan. A very small likely to receive DNR communication about the survey, and number of respondents were located outside of this regional those who have easy access to the internet) hope to see in area and are not shown on this map. the park’s future management. This survey was advertised through a press release, shared with park stakeholders, sent

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN B-1 APPENDIX B

The survey was broken down into several categories to gather targeted input:

CATEGORY INPUT RECEIVED General Satisfaction Questions pertaining to activities users participate in at the park, general impressions, travel logistics and visit planning Your Most Recent Visit Specific questions about the most recent visit and satisfaction with the park Grand Traverse Lighthouse What visitors liked about their experience and how it could be improved Overnight Accommodations Use of and satisfaction with overnight accommodations Hunting and Trapping Questions about what visitors hunt and trap Fishing Questions about where visitors fish and their target species Special Events and Programs What activities users participate in and their opinions of them Other Thoughts Any other comments relating to the park or the planning process Tell Us About Yourself Demographic data

Your Visit Respondents were asked what three words they would use As Leelanau State Park is primarily a destination park,most to describe the park to someone who had never visited. The respondents visit the park one to two times per year top ten most common words were beautiful, rustic, quiet, (44%) or less than once per year (38%). The park is used peaceful, remote, scenic, lakefront, secluded, relaxing, and more frequently by local residents who visit three to five historical. The word cloud below shows the words that were times per year (11%) and six or more times per year (7%). mentioned three or more times, with the increasing size of the Most survey respondents typically visit the park during the word indicating a more frequent response. summer and fall months (46% and 29% respectively), with less than 10% visiting in the winter months and roughly 18% Visitors participate in a range of activities at Leelanau State visiting in the spring. Nine percent of respondents reported Park. The most common activities respondents reported visiting year-round. Visitors gather information for their trip participating in are visiting the shoreline (94%), scenic from multiple sources such as the DNR website, previous viewing (85%), visiting the lighthouse (81%), camping at the experience, family and friends, and other websites. They campground or cabins (76%), nature viewing/study (56%), and travel to the park mainly by motorized vehicle. hiking/ dog walking (51%).

Words most frequently used to describe the park. Words that were used three or more times are included. Larger word size indicates a more frequent response. B-2 LEELANAU STATE PARK PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT

Please check ALL the activities in which you participate while at Leelanau State Park.

Visiting the shoreline 94.28%

Scenic viewing 85.13%

Visiting the lighthouse 81.46%

Camping at campground or cabins 76.20%

Nature viewing/study 56.06%

Hiking/dog walking 51.49%

Photography 36.84%

Rock hounding 35.01%

Picnicking 25.17%

Birding 19.45%

Non-motorized boating/paddling 13.27%

Road biking 12.81%

Playground use 12.36%

Foraging (e.g., mushrooming,… 10.98%

Trail running 10.07%

Cross-country skiing 8.92%

Snowshoeing 7.78% When asked what one activity most influenced the Fishing 5.95% respondent’s choice to visit the park, camping at the Other (please specify) 5.72% campground or cabins (51%) was the activity was most Special events (fundraisers,… frequently selected, followed by visiting the shoreline (15%) 5.03% and scenic viewing (8%). Geocaching 3.43% Winter fat tire biking 3.20% Leelanau State Park contains multipleday-use facilities, such as, scenic overlooks, trails, parking lots, picnic areas, a Hunting/trapping 2.97% playground, a lighthouse, and vault toilets. Of the facilities Volunteering 2.52% listed above, respondents were asked to rate their level of satisfaction for each facilityon a scale of one (highly dissatisfied) to nine (highly satisfied). The scenic overlooks, What did you like most about your experience? parking, lighthouse and trails received the highest ratings, with • Walking around the park and the peaceful atmosphere most respondents highly satisfied. The two lowest ratings were the vault toilets and the playground with weighted average • The sound of the waves at night. scores of 6.19 and 6.44, respectively. The playground received • It was quiet. many neutral responses, but also some that were highly • Exploring and hiking; the fact that there were mostly tent satisfied. However, a new playground was installed at the park campers-no mobile homes (that I saw) during the survey, so the rating of the playground reflects • Shallow calm waters along the lakefront. Camping with a mix of opinions on both the old and the new equipment. privacy and a view. Satisfaction with the vault toilets was mixed, with only 53% Respondents were asked if there were any changes they percent of responses over a five (neutral). would like to see in order to improve their experience. While 43% of respondents said no change was needed, popular When asked what was liked most about their experience, many responses mentioned the scenic beauty, view of the responses for things to improve included having modern lighthouse, the historic aspects of the park, and walking the restroom and shower facilities, improving wayfinding signage trails. Five randomly selected comments follow: for trails, and availability of electricity. Around 28% of those

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN B-3 APPENDIX B who suggested an improvement (16% of the total responses) Grand Traverse Lighthouse indicated a desire for improved restroom facilities or showers. Most survey respondents (82%) have visited the Grand Five randomly selected comments follow: Traverse Lighthouse. Of those, 63% went inside the lighthouse museum. On a scale of one (highly dissatisfied) to nine (highly Are there any changes that you would like to see made in satisfied), the vast majority of those who visited the lighthouse order to improve your experience? were satisfied, with 81% of responses over a five (neutral). • Flush toilets in open area and campground. When asked what they liked most about their lighthouse • Preserve it with environmental responsibility as the experience, the history and the view were the most frequently primary objective. mentioned. Five randomly selected comments follow: • Clear out some of the brush on shoreline so you have What did you like most about your experience (at the Grand better view of the lake from the campsites Traverse Lighthouse)? • Modern bathrooms and a lot more campsites. • The hiking could be improved. I think a trail that • The history. It’s just really cool! connected the park to the Leelanau Conservancy Land • Sense of history and devotion to its keeping (Lighthouse West) would be nice. • We had a personal tour after hours when my husband A majority of respondents (71%) visit other attractions when assisted with the taking down of the flag. The hosts were they visit the park. Other attractions in the area visited knowledgeable and engaging. include Sleeping Bear Dunes, wineries, Turtle Creek Casino, • The view and Fish Town. • Educational, nice and quiet area When asked if there were activities they or someone in Respondents were also asked what, if anything, would they their party wished to participate in but were not able to change to improve their experience at the Grand Traverse due to personal mobility challenges or lack of accessibility Lighthouse. A large majority of respondents (83%) said that accommodations, most respondents said no, they had no no changes were needed. Some common comments for difficulty. Four percent of respondents did report a challenge, improvements were that the cost was too high and hours such as vault toilets being difficult to use and inadequate of operation were limiting. A few had the idea to have a accessible parking. Three randomly selected comments follow: family rate to enter the lighthouse. Five randomly selected comments follow: During your last visit, were there any activities you or someone in your party wished to participate in but were What, if anything, would you change to improve your not able to due to personal mobility challenges or lack of experience at the Grand Traverse Lighthouse? accessibility accommodations? • Lower climbing fee • Restrooms at the lighthouse park. • Expand displays • Our daughter is mobility limited. The vault toilets were a • We’d been in the lighthouse before and there was no big challenge as was accessing beach front entrance fee. We’d have gone in again for a free will offering but we’re put off by set fee. • Actually, nobody in my party had any issues, but I noticed the picnic tables in the shelter were arranged in a way that • Cost only allowed someone in a wheelchair to access one table • It would have been nice if it had been open so we could from the west side and no tables from the south side. tour it.

Overnight Accommodations Eighty percent of respondents have used the overnight accommodations at Leelanau State Park. The majority of those stayed at the campground (87%), with others staying in the mini cabins. Respondents most frequently stay at each location for two to three nights.

Respondents were also asked to rate their satisfaction with the overnight accommodations they used. Users of the campground were generally satisfied with their accommodations with a weighted average of 7.76 on a scale of one (highly dissatisfied) to nine (highly satisfied). Most Hammocking by the lake

B-4 LEELANAU STATE PARK PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT

When asked what, if anything, could be done to improve Where did you stay the last time you the accommodations in the future, 52% of respondents used the overnight accommodations at said that no change was needed. Of the 48% that suggested the park? (Select all that apply) an improvement, the many and varied answers ranged from improving cleanliness of vault toilets and park maintenance 350 and poison ivy control to ideas to make the layout of 288 300 campsites farther apart so each campsite is more spacious. 250 Five randomly selected comments follow: 200 What could be done to improve your satisfaction with the 150 accommodations in the future? 100 51 • Some of the shoreline campsites are awkward and not 50 clearly laid-out. 0 • Heater did not consistently work, but the fella who came Campground Mini Cabins back several times was really nice. • Enforcement of quiet hours respondents were highly satisfied, and only a very small • RV sanitation station, restroom with flush toilets number of respondents rated the campground lower than • Lack of a bath house means we could only stay 2-3 nights a five (neutral). Using this same scale, those who stayed in the mini cabins were also generally satisfied, with most Those that did not use the overnight accommodations at the respondents rating them an eight or a nine. Of those that used park were asked where they stayed when visiting Leelanau overnight accommodations at the parkthe majority (74%) did State Park. The most common two answers were at their own not bring their pets. principal home (41%) or at another state park (17%).

When asked what they liked most about their accommodations, respondents frequently mentioned the Hunting or Trapping water access and views as well as the quiet and secluded Only 15 survey respondents reported that they hunt or trap atmosphere. Five randomly selected comments follow: at the park. Their target species was most commonly white- tailed deer (83%), followed by small game (50%) and turkey What did you like most about your accommodations? (25%). Two comments about hunting are as follows: • Sound of the waves and wind. Please enter any comments you may have about hunting and • Quiet and peaceful. Loved the water. trapping at the park. • The view! • No active management, should remain available to the • Vegetation between sites make them fairly private. public. • Privacy • Under used resource. Park does not stay open late enough in the fall. Should remain open until at minimum 12.01.2019 and better promotion of park operating dates.

What do you hunt or trap? (Check all that apply)

83%

50% 25% 17% 8% 0%

White-tailed deer Small game Trapping Waterfowl Turkey Other (please furbearers specify)

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN B-5 APPENDIX B

What is your target species of fish? (Check all that apply) 65%

25% 15% 15% 10% 10% 10% 10% 5% 5%

Fishing Survey respondents were asked what, if any, additional Twenty-two (5%) of survey respondents use the park for programs or events they would like to have offered in the fishing access. They most frequently fish from the shoreline future. Only ten answered this question and there were no (71%), while others fish from a non-motorized boat (19%) or two answers the same. Three randomly selected comments a motorized boat (10%). Respondents most preferred fishing follow: location is Lake Michigan (62%), with some having preference to Kehl Lake (19%). The majority of respondents had no What, if any, additional programs or events would you like to targeted species of fish (65%). A small number of respondents be available at the park in the future? target small (25%) and largemouth bass (15%) and walleye • Dark sky awareness/education (15%). One comment suggested room for improvement: • Leave no Trace! My favorite pastime along the shoreline Please enter any comments you may have about fishing at/ of this area is picking up trash. Funny, I see so many people come in, park, take a photo and leave. Many step near the park. over trash or worse leave it. • Need to add fishing dock or kayak launch • Bat walks

Special Events or Programs The majority (91%) of survey respondents have not participated in a special event or host program at Leelanau State Park. For those who did participate, themost frequently attended eventswere Meteors and S’mores (30%), shipwreck programs (27%), and other programs (30%) left in the comments. Participants were, on average, quite satisfied with the special events or programs. On a scale of one (highly dissatisfied) to nine (highly satisfied), all activities scored higher than an average of 7.3. In fact, only one rating lower than 5 (neutral) was recorded. Comments left were all very positive. Three randomly selected comments follow:

Please enter any comments you may have on the special events or programs in which you participated. • Loved working at the Michigan cares for tourisim • Love the haunted lighthouse program, the enthusiasm of the staff, decorations etc • The Trail to Table was a great collaborative event with so many people of all ages participating.

Lakeshore view

B-6 LEELANAU STATE PARK PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT

Other Thoughts Finally, respondents could share any other comments they had about the park, and optionally submit a photograph of their experience. One hundred and fifty-three comments were submitted, and five randomly selected comments follow:

Please share any other thoughts you may have on the park. • I also love that you have sites available without having to reserve a year in advance. • Need mountain biking trails and more fat tire trails. • Excellent experience and worth the trip! • Leave the park rustic, please. • I really liked the picnic area. Lots of people cooked dinner there because it was on the high ground vs some of the lower level campsites that were damp. Not the fault of anyone but if lake levels remain that high the lower sites might need to be raised.

Participants submitted photos of their experience at the park.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN B-7 APPENDIX B

You’re invited! What Leelenau State Park General Management Plan Stakeholder Input Workshop When Tuesday, October 29th 2:00pm - 4:00 pm

Please RSVP to: Plan Administrator Debbie Jensen [email protected] Where Leelanau Township Firehall 100 8th St, Northport, MI 49670 About the plan The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Parks & Recreation Division (PRD) is in the process of developing a general management plan for Leelanau State Park. The general management plan will define a long-range planning and management strategy that protects the resources of the site while addressing recreation needs and opportunities. Public and stakeholder input is a critical component of the planning process.

About the workshop The planning team cordially invites you to attend a stakeholder input workshop! This session will include a brief presentation from the DNR on the planning process and progress followed by individual and group exercises to gather input to inform the plan. We request that your organization send a maximum of two representatives so we may accommodate everyone. We hope to see you there!

Input survey In addition, we are collecting input from park users via an online survey, which closes on November 10. You may share this link with any who may be interested. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LSP-GMP

Project website http://mdnrmanagementplans.org/leelanau-state-park/ For more information, please contact: Plan Administrator Debbie Jensen at 517-284-6105 or Email [email protected]

B-8 LEELANAU STATE PARK PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT

B.3 Summary of Stakeholder Input Workshop STAKEHOLDER INPUT WORKSHOP To gather targeted input from governmental, non-profit, and ATTENDEES business/tourism entities, the planning team invited over NAME REPRESENTING 50 stakeholders, both individuals and community groups, to SALLY STEVENS Cathead Bay Association participate in a facilitated input workshop held on October Cathead Bay Association 29th, 2019, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Northport Township RONALD STEVENS Fire Hall in Northport, Michigan. Representatives of the JERRY FREELS Grand Traverse Audubon Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) provided AUDREY MENNINGA Northwest Michigan Invasive the stakeholders with a brief overview of Leelanau State Species Network Park, including its natural features, cultural resources, and JAMES SKIPPER Michigan Wild Turkey Hunters Association & American recreational offerings. The stakeholders were also presented Chestnut Council the general management plan process, timeline, and an STEF STALEY Grand Traverse Lighthouse explanation of the plan elements that their input would Museum inform: the statements of significance, the twenty-year MARK THOMAS Grand Traverse Lighthouse management zone map, and action goals intended to be Museum accomplished over the next ten years. ALLEN AMMONS Former Park Ranger The stakeholders were divided into small discussion groups MARGO AMMONS Friend of Park around a numbered table (either 1, 2, or 3). They worked NEIL WETHERBEE Northport Schools together to complete a series of exercises discussing the CAMPBELL MCLEOD Northport Chamber of park’s current status, opportunities for partnerships, the Commerce park’s potential benefit to the larger community, and the TOM NELSON Leelanau Conservancy stakeholders’ vision for the park’s future. Each table then CHAD JORDAN Bike Leelanau/ Northern reported out to the larger group. The results of the table Michigan Mountain Bike exercises are outlined in the following summary. Association JOHN NELSON Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council PLANNING TEAM ATTENDEES MICHAEL MCDONALD Michigan State Park Advisory NAME REPRESENTING Committee DEBBIE JENSEN DNR-PRD JUSTIN KELENSKE Leelanau Road Commission LISA GAMERO DNR-PRD BARBARA NELSON National Park Service STEPHANIE ROSINSKI DNR-PRD JAMESON KASEY MAHONY DNR-PRD BILL WATSON Child and Family Services - ANNAMARIE BAUER DNR-PRD YouthWork JESSICA ORLANDO DNR-PRD JOSHUA DRAGE DNR-PRD KAREN WINGAY DNR-PRD SGT. DAN BIGGER DNR-LED CHRISTY SUMMERS Planning Consultant CAITLIN JACKSON Planning Consultant

Stakeholders work together

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN B-9 APPENDIX B

Icebreaker Question Exercise 1: Say one word or phrase that describes the When the stakeholders introduced themselves, they were state park right now. asked to describe what matters most to them about Leelanau Stakeholders described Leelanau State Park as beautifully State Park. Their recorded responses follow in the table below. scenic, natural, peaceful, remote with a unique location, and providing hunting habitat. Other words or phrases focused on the park’s natural amenities, including the dunes, hardwoods, shoreline, wildlife, and birding opportunities. It was also described as historic, rustic, and an emotional experience. However, some stakeholders were concerned that the park is under pressure, easily overused, and experiencing environmental degradation.

WHAT MATTERS MOST TO ME ABOUT ITEMS MENTIONED LEELANAU STATE PARK IS… AT TABLE # STATEMENT Beautifully scenic 1,2,3 Accessibility for mountain biking in the summer Natural 1,3 How we can benefit the LSP & a big advocate of ADA Peaceful 1,3 accessibility Remote/Unique location - isolation 1,3 The natural beauty is preserved Hunting habitat / Opportunities 1,2 Maintaining its rustic features. Second access point for Rustic 1 northern portion. More recreational activities Historic 1 Accessibility - particularly passive use Pristine 1 Making people more aware of what's available in the area Pure Michigan 1 So many people from Leelanau county have never been to state park or lighthouse Environmental degradation 1 Keeping the hiking trails in their natural, passive, low-key Escape/off the grid 1 state. I've reconciled the "floating" fat tire biking BUT - no Seasonably busy 1 bikes in the summer. Buggy 1 Maintaining a conservative approach to the trail system Dunes & woodlands 2 especially! Keep it peaceful for all, especially endangered Under pressure 2 species, birding habitat, migratory flyway, - not frantic activity! Birding habitat 2 Have the DNR continue to involve the local/regional Identity crisis 2 community in the planning and development/ acquisition Resource rich 2 process Rare 2 Its natural beauty, features, wildlife, and much more Easily overused 2 Preserving birding habitat is most important Hidden gem 2 Keeping the natural areas beautiful and invasive free Emotional experience 2 Protecting wildlife habitat/natural resources Quiet 3 The beautiful trail system, significant natural features, & The tip 3 historic lighthouse Wild 3 Preserve the natural beauty Hardwoods 3 Keeping them preserved and for years to come Wildlife 3 Accessible Shoreline 3 Maintaining the fence on Cathead Bay Drive. Limiting traffic Accessible 3 on Cathead Bay Drive Solitude 3 Dunes & dune woodlands. Keeping hunting as a full use. Preserving dune land & woodland dunes

B-10 LEELANAU STATE PARK PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT

Exercise 2: Say one word or phrase that you want to de- Exercise 3: How can the state park benefit the wider com- scribe the state park in the future. munity now or in the future? When stakeholders thought about how they would like to The stakeholders were tasked with focusing on the ways in describe the park in the future, more than one table suggested which the park could benefit the larger community, whether that the park should be kept unchanged, retaining its natural from a standpoint of economic development, recreation, or and scenic characteristics but with invasive species controlled. education, for example. Multiple stakeholder groups suggested While some stakeholders wanted development to be limited, that the park could provide a benefit with outdoor education others suggested that the park should be expanded through programs and signage. Several stakeholders also touched on land acquisitions, have additional parking and additional trails. the economic development the park can provide in expanding Many phrases suggested an improvement of what already tourism. The park could also provide quality recreation and existed at the park, such as more youth education, improved events for local residents and visitors. signage, and improved accessibility.

ITEMS MENTIONED ITEMS MENTIONED AT TABLE # AT TABLE # Unchanged 2,3 Outdoor education programs/signage 1,2,3 Non-invasive, Autumn Olive control 2,3 Bring tourists to Northport, Expand 1,2 Natural, Scenic 1,3 tourism Additional trails 1 Provide quality recreation, recreation/ 1,2 event outreach Additional parking 1 Recreation/event outreach 1 ADA accessibility/easy access 1 Designated use trails/areas 1 Scenic/natural 1 Adventure recreation 1 Historic 1 Attracting young families; live and work 1 Ecologically diverse 1 here Off the grid 1 Keep it the same 2 Bathroom/sanitation 1 Bring birders to country 2 Walking trails 2 Show connection to S. Fox Lighthouse 2 Improved signage 2 Tourists buy produce & go to restaurants 2 Cross-country skiing & snowshoeing 2 Preserve endangered species 2 Dune interpretive signage 2 Public hunting opportunities 2 Natural features interpretation 2 Educational field trips & classes 2 Limit development 2 More events 3 Limit people 2 Youth education 3 Ungroomed winter trails 2 Advertising 3 Continued hunting 2 Ecological hiking (guided) 3 Research laboratory 2 Bike trail from Northport to lighthouse 3 Better hunter access signage 2 Connect to TART 3 Expanded 3 Interpretive app w/hiking trails 3 Wild 3 More hiking trails 3 Climate resilient 3 Fat tire/mountain biking 3 Forested 3 Well-respected (natural areas) 3 Same amount of public events 3 Untrammeled 3 Non-commercial 3 More youth education 3 Quiet 3 Dark Skies 3

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN B-11 APPENDIX B

Exercise 4: What are some collaboration & partnership opportunities that the state park presents for local communi- ties and stakeholders? All stakeholder groups felt that the Leelanau Conservancy presents a partnership opportunity from the standpoints of land acquisitions, environmental education, and connecting preserved units of land. Two stakeholder tables suggested partnerships with the Northern Michigan Mountain Bike Association for trail stewardship, events, and maintenance. Several organizations were suggested to provide volunteers, such as the Chamber of Commerce, Northport Schools, a local sportsman’s club, and Scouts clubs.

GROUP OR STAKEHOLDER COLLABORATION OR PARTNERSHIP IDEA MENTIONED NAME AT TABLE # Leelanau Conservancy Land acquisitions, environmental education, expanding 1,2,3 boundaries/connecting units Northern Michigan Mountain Bike trail stewardship, events, maintenance 1,3 Association Chamber of Commerce Tourism volunteers, promotion 1,2 Northport Schools Volunteers & educational opportunities, senior project 1,2 Audubon Society Habitat ID & preserve, education 1,2 TC Track Club maintain trail, events 1 XC Skiing North American Vasa recreation, events 1 Local Invasive Species Network Stewardship 1 Youth Work Conservation Corps Boots on ground, grants, development 1 American Chestnut Council Reforestation 2 Volunteers Conservation District Invasive species 2 Fox Island Area Web cam 2 Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Resource protection 2 Chippewa Indians Munson System Wellness - mental health 2 County & Township Parks Coordinate programs & resources 2 Local Sportmens Club Volunteers, place to shoot, census of species 2 Feds (NPS) Education & planning 2 TART Biking trails 3 Outdoor recreation (commercial) Outdoor sports 3 groups/outfitters Outdoor sports 3 Watershed center Water quality monitoring 3 Children’s group Youth education 3 Accessibility network (MNRTF) Universally accessible trails 3 Girl scouts/boy scouts Park/trail work 3

B-12 LEELANAU STATE PARK PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT

IMPROVEMENTS OR CHANGES Exercise 5: What improvements or changes would you ITEMS MENTIONED TOTAL like to see at the state park? What things would stay the AT TABLE # VOTES same? More designated use, multi-use trail, 1 6 In this exercise, stakeholders first brainstormed ideas for mountain bike, cross country walking/ improvements or changes to the park as well as features they hiking, snowshoe thought should stay the same. Then, each attendee could vote Dark skies initiative 1,3 4 on their top three items from the list generated at their table. More education & signage (schools?) 2 3 The items that received the most votes included additional ADA access – infrastructure 1 3 designated and multi-use trails, keeping the park rustic and Prohibit hunting predator species 3 2 underdeveloped, investigating the Dark Skies initiative, and (deer management) retaining the forested land and natural beauty of the park. Bike trail 3 2 Cabins open in winter (cross-country 2 2 ski hiking) Final Exercise: Collective Priorities Hunting free park 1 2 The final exercise of the meeting was to compile the results Going green – sustainability 1 2 of exercise 5, combining the top-voted items from each table into a list. The attendees then had the opportunity to Better way finding signage 3 1 prioritize items that were mentioned at any table, creating a More invasive species work 3 1 list of collective priorities. The collective priorities list below Connecting north and south 3 1 shows that the top voted items were that the park should Better groom ski trails (skate & 3 1 remain forested and retain its natural beauty, to provide more diagonal) education and interpretive signage, to keep the park rustic Better coordination with other groups 2 1 and undeveloped, and to provide low impact recreation in a More cabins (mini or yurts?) 2 1 sustainable way. This input will be considered by the planning Parking - northern entrance 1 1 team when creating a 10-year action plan. Shower facilities 3 0 Electric svc (1/2 sites?) 2 0 Backcountry camping 1 0 Boardwalks 1 0 STAY THE SAME ITEMS MENTIONED TOTAL AT TABLE # VOTES Keep rustic/underdeveloped 1,2 6 Low impact 2 5 Remain forested/natural beauty 3 4 Maintaining lighthouse 3 2 Keep snowmobiles out 2 2 Rustic campground 3 1 Natural 1 1 Quiet 1 0 Historic 1 0

COLLECTIVE PRIORITIES ITEMS VOTES Remain forested/ natural beauty 11 More educational/interpretive signage 10 Keep rustic/undeveloped 9 Low impact recreation/sustainability 9 More designated multi-use trails (ex. 6 Mountain bike, cross country ski, walking/ hiking, snowshoe) ADA accessibility improvements 3 A stone sculpture made by former lighthouse keepers Dark skies initiative 3

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN B-13 APPENDIX B

B.4 Tribal Engagement

B-14 LEELANAU STATE PARK PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN B-15 APPENDIX B

Public Input Survey B.5 Public Input Survey Data Public Input Survey

The purpose of this survey is to gather input from Leelanau State Park visitors. Your answers will help the Michigan Department of Natural Resources develop a General Management Plan that will guide the future of the park.

This survey should take about 10 minutes to complete. Your answers will not be shared with any other parties and are confidential unless you provide your email address at the end of the survey.

At the end of the survey, you will be directed to the p roject website that provides additional information on the General Management Plan process and further opportunities for public review and comment.

To proceed with the survey, click the "Next" button. General Satisfaction

General Satisfaction

* 1. Have you visited the state park in the last five years? If no, please explain what keeps you from visiting the park more often.

Yes

No (Please explain what keeps you from visiting more often) General Satisfaction

2. How often do you visit the park?

Less than once per year

1-2 times per year

3-5 times per year

6 or more times per year

3. In what seasons do you typically visit the park? (Select all that apply)

Winter (December, January, February)

Spring (March, April, May)

Summer (June, July, August)

Fall (September, October, November)

4. How do you travel to the park? (Select all that apply)

Motorized vehicle (Car/Truck/RV/Motorcycle)

Bicycle B-16 LEELANAU STATE PARK On Foot

Watercraft (Boat, Kayak, Canoe)

Other: General Satisfaction

2. How often do you visit the park?

Less than once per year

1-2 times per year

3-5 times per year

6 or more times per year

3. In what seasons do you typically visit the park? (Select all that apply)

Winter (December, January, February)

Spring (March, April, May) Summer (June, July, August) PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT Fall (September, October, November)

4. How do you travel to the park? (Select all that apply)

Motorized vehicle (Car/Truck/RV/Motorcycle)

Bicycle

On Foot

Watercraft (Boat, Kayak, Canoe)

Other:

5. From which of the following sources did you get information to plan your trip to the park? (Select all that apply)

DNR website

Other websites

Social media

Tourist or information center

Previous experience

Friends / family

Printed publication (magazine, book, brochure)

Other (please specify)

6. What three words would you use to describe Leelanau State Park to someone who has never visited?

First Word

Second Word

Third Word

7. Please check ALL the activities in which you participate at Leelanau State Park. (Select all that apply)

Visiting the lighthouse Scenic viewing Snowshoeing

Visiting the shoreline Non-motorized boating/paddling Road biking

Fishing Camping at campground or cabins Winter fat tire biking

Hunting/trapping Birding Hiking/dog walking

Foraging (e.g., mushrooming, berry Picnicking Trail running picking) Playground use Special events (fundraisers, races, etc.) GENERAL MANAGEMENTRock hounding PLAN B-17 Photography Volunteering Geocaching Cross-country skiing Nature viewing/study

Other (please specify) 5. From which of the following sources did you get information to plan your trip to the park? (Select all that apply)

DNR website

Other websites

Social media

Tourist or information center

Previous experience

Friends / family

Printed publication (magazine, book, brochure)

Other (please specify)

6. What three words would you use to describe Leelanau State Park to someone who has never visited?

First Word

APPENDIXSeco Bnd Word Third Word

7. Please check ALL the activities in which you participate at Leelanau State Park. (Select all that apply)

Visiting the lighthouse Scenic viewing Snowshoeing

Visiting the shoreline Non-motorized boating/paddling Road biking

Fishing Camping at campground or cabins Winter fat tire biking

Hunting/trapping Birding Hiking/dog walking

Foraging (e.g., mushrooming, berry Picnicking Trail running picking) Playground use Special events (fundraisers, races, etc.) Rock hounding Photography Volunteering Geocaching Cross-country skiing Nature viewing/study

Other (please specify)

B-18 LEELANAU STATE PARK General Satisfaction PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT

8. Which one activity most influences your choice to visit the park?

Visiting the lighthouse

Visiting the shoreline

Fishing

Hunting/trapping

Foraging (e.g., mushrooming, berry picking)

Rock hounding

Geocaching

Nature viewing/study

Scenic viewing

Non-motorized boating/paddling

Camping at campground or cabins

Birding

Picnicking

Playground use

Photography

Cross-country skiing

Snowshoeing

Road biking

Winter fat tire biking

Hiking/dog walking

Trail running

Special events (fundraisers, races, etc.)

Volunteering

[Insert text from Other]

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN B-19 APPENDIX B

Your Most Recent Visit Your Most Recent Visit

The following questions relate to your most recent visit.

9. On your last visit, which statement best describes your party?

Individual

Couple

Family

Friends

Family and friends

Organized group or club

Other (please specify)

10. On your last visit, what age ranges were in your party, including you? (Check all that apply)

Under 5 years old

5-12

13-17

18-29

30-39

40-49

50-64

65 or older

B-20 LEELANAU STATE PARK PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT

11. Day Use Facilities: For only the facilities you visited, please rate your level of satisfaction with the following facilities (1 = Highly dissatisfied, 5 = Neutral, 9 = Highly satisfied):

9 = 1 = Highly 5 = Highly dissatisfied 2 3 4 Neutral 6 7 8 satisfied N/A

Trails

Scenic overlooks

Parking

Picnic area

Playground

Lighthouse

Vault toilets

12. What did you like most about your experience during your last visit?

13. Are there any changes that you would like to see made in order to improve your experience?

No

Yes (please describe)

14. Did you also visit other attractions in the area during your most recent visit? If so, what attractions did you visit?

No

Yes (please describe)

15. During your last visit, were there any activities you or someone in your party wished to participate in but were not able to due to personal mobility challenges or lack of accessibility accommodations?

No

Yes (please describe)

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN B-21 11. Day Use Facilities: For only the facilities you visited, please rate your level of satisfaction with the following facilities (1 = Highly dissatisfied, 5 = Neutral, 9 = Highly satisfied):

9 = 1 = Highly 5 = Highly dissatisfied 2 3 4 Neutral 6 7 8 satisfied N/A

Trails

Scenic overlooks

Parking

Picnic area

Playground

Lighthouse

Vault toilets

12. What did you like most about your experience during your last visit?

13. Are there any changes that you would like to see made in order to improve your experience?

No

Yes (please describe)

14. Did you also visit other attractions in the area during your most recent visit? If so, what attractions did you visit?

No

Yes (please describe) APPENDIX B

15. During your last visit, were there any activities you or someone in your party wished to participate in but were not able to due to personal mobility challenges or lack of accessibility accommodations?

No

Yes (please describe)

Grand Traverse Lighthouse Grand Traverse Lighthouse The Grand Traverse Lighthouse is operated by the Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum (a 501(c)(3) non-profit) under a lease agreement with the Department of Natural Resources.

* 16. Have you visited the Grand Traverse Lighthouse (grounds and/or museum)?

Yes Grand Traverse Lighthouse No

The Grand Traverse Lighthouse is operated by the Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum (a 501(c)(3) non-profit) under a lease agreement with the Department of Natural Resources.

17. Did you go inside the lighthouse museum?

Yes

No

18. Please rate your satisfaction with the Grand Traverse Lighthouse complex (1 = Highly dissatisfied, 5 = Neutral, 9 = Highly satisfied).

1 = Highly 9 = Highly dissatisfied 2 3 4 5 = Neutral 6 7 8 satisfied

19. What did you like most about your experience?

20. What, if anything, would you change to improve your experience at the Grand Traverse Lighthouse?

Nothing

Please describe the desired changes:

B-22 LEELANAU STATE PARK Grand Traverse Lighthouse

The Grand Traverse Lighthouse is operated by the Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum (a 501(c)(3) non-profit) under a lease agreement with the Department of Natural Resources.

17. Did you go inside the lighthouse museum?

Yes

No

18. Please rate your satisfaction with the Grand Traverse Lighthouse complex (1 = Highly dissatisfied, 5 = Neutral, 9 = Highly satisfied).

1 = Highly 9 = Highly dissatisfied 2 3 4 5 = Neutral 6 7 8 satisfied

19. What did you like most about your ePUBLICxperience? AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT

Overnight Accommodations

20. What, if anything, would you change to improve your experience at the Grand Traverse Lighthouse?

Nothing

Please describe the desired changes:

Overnight Accommodations

* 21. Have you ever used any of the overnight accommodations (campground, mini cabins) at the park?

OvernigYehst Accommodations No

22. Where did you stay the last time you used the overnight accommodations at the park? (Select all that apply)

Campground

Mini Cabins

23. During your last visit, how many nights did you stay?

1 night

2-3 nights

4-6 nights

7 or more nights

24. Please rate your level of satisfaction with your overnight accommodations. (1 = Highly dissatisfied, 5 = Neutral, 9 = Highly satisfied)

9 = 1 = Highly 5 = Highly dissatisfied 2 3 4 Neutral 6 7 8 Satisfied N/A

Campground

Mini Cabins

25. Did you bring your pet(s)?

Yes

No

GENERAL26 MANAGEMENT. What did you lik ePLAN most about your accommodations? B-23 Overnight Accommodations

22. Where did you stay the last time you used the overnight accommodations at the park? (Select all that apply)

Campground

Mini Cabins

23. During your last visit, how many nights did you stay?

1 night

2-3 nights

4-6 nights

7 or more nights

24. Please rate your level of satisfaction with your overnight accommodations. (1 = Highly dissatisfied, 5 = Neutral, 9 = Highly satisfied)

9 = 1 = Highly 5 = Highly dissatisfied 2 3 4 Neutral 6 7 8 Satisfied N/A

APPENDIXCam pBground

Mini Cabins

25. Did you bring your pet(s)?

Yes

No

26. What did you like most about your accommodations?

27. What could be done to improve your satisfaction with the accommodations in the future?

Nothing

Please describe the changes you would like made:

Non-camper Accommodations Non-camper Accommodations

28. On your most recent visit, where did you stay when you visited the park?

Own principal home

Own second home

Another's home/second home

Another state park

Dispersed camping on state or federal forest land

Another public campground (federal, county, township, etc.)

Private campground

Hotel/motel/rental property/B&B

Other (please specify)

B-24 LEELANAU STATE PARK Hunting and Trapping PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT

* 29. Do you hunt or trap at the park?

Yes Hunting and Trapping No

30. What do you hunt or trap? (Check all that apply)

White-tailed deer

Small game

Trapping furbearers

Waterfowl

Turkey

Other (please specify)

31. Please enter any comments you may have about hunting and trapping at the park.

Fishing Access

* 32. Do you go fishing when you visit the park?

FishingY eAsccess No

33. How do you typically access the water for fishing?

Shoreline

Motorized boat

Non-motorized boat

34. What is your preferred fishing location when visiting the park?

Mud Lake

Kehl Lake

Lake Michigan

Other (please specify)

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN B-25

35. What is your target species of fish? (Check all that apply)

Bluegill

Yellow perch

Largemouth bass

Smallmouth bass

Walleye

Lake trout

Whitefish/cisco

Salmon

Carp

No particular species Fishing Access

33. How do you typically access the water for fishing?

Shoreline

APPENDIXM Botorized boat Non-motorized boat

34. What is your preferred fishing location when visiting the park?

Mud Lake

Kehl Lake

Lake Michigan

Other (please specify)

35. What is your target species of fish? (Check all that apply)

Bluegill

Yellow perch

Largemouth bass

Smallmouth bass

Walleye

Lake trout

Whitefish/cisco

Salmon

Carp

No particular species

36. Please enter any comments you may have about fishing at/near the park.

Special Events and Programs

* 37. Have you participated in a special event or host program (interpretive hike or activity, program or class, outdoor skill class, or other event) at the park?

Yes

No

B-26 LEELANAU STATE PARK Special Events and Programs PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT

38. Please select the programs you have participated in at the park in the past. (Select all that apply)

Meteors and S'mores

Fireworks-Free Fourth

Snowshoe hikes

Rock the Light 5K

Pancake Breakfast

Trail cleanup for National Trails Day

Haunted Lighthouse

Lobster Festival

Christmas at the Lighthouse

Autism Awareness activities

Shipwreck programs

Other (please specify)

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN B-27 APPENDIXSpecial BEvents and Programs

39. Please rate the level of satisfaction with the programs or activities in which you participated. (1 = Highly dissatisfied, 5 = Neutral, 9 = Highly satisfied)

1 = Highly 5 = 9 = Highly

Dissatisfied 2 3 4 Neutral 6 7 8 Satisfied

Meteors and S'mores

Fireworks-Free Fourth

Snowshoe hikes

Rock the Light 5K

Pancake Breakfast

Trail cleanup for National Trails Day

Haunted Lighthouse

Lobster Festival

Christmas at the Lighthouse

Autism Awareness activities

Shipwreck programs Special Events and Programs [Insert text from Other]

40. Please enter any comments you may have on the special events or programs in which you participated.

41. What, if any, additional programs or events would you like to be available at the park in the future?

B-28 LEELANAU STATE PARK Other Thoughts PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT

42. Please share any other thoughts you may have on the park.

43. (Optional) Share a photo of your experience at Leelanau State Park! By uploading a photo, you grant permission to the DNR to use the photo.

DemoCghroaopseh iFcilse No file chosen

44. What is the ZIP code of your primary residence?

ZIP:

45. What is your age?

Under 18

18-29

30-39

40-49

50-64

65 or older

I prefer not to answer.

46. If you would like to be informed about future meetings for the Leelanau State Park General Management Plan please leave your contact info below:

Name

Email

Thank you!

Thank you for participating in the Leelanau State Park General Management Plan survey! Your input is appreciated.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN B-29 APPENDIX B

Q.1 HAVE YOU VISITED THE STATE PARK IN 27. Was not aware of the rustic camping area and hunting land available. THE LAST FIVE YEARS? IF NO, PLEASE EX- 28. We are trying to visit as many state parks as we can and PLAIN WHAT KEEPS YOU FROM VISITING THE we haven’t com back to this one yet. PARK MORE OFTEN. 29. poor camp sites ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES RESPONSE COUNT 30. My wife’s home state is Michigan. We love to get up there as often as possible, but that isn’t every year. And YES 93.55% 479 we can see all of it in a couple weeks... NO (PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT 6.45% 33 KEEPS YOU FROM VISITING 31. Lack of electricity MORE OFTEN) 32. Always full campgrounds ANSWERED 512 SKIPPED 0 Q.2 HOW OFTEN DO YOU VISIT THE PARK? ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES RESPONSE No (Please specify what keeps you from visiting more COUNT often): LESS THAN ONCE PER YEAR 37.67% 165 1. No electricity 1-2 TIMES PER YEAR 44.06% 193 2. kids schedules 3-5 TIMES PER YEAR 11.42% 50 3. Love going to the lighthouse and walking the beach 6 OR MORE TIMES PER YEAR 6.85% 30 4. distance ANSWERED 438 5. Love this park but there are so many great parks in SKIPPED 74 Michigan to visit. I’ll be back eventually. 6. Distance How often do you visit the park? 50.00% 7. We camp here every year. 44.06% 45.00% 8. Just haven’t been that far north in the past 5 years 40.00% 37.67% 9. I do not like to use rustic campgrounds 35.00% 30.00% 10. Next trip 25.00% 11. As a resident of TC we have so many wonderful places 20.00% to enjoy. 15.00% 11.42% 10.00% 6.85% 12. Reservation 5.00% 13. 3 or more times a tear 0.00% Less than once per 1-2 times per year 3-5 times per year 6 or more times per 14. Rustic only camping year year 15. never stayed in this state park 16. traverse city state park 17. Amenities Q.3 IN WHAT SEASONS DO YOU TYPICALLY 18. We would visit more if there were showers. VISIT THE PARK? (SELECT ALL THAT APPLY) 19. camping at other parks that we have previously not ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES RESPONSE visited and camping out of state. COUNT 20. Distance from home WINTER (DECEMBER, 13.24% 58 21. No modern camp accommodations JANUARY, FEBRUARY) 22. It was too many miles from where we were at for the SPRING (MARCH, APRIL, 31.28% 137 day. MAY) SUMMER (JUNE, JULY, 82.19% 360 23. No electric. AUGUST) 24. We weren’t aware that there was a park on Leelanau. FALL (SEPTEMBER, 52.51% 230 We usually just go to Interlochen or Traverse City parks OCTOBER, NOVEMBER) 25. Sold camper ANSWERED 438 26. I’m a bicyclist. I need a shower after I ride. The park SKIPPED 74 doesn’t have showers

B-30 LEELANAU STATE PARK PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT

In what seasons do you typically visit the park? Q.5 FROM WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING (Select all that apply) SOURCES DID YOU GET INFORMATION TO 90.00% 82.19% PLAN YOUR TRIP TO THE PARK? 80.00% (SELECT ALL THAT APPLY) 70.00% 60.00% 52.51% ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES RESPONSE 50.00% COUNT 40.00% 31.28% DNR WEBSITE 74.20% 325 30.00% 20.00% 13.24% OTHER WEBSITES 11.64% 51 10.00% SOCIAL MEDIA 8.45% 37 0.00% Winter (December, Spring (March, Summer (June, July, Fall (September, TOURIST OR INFORMATION 5.94% 26 January, February) April, May) August) October, CENTER November) PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE 35.84% 157 FRIENDS / FAMILY 19.41% 85 Q.4 HOW DO YOU TRAVEL TO THE PARK? PRINTED PUBLICATION 6.39% 28 (SELECT ALL THAT APPLY) (MAGAZINE, BOOK, ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES RESPONSE BROCHURE) COUNT OTHER (PLEASE SPECIFY) 7.76% 34 MOTORIZED VEHICLE 99.09% 434 ANSWERED 438 (CAR/TRUCK/RV/ MOTORCYCLE) SKIPPED 74 BICYCLE 6.62% 29 ON FOOT 1.83% 8 From which of the following sources did you get WATERCRAFT (BOAT, 0.68% 3 information to plan your trip to the park? KAYAK, CANOE) (Select all that apply) OTHER: 0.68% 3 80.00% 74.20% 70.00% ANSWERED 438 60.00% 74 50.00% SKIPPED 40.00% 35.84% 30.00% 19.41% 20.00% 11.64% How do you travel to the park? (Select all that apply) 8.45% 5.94% 6.39% 7.76% 10.00% 120.00% 0.00% 99.09% 100.00% 80.00% 60.00% 40.00% 20.00% 6.62% 1.83% 0.68% 0.68% 0.00%

Other (please specify): 1. geocaching map 2. I work at GT Lighthouse 3. None. Life-long resident of the area Other: 4. Local resident, county newspaper PR 1. Vehicle only. Survey kept selecting other and made me 5. none--familiar with park and area fill this line out 6. Bike Leelanau, NMMBA 2. Hi 7. Michigan State Parks Centennial Geo-tour 3. We have just moved to the area...and would like to go to 8. Just the DNR website and google the park by bicycle...just haven’t had the chance yet 9. we are N. Cathead Bay property owners 10. Google Maps - To get a better view of the park itself and to see what else is around 11. google maps 12. Try to visit all state parks

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN B-31 APPENDIX B

13. DNR Employee 24. Can’t say we plan those trips. I’ve been visiting the park 14. We visit leelenau county every year most of my life. 15. Nearby residents 25. State of Michigan map 16. it was by chance we stayed there , We liked it so much , 26. previous visits it was our go to place to camp 27. Adventure Cycling Magazine 17. We visit state parks we see on our route to where ever 28. Been camping at this park for 25+ years. we plan to go. 29. My family resides in Northport and I grew up there 18. Hi 30. Bike club 19. Live nearby 31. Live close 20. We have been going there for years 32. I was at the Homestead in Glen Arbor and wanted to 21. We had visited once and knew we wanted to camp checkout the park as I am an avid camper. I’ve know there. about the park but never visited prior to 2019. 22. MAP 33. Past experience 23. Billboard announcing an Shipwreck Exhibit 34. happened to drive by the park and saw signs to lighthouse

Q.6 WHAT THREE WORDS WOULD YOU USE TO DESCRIBE LEELANAU STATE PARK TO SOME- ONE WHO HAS NEVER VISITED?

Words most frequently used to describe the park. Words that were used three or more times are included. Larger word size indicates a more frequent response.

B-32 LEELANAU STATE PARK PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT

Q.7 PLEASE CHECK ALL THE ACTIVITIES IN 5. Astronomy WHICH YOU PARTICIPATE AT LEELANAU 6. garlic mustard control- I work for the Leelanau Conservancy and have helped with the land STATE PARK. (SELECT ALL THAT APPLY) surrounding Lighthouse West Natural Area ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES RESPONSE COUNT 7. Great astronomy. VISITING THE 81.46% 356 8. Swimming LIGHTHOUSE 9. Easy access to the whole area VISITING THE 94.28% 412 10. dirt & gravel road riding SHORELINE 11. Swimming FISHING 5.95% 26 2.97% 13 12. We like to hike the nature preserves in Leelanau County HUNTING/TRAPPING also. I would check paddling but water access NIL. FORAGING (E.G., 10.98% 48 MUSHROOMING, 13. Great park BERRY PICKING) 14. Dog Friendly Cabin stay! ROCK HOUNDING 35.01% 153 15. Playing at the beach GEOCACHING 3.43% 15 16. Hiking and beach NATURE VIEWING/ 56.06% 245 17. Swimming, STUDY SCENIC VIEWING 85.13% 372 18. I spend two weeks at the park each year doing a lot of writing and reading in Site 19. NON-MOTORIZED 13.27% 58 BOATING/PADDLING 19. Biking the campground CAMPING AT 76.20% 333 20. Wine tasting CAMPGROUND OR 21. dog walking CABINS 22. swimming BIRDING 19.45% 85 PICNICKING 25.17% 110 23. Star gazing PLAYGROUND USE 12.36% 54 24. was visiting to checkout the park for future camping trips PHOTOGRAPHY 36.84% 161 25. want to do cross country skiing...especially skate skiing CROSS-COUNTRY 8.92% 39 SKIING ...and snowshoeing SNOWSHOEING 7.78% 34 ROAD BIKING 12.81% 56 WINTER FAT TIRE 3.20% 14 BIKING HIKING/DOG WALKING 51.49% 225 TRAIL RUNNING 10.07% 44 SPECIAL EVENTS 5.03% 22 (FUNDRAISERS, RACES, ETC.) VOLUNTEERING 2.52% 11 OTHER (PLEASE 5.72% 25 SPECIFY) ANSWERED 437 SKIPPED 75

Other (Please specify): 1. wine tasting in nearby cities 2. Meeting with family from downstate 3. Hiking/cat walking 4. Star gazing

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN B-33 APPENDIX B

Q.8 WHICH ONE ACTIVITY MOST INFLUENCES Q.9 ON YOUR LAST VISIT, WHICH STATEMENT YOUR CHOICE TO VISIT THE PARK? BEST DESCRIBES YOUR PARTY? ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES RESPONSE ANSWER RESPONSES RESPONSE COUNT CHOICES COUNT VISITING THE LIGHTHOUSE 5.29% 23 INDIVIDUAL 10.45% 44 VISITING THE SHORELINE 15.40% 67 COUPLE 46.32% 195 FISHING 0.46% 2 FAMILY 26.13% 110 HUNTING/TRAPPING 0.46% 2 FRIENDS 6.89% 29 FORAGING (E.G., 0.23% 1 FAMILY AND 7.84% 33 MUSHROOMING, BERRY FRIENDS PICKING) ORGANIZED 0.95% 4 ROCK HOUNDING 0.92% 4 GROUP OR CLUB GEOCACHING 0.92% 4 OTHER (PLEASE 1.43% 6 NATURE VIEWING/STUDY 1.38% 6 SPECIFY) SCENIC VIEWING 7.59% 33 ANSWERED 421 NON-MOTORIZED 0.69% 3 SKIPPED 91 BOATING/PADDLING CAMPING AT 50.80% 221 CAMPGROUND OR CABINS On your last visit, which statement best describes BIRDING 0.92% 4 your party? PICNICKING 0.00% 0 50.00% 46.32% 45.00% PLAYGROUND USE 0.00% 0 40.00% 35.00% PHOTOGRAPHY 0.00% 0 30.00% 26.13% CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING 1.61% 7 25.00% 20.00% SNOWSHOEING 0.00% 0 15.00% 10.45% 10.00% 6.89% 7.84% ROAD BIKING 1.15% 5 5.00% 0.95% 1.43% 1.61% 7 0.00% WINTER FAT TIRE BIKING Individual Couple Family Friends Family and Organized Other HIKING/DOG WALKING 6.44% 28 friends group or (please club specify) TRAIL RUNNING 1.38% 6 SPECIAL EVENTS 0.46% 2 (FUNDRAISERS, RACES, Other (Please specify): ETC.) 1. Dedication of playground VOLUNTEERING 0.69% 3 2. individual with dog [INSERT TEXT FROM 1.61% 7 3. Mom/daughter OTHER] 4. Individual and dog ANSWERED 435 5. Couple and dog SKIPPED 77 6. J

B-34 LEELANAU STATE PARK PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT

Q.10 ON YOUR LAST VISIT, WHAT AGE RANGES WERE IN YOUR PARTY, INCLUDING YOU? (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY) ANSWER RESPONSES RESPONSE CHOICES COUNT UNDER 5 YEARS 10.43% 44 OLD 5-12 13.98% 59 13-17 6.40% 27 18-29 19.43% 82 30-39 26.07% 110 40-49 22.51% 95 50-64 44.08% 186 65 OR OLDER 24.17% 102 ANSWERED 422 SKIPPED 90 On your last visit, what age ranges were in your party, including you? (Check all that apply) 50.00% 44.08% 45.00% 40.00% 35.00% 30.00% 26.07% 24.17% 25.00% 22.51% 19.43% 20.00% 13.98% 15.00% 10.43% 10.00% 6.40% 5.00% 0.00% Under 5 5-12 13-17 18-29 30-39 40-49 50-64 65 or years old older

Q.11 DAY USE FACILITIES: FOR ONLY THE FACILITIES YOU VISITED, PLEASE RATE YOUR LEVEL OF SATISFACTION WITH THE FOLLOWING FACILITIES (1 = HIGHLY DISSATISFIED, 5 = NEUTRAL, 9 = HIGHLY SATISFIED): 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 N/A TOTAL WEIGHTED AVERAGE TRAILS 1.27% 1.53% 1.02% 0.76% 9.67% 3.31% 15.27% 18.58% 38.42% 10.18% 393 7.57 SCENIC 2.00% 0.75% 0.50% 0.25% 4.74% 3.49% 9.98% 20.45% 51.37% 6.48% 401 7.98 OVERLOOKS PARKING 1.49% 1.24% 0.99% 0.99% 7.43% 2.97% 11.14% 18.81% 50.50% 4.46% 404 7.84 PICNIC AREA 0.27% 0.82% 0.27% 0.54% 13.08% 2.18% 9.26% 11.17% 22.89% 39.51% 367 7.33 PLAYGROUND 0.56% 0.84% 1.68% 1.96% 15.36% 2.23% 4.75% 3.91% 12.29% 56.42% 358 6.44 LIGHTHOUSE 1.25% 1.50% 0.25% 1.00% 7.50% 2.75% 11.25% 22.00% 43.25% 9.25% 400 7.79 VAULT TOILETS 3.25% 4.25% 4.25% 6.75% 19.00% 6.75% 15.00% 15.00% 17.00% 8.75% 400 6.19 ANSWERED 418 SKIPPED 94

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN B-35 APPENDIX B

Q.12 WHAT DID YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR Q.13 ARE THERE ANY CHANGES THAT YOU EXPERIENCE DURING YOUR LAST VISIT? WOULD LIKE TO SEE MADE IN ORDER TO ANSWERED 365 IMPROVE YOUR EXPERIENCE? SKIPPED 147 ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES RESPONSE COUNT (30 randomly selected responses follow. Full results available NO 42.82% 176 upon request) YES (PLEASE DESCRIBE) 57.18% 235 ANSWERED 411 Responses: SKIPPED 101 2. Located close to where I live 10. Public access to trails (30 randomly selected responses follow. Full results available upon request) 27. Shoreline 36. the historical buildings and contents 56. Wild atmosphere and being away from madness Yes (please describe): 2. like big fishing piers 61. Walking around, the beauty and history and the exhibits in the fog signal building. Love the gift shop, haunted 19. modern restrooms, or service the vault toilets more lighthouse weekend and the friendly staff often, they were GROSS 74. lighthouse 41. More wild areas 75. Less people than other places 53. need to have a shower house at the camp ground 76. Seeing the changing water levels 54. a real bathroom by the lighthouse instead of vault toilets 77. Solitude 58. Showers!!! 99. The sound of the waves 60. fishing 107. The beautiful sunsets and water sounds at night 67. Cleaner vault toilets 117. A beautiful park to use as a home base for the entire 68. Modern bathrooms including showers. peninsula. 81. toilets are gross... 132. the variety of outdoor activities that were near the park, 84. Expanded campsites with electric i.e., sleeping bear dunes and the nature conservancy 89. Light in vault toilet, water more accessible areas/trails 93. Water levels are high- It may be necessary to adjust 135. It was a gorgeous autumn and windy the entire time campground for this. 162. It was close to where I was fishing 95. extend camping season at least through early November 182. Hearing the waves crashing on the shore. 101. There was considerable trash in our campsite that 189. It was quiet. needed picked up when we arrived. 222. Lake view from campsite 107. Permanent toilets would be nice. 229. Listening to Lake MI in the evening by the campfire 108. Electricity and running water 261. Our campsite was right on the water. We could grab the 123. Showers paddle board and jump right in. 129. We are pretty immune to pit toilets but the ones in the 287. Waterfront camping day use and lighthouse area were rank! 294. Campground and shoreline 141. Filter on drinking water 304. Quiet Less people 154. Filter on drinking water 313. Enjoy the quiet 160. Connect camping area to other hiking areas such as the 322. The mini-cabins are the best observation platform via trail. Generally expand the mileage of trails and connect them to the camping area 346. Nice campground. and infrastructure. 356. Opportunity to explore trails 166. wifi, electricity 357. The beach was splendid 167. Do not develop it further! 362. Walking through the dunes to the beach

B-36 LEELANAU STATE PARK PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT

179. Having first come first serve campsites; changing 124. Wineries the reservation system so that no shows don’t 127. When we stay at this part we cover and travel over occupy unused campsites; connection between the entirely Leelanau Peninsula. campground and hiking trails; connections to other conservancy land 151. Sleeping Bear National Shoreline 184. Less events. There was a New Holland Beer dinner 166. Sleeping Bear, Fish Town, Northport that day. It occupied the trail and the park near the 173. North Port campground. I’d prefer to keep things quiet. 191. Just the hiking trails and restaurants in Northport. 188. Smother campsite 192. TC 219. More equipped bathrooms. Not just vault toilets. 208. Sutton’s bay. Pyramid point. North port 221. I wish the hiking trails were easier to access and either 222. sleeping bear dunes. tandem cider, moomers, sutton’s more connected to the campground or had a separate bay farmers market, leelanau creamery, fishtown dog tent-only campground closer to them. Camping near beach, anywhere we can take our dog the hiking trails/beach would be ideal. 227. Leelanau Conservancy Lighthouse West Natural Area, 227. floating dock on Mud Lake Northport Village, Green Bird Winery, Leland 251. lighthouse, trails, beaches Q.14 DID YOU ALSO VISIT OTHER ATTRAC- 254. Leland, Suttons Bay, Northport TIONS IN THE AREA DURING YOUR MOST 256. Shanty Town, Beaches RECENT VISIT? IF SO, WHAT ATTRACTIONS 263. Northport and Suttons Bay DID YOU VISIT? 280. Northport ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES RESPONSE 284. Glen Arbor, Sutton’s Bay, Traverse City COUNT NO 29.31% 119 YES (PLEASE 70.69% 287 Q.15 DURING YOUR LAST VISIT, WERE THERE DESCRIBE) ANY ACTIVITIES YOU OR SOMEONE IN YOUR ANSWERED 406 PARTY WISHED TO PARTICIPATE IN BUT WERE SKIPPED 106 NOT ABLE TO DUE TO PERSONAL MOBILITY (30 randomly selected responses follow. Full results available CHALLENGES OR LACK OF ACCESSIBILITY upon request) ACCOMMODATIONS? ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES RESPONSE COUNT Yes (please describe): 95.88% 396 1. sleeping bear dunes NO YES (PLEASE DESCRIBE) 4.12% 17 12. Love to go to roam the peninsula, Sleeping Bear Dunes. Old Mission Peninsula, beaches, bays ANSWERED 413 21. I live in area but did visit Kilcherman’s Apple Orchard SKIPPED 99 33. barbs bakery 49. Wineries around Leelanau Peninsula Yes (please describe): 1. handicapped parking is worthless 61. wineries 2. Handicapped access 65. Leland and beaches 3. Boardwalks on sections of trails would be great. 67. Leland, Fishtown, Northport 4. Restrooms at the lighthouse park. 91. sleeping bear dunes, variety of leelanau conservancy areas 5. visiting the lighthouse 93. The airfield, Glen Arbor, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Pyramid 6. Mountain bike trails Point 7. trails under water along lake shore 95. Leland wine and food fest, visited wineries, area 8. Climbing lighthouse tower restaurants, fishtown 9. my elderly mother could not make it down to the beach 109. A township park just north of Northport. due to overgrown bushes and badly maintained path 113. Sleeping Bear Dunes from the lighthouse fog building museum 118. Scenic drive 10. Well but no fault of the park really the water was just so high it flooded the benches for sitting. GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN B-37 APPENDIX B

11. Our daughter is mobility limited. The vault toilets we a Q.16 HAVE YOU VISITED THE GRAND big challenge as was accessing beach front TRAVERSE LIGHTHOUSE (GROUNDS AND/OR 12. We had planned on canoeing- no access to the water. We always trail bike on our many trips, but all we rode MUSEUM)? was to the lighthouse and back. ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES RESPONSE COUNT 13. The check in office had locked the fire wood supply by 5 pm one night and no one was around from the park to YES 81.90% 344 help us, the park specifically tells us to not bring outside NO 18.10% 76 wood... we had to cook on our fire so we went hungry ANSWERED 420 and ended up leaving early because we had no wood. SKIPPED 92 14. Would’ve liked to have seen a fishing dock and a kayak launch at the Campground. Q.17 DID YOU GO INSIDE THE LIGHTHOUSE 15. Swimming MUSEUM? 16. Kayaking. Would like a designated boat ramp/ launch ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES RESPONSE area. COUNT 17. Actually nobody in my party had any issues, but I YES 63.47% 212 noticed the picnic tables in the shelter were arranged in a way that only allowed someone in a wheelchair to NO 36.53% 122 access one table from the west side and no tables from ANSWERED 334 the south side. SKIPPED 178

Q.18 PLEASE RATE YOUR SATISFACTION WITH THE GRAND TRAVERSE LIGHTHOUSE COMPLEX (1 = HIGHLY DISSATISFIED, 5 = NEUTRAL, 9 = HIGHLY SATISFIED). 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 TOTAL WEIGHTED AVERAGE GRAND 1.82% 1.22% 1.22% 0.30% 12.77% 6.69% 24.32% 22.49% 29.18% 329 7.26 TRAVERSE LIGHTHOUSE COMPLEX ANSWERED 329 SKIPPED 183

Q.19 WHAT DID YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR 41. Authenticity and organization EXPERIENCE? 63. the history, displays ANSWERED 227 74. Historic experience. SKIPPED 285 76. I liked the scenic views. 91. History (30 randomly selected responses follow. Full results available upon request) 95. We only walked the grounds have no strong opinion 103. The view 105. History Responses: 1. Seeing a new location. 109. Seeing a lighthouse! 2. The buildings and grounds were well cared for. 132. History 4. understanding life in a lighthouse 133. The history 5. history 136. Cedars 8. The treasure hunt 138. History 17. Exhibits and history 145. I liked seeing the shipwreck stories and salvaged items. It really did a good job describing the history of 21. History shipwrecks in the area. 33. Beautiful site. 162. Being up in the lighthouse top, itself, and some of the 39. Photogenic lighthouse, learning of it’s history. interesting history. I also always enjoy the gift shop (3

B-38 LEELANAU STATE PARK PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT

decades), which keeps getting better each decade. 18. the person sitting the lighthouse wasn’t informed or knew 179. The details, artifacts, history, and staff. the history 193. The view 19. Hours of operation were limiting, but I understand the staffing issues 208. Super interesting to view the area around lighthouse. 20. Needs bigger budget for upkeep 210. Rustic feel 26. less expensive to get in 214. I think the restored lighthouse and associated buildings are great. 28. A bit more guidance, maybe signage, about the various buildings. 218. Chance to see what living quarters were like for lighthouse tender 31. Mosquitoes were killers!! 32. More open hours 33. Longer hours. Q.20 WHAT, IF ANYTHING, WOULD YOU 34. Maybe clean the building of cob webs more, the stone CHANGE TO IMPROVE YOUR EXPERIENCE AT steps outside heading towards the water are crumbling THE GRAND TRAVERSE LIGHTHOUSE? a little. Not kept up like when I was a kid visiting. ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES RESPONSE 35. Didn’t realize you had to pay to go inside. Would be nice COUNT to have interpretive signage on outside if you prefer not NOTHING 83.01% 259 to pay PLEASE DESCRIBE THE 16.99% 53 36. Maintenance DESIRED CHANGES: 37. Tell me if I can pick the fruit (I didn’t the last time I was ANSWERED 312 there). SKIPPED 200 40. I heard a young people’s classical music group one time from the not-far-away music camp; that was wonderful. (30 randomly selected responses follow. Full results available Could it come yearly? upon request) 42. The ROV display was inoperable... the kids really wanted to try it. Please describe the desired changes: 43. It would have been nice if it had been open so we could 1. Reduced costs; add all-family-access option! to state park tour it. pass perhaps 45. I would have liked to have more information posted about 4. display descriptions updated what life was like for a lighthouse keeper. 5. Change fog house exhibits more frequently. 50. Earlier or later hours for touring the lighthouse for 6. Yes add more hands on exhibits for adults and kids. campers who want to spend the day doing things that aren’t near the lighthouse. 7. REAL RESTROOMS not outhouses. 8. Not sure there is anything to improve, definitely not Q.21 HAVE YOU EVER USED ANY OF THE impressed or was it impressive OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS (CAMP- 9. Continuous improvement of the exhibits... (have not seen GROUND, MINI CABINS) AT THE PARK? the underwater robot yet) ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES RESPONSE 11. Trail past the lighthouse leads to a beautiful spot to watch COUNT the sunset. It should be maintained/developed YES 80.19% 332 13. Maybe more items to purchase at store such as nature NO 19.81% 82 and history books. OTHER (PLEASE 0.00% 0 14. We travel with our dog, sometimes this causes us to skip SPECIFY) things because they are not pet friendly. ANSWERED 414 15. Some exhibits could use more information, some could SKIPPED 98 use a refresh. This is from circa 2014, things may have changed 16. The people working at the store. It was the slowest purchase I ever exy 17. We’d been in the lighthouse before and there was no entrance fee. We’d have gone in again for a free will offering but we’re out off by set fee.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN B-39 APPENDIX B

Q.22 WHERE DID YOU STAY THE LAST TIME Q.23 DURING YOUR LAST VISIT, HOW MANY YOU USED THE OVERNIGHT NIGHTS DID YOU STAY? ACCOMMODATIONS AT THE PARK? ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES RESPONSE (SELECT ALL THAT APPLY) COUNT ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES RESPONSE 1 NIGHT 21.88% 72 COUNT 2-3 NIGHTS 62.31% 205 CAMPGROUND 87.54% 288 4-6 NIGHTS 13.98% 46 MINI CABINS 15.50% 51 7 OR MORE NIGHTS 1.82% 6 ANSWERED 329 ANSWERED 329 SKIPPED 183 SKIPPED 183

Where did you stay the last time you used the overnight accommodations During your last visit, how many nights did you stay? at the park? (Select all that apply) 70.00% 100.00% 60.00% 87.54% 90.00% 50.00% 80.00% 70.00% 40.00%

60.00% 30.00% 50.00% 40.00% 20.00% 30.00% 10.00% 20.00% 15.50% 0.00% 10.00% 1 night 2-3 nights 4-6 nights 7 or more nights 0.00% Campground Mini Cabins

Q.24 PLEASE RATE YOUR LEVEL OF SATISFACTION WITH YOUR OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS. (1 = HIGHLY DISSATISFIED, 5 = NEUTRAL, 9 = HIGHLY SATISFIED) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 N/A TOTAL WEIGHTED AVERAGE CAMPGROUND 2.48% 1.42% 1.42% 1.06% 2.84% 4.26% 14.18% 21.99% 45.39% 4.96% 282 7.76 MINI CABINS 0.87% 0.43% 0.00% 0.43% 5.65% 2.61% 2.17% 11.74% 18.26% 57.83% 230 7.61 ANSWERED 329 SKIPPED 183

Q.25 DID YOU BRING YOUR PET(S)? Q.26 WHAT DID YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES RESPONSE ACCOMMODATIONS? COUNT ANSWERED 279 YES 25.53% 84 SKIPPED 233 NO 74.47% 245 ANSWERED 329 (30 randomly selected responses follow. Full results available SKIPPED 183 upon request)

Responses: 11. Location 20. Many sites have good privacy. Rustic so not just a noisy camper parking lot. 21. Lakefront 31. The seclusion 32. camping at the shoreline

B-40 LEELANAU STATE PARK PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT

36. The waterfront 32. Pave the road ,see above 37. The mini cabin we stayed at was Evergreen and when we 33. Cleaner vault toilets arrived it was clean, and the electricity, heat and fan all 35. flush toilets/shower facilities worked well. We felt safe staying there. 37. The shore had a lot of brush in areas making it difficult to 39. rustic access the water. 49. Quiet, secluded 53. Plumbing 52. Quiet and respectful fellow campers. 57. Bathroom 54. hearing the waves and being in the lovely campground. 58. having them better cleaned, inside and out 55. I like the fire pits 60. More out houses 67. scenery 61. Electricity and running water, public showers 69. How close the sites were to the water 69. A cooking grate over the fire pit would be great. 96. Location 70. Larger area of grass or sand to put a tent. More privacy 100. Camp site next to lake from the road. 102. Location to Lake Michigan. 71. Fly control 131. The distance between campsites was large. 74. Make the fire wood supply open and not locked 141. Large campsites 81. NEED MORE SPACES 143. The view 82. They should be pet free. Need sink. Could be cleaner 157. Simplicity 94. Some of the exhaust turbines on the vault toilets were 161. How close the site was the to water rusted or had vegetation growing into them and not spinning, preventing ventilation 165. Remote, rustic; minimal RVs 98. more cabins etc 205. Our private beach directly from our campsite 104. Fresh water filling station for campers 209. Location, on the water 107. Educate campers about not using excessive amounts of 213. Its proximity to the water, size, tree coverage, fire pit. lighter fluid. 232. It was quiet. 118. please no electric hook-ups. better filtration on the 261. Nearness to the lake. potable water. 264. Comfortable but still rustic enough to feel like I am 121. I mentioned previously, having no shower limits the days actually camping. we were willing to camp. I would love to stay longer 265. The tent site was close to the water and the cabins were but would need some option for showering and not everyone has or can use a camp shower surprisingly nice! 123. Build up roads & campsites to reduce flooding Q.27 WHAT COULD BE DONE TO IMPROVE 134. More secluded campsites. Its nice to have neighbors YOUR SATISFACTION WITH THE ACCOMMO- but also nice to have some trees/bushes between each DATIONS IN THE FUTURE? other. ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES RESPONSE 135. A little more shrubbery or something to give some of the COUNT sites a little more of a private feel. It kind of dampened NOTHING 51.74% 164 the romantic feel of being up there with someone special with others right there next to us. PLEASE DESCRIBE THE 48.26% 153 CHANGES YOU WOULD 141. Again, I love this park because of the beauty and peace. LIKE MADE: Parents who scream at screaming children are highly ANSWERED 317 annoying. SKIPPED 195 143. Electric for camping 144. Bathroom was closed for repairs and we had to drive to (30 randomly selected responses follow. Full results available a remote facility upon request) 152. I already mentioned the dusty road and planting more evergreens. There were also a ton of very large vehicles Please describe the desired changes: when we were there, it would be good to have specific 15. Less crowding, if anything. spots (maybe there are and it wasn’t clear) for those very large vehicles so they don’t compact each and 26. I mean real toilets / running water is always appreciated. every campsite. But we knew what we were in for.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN B-41 APPENDIX B

Q.28 ON YOUR MOST RECENT VISIT, WHERE Q.29 DO YOU HUNT OR TRAP AT THE PARK? DID YOU STAY WHEN YOU VISITED THE PARK? ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES RESPONSE ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES RESPONSE COUNT COUNT YES 3.65% 15 OWN PRINCIPAL HOME 40.79% 31 NO 96.35% 396 OWN SECOND HOME 10.53% 8 ANSWERED 411 ANOTHER’S HOME/ 3.95% 3 SKIPPED 101 SECOND HOME ANOTHER STATE PARK 17.11% 13 Q.30 WHAT DO YOU HUNT OR TRAP? DISPERSED CAMPING 2.63% 2 (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY) ON STATE OR FEDERAL FOREST LAND ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES RESPONSE COUNT ANOTHER PUBLIC 1.32% 1 CAMPGROUND WHITE-TAILED DEER 83.33% 10 (FEDERAL, COUNTY, SMALL GAME 50.00% 6 TOWNSHIP, ETC.) TRAPPING 8.33% 1 PRIVATE 5.26% 4 FURBEARERS CAMPGROUND WATERFOWL 16.67% 2 HOTEL/MOTEL/RENTAL 13.16% 10 25.00% 3 PROPERTY/B&B TURKEY 0.00% 0 OTHER (PLEASE 5.26% 4 OTHER (PLEASE SPECIFY) SPECIFY) 12 ANSWERED 76 ANSWERED 500 SKIPPED 436 SKIPPED

On your most recent visit, where did you stay What do you hunt or trap? (Check all that apply) when you visited the park? 90.00% 83.33% 80.00% 45.00% 40.79% 40.00% 70.00% 35.00% 60.00% 50.00% 30.00% 50.00% 25.00% 20.00% 17.11% 40.00% 13.16% 15.00% 10.53% 30.00% 25.00% 10.00% 5.26% 5.26% 16.67% 3.95% 2.63% 20.00% 5.00% 1.32% 8.33% 10.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% White-tailed Small game Trapping Waterfowl Turkey Other (please deer furbearers specify)

Q.31 PLEASE ENTER ANY COMMENTS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT HUNTING AND TRAPPING AT THE PARK. ANSWERED 2 Other (please specify): 510 1. relative SKIPPED 2. Leelanau sands casino 3. lighthouse as volunteer Comments: 1. No active management, should remain available to the 4. on-site campsite public. 2. Under used resource. Park does not stay open late enough in the fall. Should rain open until at minimum 12.01.2019 and better promotion of park operating dates

B-42 LEELANAU STATE PARK PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT

Q.32 DO YOU GO FISHING WHEN YOU VISIT What is your preferred fishing location when THE PARK? visiting the park? 70.00% ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES RESPONSE 61.90% COUNT 60.00%

YES 5.35% 22 50.00% NO 94.65% 389 40.00% ANSWERED 411 30.00% 19.05% SKIPPED 101 20.00% 14.29% 10.00% 4.76%

0.00% Q.33 HOW DO YOU TYPICALLY ACCESS THE Mud Lake Kehl Lake Lake Michigan Other (please WATER FOR FISHING? specify) ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES RESPONSE COUNT SHORELINE 71.43% 15 Other (please specify): MOTORIZED BOAT 9.52% 2 1. Have not tried them all. NON-MOTORIZED 19.05% 4 2. Grand Traverse Bay BOAT 3. Looking around still ANSWERED 21 SKIPPED 491 Q.35 WHAT IS YOUR TARGET SPECIES OF FISH? (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY) ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES RESPONSE COUNT BLUEGILL 10.00% 2 YELLOW PERCH 10.00% 2 How do you typically access the water for fishing? LARGEMOUTH BASS 15.00% 3 80.00% SMALLMOUTH BASS 25.00% 5 70.00% WALLEYE 15.00% 3 60.00% 10.00% 2 50.00% LAKE TROUT 5.00% 1 40.00% WHITEFISH/CISCO

30.00% SALMON 10.00% 2

20.00% CARP 5.00% 1

10.00% NO PARTICULAR SPECIES 65.00% 13 0.00% ANSWERED 20 Shoreline Motorized boat Non-motorized boat SKIPPED 492

Q.34 WHAT IS YOUR PREFERRED FISHING What is your target species of fish? LOCATION WHEN VISITING THE PARK? (Check all that apply) ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES RESPONSE 70.00% 65.00% COUNT 60.00% MUD LAKE 4.76% 1 50.00% KEHL LAKE 19.05% 4 40.00% LAKE MICHIGAN 61.90% 13 30.00% 25.00% 20.00% 15.00% 15.00% OTHER (PLEASE 14.29% 3 10.00% 10.00% 10.00% 10.00% SPECIFY) 10.00% 5.00% 5.00% ANSWERED 21 0.00% SKIPPED 491

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN B-43 APPENDIX B

Q.36 PLEASE ENTER ANY COMMENTS YOU Please select the programs you have participated in at MAY HAVE ABOUT FISHING AT/ the park in the past. (Select all that apply) 35.00% 30.30% 30.30% NEAR THE PARK. 30.00% 27.27% 24.24% ANSWERED 1 25.00% 21.21% 20.00% 18.18% 18.18% 18.18% SKIPPED 511 15.00% 12.12% 12.12% 9.09% 10.00% 6.06% 5.00% Comment: 0.00% 1. Need to add a fishing dock and a kayak launch.

Q.37 HAVE YOU PARTICIPATED IN A SPECIAL EVENT OR HOST PROGRAM (INTERPRETIVE HIKE OR ACTIVITY, PROGRAM OR CLASS, OUTDOOR SKILL CLASS, OR OTHER EVENT) AT THE PARK? Other (please specify): ANSWER RESPONSES RESPONSE 1. Harvest festival CHOICES COUNT 2. Bird migration hike YES 8.56% 35 3. Winter trails day NO 91.44% 374 4. Leelanau birding festival 409 ANSWERED 5. lighthouse keeper SKIPPED 103 6. Winter sports trail open house, and volunteer trail clean up days for the winter sports trail Q.38 PLEASE SELECT THE PROGRAMS YOU 7. concerts HAVE PARTICIPATED IN AT THE PARK IN THE 8. Trail to Table PAST. (SELECT ALL THAT APPLY) 9. My wife attended one or two other nature programs. ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES RESPONSE COUNT 10. Trail to Table METEORS AND S’MORES 30.30% 10 FIREWORKS-FREE 18.18% 6 FOURTH SNOWSHOE HIKES 12.12% 4 ROCK THE LIGHT 5K 18.18% 6 PANCAKE BREAKFAST 24.24% 8 TRAIL CLEANUP FOR 9.09% 3 NATIONAL TRAILS DAY HAUNTED LIGHTHOUSE 21.21% 7 LOBSTER FESTIVAL 12.12% 4 CHRISTMAS AT THE 18.18% 6 LIGHTHOUSE AUTISM AWARENESS 6.06% 2 ACTIVITIES SHIPWRECK PROGRAMS 27.27% 9 OTHER (PLEASE SPECIFY) 30.30% 10 ANSWERED 33 SKIPPED 479

B-44 LEELANAU STATE PARK PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT

Q.39 PLEASE RATE THE LEVEL OF SATISFACTION WITH THE PROGRAMS OR ACTIVITIES IN WHICH YOU PARTICIPATED. (1 = HIGHLY DISSATISFIED, 5 = NEUTRAL, 9 = HIGHLY SATISFIED) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 TOTAL WEIGHTED AVERAGE METEORS AND 0.00% 10.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 10.00% 30.00% 10.00% 40.00% 10 7.3 S’MORES FIREWORKS-FREE 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 33.33% 16.67% 50.00% 6 8.17 FOURTH SNOWSHOE HIKES 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 25.00% 25.00% 50.00% 4 8.25 ROCK THE LIGHT 5K 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 16.67% 0.00% 50.00% 33.33% 6 8 PANCAKE 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 25.00% 25.00% 12.50% 37.50% 8 7.63 BREAKFAST TRAIL CLEANUP 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 33.33% 66.67% 3 8.67 FOR NATIONAL TRAILS DAY HAUNTED 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 16.67% 16.67% 66.67% 6 8.5 LIGHTHOUSE LOBSTER FESTIVAL 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 25.00% 0.00% 75.00% 4 8.5 CHRISTMAS AT THE 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 50.00% 50.00% 6 8.5 LIGHTHOUSE AUTISM 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 50.00% 0.00% 0.00% 50.00% 0.00% 2 6.5 AWARENESS ACTIVITIES SHIPWRECK 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 22.22% 44.44% 33.33% 9 8.11 PROGRAMS [INSERT TEXT FROM 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 20.00% 40.00% 40.00% 10 8.2 OTHER] ANSWERED 33 SKIPPED 479

Q.40 PLEASE ENTER ANY COMMENTS YOU Q.41 WHAT, IF ANY, ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS MAY HAVE ON THE SPECIAL EVENTS OR OR EVENTS WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE AVAIL- PROGRAMS IN WHICH YOU PARTICIPATED. ABLE AT THE PARK IN THE FUTURE? ANSWERED 10 ANSWERED 10 SKIPPED 502 SKIPPED 502

Comments: Responses: 1. Very well run and fun for kids. 1. Dark sky awareness/education. 2. The live music is also great 2. Not sure. 3. Loved working at the Michigan cares for tourisim 3. Leave no Trace! My favorite pastime along the shoreline 4. Would love for the bird festival to return but that has of this area is picking up trash. Funny, I see so many nothing to do with the park people come in, park, take a photo and leave. Many step over trash or worse leave it. 5. Great to see the community come together to support the winter sports trail 4. more concerts, special nature programs for children/ families on wildlife, rock/fossil collecting, bird migration, 6. Love the haunted lighthouse program, the enthusiasm seasonal, group hikes, fourth of July games/activities of the staff, decorations etc for kids, Sierra Club lectures on wildflowers & invasives, 7. concerts were favorite educational programs, bike rental day weekend, a night 8. The Trail to Table was a great collaborative event with so sky viewing event. many people of all ages participating. 5. Unsure 9. This was the reason I came and stayed at the park. 6. Full service campsites 10. Stargazing isn’t something I normally do. Was nice to 7. music/concerts have an opportunity to do so. GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN B-45 APPENDIX B

8. Bat walks 85. I was pleased there was a Park Steward available, because 9. I would love to have this be an annual event. 2 campers came that my dog reacted to in a very wary way. Because of his unusual reaction, I notified the 10. 30 minute education session on the development and steward and she stayed that night. Thank you. utilization of the lighthouse and what it has meant in terms of commerce. 87. This park has so much opportunity. Please add campsites. Please add electric. Camping has become so popular in Michigan. It would be wise to capitalize on this popular tourist and economic opportunities. Q.42 PLEASE SHARE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS 93. The water from the spigot was YELLOW. Any chance of YOU MAY HAVE ON THE PARK. filters? Also, we’d really like electricity at a few sites. ANSWERED 153 102. Please keep this park in its simple natural state. It’s SKIPPED 359 beauty is in its simplicity & the abundance of tent campers. 103. It’s a beautiful park.. cannot wait for my next trip.. Comments: would like to be able to shower every now and then.. 3. It’s a hidden gem! Bathrooms and fire pits in campground wish the toilets did not stink so much.. (there is stuff used to be better maintained. A lot of small trash in you can do to make out houses less smelly).. and a campsites last summer too. place to wash hands 5. I have hunted with black powder in December for deer. I 110. More group sites and campground spots see potential conflicts with fat tire bikers. 114. It’s a great park, beautiful, private, natural. Part of what 11. It would be wonderful to have a trail connect the we like comes from it remaining rustic, no hot showers northern and southern units. Otherwise, please keep it or indoor toilets, because fewer people--and mainly the way it is. just those interested in old-time camping (more tent 12. a handfull of electric sites in the campground to tone campers)--show up. We’d hate to see that change. down the generators, would be nice. 118. The campground hosts were very friendly and helpful. 13. Great park, in order for me to stay more than 2 nights I 123. I hope that any changes maintain the atmosphere of the need to have access to a shower and flushing toilets. If park that were added I would camp at the park more often. 134. I love that you remain a “rustic” campground. It’s a 17. I like that it is not busy and a place where you can get peaceful, charming place to camp. We love it there! away as Leelanau County gets more busy and filled with people the Park is not overrun. 143. This is one of my favorite state parks in Michigan. Let’s keep it peaceful. 19. Always enjoy visiting this park for day trips and camping, with family or friends. I live in Traverse City so it’s nearby 146. Please don’t disrupt the peaceful atmosphere of the and a real favorite. park or the sensitive dune soils and plants by putting in more mountain bike trails. Keep bikes out of the dunes. 24. Always enjoy visiting this park for day trips and camping, with family or friends. I live in Traverse City so it’s nearby 148. Add mountain biking and a real favorite. 152. There should be signage somewhere (hopefully close 29. Don’t develop it any further. It’s a rare park that isn’t to Northport) explaining about needing a recreation jammed with RVs and noise. passport. It can be upsetting to visitors to go to see the lighthouse and then find out they have to pay admission 54. Do not over-develop. Enjoy the rustic appeal of the to the park and then admission to the lighthouse (many shoreline and simple hiking trails. Thank you! maps only show the lighthouse, and don’t show that it’s 56. We love it here so much we actually store our camper in part of the state park) Northport so it is easy to stay numerous times through the camping season 58. It is a lovely park for visiting and camping. Please control the shrubbery overgrowth among the lake shore. 66. Keep the camping rustic and also maybe ban generators because they’re so freaking loud 67. It needs to be preserved. 70. Staff should enforce quiet time at 10pm. Never have seen staff do this 84. We love camping here. It is one of the best state parks we have ever been to. The individual sites are not packed together. We loved our site on the water.

B-46 LEELANAU STATE PARK PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT

Q.43 (OPTIONAL) SHARE A PHOTO OF YOUR Q.45 WHAT IS YOUR AGE? EXPERIENCE AT LEELANAU STATE PARK! BY ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES RESPONSE UPLOADING A PHOTO, YOU GRANT PERMIS- COUNT SION TO THE DNR TO USE THE PHOTO. UNDER 18 0.00% 0 ANSWERED 66 18-29 7.44% 32 SKIPPED 446 30-39 16.28% 70 40-49 15.12% 65 50-64 38.37% 165 65 OR OLDER 22.09% 95 Q.44 WHAT IS THE ZIP CODE OF YOUR I PREFER NOT TO 0.70% 3 PRIMARY RESIDENCE? ANSWER. ANSWERED 429 ANSWERED 430 SKIPPED 83 SKIPPED 82

What is your age? 45.00% 40.00% 35.00% 30.00% 25.00% 20.00% 15.00% 10.00% 5.00% 0.00% Under 18 18-29 30-39 40-49 50-64 65 or older I prefer not to answer.

A map depicting the zip code of survey respondents’ primary residence. Brighter colors indicate a greater concentration of respondents. A small number of respondents were located outside the map extent.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN B-47 APPENDIX B

B.6 Summary of Draft Plan Public Input

B-48 LEELANAU STATE PARK OPINION OF PROBABLE COSTS Appendix C: Opinion of Probable Costs C.1 State Park Funding C.2 Estimated Cost of Proposed Develop- The primary funding sources for state park improvement and ments development projects are Recreation Passport sales (motor The following table provides an estimate of probable cost vehicle registration fee), the Park Endowment Fund (generated for each capital outlay development project proposed at from royalties from oil, gas and mineral extraction on public Leelanau State Park over the next ten years. Management land) and the Park Improvement Fund (from camping and and operations actions, small projects, which are funded out other state park user fees). One-time appropriations from the of district or park funds, and partner projects are not included state General Fund may also be ear marked for specific needs in this list but will have additional financial implications. but are not guaranteed. The annual capital outlay budget for The costs are preliminary, based on information available state parks varies significantly from year to year, as illustrated at the time, and will be adjusted as studies, conceptual and by the table below. The necessary restrictions put in place to detailed designs are completed. Where noted, the costs may mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in 2020 negatively impacted only include studies or project planning, which will provide economic activity in Michigan and state revenue collections. direction for development costs if determined appropriate. In anticipation of these impacts, limits have been imposed The costs are based on 2020 prices and should be adjusted on discretionary state funding. Both long- and short-term according to the consumer price index and the market at the spending is therefore uncertain. time of implementation.

The state park system is 100 years old and much of the The following action goals are ranked in terms of priority infrastructure is aging. Identified infrastructure needs based on health, safety, and welfare, as well as identified across the state park system (excluding Belle Isle Park, trail need and ease of implementation (cost, ability to implement infrastructure, and state waterways infrastructure) is currently with own staff, partnerships etc.). Priority Level 1 projects estimated to be over $258 million. indicate those that should be addressed within the next 2 years. Priority Level 2 projects include those that should FISCAL TOTAL ANNUAL IDENTIFIED YEAR CAPITAL OUTLAY INFRASTRUCTURE be addressed within 2-5 years. Priority Level 3 projects are PROJECT BUDGET** NEEDS desired but can be tackled in the next 5-10 years once funding has been identified. FY21 $ 14,945,000 $ 258,482,050 FY20 $ 15,435,000 $ 278,159,950 FY19 $ 18,925,000 $ 273,498,836 FY18 $ 14,520,000 $ 264,089,912 FY17 $ 10,400,000 $ 285,513,487 FY16 $ 8,661,000 $ 312,594,557

**Capital Outlay funds dedicated to funding state park projects; excluding funds for Belle Isle Park, major emergency repairs, District Major Maintenance Projects, etc.

With such a large gap between financial need and budget, all projects are carefully analyzed to look at innovative solutions to increase efficiencies or downsize assets.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN C-1 APPENDIX C

LEELANAU STATE PARK INFRASTRUCTURE & DEVELOPMENT: CAPITAL OUTLAY ACTION GOALS PRIORITY OPINION OF PROBABLE COST Explore the potential for relocated and/or a limited number of additional rustic campsites/camping opportunities in keeping with the natural 1 $60,000 character of the park. (Survey and design) Update the historic structures report for the Grand Traverse Lighthouse. 2 $30,000

Design and construct a storage garage at the day-use area 3 $50,000

Study options for drinking water upgrades and restroom updates $25,000 3 (Study and OPC) TOTAL* $165,000 *Excludes costs yet to be identified by studies to determine best way to proceed and costs associated with projects that are already funded.

C-2 LEELANAU STATE PARK AGREEMENTS Appendix D: Agreements D.1 Lighthouse West Conservation Easement

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN D-1 APPENDIX D

D-2 LEELANAU STATE PARK AGREEMENTS

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN D-3 APPENDIX D

D-4 LEELANAU STATE PARK AGREEMENTS

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN D-5 APPENDIX D

D-6 LEELANAU STATE PARK AGREEMENTS

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN D-7 APPENDIX D

D-8 LEELANAU STATE PARK AGREEMENTS

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN D-9 APPENDIX D

D-10 LEELANAU STATE PARK AGREEMENTS

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN D-11 APPENDIX D

D-12 LEELANAU STATE PARK AGREEMENTS

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN D-13 APPENDIX D

D-14 LEELANAU STATE PARK AGREEMENTS

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN D-15 APPENDIX D

D-16 LEELANAU STATE PARK AGREEMENTS

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN D-17 APPENDIX D

D-18 LEELANAU STATE PARK AGREEMENTS

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN D-19 APPENDIX D

D.2 Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum Lease

D-20 LEELANAU STATE PARK AGREEMENTS

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN D-21 APPENDIX D

D-22 LEELANAU STATE PARK AGREEMENTS

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN D-23 APPENDIX D

D-24 LEELANAU STATE PARK AGREEMENTS

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN D-25 APPENDIX D

D-26 LEELANAU STATE PARK AGREEMENTS

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN D-27 APPENDIX D

D-28 LEELANAU STATE PARK AGREEMENTS

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN D-29 APPENDIX D

D-30 LEELANAU STATE PARK AGREEMENTS

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN D-31 APPENDIX D

D-32 LEELANAU STATE PARK AGREEMENTS

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN D-33 APPENDIX D

D-34 LEELANAU STATE PARK AGREEMENTS

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN D-35 APPENDIX D

D-36 LEELANAU STATE PARK AGREEMENTS

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN D-37 APPENDIX D

D-38 LEELANAU STATE PARK AGREEMENTS

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN D-39 APPENDIX D

D-40 LEELANAU STATE PARK AGREEMENTS

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN D-41 APPENDIX D

D-42 LEELANAU STATE PARK AGREEMENTS

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN D-43 APPENDIX D

D-44 LEELANAU STATE PARK AGREEMENTS

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN D-45 APPENDIX D

D-46 LEELANAU STATE PARK AGREEMENTS

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN D-47 APPENDIX D

D-48 LEELANAU STATE PARK AGREEMENTS

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN D-49 APPENDIX D

D.3 Grand Traverse Light Station Reservation Patent

D-50 LEELANAU STATE PARK AGREEMENTS

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN D-51 APPENDIX D

D-52 LEELANAU STATE PARK AGREEMENTS

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN D-53 APPENDIX D

D-54 LEELANAU STATE PARK