LTA 20190127 WLD Acquisition, Houghton Lake Flats, Roscommon County
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STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES LANSING GRETCHEN WHITMER DANIEL EICHINGER GOVERNOR DIRECTOR November 12, 2019 TO: Daniel Eichinger, Director INFORMATION: Natural Resources Commission Transaction: Wildlife Land Acquisition Houghton Lake Flats South Flooding State Wildlife Management Area – Roscommon County The Thomas Tract Land Transaction Case #20190127 Purchase: 17 acres - $6,000.00 Funding Source: 7C Statewide Wetlands Waterfowl Capital Outlay and Game and Fish Protection Funds PA 240 of 2018: PILT Estimate: $37.69 This parcel is located north of the Mason-Arenac county line and will result in an increase of 17 acres of DNR-managed lands. Description: Roscommon County, Lake Township, T23N, R04W, Section 21: That part of Government Lot 2, lying west of Highway (Old) U.S. 27 and south of County Road No. 300. Seller(s): James W. Thomas Jr. and Sharon K. Thomas Trust, Prudenville, Michigan Authority: Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, as amended. Notice: This item will appear on the Department of Natural Resources (Department) December 3, 2019 calendar and is eligible for approval on December 10, 2019. Management This vacant wetland property is located at the corner of Yeager Road Purpose: and North Harrison Road on the east side of Grass Lake. Located on the dedicated boundary of Houghton Lake Flats South Flooding State Wildlife Management Area (within the Roscommon Forest Management Unit), the property provides habitat for a variety of wildlife species including mallards, wood ducks and osprey, as well as furbearers. The property will be managed as waterfowl habitat. Comments: The property is characterized by wooded wetland with access via Yeager Road and North Harrison Road. CONSTITUTION HALL • 525 WEST ALLEGAN STREET • P.O. BOX 30028 • LANSING, MICHIGAN 48909-7528 www.michigan.gov/dnr • (517) 284-MDNR(6367) Land Transaction Case #20190127, Houghton Lake Flats South Flooding State Wildlife Management Area – Roscommon County Page 2 of 3 November 12, 2019 The Department maintains a 2,000-foot dike immediately outside the Thomas property. The dike was designed specifically to maintain water level at the Houghton Lake Flats Flooding area from inundating the Thomas property. Purchasing this property would add significant habitat to the flooding area and relieve the Department of its obligation to maintain the dike. Acquiring this property will address the Department’s Managed Public Land Strategy by increasing the net coverage of the Houghton Lake Flats South Flooding State Wildlife Management Area. It will also contribute towards meeting the Wildlife Division Land Acquisition Strategy objective of acquiring 1,000 acres of waterfowl habitat with high quality natural resource values. This acquisition also provides increased public outdoor recreation opportunities in northern Michigan. The seller will convey mineral rights relative to this tract. Recommendation: 1. That the acquisition be approved, with payment to be made using 7C Statewide Wetlands Waterfowl Capital Outlay and Game and Fish Protection Funds. 2. That this land be dedicated as part of the Houghton Lake Flats South Flooding State Wildlife Management Area within the Roscommon Forest Management Unit. Land Transaction Case #20190127, Houghton Lake Flats South Flooding State Wildlife Management Area – Roscommon County Page 3 of 3 November 12, 2019 James L. Dexter, Chief Deb Begalle, Chief Fisheries Division Forest Resources Division Ronald A. Olson, Chief Rex Ainslie, Acting Chief Parks and Recreation Division Wildlife Division Shannon Hanna Mark H. Hoffman Natural Resources Deputy Chief Administrative Officer I approve the staff recommendations. Daniel Eichinger Director Date Approved WILDLIFE LAND ACQUISITION Houghton Lake Flats Wildlife Area - Roscommon County Land Transaction Case #20190127 27 1 - US Rd. ns Lake Higgi 20 21 Houghton Lake HOUGHTON LAKE FLATS STATE WILDLIFE AREA 28 29 Section 21, T23N, R04W, Lake Township Land to be acquired by DNR (17 acres) State land Private land DNR Project Boundary Feet 0 1,000 10/25/2019 Higgins Roscommon Lake 127 - Lyon Manor US MISSAUKEE 18 CO. - Site M M-55 Houghton Lake M-55 Houghton Lake ROSCOMMON CO. DNR Project Boundaries .