Western Upper Peninsula Citizens Advisory Council Division Reports
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Western Upper Peninsula Citizen Advisory Council DNR Division Reports Date of Production: July 2017 This documentation is provided by Michigan DNR staff as a supplement to verbal reports that will be distributed to the Western UPCAC at the July 19th meeting in Harris, MI. Upper Peninsula Regional Coordinator Update – Stacy Haughey, UP Regional Coordinator DNR Public Meetings July 13 Forestry Compartment Review-Baraga Unit, DNR Baraga Office, 9:00am July 13 Natural Resources Commission UP Meeting, Lansing July 20 Western UP Citizens’ Advisory Council Meeting, Harris, 5:00pm Central/6:00pm Eastern August 2 Forestry Open House-Escanaba Unit, Stephenson Field Office, 4:00pm Eastern August 10 Natural Resources Commission Meeting, Jackson August 15 Michigan Iron Industry Museum Advisory Board Meeting, Negaunee, 3:00pm August 16 Forestry Compartment Review-Escanaba Unit, Escanaba State Office Building, 9:00am DNR Pocket Park – UP State Fair in Escanaba – August 14 through August 20, 2017 WE NEED YOU! It’s never too early to start thinking about volunteering at the DNR Pocket Park in Escanaba during the week of the UP State Fair. Please consider volunteering with your group or family member(s) and help to teach a young girl or boy to catch a fish or shoot a pellet gun. Over 200 slots to fill! Create and nurture a new generation of young UP sportspersons! Call or email Kristi Dahlstrom ([email protected] / 906-226- 1331) or Jo Ann Alexander ([email protected] / 906-786-2351) to reserve your volunteer slot NOW! U.P. State Park & State Sponsored Activities July 15 Baraga State Park-Kayaking 101 and 202 July 16 Indian Lake State Park-Street Chalk Art July 18 Michigan Iron Industry Museum-Magnificent Mansions and Courtly Cottages in the U.P. July 19 Indian Lake State Park-Outdoor Stories July 20-22 Indian Lake State Park-Christmas in July July 20-22 Van Riper State Park-Archery 101 July 21 Michigan Iron Industry Museum-Iron Ore Heritage Trail Bike Tour July 21 Indian Lake State Park-Bob Hausler/Singer, Musician, Songwriter July 21-22 Fayette Historic State Park-A Paranormal Event July 21-22 Wells State Park-Christmas in July 1 of 15 July 22 Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park-Dyeing Yarn Using Natural Dyes July 23 Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park-Exploring Lichens and Linen Stitch Knitting July 25 Michigan Iron Industry Museum-Wolf’s Mouth: Upper Peninsula POW Research Behind the Novel July 27 Indian Lake State Park-Honor Our Veterans July 28-30 Fort Wilkins Historic State Park-Battery D Michigan Light Artillery Living History Civil War Encampment July 28 Michigan Iron Industry Museum-Iron Ore Heritage Trail Bike Tour July 28-30 Baraga State Park-Christmas in July July 28 Indian Lake State Park-Intro to Turkey Hunting Clinic July 29 Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park-Create a Simple Landscape with Watercolor July 29 Palms Book State Park-Family Fun Day / Intro to Turkey Hunting Clinic July 30 Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park-Lake of the Clouds/A Stained Glass Creation Recent DNR Press Releases For full details, go to: www.michigan.gov/dnrpressroom Boating access site to be improved in Iron County (7/10/17) Share ideas on state forest planning for Delta, Menominee counties (7/6/17) DNR confirms presence of a cougar in Lower Peninsula (6/29/17) Early detection is key to controlling Michigan’s aquatic invasive species (6/29/17) Line 5 alternatives draft resort available for public review (6/29/17) Guided tours take cyclists through U.P. countryside, into Michigan history (6/29/17) U.P. history in spotlight at Iron Industry Museum summer series (6/28/17) Conservation officers urge caution on U.P. waterways (6/23/17) Crystal Falls DNR office set to undergo extensive interior remodel (6/23/17) Trapping experts return to convention/expo in Delta County (6/22/17) Improvements made to Schoolcraft County wildlife viewing area (6/20/17) NRC’s Richardson to appear on ‘The Ryan Report’ (6/14/17) DNR replacing Culhane Lake boat ramp in Luce County (6/14/17) DNR reports moose survey results (6/12/17) Grant Contacts For other grant information, to go: http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-58225---,00.html Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant Merrie Carlock, 517-284-5931, [email protected] Recreation Passport Grant Merrie Carlock, 517-284-5931, [email protected] Aquatic Habitat Grant Kelly Parker, 517-284-5957, [email protected] Michigan Invasive Species Grant Kammy Frayre, 517-284-5970, [email protected] Wildlife Habitat Grant Kelly Parker, 517-284-5957, [email protected] U.P. Deer Habitat Improvement Partnership Grant Bill Scullon, 906-563-9247, [email protected] Eastern UPCAC Update The EUPCAC met on June 14th in Munising. Agenda items included reports on eastern UP trails, UP Wildlife Habitat Workgroup and CWD. A presentation was made by council member Tim Hass on how the North Country Trails Association benefits from Iron Belle trail grants and Michigan State Parks on the Air. A state park update was provided along with 2017 deer regulation recommendations. The next meeting of the EUPCAC will be on August 24th in Newberry. 2 of 15 Anna Mooney, Legislative & Legal Affairs Office July Legislative Update – PA 39 of 2017 (SB 118) – Trail Sponsor and Limited Liability – Sen. Hansen This new act amends the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act by amending Sections 72108 and 73301 and adding Section 73302 to allow the Department to become rail-trail sponsor and to expand liability coverage to individuals conducting work on Department trails and other lands. PA 60 of 2017 (HB 4082) – Require Notification of Department Prescribed Burns – Rep. Whiteford This new act amends Section 51501 and adds Section 51503c of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to require prior notice to a township supervisor and primary point of emergency contact of prescribed burns. SB 76 – Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) 2017 Appropriation – Sen. Booher Pursuant to the recommendation of the Natural Resources Trust Fund Board, SB 76, as introduced, would appropriate $47.6 million from the MNRTF for 27 acquisition projects (approximately $27.7 million) and 87 development projects (approximately $19.9 million). Total matching funds of $40.1 million result in total project costs of $87.7 million. • This is before the Governor for consideration. • The Administration supports this legislation. HB 4787 – Ice Shanty Removal – Rep. VanderWall This bill seeks to amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act by amending Sections 46502, 46507, and 46508 to change requirements for how an ice shanty can be identified. Instead of an individual using their home address to identify their shanty, the bill would allow for the use of the owner’s driver license number or their sportcard to be posted on the outside of the shanty. The bill would also remove the dates in statute for when shanties are required to be removed from the ice and would allow for the Department to set this date instead. • This bill was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources. • The Administration has not taken a position on this legislation. If you would like to learn more about these and other bills, you can access the Michigan Legislature website at www.legislature.mi.gov. July 2017 NRC Meeting Summary – Ed Golder, Public Information Officer The Natural Resources Commission met in Lansing on July 13, 2017. Major actions taken: • The commission finalized deer regulations for the next three years, approving antlerless deer license quotas and deer management assistance permits and antler point restrictions. The commission departed from proposed changes to the Wildlife Conservation Order that had been on the agenda in several ways: . The commission extended a five-county Deer Management Assistance Permit pilot program – which had been scheduled to sunset this year – for one additional year. The department had recommended a three-point-on-a-side antler point restriction in DMUs 487 and 452 in the bovine tuberculosis region of the Lower Peninsula. The commission declined to institute antler point restrictions in these DMUs on deer licenses or deer combination licenses. The department had recommended changing the dates for hunting on South Fox Island. The commission chose to retain current dates for hunting on the island. • Director Keith Creagh approved four land transactions. Details of those transactions can be found linked in the NRC agenda online. The day began with a meeting of the Policy Committee on Finance and Operations. Fisheries Chief Jim Dexter presented the Fisheries Division Fiscal Year 2016 annual report. The Fisheries budget for FY 2016 totaled $29.2 million. Jim’s report was structured around Fisheries' strategic goals: healthy aquatic ecosystems and 3 of 16 sustainable fish populations; diverse fishing opportunities; strategic resource partnerships; strategically focused assessment and decision support tools; and efficient division operations. Among other accomplishments in FY 2016, Fisheries issued $1.25 million in Aquatic Habitat Grants, $350,000 in Dam Management Grants and $278,000 in Habitat Improvement Account grants, which mitigate resource impacts from hydropower dams. Fisheries stocked 32 million fish, launched Michigan's Arctic Grayling Initiative and interviewed some 80,000 anglers to collect valuable management data. Law Enforcement Division Chief Gary Hagler presented his division's 2017 annual report, which uses data from the 2016 calendar year consistent with how other law enforcement agencies report data. LED's FY 2016 budget totaled $39.5 million. LED's strategic goals are: preserve and protect; promote and enhance public safety; improve and enhance public understanding of what we do; develop and foster beneficial partnerships; serve as effective stewards of funding sources; attract, maintain and support highly trained officers and staff; increase efficiency and effectiveness.