MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES South Higgins Lake State Park Concession Building South Higgins Lake State Park GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN Approved June 7, 2019 Rev. 2/21/2020 to correct park acreage Prepared with the assistance of PLAN APPROVALS e e E Higgins Lake d i k s f a r L u n s S g g i H i Everett State Forest Land - !3 !_ Roscommon Forest !3 Mckenzie !y !f Management !- Unit !7 !@ Marl Lake BAS _ !_ !_ !¼ ! y = !? !7 ! M a r l Lincoln ! !_ Snowbell L a k e !» SP Service Road GERRISH TOWNSHIP Marl Lake MARKEY TOWNSHIP !Z S. Higgins Lake Leafy State Park Markey Kirkshire Heidi d Rustic l t e e fi s f r e e h S m m u S Elk Caduca e R t av en n a L ld D a ie rk ff e Sh Valencia Ridgedale Cut rd a h rc O ld Markey O School S. HIGGINS LAKE STATE PARK GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 0 0.25 0.5 Miles Management Zones Data Sources: Michigan CGI Data Library, Michigan Department of Natural Resources Date: 4/26/2019 S. Higgins Lake State Park Boundary !f Concession/Store !Z Registration Station Trails !? Contact Station !» Sanitation Station Management Zones: !@ Headquarters !_ Toilet / Shower Administrative Services !- Informational !7 Vault Toilet Primitive != Mini Cabin !¼ Campground Backcountry !3 Pavilion !y Boat Launch Developed Recreation Boat Wash !3 Pavilion This project was directed by Deborah Jensen, Management Plan Administrator, Department of Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation Division with assistance from Beckett & Raeder, Inc. PLAN APPROVALS: 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. 1/7/2019 PRD - Section Chiefs Date 3/12/2019 DNR - Resource Management Bureau Date 3/19/2019 MSPAC - Stewardship Subcommittee Date 4/11/2019 NRC - Michigan State Parks Advisory Committee Date PLAN APPROVALS RESOLUTION NO. 04-2019-03 MICHIGAN STATE PARKS ADVISORY COMMITTEE (MSPAC) RESOLUTION TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE “SOUTH HIGGINS LAKE STATE PARK GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN” ADOPTED: April 11, 2019 WHEREAS, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Parks and Recreation Division has completed the General Management Plan for South Higgins Lake State Park; and WHEREAS, the planning process reflects sensitivity to natural resource values, historic and cultural resource values, recreation and education opportunities, and is inclusive of all DNR programs and representative of eco-management; and WHEREAS, the planning process was further inclusive of stakeholder, constituent, and public input; and WHEREAS, the General Management Plan represents sound guidance for future planning phases that will be consistent with the mission of the DNR and the Parks and Recreation Division, and reflective of the purpose and significance of South Higgins Lake State Park; and WHEREAS, the General Management Plan is consistent with the recommendations of the Michigan State Parks and Outdoor Recreation Blue Ribbon Panel report submitted to former Governor Rick Snyder; and WHEREAS, the General Management Plan has been reviewed and recommended for approval by the Parks and Recreation Division and the MSPAC Stewardship Subcommittee. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Michigan State Parks Advisory Committee recommends approval of the South Higgins Lake State Park General Management Plan; and THERFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Michigan State Parks Advisory Committee further recommends that the DNR Director approve the General Management Plan for South Higgins Lake State Park; Submitted by: MSPAC Stewardship Subcommittee Motioned by: Commissioner Louise Klarr Yeas: 11 Seconded by: Committee Member Tom Bailey Nays: 0 Abstained: 0 Absent: 3 This Resolution was adopted by the Michigan State Parks Advisory Committee at their regular meeting on April 11, 2019 as Resolution No. 04-2019-03 TABLE OF CONTENTS General Management Plan Executive Summary ............................................... 1 Significance of South Higgins Lake State Park .............................................. 2 Management Zones ...................................................................................... 2 Ten-Year Action Goals ................................................................................... 4 Implementation Strategy .............................................................................. 4 Chapter One: Core Values & Guiding Resources ............................................... 5 1.1 Mission Statements ............................................................................... 5 1.2 Guiding References ................................................................................ 5 1.3 Summary of Legal Mandates ................................................................. 7 Chapter Two: Plan Process Overview ............................................................... 8 2.1 Planning Objectives ............................................................................... 8 2.2 Planning Process .................................................................................... 9 2.3 Planning Team ....................................................................................... 9 2.4 Summary of Input Opportunities ........................................................... 9 Chapter Three: Purpose and Significance ....................................................... 11 3.1 Park Purpose ........................................................................................ 11 3.2 Statements of Significance .................................................................. 11 3.3 Public Affirmation of Significance ......................................................... 13 3.4 Community Connection ........................................................................ 13 Chapter Four: Management Zones ................................................................. 14 4.1 Primitive Zone ...................................................................................... 17 4.2 Backcountry Zone ................................................................................ 18 4.3 Developed Recreation Zone ................................................................ 19 4.4 Administrative Services Zone ............................................................... 20 Chapter Five: Ten-Year Action Goals ............................................................... 21 Chapter Six: Implementation Strategy ........................................................... 24 6.1 Implementation Toolbox ...................................................................... 24 6.2 Documentation of Changes .................................................................. 25 6.3 Documentation of Accomplishments ................................................... 25 6.4 Five-Year Review Process ...................................................................... 25 TABLE OF CONTENTS Appendix A: Supporting Analysis ................................................................... 26 A.1 Park Setting .......................................................................................... 26 A.2 Demographics ...................................................................................... 27 A.3 Regional Recreation Resources ............................................................ 28 A.4 History of South Higgins Lake State Park .............................................. 34 A.5 Land Ownership ................................................................................... 35 A.6 Legal Mandates .................................................................................... 36 A.7 Landscape Context and Natural .......................................................... 39 Resources ................................................................................................... 39 A.8 Recreation Resources ........................................................................... 41 A.9 Historic and Cultural Resources ........................................................... 43 A.10 Programming and Events ................................................................... 43 A.11 Park Use Statistics .............................................................................. 44 Appendix B: Public and Stakeholder Input ..................................................... 57 B.1 Project Website ................................................................................... 57 B.2 Online Public Survey ............................................................................. 57 B.3 Public Input Survey Results .................................................................. 75 B.4 Summary of Stakeholder Input Workshop ......................................... 133 B.5 Tribal Communication ........................................................................ 137 B.6 Summary of Draft Plan Public Input ................................................... 139 B.7 Response to Public Input Comments ................................................. 169 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Boating on Higgins Lake General Management Plan Executive Summary South Higgins Lake State Park, a 1,364-acre park situated on The supporting analysis, included as Appendix A of this one mile of shoreline of the picturesque Higgins Lake, boasts plan, provides important background information on South one of the largest Michigan state park campgrounds, four Higgins Lake State Park that informs this planning initiative.