DNR conservation officer academy starts Jan. 3

Twenty-four potential new conservation officers will report Sunday, Jan. 3, in Lansing to attend the Department of Natural Resources' conservation officer training academy. The Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards-sanctioned academy will be led by the DNR's Law Enforcement Division employment and training section.

The 24 recruits will complete a 22-week training academy that includes 14 weeks of basic police training and eight weeks of more specialized conservation officer training. Following graduation, the probationary conservation officers will then complete 18 weeks of field training. During the first two years after field training completion, the conservation officers will complete four additional weeks of specialized training, including search and rescue training and marine, waterfowl, snowmobile and trapping enforcement training.

There are 22 men and two women in Recruit School No. 7. Seven of the new recruits are military veterans and three are previous law enforcement officers. Upon academy graduation, the recruits will range in age from 21 to 45.

DNR conservation officers serve a distinct role in Michigan's law enforcement community. They are certified police officers with the authority to enforce all of Michigan's criminal laws. As conservation officers, they also have unique training in a wide variety of other areas related to the protection of Michigan's citizens and natural resources.

Michigan currently has 213 conservation officers, which doesn’t account for upcoming attrition through retirements.

“Our goal is to establish and maintain appropriate conservation officer coverage for every Michigan county, and this recruit school furthers that goal,” said Gary Hagler, chief of the DNR’s Law Enforcement Division. “In addition to protecting the state’s natural resources and assisting in rural and urban community policing, conservation officers often serve as first responders.”

Conservation officers routinely conduct lifesaving operations such as ice rescue and search and rescue.

In 2015, conservation officers performed a number of livesaving operations, including a November rescue of a lost hunter in Mackinac County and a lost hunter and deer tracker in Gladwin County, an October rescue of a lost and injured Gladwin County woman, a September lifesaving operation during a Pentwater fire, an August apprehension of an escaped Iosco County prisoner, and a March ice rescue on the Detroit River, among many more.

First Lieutenant Steven Burton, supervisor of the DNR’s Law Enforcement Division employment and training section, noted that the DNR is actively recruiting for future recruit schools.

"Men and women interested in a career as a conservation officer should start the process now by taking the Michigan Civil Service exam and completing an online application for a future academy," Burton said.

Michigan conservation officers are fully commissioned state peace officers who provide natural resources protection, ensure recreational safety and protect citizens by providing general law enforcement duties and lifesaving operations in the communities they serve. Learn more about Michigan conservation officers at www.michigan.gov/conservationofficers.

TAS admin personnel should investigate this opportunity

Want to learn the finer points of applying for DNR recreation grants? Join DNR grants management staff in January for a workshop that will help make your applications more competitive.  

The statewide workshops, beginning Jan. 12, will cover scoring criteria and how to successfully complete an application.

Frequent comments and questions staff are asked will be worked into the program, as well as tips for getting the greatest number of points possible on your application. Staff will also walk users through the MiRecGrants program to make applying easier for applicants.

Check out the workshop in your area; registration is not necessary. If you have any questions, contact  your grant coordinator, or call 517-284-7268.

Village scores $45K Recreation Passport grant

Michigan Department of Natural Resources today announced that 33 communities across the state will share $1,348,700 in Recreation Passport grants. Funding for this program is derived from sales of the Recreation Passport, the $11 annual pass that grants residents vehicle entry at state parks and recreation areas throughout Michigan.

This year, Recreation Passport grant applicants sought funding for a broad range of public outdoor recreation projects, including playground development and renovations, dog park improvements, ice-skating rink development, trail and walkway development, park and picnic area improvements and improved access for those with disabilities.

The village of Newberry received grant funding in the amount of $45,000 to make improvements at Atlas Park. According to the DNR, the village project includes development of playground equipment, benches, picnic tables, grills and lighting.

The full list of grant recipients, grant amounts and project descriptions is available on the DNR website at www.michigan.gov/recreationpassportgrants.

Successful applicants clearly demonstrated projects designed to increase public access to quality outdoor recreation opportunities. The selected projects were chosen from a field of 45 grant applications seeking nearly $1.8 million in funding.

“These Recreation Passport grants go a long way in helping local units of government bring quality recreation opportunities to their citizens,” said Steve DeBrabander, DNR grants manager. “We are proud to work with these agencies so that, together, we can create world-class outdoor recreation resources statewide. The recreation industry plays an important role in moving the state’s economy forward by providing vital jobs and tourism in both urban and rural settings.”

Application materials for future Recreation Passport grants will be available by Jan. 1 at www.michigan.gov/dnr-grants. Interested individuals also may call DNR Grants Management at 517-284-7268 or write to:

Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Grants Management
P.O. Box 30425
Lansing, MI 48909-7925

Learn more about how the Recreation Passport gains you access to Michigan state parks and more at www.michigan.gov/recreationpassport.

CAC meets Dec. 3 in Newberry

At the Eastern Upper Peninsula Citizens’ Advisory Council meeting in Newberry Thursday, Dec. 3, participants are scheduled to hear a preliminary recap on the archery and firearm deer hunting seasons in the eastern U.P.

The meeting will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. EST at the Pentland Township Hall, located at 15474 M-28, south of Newberry.

Additional agenda items include information on the DNR’s “Keep the U.P. CWD Free!” education campaign, the Good Neighbor Authority recently developed between the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Forest Service and an update on two proposals for net pen aquaculture in the Great Lakes.

An update will also be provided on Senate Bill 245 being considered in the state Legislature, which stiffens the penalties for illegal killing or possessing of certain game, including bear, moose and elk.

Trapping opportunities in Michigan will also be discussed, along with a proposed council meeting schedule for 2016.

The public can participate in the session by offering comments to the discussion during two specified periods at the meeting (for instructions on comment procedures, see www.michigan.gov/upcac).

The DNR’s eastern and western Upper Peninsula citizens’ advisory councils are designed to provide local input to advise the DNR on regional programs and policies, identify areas in which the department can be more effective and responsive and offer insight and guidance from members’ own experiences and constituencies.

Council members represent a wide variety of natural resource and recreation interests. Agenda items are set by the council members and council recommendations are forwarded to the DNR for consideration.

Anyone interested in being considered as a future council member should fill out the application form found on the DNR website at www.michigan.gov/upcac. For more information, contact the DNR Upper Peninsula regional coordinator’s office at 906-226-1331.

Photograph information courtesy of the DNR: Eastern Upper Peninsula Citizens' Advisory Council member Gary Gorniak of Moran, left, watches as Michigan Department of Natural Resources wildlife division staff age a buck Gorniak brought in to the Mackinac Straits deer check station at Bridge View Park in St. Ignace. Gorniak shot the buck Nov. 17 during the firearm deer hunting season in Mackinac County.

Fishing Tip: Got a deer? Head out for some steelhead fishing

Fishing for steelhead is very hot right now so if you’ve already gotten your doe or buck this season, consider hitting the rivers again for the fall run of chrome.

In the last 10 years, steelhead fishing with bobber and eggs has really taken off – however, “older” fishing methods are still very effective during the early season.

Many anglers enjoy actively casting spinners and plugs. The secret to this type of fishing is finding a good hole or run that is deep enough to hold fish.

Cast your offering across the river and retrieve it as slow as possible while still making sure the lure is “swimming” close to the bottom. As you retrieve, the river’s current will swing your plug or spinner down stream in an arch. Eventually the last part of your retrieve will be almost completely up stream. Many bites will come at the bottom of the arch or during the upstream retrieve. Start your casts at the top of the hole or run and after two to three casts take a step down stream. Cast two to three more times before taking another step down stream. Repeat this process until you have covered the entire length of the hole or run. After your last casts, you can either head back to the top and start over or explore the river for another spot.

This manner of fishing can be a lot of fun because the strike of a steelhead on a retrieved lure is second to none.

New license plate available

New license plate boosts vet services

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson and Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency Director Jeff Barnes unveiled a license plate that will raise funds to enhance outreach and services to veterans.

“This is one more way we can make sure that veterans get the services they’ve earned and deserve,” Johnson said.

The plate costs $35, with $25 going to veterans services. You can order the plate here. Information on other fundraising plates is here.

Hunting license structure reminder from the DNR

DNR reminds deer hunters of license structure

With Michigan's archery deer season in full swing and firearm season set to begin Nov. 15, the Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters of changes to the state's hunting license structure that took effect in 2014.

Available deer licenses include:

• Single deer license, valid throughout archery, firearm and muzzleloader seasons. This license has replaced the separate archery and firearm licenses. Hunters who buy a single deer license may not buy a second single deer license or the deer combo license.
  
• Deer combo license, which includes two kill tags, one regular and one restricted. Hunters who want two deer licenses must buy the deer combo license instead of the single deer license. The deer combo license is valid for use during the archery, firearm and muzzleloader seasons. A hunter can use both kill tags in the firearm seasons, both in the archery season or one in each season.
  
• Antlerless deer license, available based on license quotas set for each Deer Management Unit (DMU).

To see how the single deer and deer combo licenses may be used in each deer season, based on which DMU a hunter wishes to hunt, see the Antler Point Restriction Regulations map and chart on pages 32 and 33 of the 2015 Hunting and Trapping Digest.

A base license now is required for all hunters. The base license provides critical funding for habitat and conservation work on both public and private land and supports the work of conservation officers and field staff to ensure safe, legal hunting practices are followed. The purchase of a base license includes small game hunting. Whether they choose to hunt small game or not, hunters' base license dollars will be used to enhance and expand hunting opportunities, which benefits hunters of all species.

More information about Michigan’s hunting license structure – including license prices, frequently asked questions and details about how license dollars will be invested – is available at www.michigan.gov/dnr under "In the Know."

For more details about hunting seasons, licenses and regulations, see the Hunting and Trapping Digest and Antlerless Deer Digest at www.mi.gov/dnrdigests.

Those who have questions or need help determining which licenses to buy may contact their nearest DNR Customer Service Center.

DNR posts bird-hunting report

Grouse and woodcock season off to a great start

A month into grouse and woodcock season, early reports from hunters suggest that the season has started out with a bang.

“Avid grouse hunters are indicating the season appears good, dependent on location,” said Department of Natural Resources upland game bird biologist Al Stewart. “This earlier part of the season always proves to be a unique challenge, with leaves still on the trees, but leaves are now starting to fall and the woodcock migration has started.”

Michigan’s small game hunting season, which includes grouse season, opens annually Sept. 15. Woodcock season varies from year to year, due to the woodcock’s federal migratory bird status, and this year opened Sept. 19. 

“Some areas of the Upper Peninsula are reporting flushing six grouse an hour, with woodcock being four to five per hour,” said Stewart. “Northern Lower Peninsula flushes are more sporadic, and everyone’s experiences are always different. In the end we look back at all reports, on a larger scale, to see trends.”

Since the 1950s, information from hunters has helped the DNR monitor grouse and woodcock populations and build reports. Hunters interested in contributing to these efforts can become grouse and woodcock cooperators by tracking and reporting their hunting seasons. 

Michigan is a national leader in excellent grouse habitat. Aspen, a tree that is key to the success of grouse and woodcock, is abundant in northern Michigan. Active timber management continuously creates the young forests that many different wildlife species enjoy, while providing needed timber products and jobs for rural economies.

“We are hearing that some areas known as prime spots for grouse are lacking the normal hawthorn and dogwood fruit grouse prefer in the fall,” said Stewart. “Look for areas with fruit when seeking grouse. For woodcock, focus on areas of alder and dense young aspen, where the ground has good moisture.”

Looking to give upland bird hunting a try? Seeking a new location to explore? Try one of Michigan’s 14 GEMS. GEMS, or Grouse Enhanced Management Sites, are premier, remote grouse-hunting locations with hunter walking trails winding through great habitat. Hunter walking trails are for anyone with mobility challenges, or even those more comfortable walking a trail than blazing through the brush. Visit the GEMS website for more information, including individual maps of the GEMS and businesses offering discounts to GEMS hunters.  

All that is needed to hunt small game is a base license and, for woodcock, the free woodcock stamp.  Grouse season runs through Nov. 14 and then again Dec. 1 to Jan. 1.  Woodcock season ends Nov. 2.

Heading to the Soo next week? Check this out...

Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge personnel will celebrate the completion of the 16-month-long, $8.9 million (USD) toll plaza project with a ribbon-cutting and a public open house next week. The ribbon-cutting and plaza dedication for invited guests will be from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21. The public open house will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22.

             

The ribbon-cutting celebration will include the raising of the U.S. and Canadian flags, singing of both national anthems by the binational Sweet Adelines choir, Native American drummers, comments from dignitaries, unveiling of the plaza dedication plaque, and project tours. The public open house will also include project tours.

           

The new administration building and seven toll lanes replaced the 53-year-old building and five toll lanes built in 1962 as part of the original bridge project. The new plaza will improve customer safety by providing more southbound traffic merge space between the U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspection booths and bridge toll booths. The project also provides a dedicated customer service area and parking.

            

"The journey to this celebration began seven years ago when we commissioned the initial study to identify the project scope and cost," said Peter Petainen, International Bridge Administration (IBA) chief financial officer. "From that, we put in place the plan to fund the project from our financial reserves and the project came in on budget and on time."

            

In conjunction with the project, the IBA also implemented a new toll software computer system. Installation of the system software and hardware was coordinated with the construction to minimize customer inconvenience. The new system replaced a 15-year-old computer system that no longer had programming support. To mark the celebration, the IBA will be rolling out the last of the customer service features supported by the new system. Beginning Oct. 21, customer access to online accounts, automatic account replenishment via credit card, and credit card usage in the office will be available.

             

"This has been a very successful project despite its complexity in terms of maintaining toll traffic and bridge operations," said Karl Hansen, bridge engineer. "The project construction team consisting of Devere Construction and Northwest Design Group did a great job helping us minimize the impact on our customers."

             

The Sault Ste. Marie Bridge Authority Board will meet in the board room of the new facility for their quarterly meeting Oct. 22 to coincide with the celebration.

            

"The public open house is to express our gratitude to our customers for their patience and understanding during this project and the transition from the old toll system and booths to the new ones," said Phil Becker, IBA general manager. "Our toll staff did an excellent job providing exceptional customer service throughout."

            

The operation and maintenance of the International Bridge is totally self-funded, primarily through bridge tolls. It is not subsidized by any state, provincial or federal government entity. For a complete list of International Bridge tolls, visit the IBA website at www.michigan.gov/IBA.

             

For more information on the International Bridge, please visit www.saultbridge.com or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/saultbridge.

Possession limits change + this week's fishing report

Attention Anglers:
The combined possession limit for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye and flathead catfish which limited the daily possession limit to five fish has been removed effective immediately.  Anglers are now be able to possess up to five (5) bass (largemouth and smallmouth combined), up to five (5) walleye, up to five (5) flathead catfish, and up to two (2) northern pike in their daily possession limit. These species will no longer be managed under a combined possession limit and now will be managed under separate possession limits resulting in more fish for anglers to keep in a day's fishing.

Upper Peninsula Fishing Report

Copper Harbor:  Splake fishing has been very slow with the occasional sub-legal fish here and there and few keepers.  The fall colors were at their peak.

Menominee River:  A recent survey of the river did show a few Chinook salmon along with some pink salmon, brown trout, steelhead, walleye and smallmouth bass but catch rates were low.  

Little Bay De Noc:  Attention Anglers:  The zone where only one walleye greater than 23 inches may be retained in the daily possession limit has been expanded south from the Ford River to the Bark River. Therefore effective immediately, no more than one walleye over 23 inches may be possessed in the daily limit north of a line drawn from Peninsula Point Lighthouse to the mouth of the Bark River. Walleye anglers reported few catches even in the southern waters.  Some fish were caught around the “Black Bottom” when using stick baits or crawler harnesses in 20 to 30 feet from the “Narrows” to Gladstone Beach in 14 to 28 feet.  Perch anglers reported good catches when they could find them.  Most were fishing near the Day’s River with minnows in ten to 25 feet.  Good pike action at Kipling, the Day’s River, Gladstone Beach, “Black Bottom”, Escanaba ship docks and the Escanaba Yacht Harbor when using spinners, crank baits and spoons in eight to 22 feet.  Smallmouth bass anglers reported fair catches off Hunters Point with plastics in ten to 20 feet.    

Big Bay De Noc:  Has smallmouth bass fishing.  Strong winds have kept many from fishing the Garden Bluff area, out by Snake Island and Snail Shell Harbor.  Catch rates were good at times but a good number of fish were undersize.  Anglers are using minnows or plastics 15 to 35 feet down along the break.  A handful of perch anglers reported a few catches off Garden Bluff when using minnows in and around 40 feet.  

Manistique River:  Has a few Chinook salmon here and there.    

Marquette:  Many anglers had luck catching coho in the Chocolay River.  They were using spinners from the step hole and the platform off M-28.  The mouth of the Carp River is also good fishing spot for coho and steelhead.  Anglers are using spawn bags or casting spinners out from the rocks.  Fishing was slow on the Dead River.  

Au Train Lake:  Had slow walleye fishing but anglers were still out using crank baits and artificial minnows along the West Bay.  There was some good perch fishing along the south end of the West Bay.  Anglers were drifting or jigging with live bait.  A good number of pike are still being caught on artificial baits along the north end.  Construction at the boat launch area will start on October 19 until the first week of November, 2015.  

Munising:  Had few anglers and few reports.  A couple splake and coho were reported by shore anglers casting spoons.  Construction on the Anna River dock has been completed.  

Grand Marais:  Had no report as few boat and shore anglers were out.

Drummond Island:  Anglers were finally able to get out and target Maxton Bay and Scott Bay for yellow perch.  Those that had the most success used minnows near the weed beds on the southwest side of Rutland Island in 12 to 14 feet and in Maxton Bay when drifting worms or shiners in 12 to 15 feet.  Some say the bigger perch 9 to 11 inches were only hitting the bigger minnows.   Good pike action on the southeast side of Grape Island.  Try just off the weed beds in six to eight feet with hammered four inch red and silver spoons in the early morning.  Walleye are still being caught around Peck Island and Scott Island in 12 to 14 feet when trolling bottom bouncers with crawler harnesses.  

Cedarville & Hessel: Pike fishing picked up once again off the dock in the Hessel Marina, Viking Channel, Snow Channel and Musky Bay from the Middle Entrance west to Duck Bay.  Chubs worked best.  Perch fishing was quite good in Snows Channel, Middle Entrance, Viking Channel and out near the #11 Green Can in Cedarville Bay.    

Carp River:  Had a very slow salmon run which is just about over for this year.  Nunn’s Creek was the same way.  One might want to try the deeper holes for river run rainbow trout.  Anglers should enjoy the new boat launch.  A few walleye were caught in the Pine River.     

DNR assists with forest management costs

This is a short update from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources about private forest land issues. We hope that this information will help you manage, protect and enjoy your forest.  

Natural Resources Conservation Service Financial Assistance

Did you know that the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides financial assistance for forest landowners? The payments could cover 75 percent of your costs. The following is some basic information about the process to get funding for your forest conservation activities:

• Conservation planning: This is the first step when enrolling in NRCS programs. Forest landowners can use their Forest Stewardship Plan, Tree Farm plan, or a NRCS Forest Management Plan to identify “resource concerns” like soil erosion, water quality, wildlife habitat or forest productivity problems. These plans should also identify possible “conservation practices” like stream crossings, forest trails, tree planting, brush management, and forest stand improvement to address the resource concerns in your forest. 
• Applying for conservation programs: Forest landowners can enroll in NRCS conservation programs at their local Service Center. Applications for NRCS programs are accepted on a continuous basis throughout the year. The NRCS does announce “cut-off dates,” usually in the winter or spring, so that submitted applications can be ranked and selected for funding each fiscal year. Additional restrictions and program requirements may apply.
• Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP): EQIP is the primary program that provides financial assistance for private forest land. A forest landowner can apply for EQIP financial assistance for many conservation practices to address the resource concerns identified in their forest management plans. Applications for EQIP are selected for funding on a competitive basis, and applications are selected that provide the most conservation benefits. The Michigan NRCS has an EQIP funding pool specifically for forest landowners.
• Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP): CSP provides payments to forest landowners for both maintaining their existing conservation activities and for implementing additional enhancements. Payments are determined by the level of resource conservation in your forest. Program contracts extend for five years and can be renewed if the landowner establishes additional conservation enhancements. The Michigan NRCS has a CSP funding pool specifically for forest landowners. To see if CSP is right for you, fill out the Self-Screening Checklist. 

Forest Facts

Did you know that the Department of Natural Resources manages more Michigan forest land than the U.S. Forest Service? The DNR manages 4.2 million acres of forest land and the Forest Service manages 2.7 million acres. Private forest landowners in Michigan manage more than the state and federal governments combined – more than 12.6 million acres! The state’s private and public forests support rural economies, allow access for recreation and hunting, produce clean air and water, and provide many other economic and ecosystem services.

Important Dates

• Oct. 28: Governor’s 2015 Forest Products Summit in East Lansing 
• Nov. 6: Michigan Forest Association board meeting at Hartwick Pines State Park
• Dec. 4: Michigan Tree Farm Committee meeting in St. Ignace

Questions? 

To learn more about additional programs available to assist private forest landowners, or to find the DNR service forester in your area, go to www.michigan.gov/privateforestland.

Lake sturgeon releases noted

Seasonal lake sturgeon releases put more than 6,300 fish into Michigan waters

Michigan Department of Natural Resources and several partners released more than 6,300 juvenile lake sturgeon into various public waters across Michigan this summer and fall in an effort to rehabilitate this culturally significant fish species.

The table below shows which agencies stocked fish, how many fish were stocked, and the date and location of each stocking effort.

Agency	Number of Fish Stocked	Date Stocked	Location Stocked
DNR	663	July 29-Sept. 5	Otsego Lake (Otsego County)
DNR and Michigan State University	523	Aug. 22-Sept. 25	Black Lake (Cheboygan County)
Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians	494	Sept. 10	Burt Lake/Cheboygan River (Cheboygan County)
DNR and Michigan State University	500	Aug. 22-Sept. 8	Mullet Lake (Cheboygan County)
DNR and Michigan State University	53	Sept. 8	Sturgeon River (Cheboygan County)
DNR	1,067	Aug. 31-Sept. 14	Cedar River (Menominee County)
DNR and Gun Lake Tribe	12	July 28	Kalamazoo River (Allegan County)
Little River Band of Ottawa Indians	241	Sept. 12	Big Manistee River (Manistee County)
DNR and Michigan State University	757	July 20-Sept. 28	Upper Black River (Cheboygan County)
DNR	1,180	Sept. 4-25	Whitefish River (Delta County)
DNR and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	820	Aug. 24	Ontonagon River (Ontonagon County)
Total Lake Sturgeon Stocked: 6,310

All juvenile lake sturgeon were collected from the wild last spring and reared in streamside facilities until they reached at least 7 inches or larger in size. All fish are tagged prior to being released into their respective rivers.

“Many of these stocking efforts were public events that shined a spotlight on how important lake sturgeon are to our state,” said DNR Fisheries Division Chief Jim Dexter. “Michigan has a long history with lake sturgeon, and working with our partners helps us to move forward toward protecting them for the future.”

These annual stocking efforts are critical to restoring the state’s lake sturgeon population. Along with the DNR and tribes, it takes the work of many partners to secure funding and resources to make restoration of the population possible. These partners include: the DNR, Black Lake chapter of Sturgeon For Tomorrow, Kalamazoo River chapter of Sturgeon For Tomorrow, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians, Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish band of Potawatomi Indians, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Michigan State University, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service.

For more information about lake sturgeon visit michigan.gov/sturgeon.

Museum to host Civil War encampment

“Iron Ore and the Civil War,” an encampment at the Iron Industry Museum in Negaunee Township on Oct. 3, will feature cannons, period music, children’s games and programs.

“Iron Ore and the Civil War” returns to the Michigan Iron Industry Museum in Negaunee Township on Oct. 3. The free, day-long encampment brings the sights and sounds of the Civil War to the museum grounds from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“This is a family-fun event for people to experience everyday life of the Civil War, and to learn about Michigan’s role during the conflict,” said museum historian Troy Henderson. “Museum guests will be able to visit a campsite and interact with the costumed interpreters to learn about the lives of soldiers during the 1860s.”

Battery D, 1st Michigan Light Artillery from Jackson, Michigan, will re-create Civil War army life with artillery and small-arms drills, camp cooking and soldiers’ pastimes.  Dan and Deborah Choszczyk will also be on the museum grounds to demonstrate blacksmithing.

The award-winning documentary The Road to Andersonville: Michigan Native American Sharpshooters in the Civil War will be shown in the museum auditorium at 11 a.m. The two-hour movie documents the 139 men who joined Company K, the only all-Native American unit in the North.

Also in the museum auditorium at 2 p.m., James Newkirk of “Battery D” will present a program on “Small Arms of the Civil War.” Period music and children’s games will complete the day’s activities.

The First Michigan Infantry assembled for federal service in 1861, just two weeks after the fall of Fort Sumter and the start of the Civil War. At least 90,000 Michiganders enlisted, and more than 14,000 died during the conflict. In addition to manpower, the Upper Peninsula’s iron ore resources were instrumental in helping to preserve the Union.

The Michigan Iron Industry Museum is one of 11 nationally accredited museums administered by the Michigan Historical Center, an agency within the Department of Natural Resources. The museum entrance is located on US-41E, one mile west of Junction M-35, in Negaunee Township.  Admission is free, but donations are encouraged.  For more information call 906-475-7857 or visit www.michigan.gov/ironindustrymuseum. 

The Michigan Historical Center is part of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Its museum and archival programs help people discover, enjoy and find inspiration in their heritage. It includes the Michigan Historical Museum, 10 regional museums, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve, and the Archives of Michigan. Learn more at www.michigan.gov/michiganhistory.

Officials commemorate 10-year anniversary of Big U.P. Deal in Luce County

Gov. Rick Snyder uses his left-handed scissors to cut a ribbon on a new interpretive sign detailing the reconnection of the Two Hearted River. Watching, from left, are state Rep. John Kivela, state Sen. Tom Casperson, Helen Taylor, The Nature Conservancy’s Michigan state director and Keith Creagh, director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Editor's note: Additional photographs, courtesy of MDNR, follow the article.

  

In January 2005, The Nature Conservancy and several partners announced the “Big U.P. Deal” that preserved roughly 423 square miles of forest land for forestry, recreation and conservation through a unique public-private partnership.

Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Rick Snyder and other dignitaries, including the conservancy’s Michigan state director, Helen Taylor, and Michigan Department of Natural Resources Director Keith Creagh, marked the 10-year anniversary of the historic land deal with a ceremony at the Mouth of the Two Hearted River State Forest Campground.

“This monumental land deal provided key environmental protection for landmarks across the Upper Peninsula, from the Porcupine Mountains in the west to Tahquamenon Falls and the Two Hearted River in the east,” Snyder said. “Michigan has set a model for responsible land management that supports healthier forests and rivers while creating more jobs and improved recreation opportunities.”

Under the $57.9 million Northern Great Lakes Forest Project – nicknamed the “Big U.P. Deal” – the conservancy facilitated the DNR purchase of several conservation easements over a period of years on about 248,000 acres located throughout eight counties in the Upper Peninsula.

In addition, the deal included the purchase of 23,338 acres in the Two Hearted River watershed in northern Luce County, helping to enhance an existing conservancy nature preserve.

At the time the deal was announced, Snyder was serving as a member of The Nature Conservancy Michigan Board of Trustees, a position he held from 2004-2009.

Managing the conservation easements under a “working lands” approach provides several benefits to a range of interests in the region. Among them, the conservancy said the easements:

    Keep the lands open to the public for recreation, including fishing, hunting, snowmobiling and other pursuits.
    Protect thousands of timber and tourism jobs.
    Keep the lands in private ownership and on the tax rolls, generating important revenue for local communities.
    Help protect some of Michigan’s most treasured landscapes.
    Keep valuable and environmentally sensitive forest lands habitat from fragmentation.
    Limit development, which keeps forest lands from being converted to non-forest uses.

The easements and lands were purchased from The Forestland Group, LLC, a North Carolina timberlands investment firm, which outbid the state and bought 390,000 acres at auction in 2002 from the Kamehameha Schools Trust of Hawaii.

Much of that land had been purchased by the trust from Cliffs Forest Products more than a decade earlier.

Some of the notable features protected with the easements and land purchase include:

    More than 500 miles of rivers and tributaries, with almost 200 miles of prime trout streams.
    More than 300 lakes.
    52,000 acres of wetlands.
    Thousands of acres of important buffers along federal and state park units and forests.

Taylor praised and thanked the public and private donors to the deal for their support. She also commended others, including government officials and interest groups who worked hard and cooperatively to make the ambitious project a reality.

“We always accomplish more when we work together,” Taylor said.

“The leadership of three of Michigan’s governors – John Engler, Jennifer Granholm and Rick Snyder – is unprecedented and should be applauded,” Taylor said. “We were fortunate that this was truly a bipartisan effort with many legislators in both Washington, D.C., and Lansing who supported this project along with staff at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, The Forestland Group, LLC, and within the conservancy.”

Taylor said she especially wanted to recognize the conservancy’s local partners, including Luce County and the Luce County Road Commission, McMillan Township, the Central Superior Watershed Partnership and the East Branch Sportsman’s Club.

Taylor also acknowledged local contractors and businesses that have worked to complete many of the conservancy’s improvement projects and the loggers and mills that buy its forest products.

Some of the biggest donor contributions to the project’s land and easement purchases included $10 million from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, $5 million each from the Kresge Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and $4.5 million from the Herbert H. and Grace Dow Foundation.

Among the additional donors to the land project was the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund – administered through the DNR – which contributed a total of $16.1 million over a five-year period, beginning in 2002.

“This project represents a great use of the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund to leverage local partnerships and assure access, recreation and forestry on Michigan lands,” Creagh said. “This deal ensures generations to come will be able to celebrate Michigan’s world-class natural resources, and U.P. residents will continue to benefit from the jobs these lands provide.”

Over the past 39 years, the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund has granted more than $1 billion to state and local units of government to develop and improve recreation opportunities in Michigan.

Nearly $10 million was also contributed in federal funding through the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program, which is funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

During Wednesday’s ceremony, Snyder cut a ribbon on a sign detailing efforts of The Nature Conservancy and its partners to reconnect 35 miles of rivers and tributaries within the 130,000-acre Two Hearted River watershed.

Twenty-three re-engineering projects were undertaken to remove obstructions, stabilize stream banks and make other improvements, reducing the estimated sediment load into Michigan’s only designated “wilderness river” by 626 tons each year.

Before the ceremony, Snyder, Taylor and Creagh joined others on a canoe and kayak trip down a stretch of the Two Hearted River.

Along the way, the group saw some of the landscape scorched as the Duck Lake Fire raced north in May 2012, blackening 21,069 acres and claiming 136 structures at a cost estimated at $4.1 million.
 

Snyder – who is a strong advocate for Michigan’s developing system of water trails – enjoyed his trip down the Two Hearted River leading to the campground.

The river is home to more than 50 fish species.

In 1919, famed author Ernest Hemingway fished for brook trout along the East Branch of the Fox River, which is located farther to the west.

Afterward, Hemingway penned “Big Two-Hearted River,” borrowing the name for his Nick Adams adventure from this winding river in northern Luce County, because its name had more poetry.
 

Snyder and the canoeists floated the river for roughly an hour, from the fish ladder north to the campground where the ceremony was held, which is located just a short distance from the Lake Superior shoreline.

The Nature Conservancy’s interpretive “Reconnecting the Two Hearted River” sign will be erected along the CCI Road, a few miles to the west, just north of Pine Stump Junction.

 

Captions - from top -

Gov. Rick Snyder, in blue life vest, takes a picture as he kayaks toward a bridge over the Two Hearted River in northern Luce County Wednesday.

Gov. Rick Snyder, right, talks with canoeists in his paddling party along the Two Hearted River Wednesday in northern Luce County.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources Director Keith Creagh talks about the “Big U.P. Deal” at a commemoration event at the Mouth of the Two Hearted River State Forest Campground in Luce County. 

Gov. Rick Snyder is pulled ashore at the end of his paddle down a stretch of the Two Hearted River.

Gov. Rick Snyder, left, listens as Jeff Knoop, The Nature Conservancy’s Upper Peninsula director of land protection, talks about the Duck Lake Fire in Luce County.

Gov. Rick Snyder’s paddling party heads down the Two Hearted River in northern Luce County. Higher along the banks of the river, burnt trees from the Duck Lake Fire continue to stand.

Gov. Rick Snyder is getting ready to begin his Two Hearted River canoe trip with the help of Theresa Neal of Tahquamenon Falls State Park.

Helen Taylor, The Nature Conservancy’s Michigan state director, talks at the ceremony commemorating the 10-year anniversary of announcement of the “Big U.P. Deal.”