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Aug. 30, 2016
Contact: John Pepin, 906-226-1352 or Stacy Welling-Haughey, 906-226-1331
DNR to make trails recommendations for Little Presque Isle in Marquette County
Public open house set for Sept. 20 in Marquette Township
 The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has scheduled an open house to detail its recommendations for designated non-motorized trails at the Little Presque Isle tract, an outdoor recreation site popular with hikers and mountain bikers, located roughly five miles northwest of Marquette.
“At this session, DNR staff will provide a short presentation on the Little Presque Isle trails, describe the ongoing decision process and be available to answer questions,” said John Pepin, DNR deputy public information officer. “Trail maps and other information will be available for the public to review. Written comments on the recommendations will be accepted for 30 days after the open house.”
The DNR’s Little Presque Isle trails open house is scheduled for 5-8 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 20 at the Marquette Township Community Center, located at 1000 Commerce Drive in Marquette Township, roughly one mile north of U.S. 41.
“We invite the public to attend any time during this three-hour session to review these designated trail recommendations and talk to DNR staff,” Pepin said. “This is anticipated to be a very positive development for Little Presque Isle and Marquette County and further boost Michigan’s reputation as the Trails State.”
The DNR recently began a review process for the non-motorized trails at the Little Presque Isle recreation area, a forested 3,040-acre tract situated along both sides of Marquette County Road 550.
During this review process, the DNR may potentially redesign some trails or alter types of permitted trail uses to address resource protection concerns and desires for expanded recreation opportunities.
“Trails now located within the tract are a combination of sanctioned trails established under a  management strategy completed in 1996, and a number of unauthorized trails built by users that have become established since then,” Pepin said.
Some portions of this trail network – including those unauthorized trails established by user groups and individuals – require a detailed review, which will allow for greater consideration of known sensitive habitats found within the tract, including an important white-tailed deer wintering complex (deer wintering yard).
In May 2015, the Friends of Harlow submitted a trails proposal to the DNR, seeking designation of 19.7 miles of mountain bike and hiking trails at Little Presque Isle.
Over the past several months, a team of field professionals from the DNR’s Parks, Wildlife and Forest Resources divisions has been compiling information and evaluating on-the-ground conditions along trails at Little Presque Isle.
This DNR team has produced a draft proposal for the tract’s recreational trails network.
 The maps and other information to be provided at the open house will also be available Sept. 20 at the DNR's website and at the DNR’s Marquette Customer Service Center, located at 1990 U.S.-41 South in Marquette.
The open house will kick-off a 30-day period for submitting written public comments on the DNR trails recommendations. Afterward, the DNR will compile the comments received and consider potential revisions to its trails proposal.
An internal departmental review will then be conducted. Once this process has concluded, the trails proposal will be finalized, announced and put into effect, guiding future use of the non-motorized trails at the Little Presque Isle tract.
To submit written comments, send email to DNR-LPI-Trails@michigan.gov or write to Michigan Department of Natural Resources, LPI-Trails Comments, 1990 U.S. 41 South, Marquette, MI 49855.
/Note to editors: Accompanying photos are available below for download. Suggested captions follow. Credit: Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Creek: Harlow Creek provides a picturesque setting for trail use at the Little Presque Isle tract in Marquette County.
Lake: Visitors to Little Presque Isle enjoy the view from a rocky bluff overlooking Harlow Lake in Marquette County.
Pines: A trail winds through the red pines at the Little Presque Isle tract northwest of Marquette, in Marquette County.
Sign: Harlow Lake is a popular destination at the Little Presque Isle tract in Marquette County.
Trailhead: A trail leads deeper into the Little Presque Isle tract in Marquette County./
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.
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