July 5, 2017

Contact: Dave Lemmien, 231-922-6040

DNR wants to hear your ideas on state forest planning for Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Manistee counties 

Whether you’re interested in healthy forests, quality wildlife habitat or a strong forest products industry, don’t miss the chance to get involved in state forest planning.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources currently is making plans for the forest for 2019. These management plans include harvesting timber, planting trees, prescribed burning and maintaining fields and open areas – activities that help to provide wildlife habitat, control invasive species and improve the overall health of the forest.

This year, areas under review include Inland Township (Benzie County); Long Lake, Green Lake, Grant, East Bay and Paradise townships (Grand Traverse County); Clearwater, Kalkaska, Blue Lake, Bear Lake, Oliver and Garfield townships (Kalkaska County), and Maple Grove and Marilla townships (Manistee County).

Some of the proposed activities will take place near popular recreational sites on state forest lands. These sites include the Vasa Pathway, Lost Lake Pathway and Lake Dubonnet State Forest Campground and Trail Camp.

The DNR also is seeking public input regarding management plans for Ecological Reference Areas, rare or high-quality natural communities that have been relatively undisturbed by human intervention. The DNR’s long-term goal is to maintain these areas as examples of Michigan’s biodiversity. Ecological Reference Area plans have been prepared for three sites this year, including the northern fen and rich conifer swamp natural communities within Skegemog Lake Wildlife Area in Kalkaska County, a northern hardwood swamp community at Selma Swamp in Manistee County and Lost Lake Bog in Grand Traverse County.

You’re invited to look over proposals, view maps of the affected areas and provide feedback. Come to the following public meetings:

• Traverse City – July 12
  4-7 p.m. at the Traverse City Customer Service Center, 2122 S M-37
  
  
• Kalkaska – July 13
  4-7 p.m. at the Kalkaska Field Office, 2089 N. Birch St.

DNR staff will approve final plans at a meeting Aug. 3 at 9 a.m. at the Traverse City Customer Service Center.

If you can’t make any of these meetings, you can find maps and information online at www.michigan.gov/forestry. Select the “Find a Forest” button and click the “Traverse City” button on the map. You also can submit comments via email to Dave Lemmien using the subject line “Traverse City Forest Management Unit open house comment.”

If you have a disability that requires accommodations to attend these meetings, please contact Dave Lemmien at lemmiend@michigan.gov or at 231-922-6040 prior to each meeting.

Learn more about the state forest planning process at www.michigan.gov/forestplan.

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.