Feb. 8, 2018

Contact: Elle Gulotty, 906-228-6561 or John Pepin, 906-226-1352

Habitat improvement grant opportunities available in western Upper Peninsula

Funding available for projects within the Upper Menominee River watershed

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is announcing the availability of grant funding from We Energies for a range of projects associated with hydroelectric dams located in a three-county area in the western Upper Peninsula.

Grants are available from the Wilderness Shores Mitigation and Enhancement Fund for projects within the Upper Menominee River Basin.

“An agreement with We Energies was reached previously to establish funds to benefit natural systems impacted by the continued operation of hydroelectric dams,” said Elle Gulotty, a resource analyst with the DNR Fisheries Division Habitat Management Unit. “This grant program offers an exciting opportunity for folks to protect, learn about and improve natural resources in their area.”

The grant projects are intended to mitigate, improve, and enhance fish and wildlife habitat around Wilderness Shores Settlement Agreement hydroelectric projects, which includes portions of Iron, Dickinson and Menominee counties.

Each year, more than $100,000 in grant funding is made available. Matching contributions to these projects are strongly encouraged.

Local conservation districts, units of government, non-profit groups, watershed partnerships, individuals and others have previously applied for these grant program funds.

Grant pre-proposals are due by March 15.

Interested applicants should first contact Elle Gulotty at the DNR’s Marquette Customer Service Center at 906-228-6561.

Application review and funding is approved through a formal Mitigation and Enhancement Fund application process, with decisions made by the Implementation Team (defined in the Wilderness Shores Settlement Agreement).

Check out a detailed map of the Wilderness Shores Recreation Area in the Upper Menominee River Basin.

For more information on grant programs in Michigan, visit the DNR’s webpage at www.mi.gov/dnrgrants.

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.