Public invited to review plans for Menominee River State Recreation Area

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 3, 2014

Contact: (Wisconsin DNR) Jeff Prey, 608-266-2182;
or (Michigan DNR) Debbie Jensen, 517-284-6105 or Debbie Munson Badini, 906-226-1352


Public meetings to review Menominee River State Recreation Area
draft plan concepts set for June 11-12

The public is invited to review and comment on draft management plan concepts for the Menominee River State Recreation Area at two upcoming open house meetings. The meetings (in Faithorn, Michigan, on June 11 and Green Bay, Wisconsin, on June 12) will provide opportunity for residents and other interested stakeholders to review and comment on future land and recreation management for the Menominee River State Recreation area.

Management plans define a long-range management strategy that will assist the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Parks and Recreation Division in carrying out its mission to protect and preserve the site’s natural and cultural resources and to provide access to land- and water-based public recreation and education opportunities.

Established in 2010, the Menominee River State Recreation Area in Marinette County, Wisconsin, and Dickinson County, Michigan, consists of 7,283 acres of recreation lands that incorporate 17 miles of Menominee River frontage, including Piers Gorge, Quiver Falls Rapids and Pemene Falls. The recreation area offers camping, hiking, boating, fishing, hunting, and all-terrain vehicle and snowmobile trails.

The Michigan DNR and Wisconsin DNR are cooperatively planning for the future of the recreation area. The draft plan concepts not only emphasize protection of the scenic river corridor for river-based recreation, but also envision a number of improvements to the recreation area facilities that will advance recreation experiences. Those improvements shared between the states include improved river access, restroom facilities, additional camping opportunities, picnic areas, trail developments and educational and interpretive resources.

“The Menominee River State Recreation Area represents an incredible partnership between Michigan and Wisconsin and exciting outdoor recreation opportunities for our citizens and visitors,” said Ron Olson, chief of the DNR Parks and Recreation Division. “This river corridor and surrounding areas are rich with diverse wildlife, stunning natural places and historic and cultural significance. We want the public to be involved in helping us determine its future.”

The draft plan concepts and related documents are available at http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/lands/masterplanning/MenomineeRiver/.

The open houses are scheduled for 5-7 p.m. (Central) with a short presentation summarizing the draft concepts at 5:15 p.m. The meetings will be held at: 

• Wednesday, June 11
  Faithorn Township Hall, W8508 County Road 577
  Faithorn, Michigan
  
  
• Thursday, June 12
  Brown County Public Library Weyers-Hilliard Branch, 2680 Riverview Drive
  Green Bay, Wisconsin   

The public may provide comments on the draft plan concepts during the open houses; by email to jensend1@michigan.gov or jeff.prey@wisconsin.gov; or by U.S. mail to Debbie Jensen, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation Division, P.O. Box 30257, Lansing, MI 48909-7757.

Comments must be submitted by June 30, 2014.