DNR public meeting re: mine reclamation at Island Lake Recreation Area

Michigan Department of Natural Resources sent this bulletin at 07/22/2014 11:25 AM EDT

Work will recontour the area to enhance public recreation opportunities.
Bookmark and Share
Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
facebook twitter youtube email

 

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 22, 2014

Contact: Ray Fahlsing, 517-284-6097 or Ed Golder, 517-284-5815


DNR to host public input meeting July 31 regarding mine reclamation
within Island Lake Recreation Area

 

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources today announced that it will hold a public information meeting Thursday, July 31, to discuss the future reclamation of the Spring Mill Mine area of Island Lake Recreation Area near Brighton in order to improve the area for outdoor recreation use.

The information meeting will run 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Green Oak Township office, 10001 Silver Lake Road, in Brighton. 

The DNR Parks and Recreation Division intends to seek, through a request for proposal process, a nonmetallic mineral (sand and gravel) reclamation lease to properly reclaim the area. The purpose of the reclamation is to recontour the area to enhance public recreation opportunities, establish grassland habitat for wildlife and address potential safety concerns.

The Spring Mill Mine is an area of approximately 550 acres of a former sand and gravel mine located in the southwest area of the Island Lake Recreation Area just north of McCabe Road. Prior to becoming a part of the recreation area, sand and gravel was mined from the site by a number of different companies since the 1930s.   

The former aggregate mine area is part of the park, but was never properly reclaimed or contoured. As a result, the area has noncompatible spoil piles (mostly sand); steep, unstable slopes; random excavations and mining artifacts such as building foundations, roadbeds, fences and pipes. The reclamation will remove all artifacts of former mining. The reclamation lease will allow approximately 4.9 million tons of aggregate to leave the site as the new topography is shaped. State officials estimate the project will take five to 10 years to complete.

Proposals will be sought from qualified companies to reshape the land and to provide the best value plan for the park.

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.