|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
LANSING ’Äì The proposed state purchase of 6,313 acres of undeveloped land at the Tip of the Keweenaw from International Paper/Lake Superior Land Co. has been a topic of discussion at recent Keweenaw County township land use planning meetings. Planning committee members have become pro-active in encouraging Keweenaw residents to appeal to relatives and friends in other parts of Michigan to join them in writing letters supporting the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) proposal for a $12.5 million land acquisition grant from The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund. The areas proposed for purchase include undeveloped forest land; four larger named lakes ’Äì Schlatter, Hoar, Copper and Lost ’Äì and several smaller lakes; the Montreal River from the mouth to five miles upstream; and four miles of Lake Superior shoreline. If the proposal is funded, The Nature Conservancy has agreed to purchase the property and hold it for the state until the funds become available.
At Sherman Township’Äôs July 19 public meeting on land use planning in Gay, Genie and Richard Mintken, who own property in both Sherman and Allouez townships and are involved in township land use planning, offered a model letter for residents to use in order to facilitate writing to the DNR Grants Administration Division. The letter is a one-page request to Trust Fund Board members to ’Äúgive careful consideration to this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.’Äù The letter states, in part: ’ÄúWe are writing in support of the proposed purchase by the State of Michigan of land labeled the ’ÄòTip of the Keweenaw.’Äô This land with its beautiful waterfalls, Lake Superior Shoreline and inland lakes has, without question, the characteristics necessary to be an asset to the State of Michigan. In addition, the property is of vital importance to the Copper Country’Äôs tourism-based economy with its tremendous recreational activities, including: biking, hiking, camping, boating, skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, sightseeing, fishing and hunting.’Äù After reading the letter to Sherman Township residents at the meeting, Genie Mintken said she would share it to help others write their support of the DNR grant application. She urged them to send copies to people they know outside the area who visit Keweenaw County as tourists. ’Äú(The Keweenaw Tip) will be parceled off and developed if it’Äôs not preserved,’Äù she said. In fact, the project description in the grant application states: ’ÄúLake Superior Land Company, a subsidiary of International Paper (IP), is selling off acreage in the Keweenaw, and has begun selling these holdings in small parcels. This has had the effect of fragmenting the landscape and causing great concern among local residents and tourists alike that access to some of the most beautiful and beloved places in the Keweenaw will become privately owned and public access will be lost.’Äù
The grassroots group, Public Access Keweenaw, recently spearheaded the letter-writing campaign in support of the land purchase proposal. Ed Kraai, chair of the Sherman Township Land Use Planning Committee, noted the proposal is competing with many proposals from downstate Michigan. ’ÄúWe’Äôre trying to get the interest of people downstate as well for support of this,’Äù Kraai said. ’ÄúIt’Äôs in the interest of the whole state.’Äù Letters of support should be addressed to:
Sharon Edgar, Chief Grants Administration Division P.O. Box 30425 Lansing, MI 48909-7925 Edgar said on July 20 that her office had received a fair amount of letters already. Her staff forwards copies of the letters to the Trust Fund Board members. She noted this is one of more than 200 applications the five-member Trust Fund Board (all from lower Michigan) will consider at their meeting on October 3, 2001. The applications are of two types: recreational development and land acquisition. The Keweenaw Tip land acquisition project is one of the 49 applications for land acquisition, totaling over $55 million-worth of requests. However, the total available for land acquisition is only about $20 million, Edgar noted. Jim Ekdahl, DNR Upper Peninsula field deputy in Marquette, said both IP/LSLC and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) are still working independently on appraisals of the areas proposed for purchase. ’ÄúThe appraisal process is a real delicate part of the process,’Äù Ekdahl said. ’ÄúThey know we have to have it wrapped up by October, when the Trust Fund meets. I’Äôm sure the appraisers are moving along as quickly as they can.’Äù He noted the estimated cost of $12.5 million is an arbitrary figure. ’ÄúThat can be adjusted according to what the appraisers tell us and what we feel is appropriate according to their appraisals,’Äù he said. ’ÄúIf it comes in less, that frees up money that can go into other opportunities ’Ķ There are a lot of other worthwhile projects out there as well, so the competition is pretty tough.’Äù Ekdahl said both the state and TNC are limited to spending fair market value for land purchases. Should the grant be approved, the plan is that TNC would buy the property and the DNR would reimburse them over a period of three to five years. It is possible that the project would be approved this year for the total amount but paid off in subsequent years. Edgar said such a ’Äúphased’Äù acquisition is possible but rare. She noted in recent DNR history, to her knowledge, it was done only once, in 1998 ’Äì for the Cheboygan-to-Gaylord multiple-use recreational trail. That project included purchase of 45 miles of abandoned railroad for the trail. ’ÄúIt is at the discretion of the Trust Fund Board whether they will approve it as a phased acquisition, where the money is awarded over time,’Äù Edgar explained. Ekdahl said DNR staff are positive about the grant application. ’ÄúWe’Äôre still hopeful and we’Äôre still optimistic,’Äù he said. ’ÄúWe think this would be a great asset for public ownership.’Äù Steve DeBrabander, forest land administrator for the DNR Forest, Mineral and Fire Management Division (formerly called the Forest Management Division), put the grant application together after consulting with DNR forestry, wildlife and fisheries experts who, along with himself, had been part of the review committee for the proposed land exchange in 2000. Had it been successful, that exchange would have allowed the DNR to acquire 20,500 Keweenaw acres in exchange for 36,200 acres of land in the southern half of Houghton County. ’ÄúOne of the things that was clear in the review (of the land exchange proposal) was that the public and the DNR staff all felt very strongly that the land at the Tip of the Keweenaw would be very beneficial to have in public ownership,’Äù DeBrabander said. ’ÄúThe reason that exchange fell through is that the lands the company was asking for were some of the best forest lands in the state ’Ķ No one wanted to give up the public lands in Houghton County because of their high resource values and public recreation values.’Äù DeBrabander said the DNR experts working with him on this Tip of the Keweenaw purchase proposal include Jim Hammill, wildlife biologist and expert on endangered and threatened species, both flora and fauna; Marty Nelson, forester; and Vern Nurenberg, fisheries. DeBrabander said all four of them had familiarized themselves with the Keweenaw Tip area during that review for the land exchange. ’ÄúWe have until August 1 to submit any supplemental information,’Äù he added. DeBrabander recommended letters of support be sent before the end of August, although he believed they would continue to be accepted until the October Trust Fund Board meeting. The Trust Fund Board will also have a general business meeting on Sept. 12. DeBrabander said he believes the proposal has a good chance of being funded. ’ÄúIt scored real well because some of the things the Trust Fund looks at as priorities are lands that would increase opportunities for hunting, wildlife protection, fishing opportunities, protection of threatened and endangered species and unique habitats,’Äù DeBrabander explained.
The grant proposal includes maps of the area and detailed information on its unique natural features, including: basalt bedrock lakeshore and Michigan’Äôs only area of coastal rhyolite; state threatened and endangered species and species of special concern; wildlife habitat; and recreational opportunities for hunting, fishing, birding, camping, kayaking, boating, hiking, mountain biking, backpacking, skiing and snowmobiling. Information provided in the grant proposal attachments points out not only the natural uniqueness and high biodiversity of the area but also its potential for contributing to the local, tourism-based economy. The text includes the following description of the natural features: ’ÄúThe interconnectedness of the geological and biological features is evident on the property to be acquired. Along the southern shoreline are several examples of Great Lakes basalt (conglomerate), bedrock lakeshore, and bedrock glade communities, endemic to the Peninsula. These communities are home to several species of plants that are usually associated with more northern or western montane ecosystems, including the easternmost population of heart-leaved arnica. Fish Cove, one of the south shore proposed acquisition sites, alone contains six state significant plants, making it the richest site of special plants on the southeastern Keweenaw Peninsula. The rhyolite knob in this area forms steep bedrock escarpments, stacks, and glades. Other endemic communities include the spruce-fir basalt bedrock glades, Great Lakes alkaline cobble/gravel shore, Great Lakes beachgrass dunes, and interdunal wetlands.’Äù The proposal information also mentions Keweenaw bird habitat. The area attracts several species of hawk as well as turkey vultures, bald and golden eagles, pregrine falcons, merlins, goshawks, loons and saw-whet owls. The site description states, ’ÄúThe Keweenaw Peninsula tip is also an important flyway for migrating raptors and a stop-over site for neo-tropical migrants. During spring migration, more than 100 raptors per hour have been observed in the tip area, with several days of more than 1,000 hawks observed.’Äù The proposal also notes that while hunting and fishing are allowed on Commercial Forestry Reserve lands, the potential sale of these lands as small, private blocks could lessen opportunities for hunting unless the land is protected by public acquisition. It adds that state ownership could include hunting-related activities such as shooting ranges and improved access to lakes and shoreline areas. Fishing opportunities would be expanded with state acquisition of Schlatter Lake, which includes Northern Pike, Yellow Perch and Common White Suckers. The Montreal River contains Brook, Brown and Rainbow Trout, Steelhead and possibly Coaster Brook Trout. Lost Lake is being managed as a Brook Trout fishery, thanks to two years of stocking and management by the Copper Country Chapter of Trout Unlimited. The DNR presently owns land to the north of this lake. Another advantage to protecting the two major proposed areas ’Äì Schlatter Lake and the South Shore ’Äì would be to join these to the existing conservation lands on the north and east shore owned by The Nature Conservancy and the State of Michigan, thus protecting many fragile and unique ecosystems.
At the June 19 Joint Meeting of township land use planning committees, Tina Hall, The Michigan Chapter of the Nature Conservancy’Äôs Upper Peninsula regional director, said the uniqueness of the Keweenaw Peninsula is the reason for TNC’Äôs presence here. The group owns two preserves in Keweenaw County ’Äì Horseshoe Harbor on the north shore, east of Copper Harbor, and the ’ÄúRocket Launcher Site’Äù near High Rock Point on the east shore. ’ÄúSome of the things that are unique here are unique to Michigan,’Äù she said. ’ÄúThat’Äôs what brought TNC here.’Äù Hall said TNC is very eager for the state to buy the Keweenaw Tip property as soon as possible. She noted the conservancy is not planning to manage the land but simply hold it until the state can buy it. ’ÄúThe window’Äôs closing on this opportunity,’Äù she added. ’ÄúThe state needs to act now.’Äù Hall encouraged land use planning committee members to write to Rep. Rich Brown to let him know they support the land purchase.
Naturalist Jim Rooks of Copper Harbor said he has been taking daily, organized commercial nature tours out to Keweenaw Point and Keystone Bay (on the South Shore) for 20 years. He said he’Äôs written to the higher officials of the DNR and to the Trust Fund decision makers expressing his support of the land purchase. ’ÄúThey know they’Äôre only going to have one chance to buy that,’Äù Rooks said. ’ÄúWe’Äôre going to see whether or not this current DNR generation is farsighted enough to be in tune with the urgency of protecting these shoreline corridors. After a 20-year campaign that I myself have personally fought for the wise stewardship of this peninsula in a way that would not pit loggers and developers against those who wish to preserve this area, I’Äôm glad to see (others) finally getting the idea, whatever they want to call it ’Äì from ’Äúindustrial tourism’Äù to public access.’Äù The Needs Statement in the grant application points out that the project area economy depends heavily on tourism and tour-related businesses, especially in Copper Harbor, and that state ownership would likely increase visitation and nature-based tours. It further states: ’ÄúThe desire by individuals to own their own Lake Superior shoreline is at an all time high. Properties that were once thought remote and undevelopable are now being purchased and subdivided into second home lots. Inland lake and Lake Superior shoreline access, that has been a traditional use, is now ending as much of the shore is sold and posted against access.’Äù Mark Pontti, public affairs
manager for International Paper, said the company is
continuing to evaluate the value of all lands in
their portfolio; and to ’ÄúInternational Paper/Lake
Superior Land is always willing to discuss land
sales with anyone who makes a legitimate offer,
creating a win-win situation for
Mohawk resident Al Gunnari, chair of the Allouez Township Land Use Planning Committee, recalled his childhood camping trips in the Keweenaw Tip area. ’ÄúWe used to have a camp in Mandan,’Äù Gunnari said. ’ÄúWhen we were kids we put a potato in each pocket and took pup tents, fishing poles and old army blankets. We’Äôd carry them (the blanket rolled up inside the pup tent) across our shoulder like a bandolier. We used to go all over out there ’Ķ It was a lot of fun.’Äù Gunnari said he’Äôs not against development and would even like to see it expanded in Mohawk so that the pristine areas of the peninsula could be preserved for future generations to enjoy. ’ÄúI’Äôd definitely be in favor of that (state land purchase),’Äù Gunnari added. ’ÄúI’Äôd like to see more of that area protected so my grandchildren and their kids can enjoy it and see it the way it was. It’Äôs going so fast that it’Äôs unreal.’Äù Keweenaw County Commissioners have indicated strong support of the land purchase. At their May 8 meeting, the board passed a resolution to send a letter to Michigan’Äôs Governor John Engler and DNR officials on the importance of state negotiations for land acquisition in Keweenaw County. ’ÄúWe can’Äôt afford to lose the mouth of the Montreal to a developer,’Äù said Commissioner Jeffrey Turnquist. ’ÄúWe need to act now.’Äù Commissioner Don Keith said he is a strong advocate and supporter of the project. ’ÄúThis is what the people of Keweenaw have been wanting to take place for some time,’Äù Keith said, ’Äúand I’Äôm willing to put forth any effort that it takes to support the project.’Äù Click here to read or copy the Mintkens’Äô sample letter to the Trust Fund Board in support of the DNR proposed land purchase ’Ķ
Click here for a printable, pdf version of this letter. It can be read and printed if you have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which can be downloaded for free from the Internet ... Click here to comment on this article ’Ķ
’Äì
Michele Anderson
July 22, 2001 |
