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Happenings in the Keweenaw Peninsula Updated January 22, 2002 Press release © 2002 GEM Center for Science and Environmental Outreach

Keweenaw land-use planners to present "2001: An Open-Space Odyssey" Jan. 24.

HOUGHTON -- A forum on 2001 as a landmark year for public land acquisitions and land-use planning activities in the Keweenaw Peninsula will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 24, in the Alumni Lounge of the Memorial Union Building at Michigan Technological University. The program will give an overview of the vital work done in the past year by grassroots organizations, local governments and the public.

Large land parcels near Keweenaw Point are included in The Nature Conservancy's Keweenaw Tip land purchase on behalf of the State of Michigan. (Aerial file photo by Jeff Knoop of TNC)

The forum will feature a panel of representatives from Public Access Keweenaw, The Nature Conservancy, North Woods Conservancy, Copper Country Audubon, Trout Unlimited, Keweenaw Land Trust/Common Ground, Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Region and the Keweenaw County township planning committees. Among the public lands to be discussed are the Tip of the Keweenaw, the mouth of the Gratiot River and Seven-Mile Point -- all of which include important stretches of Lake Superior shoreline.

John Griffith, president of North Woods Conservancy, which has been involved in land acquisition efforts at Seven Mile Point and the Mouth of the Gratiot River, will be among the forum speakers.

"2001 was a great year for conservation in the Keweenaw," Griffith said. "Many areas with significant scenic, recreational and natural resource value were protected. Conservation is intimately linked with land-use planning; once development has occurred, it's too late for preservation of open space. Conversely, once preservation has occurred, responsible development can proceed without oppposition."

The program is co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country (LWVCC) and the GEM Center for Science and Environmental Outreach at Michigan Technological University.

Carolyn Weissbach, president of LWVCC stated "These preservation and planning steps are consistent with the League's position on land use planning, and we're pleased to bring all this information together in one place for the public to review." The meeting is open to the public and refreshments will be served.

Read the latest update on The Nature Conservancy's purchase of land at the Keweenaw Tip, which will eventually belong to the State of Michigan.

Read about the successful purchase of Seven-Mile Point for public access.

Read about land at the Mouth of the Gratiot which may soon become a Keweenaw County park.