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April 2004 News
Keweenaw Point Advisory Committee Minutes: Mar. 2, 2004
MARQUETTE -- The next meeting of the Keweenaw Point Advisory Committee (KPAC)
will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Apr. 6, 2004, at the Allouez Community Center in
Allouez. KPAC is working with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources
to plan management of the state's recent Keweenaw Tip purchase of 6,275 acres
for conservation, public access and recreation.
Below are the minutes of the Mar. 2, 2004, KPAC meeting in Allouez:
I. Attendance:
Name
Organization
Friederike Greuer
UPEC
Sam Raymond
Silent Sports
Lori Hauswirth
WUPPDR
Jeff Knoop
Nature Conservancy
Clarence J. Monette Keweenaw Co. Historical Society
Dana Richter Copper Country Audubon
Jim Junttila Calumet-Keweenaw Sportsmen
Don Kauppi
Keweenaw Tourism Council
Bill Deephouse Trout Unlimited
Local governmental officials included Don B. Keith, Keweenaw County
commissioner, and Dick Powers, Grant Township supervisor.
Jim D. Rooks served as the alternate for Charles Eshbach for the Michigan Nature Association.
The DNR was represented by Martin Nelson, Ron Yesney and Rob Aho.
II. Called to Order
The meeting was called to order by Yesney at 6:30 p.m. Yesney submitted a written comment to the Committee from James M. Martin and Appendix B of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
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| Ron Yesney, standing, DNR recreation specialist,
addresses members of the Keweenaw Point Advisory Committee (KPAC) at
their Mar. 2, 2004, meeting in the Allouez Township Community Center in
Allouez. Other DNR representatives at the meeting were Martin Nelson,
foreground, left, DNR Baraga unit manager, and Rob Aho, DNR wildlife
biologist, to Nelson's left. Jim Rooks, right, foreground, served as alternate for Charles Eshbach for the Michigan Nature
Association. (Photo by Michele
Anderson) |
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III. Reviewed Barriers and Needs Assessment
Yesney reviewed with the Committee a handout titled Strategic Analysis: KPAC Exercise, which listed the Committee's barriers and needs.
(bold type at end of listing captures KPAC comments, 3/2/04)
1. Americans With Disabilities Act: Outline of the Act provided to committee 3-2-04.
Questions should be forwarded to Yesney.
2. Recreation Facilities Inventory (Trails, Roads, Access Sites, Camping Sites, Fishing Sites, Hunting Areas, etc): This information is available to the committee via Department-provided maps, recreation plans, and visits to the property.
Deephouse has the recreation plans for both Grant Township and Keweenaw County.
3. Define Historic Deer Yards: Rob Aho, Wildlife Biologist from the Department of Natural Resources
provided this information to the committee at the March 2nd meeting.
No additional comment.
4. Michigan Natural Features Inventory Data: Copy provided to the committee at the March
2nd meeting. No additional comment.
5. Copies of Local Land-use Zoning and Planning Materials: Copies of these materials can be requested through the citizen advisory committee's local government representatives -- Dick Powers and Don Keith.
Local land-use zoning and planning materials were found in the form of maps from the Eagle River Courthouse by Greuer. Greuer submitted these maps to Deephouse.
6. Land Survey to Identify Property Lines: This information is not currently available and shouldn't be necessary for the recommendation development process.
No additional comment.
7. Consultation with Keweenaw County Emergency Responders: A future meeting of the citizen advisory committee shall include a discussion with local emergency response officials.
No additional comment.
8. Appropriate Signage: This will be the responsibility of the Department of Natural Resources. The signage requirements will greatly depend upon the recommendations made by the Committee and implemented by the Department.
No additional comment.
9. Inventory of Bridges, Culverts, and Stream Crossings: GPS data from the mapping of snowmobile trails -- which include bridge, culvert, and stream crossing
information -- will be made available to the committee.
GPS data from the mapping of snowmobile trails will be handed out at the next meeting.
10. Wetland Inventory: A map will be made available to the committee.
Nelson failed to submit a wetland inventory map. A map was requested by the Committee with data on seasonal wetlands.
12. Forest Health and Harvest History Index: An inventory for this land area is in the works. The draft version will be available to the committee upon their request.
Three compartments will be part of the Forest Health and Harvest History Index.
13. Copies of Local Government Recreation Plans: A copy of the Grant Township Recreation Plan will be provided to the committee at the March 2nd meeting.
Deephouse has received copies of local government recreation plans for Grant Township and Keweenaw County.
14. Soil Survey Report: Copy of soils maps will be provided to committee at the March 2nd
meeting. No additional comment.
15. List of Partner Organizations: This is a working list.
1. Grant Township
2. Keweenaw County
3. Nature Conservancy
4. Lake Superior Partnership
5. Michigan Nature Association
6. Michigan Snowmobile Association
7. Trout Unlimited
8. Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition
9. Copper Country Audubon Society
10. Western U.P. Planning and Development
11. Calumet-Laurium Sportsman's Club
12. MTU 4-wheelers
13. Keweenaw Historical Society
14. Michigan Association of Timbermen
Should add Keweenaw Water and Trail Association and Michigan Mountain Bike Association. Committee asked if MUCC will have a representative. Rooks suggested that a representative from Lake Superior Land Company be included, since they are a large landowner in the
area.
16. Mineral Rights Definition and Index of Mineral Rights for Area: This is tied to the acquisition and is quite complex. This information shouldn't be necessary for the committee to consider in developing recreation recommendations. Should the information become necessary the Department will supply the information on a case-by-case basis.
Yesney stated this was very complex and a summary was not possible.
17. Consider Human Carrying Capacity of Property: This will be the responsibility of the committee to determine.
No additional comment.
18. Inventory of Historic, Cultural, and Archeological Sites: Two professors at MTU have a good list. The Department is working on a site map that will be supplied to the committee.
Professors mentioned are Suzanne and Pat Martin. Monette will get a copy of the map with historical mine sites from Dr. Allen Johnson.
19. Seek Out Support Services Available Through Other Agencies and Organizations: Depending upon the need, the Department will consult with appropriate organizations on a case-by-case basis.
No additional comment.
IV. Reviewed Prioritization Exercise Results
Yesney pointed out that this handout lists issues the Committee is asked to make recommendations on. Definitions were included. Yesney reviewed the handout with the Committee.
V. Public Comment Session (summarized by Friederike Greuer)
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| Ron Yesney, standing, DNR recreation specialist,
accepts public comments from members of the audience during the Mar. 2
meeting of the Keweenaw Point Advisory Committee (KPAC) in the
Allouez Township Community Center in Allouez. (Photo by Michele
Anderson) |
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Youngman*: He felt that the rare species and plant survey was a good start, but not complete.
Gast: Recommended that more land be acquired in addition to the newly purchased land.
Nelson: Acquiring more land is a mute point. State is in a bind financially.
Gast: This would be for a long-term plan. More conservation easements should be more development rights acquisition.
Youngman: Asked DNR panel to define boundary. Martin Nelson showed him.
Question: Is there any consideration on fire protection or roads that help with fire protection?
Nelson: Tend to have very few fires. Lots are caused by campers. We haven't had too many fires in this area. This isn't a big issue here in this area.
Yesney: DNR has fire management and experts, too.
Comment - Development should reflect the fire fighting capabilities.
Yesney: DNR will definitely consider fire and will have fire and EMS personnel at the next committee meeting.
Keith: Feels that Keweenaw County needs greater education about fire danger.
Yesney: Public can fill out forms for public comment if anyone does not wish to speak.
Keith: All documents presented to the committee members are at the Keweenaw County Courthouse.
Deephouse: Minutes can be found in all public libraries.
Yesney: Can also request information from committee members.
Question -- Will there be any type of stationary outhouses?
Yesney: This should be a recommendation of the committee.
Question -- Where is the money going to come from for improvements proposed?
Yesney: Trust Fund, Natural Resource dollars reallocated, self-funding, fees collected from registration, etc.
Deephouse: Concern has been expressed about easements along the Mandan Road. Is this a liability?
We should maintain public access to Fish Cove, and Hoar Lake area should remain primitive.
Cedar areas shouldn't be clear cut between Fish Cove and Hoar Lake.
There should be an outhouse or two on point lands.
Knoop: Mandan Road isn't officially maintained by anyone. It is primarily maintained by Lake Superior Land Company and contains private in-holdings. The first mile is county road.
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| This ownership map shows the Mandan Road, other
access roads, snowmobile trails and inland lakes in the Keweenaw Tip
area. Green areas are state-owned land, while pink indicates property of
The Nature Conservancy (TNC). At the Mar. 2 KPAC meeting, Jeff Knoop,
KPAC vice-chair and TNC's Upper Peninsula director of land
protection, handed out colored maps like this one to KPAC members. (Map © 2004
and courtesy The Nature Conservancy) |
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Keith: There is no funding for Mandan Road this year. There is a need for written recorded easements along the Mandan Road. There are also liability issues with roads.
Yesney: The Committee needs to put together some recommendations for roads.
VI. Historic Deer Yard Discussion with Rob Aho, DNR Wildlife Biologist
Definition of deer yard -- Consists of a closed coniferous canopy.
Advantages of a deer yard:
1. Intercepts snow
2. Creates a denser snow pack
3. Creates higher relative humidity.
4. Reduces windshield (wind chill? or improves windshield)
Historically, deer yards are found on the eastern side of the peninsula and deer go where their parents went despite changes in habitat.
Deer use won't be reduced towards Keweenaw Point but deer use has gone down in that area according to local sportsmen. Supplemental feeding does change deer yards. Deer generally have a thirteen mile average distance from summer to winter range; but, more recent data has suggested they have a twenty to fifty mile traveling range.
Deer who feed supplementally survive best. Supplemental feeding is done under a permit system reviewed by myself (Aho). Closest supplemental feeding station is in Eagle River. DNR does not conduct supplemental feeding. Deer will go back to abandoned deer yards eventually.
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| These deer were photographed near the Eagle River deer
feeding station on Mar. 29, 2004. (Photo by Michele
Anderson) |
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Knoop: Deer will go to historic deer yards and traditional cedar areas. Section 30 has black spruce and tamarack. The area near Schlatter's Lake has a lot of cedar.
Gast pointed out that the Schlatter Lake area has a lot of deer activity.**
VII. Roads - Levels of Improvement, Culverts, Bridges, etc.
At this point, Deephouse acted as chair and asked each of the committee members to comment
on the state of the roads.
***Richter: Should talk about minimum impact zones before we discuss roads. Minimum impact zones will be limited to
where there are no roads. (***This statement is a correction of an error
in this comment as recorded earlier.)
Junttila: No comment.
Kauppi:
-Road to High Rock Bay is used for snowmobile trails.
-Would like a loop instead of a dead-end trail to High Rock Bay then to Section 22, then to Section 27.
-Drainage system required for loop to High Rock Bay and Schlatter's Lake.
-There have been many requests for a road to High Rock Bay which goes around Schlatter's Lake.
-Would like loop to connect to the western part of the Keystone Road.
-Would like to stay off the Mandan Road as much as possible.
-Most roads in that area consist of logging roads.
-Snowmobiling requires drainage.
-Should limit summertime use of the road to keep maintenance low.
-Keep development to a minimum.
-Better used for snowmobiling than for skiing.
-Needs better uses and accessibility.
-Limit access to sensitive areas.
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| This detail of the ownership map shows parts of access roads, snowmobile trails and inland lakes in the Keweenaw
Point area. Part of Mandan Road is seen as brown line at left, while
yellow indicates snowmobile trails and red marks dirt roads. The large
blue area in Section 16 is Schlatter' Lake. (Map © 2004
and courtesy The Nature Conservancy) |
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Keith:
-Agrees with Richter.
-Mandan Road has to be the main access for all around and requires easements.
-Will need vehicle access to High Rock Bay which passes Schlatter's Lake.
-Can have numerous hiking trails off the Mandan Road.
-ATVs should be limited to designated roads.
Rooks: Committee should have a representative serving from the company (Lake Superior Land Company).
This way we would be informed on company policy.
Knoop: Agree with Rooks and Richter. Doesn't feel we need any new roads. We need new hiking trails and closure of roads.
Monette: Agrees with Richter.
Powers:
-Mandan Road has a lot of traffic. North Mandan Road is heavily used.
-We should take a map and draw where people go, in what concentration, and what roads are used today.
-Find out where the greatest concentration of hikers and campers are.
-I'll provide the Committee a better map with the roads present and other GPS information.
VIII. Committees - Set-up.
a. Roads Committee - expected to come back with a proposal and GPS map.
i. Includes: Rooks (Eshbach), Kauppi, Powers.
b. Sensitive Areas Committee
i. Includes: Greuer, Richter, Knoop
c. Non-Motorized Committee
i. Includes: Eshbach, Hauswirth, Raymond.
IX. Adjournment
Knoop handed out colored maps of the area.
Meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
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