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May
2004 News
Keweenaw Point Advisory Committee Minutes: Apr. 6, 2004
MARQUETTE -- The next meeting of the Keweenaw Point Advisory Committee (KPAC)
will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 4, 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 Apr. 6, 2004, KPAC meeting in Allouez:
I. Attendance:
Name
Organization
Friederike Greuer
UPEC
Charles Eshbach
MNA
Don B. Keith
Keweenaw County
Warren Suchovsky Mich. Assoc. of
Timbermen
Jeff Knoop
Nature Conservancy
Bill Deephouse
Trout Unlimited
Sam Raymond
Silent Sports
Lori Hauswirth
WUPPDR (Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Region)
Dana Richter
Copper Country Audubon
Clarence J. Monette Keweenaw Co. Historical Society
Dick Powers
Grant Township
Jack Lehto
MUCC (Michigan United Conservation Clubs)
F. Jason Wyglendowski MTU 4-Wheelers
Ron Yesney
MDNR
Martin Nelson
MDNR
David Latvala (filling in for Don Kauppi) Motorized Sports
Absent:
Jim Junttila, Calumet-Keweenaw Sportsmen; Don Kauppi, Keweenaw Tourism Council.
II. Called to Order
The meeting was called to order at 6:35 p.m. by Ron Yesney.
III. Ron Yesney reviewed the public comment forms.
- Committee reviewed written comments submitted
- Committee reviewed letters
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| Keweenaw Point Advisory Committee (KPAC) members
review materials distributed to them during their Apr. 6, 2004, meeting
in the Allouez Township Community Center in Allouez. The committee
considers written comments and correspondence as well as comments by the
public in attendance at the meetings. Pictured here are, from left, Lori
Hauswirth of WUPPDR, Sam Raymond representing Silent Sports, KPAC Chair
Bill Deephouse of the Copper Country Chapter of Trout Unlimited, KPAC
Vice-Chair Jeff Knoop of The Nature Conservancy and Warren Suchovsky of
the Michigan Association of Timbermen. (Photo by Michele
Anderson) |
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IV. Public comment period:
Doug Welker: Try to avoid big wish list when committee goes to DNR in fall. Incorporate volunteer efforts in recommendations. After committee dissolves, there should be some form of organization that still allows interaction with DNR, friends, group, etc. Continue contact process with DNR trails (work with Peter
Wolf Chapter of North Country Trail Association, non-motorized trail advocate). Be cautious of multiple use trails; ex: speed issues, social conflicts. Be aware of single track trails. Would like to emphasize protection of the shoreline area. Spur to shoreline is better than running trail along shoreline. Need to have areas where people are a half mile from motorized traffic. Any plan that DNR comes up with is only as good as monitoring that takes place after plan is in place. Don't overextend staff.
Jim Wachowski: Happy to volunteer with Committee or after proposals have been made.
Bill Deephouse: Read a letter from Paul Lehto.* Deephouse encouraged Paul to show up. Paul thought there were too many environmentalist organizations represented on the committee.
Bob Kelly: Contacted Knoop and Deephouse, concerned about ATVs riding cross country, owns Camp Manitou.
ATVs don't follow the trails or roads and cause damage.
Jason Wyglendowski: 4-wheel drive vehicles are being blamed for damage
ATVs do. 4-wheel drive vehicles often clean up areas. Please keep an open mind about 4-wheel drive vehicles. Good enforcement of club members amongst members. ATV gatherings could be used to generate money for Keweenaw Point.
Suchovsky: Loggers are sometimes asked to upgrade or maintain trails in areas where they are logging anyway.
Eshbach: Wayne Wheeler said that Keweenaw has suffered the worst ATV damage he has ever seen for U.P. and downstate.
Knoop: There has never been a real designated road system.
Jason Wyglendowski: Int'l Paper doesn't like 4-wheeler group.
Matt Eberly (CO)**: Just as many ATVs in the summer as snowmobilers in the winter. Whatever the plan is -- there are only two of us that can enforce any laws.
Welker: ATV access should be controlled by local ATV groups.
Jason Wyglendowski: Most ATV people are not from the area.
Suchovsky: Biggest concern of timber companies is liabilities to the companies.
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| At the Apr. 6 KPAC meeting in Allouez, Jason
Wyglendowski, third from left, representing the Michigan Tech University
4-Wheeler Club, discusses ATV and 4-Wheeler use in the Keweenaw Tip
area. Also pictured are, from left, Martin Nelson, DNR Baraga unit
manager; Ron Yesney DNR recreation specialist; Jack Lehto,
Michigan United Conservation Clubs; Richard Powers, Grant Township
supervisor; Clarence Monette, Keweenaw County Historical Society; and
(foreground) Doug Welker. (Photo by Michele
Anderson) |
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V. Soil and Wetland Maps (Yesney)
- requested by Committee members
- Soil maps not colored
- Wetland maps colored
- Description of natural areas and where they are located
- DNR will honor any further requests from the Committee
VI. International Paper: Request for agenda items for a future discussion with an Int'l Paper Representative
Yesney asked committee to identify specific agenda items for future meetings with International Paper representatives. The committee developed agenda items as follows:
1. ISO 14,000: How will this affect land management? Can the committee attain a copy of the sensitive area analysis completed for these lands by IP?
2. Long Term Plan for Area: What does IP have planned for their land adjacent to the state owned Keweenaw Point lands?
3. Liability Issues: What liability problem has IP had on their former Keweenaw Point lands? Would recreational development of MDNR's Keweenaw Point lands impact IP's liability issues on their adjacent lands?
4. Logging: Are there any active logging operations on IP's adjacent lands?
5. Acquisition: Is it possible to receive a right of first refusal should IP sell some lands adjacent to the point?
6. Boundaries: Are the current boundaries clearly marked on site by IP?
7. Ownership: Is it possible to obtain less than fee simple ownership on some key IP adjacent lands, corridors, and easements?
VII. Fire and Emergency Response Issues were Discussed
Department (DNR) personnel are responsible for forest fires while Townships are responsible for structure fires. EMS personnel are in place. Don Keith discussed emergency plans. A trail numbering signing program with mileage markers was discussed. Yesney will report back at next meeting regarding uniform emergency trail numbering programs underway.
VIII. Discussion of Prioritized Changes
Bill Deephouse took over as meeting facilitator and began discussion on prioritized charge #1 = Minimum Impact Zones.
Richter and Knoop identified Steve Chadde as someone who has done the best rare plant species identification work available.
Chadde ranked areas as high, moderate, low conservation value. Richter shared map. Knoop identified map as a guideline.
Suchovsky stated concern of identifying areas where rare plants are, as public may collect them.
Eshbach stated need to get out and survey the land personally. Richter will summarize the data with
Chadde's assistance.
IX. Motorized Trail Strategy:
Dick Powers presented a map with high use areas. High use areas are in this priority: High Rock Bay, Keystone Bay, Montreal River/Fish Cove, Schlatter Lake and Hoar Lake. Also presented a map with different proposed snowmobile trails that Don Kauppi is suggesting. Map includes 3 phases of development.
Suchovsky had a question with regards to a snowmobile trail, what concern does it have to plants?
Knoop said snow cover protects it. Old existing logging roads are what is used for snowmobile trails; the areas have already been disturbed.
Dave Latvala, Don Kauppi's representative, stated that logging and tourism are vital to the economy of the Keweenaw and should not be restricted.
Matt Eberly stated that wherever you put a snowmobile trail there will be an ATV trail. When you make a snowmobile trail, you'll also be making an ATV trail. Just having a motorized trail system.
Welker stated that there shouldn't be as many motorized trails.
Eshbach complimented law enforcement guys and stated that Law enforcement and education does work to curtail motorized use problems.
Matt Eberly suggested that we should have dedicated trail system destined to only motorized and non-motorized trails.
Denny Gast (CO)** suggested we have a dual trail system. Motorized for motorized use and non-motorized for non-motorized.
Matt Eberly stressed motorized and non-motorized trail system would be easy to patrol.
Doug Welker thought we won't get a multi-purpose non-motorized trail that meets everyone's needs. Won't keep costs down. Won't be to everyone's satisfaction.
Richter sees an increase in the number of tourists who want to do non-motorized types of activities.
X. Sam, Charlie and Lori on Non-motorized Trails
Development of non-motorized, sustainable, multiple-use trails. Looked at where high use areas are located, Hoar Lake, Keystone Bay, Schlatter Lake, and along Mandan Road (near Horseshoe Harbor). Main trail at Hoar Lake, Schlatter Lake, Keystone Bay, back to Copper Harbor. Primitive campsite, Schlatter Lake, Hoar Lake and Keystone, small loops there, too. Would need some small connector trails in some areas. (Written Non-Motorized Trail Report Attached, Appendix A)***
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| This photo shows a beach on Hoar Lake, located within
the Keweenaw Tip state lands. Hoar Lake is one of several high use areas
being considered for development of non-motorized trails and
motorized-accessible campsites (See Appendix A, p. 2). (File photo ©
2002 Jeff Knoop.) |
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Goals: Quality user's experiences. Keep motorized vehicles off shore. Foot accessible and water accessible sites Fish Cove. Would like to give easier access to Copper Harbor.
Suchovsky suggests camp sites should be located close together so they are easy to clean up.
Matt Eberly described the Shoreland Trespass law. Know what high water mark was in 1952 and know what high water mark is now. Wet foot theory discussed.
XI. Visitation/Tour - will schedule for June
XII. Regular meeting next month, scheduled for Tuesday, May 4, at 6:30 p.m. Allouez Community
Center.
XIII. Adjourn. Time of adjournment should be noted. I recall we ran until sometime after 9
p.m. so 9:15 p.m. should be about right.
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