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News from the Keweenaw Peninsula Posted July 29, 2004   Text © 2004 Michigan Department of Natural Resources, courtesy Ann Wilson, DNR communications representative, Office of the Press Secretary, Marquette; Friederike Greuer, KPAC secretary; and Ronald Yesney, DNR West U.P. recreation specialist. Photos © 2004 Michele Anderson for Keweenaw Now.

Keweenaw Point Advisory Committee Minutes: July 6, 2004

MARQUETTE -- The Keweenaw Point Advisory Committee (KPAC) will hold its next regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2004, at the Mohawk School, 3rd Street, in Mohawk. KPAC was assembled to provide recreation and resource management suggestions to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) on the state's recent Keweenaw Tip purchase of 6,275 acres for public access, recreation and conservation. The Committee is expected to submit recommendations to the DNR this September.

Below are the minutes of the July 6, 2004, KPAC meeting in Allouez:

I. Sign-In:

Don Keith -- Keweenaw County
Lori Hauswirth -- WUPPDR (Western U. P. Planning and Development)
Don Kauppi -- Keweenaw Tourism Council
Charles Eshbach -- Michigan Nature Association
Clarence Monette -- Keweenaw County Historical Society
Dick Powers -- Grant Township
Jack Lehto -- MUCC (Michigan United Conservation Clubs)
Martin Nelson -- MDNR
Jason Wyglendowski -- Michigan Tech 4 Wheelers Club
Warren Suchovsky -- Michigan Timbermen's Association
Friederike Greuer -- UPEC
Jeff Knoop -- The Nature Conservancy
Dana Richter -- Copper Country Audubon
Bill Deephouse -- Copper Country Trout Unlimited
Sam Raymond -- Silent Sports

1) Meeting called to order at 6:35 p.m. by Martin Nelson of MDNR. Nelson led meeting for DNR in Ron Yesney's absence. 
Reviewed the minutes of the June 1 meeting. Richter noted that the minutes that were passed out at meeting were not the final minutes as posted on Keweenaw Now and on-hand at libraries. Nelson brought earlier draft to meeting and they did not contain the corrections he and others had made. Corrected version to be sent to committee members by Yesney.

2) Review June 12 Tour of Keweenaw Point Lands, Comments: 
Bill Deephouse gave an overview retracing the committee's tour. The group visited High Rock Bay, Fish Cove, Mouth of Montreal River, and Hoar Lake. He then commented on the state of the island on Schlatter's Lake. It was noted that ATVs had made a trail to the mouth of the Montreal. The practicality and possibility of a hub was discussed at Fish Cove with parking spot and camping spots.

Don Keith noted that people are accessing the area with vehicles, and he was impressed with Hoar Lake. Keith would like to encourage people to go and explore the land.

Friederike Greuer -- Believed the Point was a great asset to the State of Michigan and that the tour just touched on the site.

Jeff Knoop -- A wonderful natural resource for the State of Michigan and that, during the tour, saw some of the issues that need to be addressed.

Warren Suchovsky -- Fortunate to have this land. Wants to make a camping site at Schlatter's Lake.

Members of the Keweenaw Point Advisory Committee, from left, Warren Suchovsky, Bill Deephouse, Friederike Greuer and Dana Richter were among those on the June 12 tour with DNR officials. Here they are pictured at the first stop, High Rock Bay. (June 12, 2004, photo by Michele Anderson)

3) Review of Written Comments Received: 
- The petition from Jim Regis, with signatures. Were included in the printed comments received.
- Letter from Gina Nicholas was received.
- Other written comments received.
- Information on camping reviewed.
- Susan Martin commented on historical sites.

Members felt all were really good comments.

Gina Nicholas asked if photographs were received from Jeff Knoop.
Knoop reply:

• Bob Kelly owns Section 10. ATVs have made a trail through his property. He has pictures of the ATV damage to his property. ATV users are making a loop from the road to the north through his property and TNC property to the High Rock road.

• All private property is closed unless you have permission to be there.
• State roads are open unless posted closed.
• A landowner can send a letter to their respective Conservation Officer stating that no ATVs have permission to be on their property without written permission from the landowner.

Don Kauppi:

• Mr. Kelly doesn't like "No Trespassing" signs.
• Mr. Kelly doesn't mind people riding on rock beach but not on his lands.
• We should have user friendly signing.

Charlie Eshbach:  

• Signing suggestion: should write, "Please respect this special place" and then go on to tell people what land can be used for.

Charlie Eshbach, far left, offers suggestions to KPAC at their July 6, 2004, meeting in the Allouez Township Community Building. Also pictured, from left, are KPAC members Don Kauppi, Lori Hauswirth, Sam Raymond and Bill Deephouse. (Photo by Michele Anderson)

Matt Eberly:

• People should be issued maps showing where they can or can't ride ATVs.

Bill Deephouse:

• We may want to recommend that the DNR develop and issue maps.

Jason Wyglendowski:

• People are not issued any maps or regulations when they purchase ORV stickers. This is a problem. (Note: they are issued regulations)

Sue Raker:

• Brought in some materials about money making opportunities from non-motorized uses.

• Should address issues of invasive species.

  Keweenaw County Commissioner Don Keith points to some St. John's Wort, an invasive species he spotted during the June 12 KPAC tour. (Photo by Michele Anderson)

Jeff Knoop:

• There aren't any invasive species here, but they are starting to come.

4) Public comment Period: 

Chuck Brumleve:

• There should be no motorized roads south or east of Mandan Road.
• There is nothing wrong with asking the public to walk.
• Should keep motorized access to Mandan Road.
• Committee should remember non-motorized access.

At the July 6, 2004 KPAC meeting, Chuck Brumleve of Grant Township, standing, addresses the Committee on keeping motorized access to the Mandan Road. (Photo by Michele Anderson)

Jason Wyglendowski:

• How much more right does one person have to enjoy the land than another person?

Dana Richter: 

• We should take habitat destruction from motorized use into account.

Charlie Eshbach:

• We need to compromise for both users. When and where no motorized use is allowed. Not allowing any motorized traffic is unrealistic. 
• Addressed comments by Warren about high stumps being due more to deep snow and chain saw felling. 
• He has seen few people in a lot of the area when he has been driving around. Roads shouldn't be closed off. (Almost all) roads lead somewhere -- to a berry patch, or a deer stand.

Warren Suchovsky: 

• Aesthetics is an important part of any logging operation. People associate poor logging practices with messy landings.

Janet Shea: 

• Will roads be maintained that ATVs and cars use?

Nelson: 

• It sounds like people don't really want good roads -- they are happy with a rougher road. From our standpoint, rougher roads are easier to maintain; it costs less to keep them in this shape. Roads shouldn't be through swamps and streams. Roads open to ATV use are those that you can drive a conventional two-wheel-drive vehicle on.

Nelson: 

• The state is in a bad financial state. It is more likely that COs will be given overtime to add additional patrols rather than hiring a new employee.

Sue Raker:

• Addressed issue of invasive species. She thinks ATV riders should be required to wash vehicles (to get rid of invasive species plant materials) and that new roads should not be allowed.

• Obtain legal easements on entire portion of road accessing Tip property.
• Minimal maintenance and improvements -- some ditching and water runouts, keep speed down.
• New bridge or arch culvert over Schlatter Creek with improved approaches on both sides, ditching and drainage to protect creek from sediment input.
• Motion made by Lehto to accept recommendations for Mandan Road.
• Motion passed to accept recommendations for Mandan Road as listed in handout.

Committee agreed to accept written recommendations.

2. High Rock Bay Road

• Obtain legal easement across private parcel.
• Bridges should be recommended instead of culverts.
• Amend motion to read "keep roads narrow with minimal upgrades and minimal maintenance," "signage required." Motion passed.
• Improve approaches to two stream crossings including ditching and directing road drainage away from Schlatter Creek. Construct new crossings -- either timber bridges or large arch culverts.
• Construct water runoffs to eliminate the larger puddles and mudholes along road.
• Construct parking area near High Rock Bay Point but away from the lake.
• Minimal maintenance and improvements on other portions of road.

3. Schlatter Lake (West) Road

• Eliminate mudhole by improved drainage or bridge/arch culvert. This will improve access to motorized primitive campsites along west shore of lake.

4. Keystone Bay Road

• Eliminate large mudhole by improved drainage, removing old beaver dam.
• Close road leading into private land.
• Create new route to beach on old existing network of logging roads but keep it at least 200-300 yards from lake. Construct parking lot at end of road.
• Minimal maintenance and improvements on other portions of road.
• Work with owners of private land to acquire into state ownership.

Ban vehicular traffic to beach. Add "rerouting order" to first recommendation. Motion made to accept written recommendations with rerouting order added, motion passed.

5. Hoar Lake Access Road

• Since the Hoar Lake Loop Road is entirely on IP land, maintain as necessary. Work with I.P.
• Bridge over Hoar Creek will eventually need to be replaced.
• Access road to lake is very short but rutted and narrow. Minimal improvements needed to motorized primitive campsite. Consider possible routes to additional campsite or two.

• Committee agreed to accept written recommendations.

Hoar Lake, viewed from existing primitive campsite. (Photo by Michele Anderson)

6. Fish Cove Road -- spur off Hoar Lake Loop Road

• Minimal improvements needed, better drainage in several places.
• Construct parking lot ¼ mile from lake, block existing trail from ATV use.

7. All Other Existing Roads, Two-tracks, Old Logging Roads

• Allow present uses to continue. If overuse or other problems arise, consider gating or other types of closure to control.
  Change recommendations to "Monitor present uses." Add to recommendation, "If overuse, abuse of land, or habitat destruction occur, then monitoring will not be adequate." Committee agreed to accept written recommendations.

Don Keith: We need signs for roads, miles, etc.
Jim Rooks: What is to stop other roads from becoming trails?
Richter: Survey area for endangered plants and animals.

The other sub-committees were encouraged to make proposals similar to the ones made by Deephouse for this meeting.

7. Schedule next meeting:
--August 3rd at 6:30 p.m., same place. (Corrected: Meeting to be held in Mohawk School because Allouez Community Center will be used for voting in primary election.)

8. Meeting Adjourn -- 9:30 p.m.

Editor's notes:  See also the July 28, 2004 article, Keweenaw Point Committee tour with DNR leads to recommendations  See Minutes of the June 1, 2004 KPAC Meeting. See list of the Keweenaw Point Advisory Committee (KPAC) members. The Minutes of the May 4, 2004, KPAC Meeting, originally posted on the Keweenaw Liberty Library (under Land Use Planning and Zoning), are now available on Keweenaw Now. Read the Minutes of the April 6, 2004, KPAC Meeting Read the Minutes of the Mar. 2, 2004, KPAC Meeting Read the Minutes of the Feb. 3, 2004, KPAC Meeting Read the Minutes of the Jan. 20, 2004, Organizational Meeting of KPAC.