KPAC Recommendations: Minimum Impact Zones

News

KPAC Recommendations: Minimum Impact Zones*

MARQUETTE -- Minimum Impact Zones are areas of sensitive resources, and include shoreline, river and stream corridors, steep slopes, wetlands, and areas where rare plants, habitat or other natural features occur. Some of these zones deserve permanent protection. Minimum impact zone designation will not exclude any and all activity or entry into an area, but will require special consideration and natural features surveys prior to any activity or crossing of the zones.

At the Aug. 17, 2004, KPAC meeting in Allouez, Dana Richter of Copper Country Audubon, points out wetlands and other environmentally sensitive areas in a report on minimum impact zones.

At the Aug. 17, 2004, KPAC meeting in Allouez, Dana Richter, far right, of Copper Country Audubon, points out wetlands and other environmentally sensitive areas in a report on minimum impact zones to be considered in locating motorized or non-motorized trails and campsites. (Photo by Michele Anderson)

The original charge for Minimum Impact Zones is "to limit the use of these areas," to prevent damage to the sensitive resources. Minimum Impact Zones will require limiting motorized access and timber harvesting; trails and ORV/ATV usage shall be minimized or restricted. Once zones are designated, campgrounds, trails, roads and other uses can be assigned accordingly following thorough review and safeguarding guidelines. Continued monitoring will be required to ensure protection of these zones for the long term.

Map showing minimum impact zones. Click for a larger map.

This map shows minimum impact zones included in the recommendations approved by the Keweenaw Point Advisory Committee. Click on map (or here) for larger map. (Map image © 2004 and courtesy Michigan DNR)

Based on botanical information, the presence of shoreline, riparian and wetland habitat, and steepness of slope, the following general areas qualify for minimum impact zones. Designation is based in part on the occurrence of rare plants, habitat and natural features (from Chadde, 2000 Natural Heritage Grants Program, Tip-of-the Keweenaw Botanical Survey). Larger blocks are proposed rather than smaller fragmented areas, although isolated smaller wetlands and steep terrain outside of the main areas should also be given appropriate consideration when proposing management recommendations.

1) Lake Superior shoreline with a minimum of 660 ft (1/8 mi) buffer. "The majority of rare plants known from the Tip-of-the-Keweenaw occur in these shoreline and glade habitats...," Chadde 2000; other natural features: bird habitat, archeological sites, rock outcrops; potential for erosion.

2) Montreal River corridor with a minimum of 660 ft buffer on each side. The Montreal River contains several rare plants and habitat, falls, and archeological sites; the lower portion of the Montreal River to Smith Fisheries is lowland conifer and contains steep slopes.

3) Other stream corridors with a 330 ft buffer on each side; Hoar Creek, Union Creek and the unnamed creek that runs along Bay Lake are included here; fish habitat, potential for erosion; rare plants.

4) Hoar Lake and surrounding wetlands; rare plants occur in wetland; fish habitat; potential for loon nesting.

5) Rich wetland fen between Bay and Hoar Lakes to the shore of Lake Superior; several threatened plant species; sensitive habitat; eagle nest (LSLC records).

6) Wetlands above Bay Lake and small streams feeding the lake; critical fish habitat; rare plants.

7) Schlatter Lake shorelines with a buffer of 330 ft (except north side where road runs along shore, buffer will only go to road); Schlatter Lake wetlands and surrounding unbroken areas, especially west, south and east of lake; rare plants; eagle nest on south point; potential for loon nesting. Large wetland north of Schlatter Lake included here.

8) Extreme steep slopes and cliffs along Mandan Road in Sections 6, 7 and 8; paralleling Union Creek (inlet to Schlatter Lake); defined by topography; rare plants; easily disturbed and potential for erosion.

Black and white photo of eagle's nest on Manitou Island. (Photo © 2004 Charles Buck. Reprinted with permission.)

9) Manitou Island in entirety; rare plants, bird habitat, eagle nest, general inaccessibility and isolation; fragile thin soils.**

*Editor's notes:

*KPAC approved Dana Richter's Minimum Impact Zone Recommendations at the Aug. 17 meeting in Allouez. Warren Suchovsky's Forest Management Recommendations were also approved on Aug. 17, and we will publish these soon, as well as the minutes of the Aug. 17 meeting and the September KPAC meetings.

**Manitou Island, off the east coast of Keweenaw Point, includes federal, state and privately owned land. The land owned by the State of Michigan was purchased before the Keweenaw Tip purchase; but KPAC has included it in their recommendations, which are relevant for any state-owned land in the vicinity of that purchase. The Keweenaw Land Trust manages the Manitou light station and 92 acres on the island, and the state is in the process of obtaining most of the rest of the island from the Federal Government.

The DNR will accept written comment from the public on KPAC's Recommendations until Nov. 5, 2004. Send your comments to Ronald Yesney, MDNR, 1990 US 41 South, Marquette, 49855, or by email to yesneyr@michigan.gov. Please include the date and your name, address and telephone number. Your e-mail address is optional.

Keweenaw Now is providing this Michigan Department of Natural Resources information as a public service.

Please see additional KPAC Recommendations as discussed and distributed to the public at the Oct. 5 public meeting in Mohawk.

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.

News from the Keweenaw Peninsula