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October 2003 News

Pictured Rocks Management Plan, wilderness comment deadline is Oct. 31

Posted 10/30/2003

MUNISING -- Friday, Oct. 31, is the deadline for comments on the draft General Management Plan and on a wilderness recommendation for Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore near Munising, a haven for campers, hikers, skiers, birders, hunters and anglers. The National Park Service is revising the plan and will soon decide whether to recommend to Congress that a portion of the area be designated as wilderness -- the strongest protection available to public lands. To tell the Park Service you support wilderness designation click here.
The General Management Plan Draft update can be viewed at:  http://www.nps.gov/piro/gmp_update.htm. Comments can be mailed to Superintendent Karen Gustin, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, P.O. Box 40, Munising, MI 49862. Comments must be mailed by October 31st.

Township, conservation groups seek to preserve Lake Superior dunes, shoreline, wildlife habitat

Posted 10/21/2003  Updated 10/24/2003

EAGLE HARBOR -- Eagle Harbor Township is the scene of several land acquisition projects. The township is working to preserve special Lake Superior shoreline areas for habitat protection and public access. Meanwhile, the Copper Country Audubon Club has raised funds for acquiring an 80-acre addition to Michigan Audubon's Lake Bailey Wildlife Sanctuary; and the Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District, aided by the Keweenaw Land Trust, is acquiring 23 acres of lakeshore and bedrock community at Dan's Point, the northernmost point of the Keweenaw Peninsula. more

Groups concerned about local mining exploration 

Posted 10/12/2003

MARQUETTE -- Upper Peninsula environmental groups and residents are concerned about sulfide mining exploration by the Kennecott Exploration Corporation (KEX) in northwestern Marquette County -- an area east of the McCormick Wilderness including the watersheds of the Yellow Dog River, Huron River, Salmon Trout River, Dead River and Mulligan Creek. According to an article in the October issue of Marquette Monthly, Part 631 of Michigan's Environmental Protection Act of 1994 requires no permit for an underground mine near a lake or river, while laws require a specific distance from water for a citizen wanting to build a house or drill a well. Sulfide mining (of such ores as copper, zinc, lead and nickel) can contaminate groundwater, wells, lakes and streams. Potential mining in this area could threaten coaster brook trout, birds, moose and other mammals, some of which are endangered or threatened species, the article notes. The current issue of Marquette Monthly is available for free in several Houghton/Hancock business locations. Read a condensed version of the article on the Marquette Monthly Web site.

  September 2003 News -- November 2003 News