News of Local Environmental Interest

Two Meetings Planned in Upper Peninsula to Form Citizens Advisory Councils

Two regional public meetings are planned in May to bring together conservation organizations and interested citizens with the Department of Natural Resources and the Natural Resources Commission to work together on Upper Peninsula natural resources issues.

The first meeting will be for the Western UP Citizens Advisory Council (CAC) at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 3, at Northern Michigan University's Don H. Bottum University Center in the Charcoal Room. The facility is located at 1401 Presque Isle Ave. in Marquette.

The second meeting for the Eastern UP CAC will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 10, at the McMillan Township Hall located at 405 Newberry Ave. in Newberry.

"The purpose of these regional meetings is to work more closely with the conservation leaders and interested citizens of the Upper Peninsula to make the DNR more responsive to local concerns, and to help the department operate more efficiently and effectively," said DNR Director Rebecca Humphries, who will attend both meetings along with members of the NRC and local DNR staff from across the UP. "I look forward to fully involving citizens and outdoorsmen and women in the department's decision-making process when it comes to local and regional issues in the UP."

The meetings are open to the public.

North American Migration (Bird) count day

Saturday, May 10 is the 2008 North American Migration (Bird) count day. Please contact Barry Solomon (bdsolomo@mtu.edu) as soon as possible if you can help with the count and what geographic sub-area in Houghton County that you would like to cover that day.

UPPCO Development of UP Hydro Impoundments

Naterra Land has filed suit on February 25 against UPPCO for breach of contract. UPPCO has recently responded to the suit, and the outcome is pending. It appears that land development on the Upper Peninsula impoundments will be on hold until this is resolved.