The Honorable Debbie Stabenow
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Stabenow,

	I am writing in support of funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to protect land at the Ottawa National Forest. An appropriation of $2.8 million in FY 2010 is needed for the Forest Service to acquire the 1,258-acre Prickett Lake property in Baraga and Houghton counties.

	Thanks to your leadership, in 2008, the Ottawa National Forest acquired a 2,000-acre section of the Sturgeon River Gorge, including six miles of national wild and scenic river within a wilderness area. Prickett Lake is immediately north of the Sturgeon River Gorge. Additionally, the North Country National Scenic Trail runs right through the property, enhancing recreational access for visitors.

      The wilderness on the southern edge of Prickett Lake hosts a diverse range of wildlife habitat including gray wolves, Canada lynx, ruffed grouse, bald eagles, minks, woodcocks, foxes, black bears, white-tailed deer and a variety of fish.  Approximately half of this tract contains wetlands or riparian areas.  Prickett Lake is upstream to one of the last remaining productive spawning areas for lake sturgeon in the Lake Superior watershed.  This area’s pristine water quality helps protect the overall health of the Sturgeon River watershed.

      If the property were sold for fragmented ownerships, the Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness would be irreparably harmed and its wilderness character lost forever.

	Thank you again for your continued support of the Ottawa National Forest and of the protection of Michigan’s natural resources.