Michigan Beach Advisory Website. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality website lists water quality information, use advisories and closures for over one thousand beachfronts. Click here.
Illinois Fish Barrier Breeched? It is feared that two species of Asian carp may have enter the Great Lakes from the Mississippi watershed via the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. The carp, once introduced into private ponds in southern states, had previously escaped into the Mississippi and had continued to progress upstream. A multi-million dollar electric barrier was constructed by the US Army Corp of Engineers to prevent the travel of fish through the canal into Lake Michigan. Recent DNA testing in the canal area, however, has provide evidence that the barrier has not worked. It is unknown whether the carp have reached Lake Michigan. Most experts believe that if the carp reach the Great Lakes that they will over-take the natural fishery causing a collapse of sports-fishing. It appears that man may have out-foxed himself again.
South Manitou Lighthouse lights up. On May 30 the 104-foot tall lighthouse on the South Manitou Island shone for the first time in 50 years. It was fitted with an acrylic Fresnel lens and LED light and is now powered by solar panels. If you cannot get to the island, you can still see the light shine from the shore at Sleeping Bear Point.
McGulpin Lighthouse beams again. In 2008, Emmet County purchased the old lighthouse and 336 feet of Lake Michigan frontage. It had been in private hands and well kept for many years. The original Fresnel lens was missing but an acrylic was made and installed. On May 30, 2009 the light was opened to the public and put back into service for the first time in 100 years. McGulpin Point is found about 2.5 miles west of Mackinaw City.
Michigan State Park Entrance Fees - Legislation to add fee to auto license plates passes State Senate. legislation passed the State Senate to eliminate the annual and daily automobile entrance fees to Michigan State Parks and state boat ramps for state residents. Park funding would be replaced by a $10 assessment to each automobile's license plate fee. Residents could opt out of the fee. Non-Michigan residents will still be charged for entrance at a fee of $29 for the year or $8 per day. The change would increase funding overall and reduce collection costs. It is expected to put the State Parks on a sound fiscal footing again should it pass.
New Sleeping Bear Dunes Master Plan. The National Park Service has published the new plan for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The complete plan is located at their website. This document includes all the alternatives and introductory statements. I have culled the determined alternative and a map of its vision and produced a shortened version. All the wording is that of the Park Service. Click here to go to my abridged version.
The plan calls for approximately 45% of the park to be placed into a wilderness category. As I see it, most, if not all of the wilderness area is sparsely used today or has only hiking access. The designation will formally require minimal usage and impact. Most of the Manitou Islands, the Platte Bay area east of Peterson Road, the lakeshore area of the Sleeping Bear, Pyramid Point east of Port Oneida Historic District and the Good Harbor Bay area away from the County Road 669 corridor are included in this area of minimal impact. No current county roads are slated for abandonment. Hence, if you can drive to it today, you can probably do the same under the new plan. If you currently walk into an area now, you should be able to in the future as well.
Backpackers and kayakers will be happy to see that a trail and trail campground system will be developed from Platte to Good Harbor Bays. A 35-mile trail will traverse the mainland's lakeshore with intermittent trail campsites. The camps will be placed close enough to the shore so that kayakers will find them accessible. Also, there is a plan for a bicycle trail along the M-22 and M-109 corridor separate from the road shoulder.
Beach access will remain essentially the same with parking improvements at the end of Esch Road (Otter Creek) and Lake Michigan Road (Platte River).
Cherry Blossom Time Photos. I found that many trees were at or near their peek on Old Mission Peninsula during a May 10, 2008 bike ride up and around the peninsula north of Traverse City. Get ready, the blooms will be here soon. Here are some photos.
Finally, Federal Ballast Water Legislation. Those of you who use and visit the Great Lakes have seen the St. Lawrence Seaway's impact on lake ecology. Lamprey eels, zebra mussels and many other non-native organisms have hitchhiked their way from the ocean, often in the ballast water of ocean-going ships. The U.S. House has finally taken action to require that ships install and use systems to kill all organisms in the their ballast. President Bush has threatened to veto the bill passed by congress. Eric Sharp, the Detroit Free Press' outstanding outdoor writer, penned an excellent article summarizing the status of the legislation.
If you dislike cutting your feet on mussel shells when walking the beach, madden at the affect of invaders of native fish or think that algae blooms look bad and stink, here is your chance to reduce the risk of the next alien organism reaching our freshwater shore. Consider Mr. Sharp's call for action by contacting your representative and senators.
