Baraga, Benzie, Clare, Clinton, Genesee, Ionia, Manistee, Mecosta, Newaygo, Shiawassee and Wayne – if you spend time hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, birding or otherwise enjoying the outdoors on public lands in any of these counties, we want to hear from you!
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has completed review of this eighth group of counties; it’s all part of the DNR’s multiyear state land review process to determine which parcels best help the department to deliver broad public access to quality outdoor recreation opportunities, while also protecting natural and cultural resources on those lands.
Everyone is invited to share their input on the outcome of that DNR review, and there are several ways to do that: 1) Participate in virtual meetings June 20 or 21, 2) Leave comments on the interactive map, or 3) Email comments to the DNR. All feedback is due by June 30.
Everything you need to know – review process details; virtual meeting dates, times and link details; access to interactive map, and more – is available on the state land review webpage.
The DNR’s initial recommendations on the nearly 16,000 acres of land under review in these counties break out as follows:
- Retain (66.7%).
- Offer to alternate conservation partner (3%).
- Exchange (1.3%).
- Sell through public auction (29%).
“The next important step in this process is to hear from the public, the people who know these local areas best and enjoy them in a variety of ways, about their ideas on initial recommendations,” said Scott Whitcomb, the DNR’s acting natural resources deputy director. “We got a great response from earlier public reviews and, using local knowledge of the areas, made several corrections to our maps and ownership records, underscoring how important it is to have this input.”
Whitcomb said the ongoing review is a long-term, detailed process that helps ensure the DNR is focused on lands with the greatest conservation, recreation and resource management potential on behalf of Michigan residents.
There are several ways to provide public feedback (due June 30) on this eighth group of counties in the DNR’s state land review process:
- Join in either virtual public meeting June 20 or June 21.
- Check out the interactive map and leave comments there.
- Send comments via email to DNR-StateLandReview@Michigan.gov.
Information about all of these options, as well as details about how the review process works, is available on the DNR’s state land review webpage, accessible via Michigan.gov/PublicLands.
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