#GreatLakesMichigan

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Summer 2020 Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Volunteer Opportunities

Help remove invasive species, restore natural areas at state parks

Several state parks in southern Michigan will host volunteer stewardship workdays in August. Volunteers are needed to help with removing invasive plants that threaten high-quality ecosystems in the parks.

Please note that registration is required for all volunteer workdays, and participation may be limited due to social distancing requirements. Although these are outdoor programs and proper social distancing of at least 6 feet is  required, participants still are encouraged to wear face coverings as an added precaution.

Workdays will take place:

Saturday, Aug. 1, 9 a.m. to noon at Highland Recreation Area

Sunday, Aug. 2, 9 a.m. to noon at Waterloo Recreation Area 

Saturday, Aug. 8, 9 a.m. to noon at Bald Mountain Recreation Area 

Saturday, Aug. 15, 9 a.m. to noon at Highland Recreation Area 

Sunday, Aug. 16, 9 a.m. to noon at Waterloo Recreation Area 

Saturday, Aug. 22, 9 a.m. to noon at Belle Isle Park 

Sunday, Aug. 23, 9 a.m. to noon at Brighton Recreation Area 

Saturday, Aug. 29, 9 a.m. to noon at Island Lake Recreation Area 

Sunday, Aug. 30, 9 a.m. to noon at Pinckney Recreation Area 

Find more details about each workday on the DNR volunteer events calendar.

Take part in state forest planning process

The DNR welcomes public input on its plans for Michigan’s 3.85 million        acres of state forest.

Because of COVID-19 precautions, the format has changed for 2020. Rather than hosting face-to-face open houses, people will be asked to offer input online.

“We value public input, and we want to continue it while maintaining safe social distances,” said Jeff Stampfly, acting chief of the DNR’s Forest Resources Division.

Here is how the process will work this year:

Go to Michigan.gov/ForestInput and click on the interactive map. Zoom in to your area of interest. As you zoom in, more details will appear. Sections of forest – referred to as “compartments” – under review for work to be done in 2022 are highlighted in bright green. Click anywhere within the compartment, and a pop-up screen will appear with more information.

You may submit comments by email or schedule a telephone appointment with a DNR staffer to discuss your comments or concerns during specific time periods in each management unit. Comment periods taking place in August include:

Roscommon: July 27 through Aug. 8; contact Patrick Mohney, 989-387-8189.

Pigeon River: Aug. 4 through Sept. 9; contact Cody Stevens, 989-983-4101.

Traverse City: Aug. 10 through Sept. 9; contact Dave Lemmien, 231-922-5280.

Sault Ste. Marie: Aug. 16 through Sept. 15; contact Karen Rodock, 906-477-6048, ext. 2040.  

Gladwin: Aug. 17 through Sept. 16: contact Patrick Mohney, 989-387-8189.

Gwinn: Aug. 18 through Sept. 17: contact Kristen Matson, 906-346-9201.

See a full virtual comment period schedule.

After public input is received and considered, final decisions will be made at DNR staff meetings known as compartment reviews. The public is welcome to listen to this year’s virtual meetings over the phone. Contact the listed unit manager for details of joining a compartment review phone call.

For more information on open houses, compartment reviews and instructions for using the interactive map, go to Michigan.gov/ForestInput.

Get Michigan duck stamps and prints, contribute to wetland conservation

2020 collector-edition Michigan duck stamps and prints, which help ensure        continued conservation of wetlands and waterfowl habitat, are now available for purchase.

The 2020 Michigan duck stamp, painted by Christopher Smith, features a flock of Canada geese coming into a decoy spread.

The Michigan Duck Hunters Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to waterfowl and wetland conservation, coordinates the Michigan waterfowl stamp program in partnership with the DNR. Proceeds from stamp sales will be used to fund MDHA projects, with 10% used to match DNR funding for purchasing, restoring and enhancing wetlands.

Purchasing the stamps is voluntary and does not replace the state waterfowl hunting license.

Order duck stamps and prints here.

Help update DNR public land strategy

The DNR is responsible for nearly 4.6 million acres of public lands owned by Michigan residents. When these lands – state parks, trails, game and wildlife areas, forests and other resources – are well managed, they contribute significantly to the health of Michigan’s residents, environment and economy.

As part the process of updating our public land strategy – which provides a framework for the conservation and management of DNR-managed public lands to ensure their best use for the benefit of our state’s residents, visitors and natural resources – we want to hear what you think about Michigan’s public lands.  

Right now, there’s an easy, yet meaningful way to get  involved, and it will take just a few minutes. Visit Michigan.gov/PublicLands and use the  interactive map to drop a pin on the location of the public lands you value most.

When you drop your pin, you will be invited to complete a three-question survey telling us why public lands matter to you. The results of the survey will assist in the development of the updated strategy.

You also can share your input via email at DNR-LandStrategy@Michigan.gov.

For more information please visit:  Michigan.gov/DNRVolunteers.     

Source: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIDNR/bulletins/29813a2

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Registration Now Open: Great Lakes Water Infrastructure Conference

Registration is now open for the 2020 Great Lakes Water Infrastructure Conference, a first-of-its-kind regional conference hosted by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)! The conference will focus on the water infrastructure challenges faced by the Great Lakes region and solutions to those challenges. We are anticipating approximately 800-1,000 attendees, including municipal officials, water professionals, academia, nonprofits, as well as state and local officials from around the country.

Who should attend?

Municipal and Regional Government Officials

Water Utility Managers/Directors

Emergency Response Personnel

Collection and Distribution Systems Decision Makers

Computer/Process Control Systems Professionals

Operations and Maintenance Personnel

Scientists 

Product  and Service Providers

Technical Practice Leaders

Project Managers and Engineers 

Treatment  Plant Operations Consultants

Pipeline Rehabilitation Consultants

Water Advocacy Organizations

Security, Emergency and Cybersecurity Specialists, and Advisors

Environmental and Community Groups

Anyone interested in water infrastructure in the Great Lakes region

Conference Highlights

Tracy Mehan, Executive Director, Government Affairs at American Water Works Association (AWWA)

 Manny Teodoro, PhD, Associate Professor, Texas A&M University

 Ridgway White, President and CEO, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation

 Melissa Osborne, Senior Manager of Asset Planning for the City of Windsor, Ontario

 Kyle Dreyfuss-Wells, CEO of the NE Ohio Regional Sewer District

This conference will provide the following continuing education credits:

For Professional Engineers, up to 12 CEHs/PDHs

For ASFPM Certified Floodplain Managers, up to 12 CECs

For Municipal Wastewater Operators, up to .6 CECs in the Technical     category and up to .6 CECs in the Managerial category

For Drinking Water Operators, up to 1.2 CECs in the Technical category

 All for $175 (through April 6)!

By registering today, you will join hundreds of professionals in the national conversation about the urgent need for reinvestment in critical water infrastructure and share the floor with other key stakeholders who are committed to be part of the solution.