Natural Resources Commission to meet May 8-9 in Roscommon; meeting to precede vote on wolf harvest

LANSING -- The Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) will hold its regular monthly meeting over two days -- Wednesday and Thursday, May 8-9, at the Ralph A. MacMullan (RAM) Conference Center, 104 Conservation Drive, in Roscommon.

Wednesday’s session begins at noon in the Au Sable Room with a meeting of the Policy Committee on Wildlife and Fisheries. The meeting will be devoted entirely to a proposal for a public harvest of wolves in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The committee will receive information in preparation for a Thursday vote of the full commission on a wolf harvest. The committee will hear presentations from the Wisconsin and Minnesota departments of natural resources.

Following the presentations, the committee will consider written testimony from outside experts.

Thursday begins in the Manistee Room with a 9 a.m. meeting of the State Parks Advisory Committee. The committee will receive an overview of the committee’s task force retreat; review the draft land management plan; receive reports on Recreation Passport research, the new central reservation system vendor and the Globe Building project; and hear an update from Parks and Recreation Division.

At 10 a.m. in the Au Sable Room, the Policy Committee on Wildlife and Fisheries will receive updates on Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fisheries and Wildlife divisions’ activities, discuss furbearer and deer regulations, and receive reports on cormorants and moose.

At 2 p.m., the new Harry H. Whiteley Conservation Education Building on the RAM Center grounds will be dedicated.

The Committee of the Whole meets back in the Au Sable Room at 3 p.m., starting with DNR Director Keith Creagh’s report, followed by a legislative update.

Immediately following the Committee of the Whole, the NRC will hear comments from the public. Those wishing to make public comments before the NRC should contact Deb Whipple, executive assistant to the NRC, at 517-373-2352 or whippled1@michigan.gov to register.

Following public comments, the NRC is scheduled to approve regulations for Deer Management Assistance permits, the Hunting Access Program, fall turkey regulations and quotas, and wolf regulations and quotas.

There is one land transaction that is eligible for director’s action.

For more information about the Natural Resources Commission, including full agendas and meeting minutes, visit www.michigan.gov/nrc.