DNR Western U.P. Peninsula Citizens' Advisory Council to meet Sept. 21 at Porkies chalet

MARQUETTE -- The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Western Upper Peninsula Citizens’ Advisory Council will meet from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. EDT (5 p.m. to 7 p.m. CDT) Monday, Sept. 21, in Ontonagon County. The meeting will take place at the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park chalet, which is located at the ski hill, along Ontonagon County Road 107, about a half-mile west of the Union Bay Campground.

Before the meeting, DNR division staff report to council members and the public, beginning at 5:30 p.m. EDT (4:30 p.m. CDT).

The public can participate in the session by offering comments to the discussion during two specified periods during the meeting. Public citizens may provide comment on the day of the Council meeting by filling out a public comment card when they arrive. They will receive a maximum of three (3) minutes to provide comment.

New business items on the agenda include:
- State forest road funding presentation.
- Additional agenda items added by the council.

Old business items include:
- DNR Land Management Plan update.
- U.P. Wildlife Habitat Workgroup update.
- Gogebic Community College-DNR partnership update.
- Oman Creek update.
- Council survey.

Committee reports also will be received on trails, recreation, law, forestry, fisheries and wildlife.

Stacy Haughey, DNR U.P. regional coordinator, is scheduled to discuss a breakdown of motorized and non-motorized spending from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund.

The DNR’s eastern and western Upper Peninsula citizens’ advisory councils are designed to provide local input to advise the DNR on regional programs and policies, identify areas in which the department can be more effective and responsive and offer insight and guidance from members’ own experiences and constituencies.

The council members represent a wide variety of natural resource and recreation interests. Agenda items are set by the council members and council recommendations are forwarded to the DNR for consideration.

Anyone interested in being considered as a future council member should fill out the nomination form found on the DNR website at www.michigan.gov/upcac. For more information, contact the DNR Upper Peninsula regional coordinator’s office at 906-226-1331.