Protest against Seaplane Base May 14 to be followed by Portage Township Public Hearing via Zoom May 19

An eagle and its nest are one potential loss to the environment should a Seaplane Airport Base be allowed at Pilgrim Point. Concerned citizens are invited to express their views at a protest and a public hearing. (Poster courtesy Susan Schwenk)

PORTAGE TOWNSHIP -- A protest against the proposed rezoning of Pilgrim Point to allow a Seaplane Airport Base in Portage Township will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 14, meeting at the Nara Nature Trail parking lot near the Pilgrim River Bridge on US 41, Houghton.

This protest is five days prior to a Portage Township Planning Commission Public Hearing at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 19, via Zoom.* (See details below) The Planning Commission will consider amending the zoning ordinance to permit seaplane operations as a Special Use in the Township's existing B-2 zoning district at Pilgrim Point.

The Isle Royale seaplane operation base intends to relocate its seaplane storage and service hangars, along with its daily flight charter service operation, to Pilgrim Point. This operation would be located on a lot immediately adjacent to the Nara Nature Park, under an active bald eagle's nest and adjacent to many beautiful lakefront homes.

An eagle is seen here on its nest, which is located near the proposed site of a projected seaplane charter business -- at Portage Point (the former Onigaming property) in Portage Township. (File photo © and courtesy Susan Schwenk)

This seaplane operation is on land that is not presently zoned to accommodate this aviation activity, and the zoning would have to be changed to make this accommodation. Local resident Susan Schwenk and a number of nearby neighbors, as well as many concerned citizens of the local area, including Copper Country Audubon, very strongly object to this type of use on the Pilgrim Point Property.**

There is a very rich and diverse listing of birds and animals within the nature park -- specifically the active bald eagle's nest. The site location for the proposed seaplane operation will likely be within 50-100 ft of their nest. It is highly likely that these eagles will abandon their nest, due to the extremely loud, obnoxious noise created by the radial engines of the numerous seaplanes -- not to mention the smoke, and oil leakage into the lake that these radial engines produce.

The proposed use of a charter seaplane operation base would be incompatible with the current use of the adjacent and surrounding residential and nature park areas.

If you can attend the protest Saturday, please bring a sign, banner, or just yourself and join concerned residents to raise awareness of this and to help preserve Pilgrim Point and its surrounding natural habitat.

* Zoom information for May 19 Public Hearing:

You may attend the Public Hearing and comment by Zoom:
Meeting ID : 836 3991 6832
Passcode : 428175
Note: During the Public Hearing public comments will be limited to 3 minutes per person.

The regularly scheduled Planning Commission meeting will immediately follow the Public Hearing.

** See the Feb. 27, 2022, Letter by Dana Richter, president of Copper Country Audubon, "Copper Country Audubon comments on seaplane project."

Letter: Copper Country Audubon comments on seaplane project

An eagle is seen here on its nest, which is located near the site of a projected seaplane charter business -- at Portage Point (the former Onigaming property) in Portage Township. (Photo © Susan Schwenk and courtesy Copper Country Audubon)

[Editor's Note: This letter was addressed to Portage Township Board Chair Bruce Petersen, Portage Township Zoning Administrator John Ollila and members of the Portage Township Board. It is reprinted here with permission.]*

8 January 2022

Dear Mr. Petersen, Mr. Ollila and Portage Township Board,

It has come to our attention that a developer wants to create a seaplane hanger and service station near the mouth of the Pilgrim River south of Houghton where there is an active eagle nest....This would undoubtedly not be good for the eagles and other wildlife in this area.

The mouth of the Pilgrim River and its wetlands is a rich wildlife area. Nearby are Nara Nature Trail boardwalks along each side of the Pilgrim River. Many people use this area for bird watching and nature observation. Sandhill Cranes, Northern Harriers (Marsh Hawk), Trumpeter Swans and numerous migrating waterfowl frequent the mouth of the Pilgrim River and adjacent Portage Lake shoreline.

The presence of a seaplane operation would be an obvious disturbance to wildlife. The acoustic impact on both wildlife and humans wanting to enjoy the Nara trails would be quite negative. Copper Country Audubon feels the area should be protected to the fullest extent for the benefit of birds and other wildlife.

Thank you for your consideration of these concerns.

Sincerely,

Dana Richter, President
Copper Country Audubon
Houghton, Michigan

*See also the Letter to the Editor titled "Should seaplane move be OK?" by Camiel and Anne Marie Thorrez, Pilgrim Point neighbors, published in The Daily Mining Gazette on Feb. 23, 2022. In addition, see "Status of B-2/Seaplane Process," posted January 28, 2022, on the Portage Township Web site.

Friends of Brockway Mountain to hold meeting Nov. 26, Pizza Party Benefit Dec. 14

HOUGHTON -- Friends of Brockway Mountain invite all interested persons to a meeting at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 26, at the new Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District Office (HKCD) at 711 W. Lakeshore Drive in Houghton. You may park on the driveway in front of the three-car garage.

The purpose of this meeting is to get organized for the study for alternatives to the proposed Brockway Mountain cell tower and particularly the fund-raising plan.

Dana Richter, president of Copper Country Audubon (CCA), has obtained approval from its board for CCA to be the fiscal agent for this project. In addition, the CCA board has allocated up to $1000 in matching funds.

Lori Hauswirth has posted the project on Facebook.* Anyone who wants to help fund this project should send a check to Copper Country Audubon dedicated to the Friends of Brockway Tower Study. Mail your check to the following address:

Copper Country Audubon
Friends of Brockway Tower Study
PO Box 124
Houghton, MI 49931

Friends of Brockway Pizza Party Benefit Dec. 14, Copper Harbor

Friends of Brockway will hold a Pizza Party Benefit at 5 p.m. Saturday evening, Dec. 14, 2013, at The Mariner in Copper Harbor.
 
Everyone is invited. Gail English, Erika Vye and Steve Brimm will provide music. Proceeds will go to fund the study for alternatives to the proposed Brockway cell tower.

Please share with anyone who is interested.

*Click here to visit the Friends of Brockway Mountain Facebook page.

Letter: Industry, private matches -- not taxes -- support Natural Resources Trust Fund

The Brockway Mountain Summit west vista, showing Lake Superior and part of the Keweenaw Coastal Wildlife Corridor, is part of a Natural Resources Trust Fund recommendation for a $498,000 grant to acquire 320 acres in Eagle Harbor Township.  (Photo courtesy Eagle Harbor Township. Reprinted with permission.)

Dear editor,

People often believe that all government grants are from taxes, but this is not true. Grant money from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Trust Fund comes from oil and gas leases on state land -- money paid by industry to the state of Michigan for use of these lands. The Michigan Legislature determined that this money belongs to the people of Michigan and should be used for public recreation projects and public land throughout the state. Some federal programs are also funded from non-tax money, for example the Federal Duck Stamp program, which goes to purchase lands for wildlife habitat.

The summit of Brockway Mountain with the surrounding 320 acres is being purchased by Eagle Harbor Township with DNR Trust Fund money. Grants require a 25 percent cash match, which in this case was donated by private individuals and businesses.

This view from Brockway Mountain Drive, which provides access to the Brockway summit, along the Keweenaw Coastal Wildlife Corridor, shows Copper Harbor on Lake Superior, at left, and Lake Fanny Hooe, at right. (Photo courtesy Eagle Harbor Township. Reprinted with permission.)

Partners who helped raise the cash match for Brockway Mountain included the Michigan Nature Conservancy, Copper Country Audubon, Keweenaw Land Trust and Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District. No tax money was directly spent for this recreation property, which will serve Michigan's public in a multitude of ways.*

From 2001 to 2003, the approximately 6000 acres at the tip of the Keweenaw was also purchased with Trust Fund dollars and a large donation from The Nature Conservancy.**

The falls at the Mouth of the Montreal River were part of the Keweenaw Tip Natural Resources Trust Fund land acquisition for the public. On June 12, 2004, KPAC (Keweenaw Point Advisory Committee) members hiked to this spot with DNR staff to discuss how public access to the site should be managed. (Keweenaw Now file photo © Dana Richter. Reprinted with permission.)

During the KPAC tour on June 12, 2004, Dana Richter photographed this view of Manitou Island from High Rock Bay. Remains of a campfire can be seen in the foreground. (Keweenaw Now file photo © 2004 Dana Richter. Reprinted with permission.)*** 

A recreation plan must be in place in order to receive DNR Trust Funds. Recently, Calumet Lake Park on the north side of Calumet was established and improved with DNR Trust Fund money. The mouth of the Gratiot River, Hunters Point in Copper Harbor and Seneca Lake near Mohawk were also obtained by DNR Trust Fund grants.

Lake Superior and beach at the mouth of the Gratiot River. (Keweenaw Now file photo)

 All of these special places are open to the public to enjoy year round.

This DNR Trust Fund is the program our 110th District State Rep. Matt Huuki and our 38th District State Sen. Tom Casperson are trying to gut.

Dana Richter, Hancock Township
President, Copper Country Audubon

Editor's Notes: 

* See our Dec. 9, 2011, article, "Updated: Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Board recommends funding for Brockway Mountain parcel in Eagle Harbor Township."

** See our September 2003 article "TNC completes Keweenaw Tip purchase for Michigan," which includes a map of the purchase.

*** Read about the KPAC tour in our 2004 article "Keweenaw Point Committee tour with DNR leads to recommendations."

A slightly different version of this letter appeared in The Daily Mining Gazette on April 21, 2012. Photos are included here with Dana Richter's permission.