Public Lands In the News

As Michiganders head north to enjoy the state's wild places for the summer, Environment Michigan praises Gov. Jennifer Granholm and the Department of Natural Resources for proposing permanent protection for part of Algonac State Park. The group also urges immediate action on 18 other areas awaiting wilderness dedications.

The recommendation to protect Algonac is the first since the 1988 dedication of 291 acres of the Saugatuck Dunes State Park.

After talking to more than 50,000 Michiganders and delivering more than 10,000 public comments to the governor, the dedication of 200 acres of Prairie and Savanna Oak Natural Areas in Algonac State Park was announced. For the first time in nearly 20 years, the governor and the DNR successfully dedicated a wilderness area and, as a result, pieces of the park cannot be subject to development of any kind.

Katrina Cooper, a frequent visitor to Algonac State Park, commented: "I love the atmosphere here and am thrilled to hear that it is permanently protected."

In 1972, the DNR was granted the power by the Wilderness and Natural Areas Act to protect up to 450,000 acres of Michigan's most treasured land. To date, the DNR has only dedicated 48,081 acres, leaving 98.9 percent of public land open for other use.

Valued lands that are awaiting protection include parts of Tahquamenon Falls State Park, Warren Dunes State Park, Escanaba State Forest, Ludington Dunes, Lake Superior State Forest and Wilderness State Park.

The Dickinson Island and Harsen's Island Swamps, part of the St. Clair Flats Wildlife Area, is also under consideration for protection. The DNR lists 1,500 acres there as a possibility for dedication.

"It is the governor and the DNR's responsibility to step up and protect these valued lands that bring in over $12 billion annually in tourism dollars," said Danielle Korpalski, environmental associate with Environment Michigan.

Environment Michigan is calling on the DNR to use its authority and immediately dedicate the pending 45,669 acres of unique land found throughout Michigan's state-owned parks and forests.