Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Michigan: Natural Resources Commission to meet Thursday in Lansing

Preliminary results from the 2017 firearm deer season, the Department of Natural Resources' current sustainable forestry campaign and an update from the Office of the Great Lakes all are on the agenda for the next regular meeting of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission Thursday, Dec. 14, at the Lansing Center, 333 E. Michigan Avenue in Lansing.

All NRC committee meetings and sessions will take place in Rooms 101-103. The day's agenda includes:

10 a.m. – Marketing, Partnership, Youth and Outreach Advisory Committee

An update on the DNR's public information campaign about sustainable forestry.
A status update on the DNR's effort to revamp its website.
A report on the DNR's use of social media platforms to engage with the public.
A report on the DNR's Deer Camp program, which helped interested second- through fourth-grade teachers provide deer-related information and activities for their students.
A report on the integration of the Office of the Great Lakes into the DNR.
1 p.m. – Policy Committee on Wildlife and Fisheries

Presentation of the draft 2018 regulatory calendar, outlining upcoming topics of discussion for the committee.
An update on chronic wasting disease.
An update on fisheries management.
Discussion on control permits and regulations regarding common merganser, a diving duck that can be found throughout Michigan.
The presentation of preliminary firearm deer season data.
(NOTE: Preliminary results are estimates based on check station data and other factors. Final results will be released in the spring after the DNR conducts its mail survey.)
2. p.m. – Committee of the Whole

Presentation of the Thomas L. Washington Award to Bill Demmer for his longtime commitment to conservation in Michigan.
The DNR director's report, which will include:
A report from Office of the Great Lakes.
A report on the DNR's forest roads inventory effort (PA 288).
The recently announced Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant recommendations.
An update on bovine tuberculosis/CWD special hunts.
A proposal to re-designate Bay City State Recreation Area as Bay City State Park, including clarifications on recreational opportunities in the Tobico Marsh portion of the park. The renaming is accompanied by a proposed wildlife conservation order that provides additional hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities.
A legislative update.
Reports from the NRC committees on Marketing, Partnership, Youth and Outreach, and Wildlife and Fisheries.
Immediately following the Committee of the Whole, the NRC will receive public comments. Those wishing to make public comments before the commission should contact Cheryl Nelson, executive assistant to the NRC, at 517-284-6237 or nelsonc@michigan.gov to register.

Following public comments, the commission is scheduled to take action on re-designating Bay City State Recreation Area as Bay City State Park and updating the hunting boundaries in Tobico Marsh within the recreation area.

DNR Director Keith Creagh is expected to approve the results of the October oil and gas lease auction, announce decisions on several land transactions and take action on two land use orders: one that re-designates Bay City State Recreation Area as Bay City State Park, and one that (pursuant to Public Act 288) further defines state roads in the northern Lower Peninsula that will be signed as open for off-road vehicle use.

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



Contact: Ed Golder, 517-284-5815