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News Digest – Week of Aug. 1, 2022

A dirt road stretches into lush forest.

Your input matters! Comment on forest road maps by Aug. 31.

Here are just a few of this week’s stories from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources:

See other news releases, Showcasing the DNR stories, photos and other resources at Michigan.gov/DNRPressRoom.

PHOTO FOLDER: Larger, higher-res versions of the images used below, and others, are available in this folder.


Photo ambassador snapshot: Wildflowers at Wilderness

Bright yellow flowers emerge from a sandy shoreline as a calm lake expands into the horizon.Want to see more pictures like this, taken by Michigan state parks photo ambassador Diane Dawson Wilks at Wilderness State Park in Emmet County? Visit Instagram.com/MiStateParks to explore photos and learn more about the photo ambassadors! For more on the photo ambassador program, call Stephanie Yancer at 989-274-6182.


Fall is coming, and with it, Wildlife Division job openings

A DNR Wildlife worker notes data at a deer check station.Fall is one of the best times to get involved in the DNR Wildlife Division – and one of the busiest.

In the lead-up to popular hunting seasons, the department hires seasonal employees to work at various locations throughout the state, including DNR field offices, customer service centers and state game areas. If you’ve ever wanted to know more about the DNR Wildlife Division, help answer questions from the public or spend some time outdoors, this could be the job for you!

These positions involve duties such as conducting drawings for waterfowl hunting areas, entering database information, assisting the public with questions, as well as chronic wasting disease surveillance.

These jobs are perfect for college students, those looking to reenter the workforce and seniors or retirees interested in getting more involved in the outdoors.

Get more details on these seasonal wildlife job opportunities by visiting Michigan.gov/DNRJobs and looking for the seasonal wildlife positions section.

The application period is open through Aug. 14.

Questions? Contact Jen Schafer at 517-648-8290.


Register now for 2022 virtual Michigan Inland Lakes Convention

A lakefront property on Paw Paw lake.Every two years, the Michigan Inland Lakes Convention brings together passionate lakefront property owners, lake scientists, policy makers and conservationists to spark new ideas and inspire stewardship of inland lakes. This year’s convention, centered on the theme “Protecting Lakes Today for Tomorrow,” will take place via Zoom Sept. 14-16.

The three-day virtual event will include more than 45 presentations and workshops designed to engage, educate and empower. Participants can choose from a variety of concurrent sessions focused on specific issues such as fisheries management, landscaping near shorelines, lake protection and governance, algal blooms, native freshwater mussels, communications, policy, invasive species, lake restoration and much more. Wednesday and Thursday will also include keynote speakers regionally recognized for their contributions to the field of lake science and conservation.

Registration is $60 and includes three days of virtual workshops, presentations and networking opportunities. Student registration is $15. A complete agenda is available on the convention website. Sign up today to save your spot!

Registration closes Sept. 11.

Questions? Contact Joe Nohner at 517-599-6825 or Christina Baugher at 517-582-3245.


Comment on state forest road maps by Aug. 31

An ORV travels down a dirt road in a forest.If you enjoy riding off-road vehicles on Michigan’s forest roads, you can help the DNR shape the 2023 forest road maps. Submit comments by Aug. 31.

To make sure people know which forest roads are open or closed to public use, the DNR annually updates online maps on April 1 as part of its review process. This annual update helps the DNR keep its forest road inventory accurate and meet requirements outlined in Public Act 288 of 2016.

Comments on forest road maps may be submitted at any time. Feedback received by Aug. 31 will be considered when developing the 2023 maps.

Updates may include decisions to open or close a road to ORV or conventional vehicle traffic, or to update a road’s status. These decisions are typically made to protect damaged natural resources, ensure public safety due to road conditions or fix data errors in maps.

About 11,700 miles of forest roads currently are open to the public. View the status of forest roads and submit comments on an interactive map at Michigan.gov/ForestRoads, or email comments to DNR-RoadInventoryProject@Michigan.gov.

Questions? Contact Jason Caron at 906-235-4361.


THINGS TO DO

Are the Great Lakes State’s 11,000 inland lakes calling you? Enjoy this time-honored Michigan tradition, but stop by our boating page first for info on safety, destinations, laws and rules, and other helpful resources.

BUY & APPLY

No matter where or how you enjoy the outdoors, put safety first. Whether you’re new to the outdoors or a veteran adventurer, recreational and hunting safety classes can help make your next adventure your best.

GET INVOLVED

Michigan has over 13,000 state-designated trails; a variety of opportunities to enjoy Michigan’s natural spaces. Whether you hike, bike, kayak or horseback ride, you can support the trails you love.

We recently launched a new website, and we’d love to hear what you think via this brief survey. Thanks for helping us improve our site for all users!