DNR News Digest – Week of May 31, 2022

DNR News Digest – Week of May 31, 2022

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News Digest – Week of May 31, 2022

the pale green and gray head of a sturgeon, in shallow water, light shining through above, and the fish's shadow on the pebbled bottom

Read on to learn about the Blue Water Sturgeon Festival June 4 in Port Huron!

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: A Sleepy Hollow welcome

The entrance of Sleepy Hollow State Park, which features a wooden bear statue holiding a "Welcome" sign.Want to see more pictures like this, taken by Michigan state parks photo ambassador Mike Sonnenberg at Sleepy Hollow State Park in Clinton 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.


Nuisance geese ruffling your feathers? Try these tips

two adult black and tan Canada geese stand near their small groups of fluffy goslings, huddled together on a short, green lawn.Canada geese are a common sight on Michigan’s waters. In fact, they nest in every Michigan county, but are most common in the southern third of the state. You may even see and hear Canada geese all year in some parts of the state.

In June and July, these birds often are found on lakes and golf course ponds, feeding on lush lawns while molting – the annual loss of their flight feathers, which takes about two weeks. Canada geese are unable to fly during molting, so putting up a temporary barrier between your yard and the water may help keep flightless geese away from your property. Geese are especially attracted to lawns that are heavily fertilized, watered and mowed.

“If you live on a lake and geese frequently visit your yard, try making your lawn less attractive to them by allowing your grass to grow long and cutting down on fertilizer and water, or try planting shrubs to create a barrier between your lawn and the water,” said Barbara Avers, waterfowl and wetland specialist with the DNR.

Intentionally feeding Canada geese can attract them to the area as well, so don’t – especially if you are having conflicts with geese. Such artificial feeding can make them comfortable around people; it also can increase overcrowding and potentially spread disease among the birds.

“You may also want to use scare tactics to frighten them away without harming them,” said Avers. “Use a combination of loud noises such as shell crackers, bird alarms or bird bangers, distress cries, screamers and electronic noise systems, along with visual deterrents like bird scare balloons, Mylar scare tape and plastic flags.”

Additional information on how to handle conflicts with geese, including population control options that require a permit, is available at Michigan.gov/Wildlife.

Canada goose hunting season dates and bag limits can be found in the current Waterfowl Hunting Digest at Michigan.gov/Waterfowl.

Questions about goose conflicts or goose hunting? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453.


Calling all volunteers: Step your way to cleaner forests

Four men in jeans and T-shirts carry old tires, a mattress and other garbage to a pickup truck parked on a dry, rutted, dirt roadStep, stride and snatch up trash during the summer Adopt-a-Forest challenge, the week between World Environment Day (June 5) and Get Outdoors Day (June 11). We want to see how far Adopt-a-Forest can take us!

Summer is a great time to trade the gym for the great outdoors and lend a hand while you’re at it. Volunteers are key to keeping the forests we love clean and beautiful, helping to protect nature and wildlife.

A neck buff featuring Smokey the BearTo join, organize your volunteer team, clean up a forest area in need of help and tell us how many steps or miles it took the team to clean up the dump site. Record your steps using a fitness tracker, pedometer or your phone’s health app. When you’re out on a cleanup site, make sure to wear sturdy boots, gloves and outdoor gear appropriate for the weather.

As a thank-you, we’ll send the first 100 volunteers a Smokey Bear buff to show off their outdoor pride this summer. You can wear this multi-functional wrap as a headband, bandana, neck gaiter or in many other ways.

How to get stepping

  1. Visit Michigan.gov/AdoptaForest to volunteer.
  2. Find dumpsites in your area using the Adopt-a-Forest dumpsite database.
  3. Head out to the forest and clean a dumpsite.
  4. Report cleanup information through the dumpsite database.
  5. Send steps taken/distance walked, a mailing address and any photos of your accomplishment to [email protected].

Questions? Contact program coordinator Conor Haenni, 989-429-5542.


Blue Water Sturgeon Festival set for Saturday in Port Huron

a vintage-style graphic ad in dark teal, black, and bright orange and yellow, for the June 4 Sturgeon Festival in Port HuronWidely known as a “living fossil of the Great Lakes,” the lake sturgeon is a big part of Michigan fishing lore. Don’t miss the chance to learn more about the species – and have a lot of fun – at The Friends of the St. Clair River’s 9th annual Blue Water Sturgeon Festival.

Open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 4, at Lighthouse Park in Port Huron, the festival celebrates this gentle, prehistoric giant, a mascot for Great Lakes recovery. From the 1800s, lake sturgeon declined in the Great Lakes due to habitat loss and degradation and overfishing. Since the early 2000s, federal, state and tribal agencies have partnered in rehabilitating lake sturgeon.

For nine years now, thousands of people have gathered on shore each June to mark the migration of the sturgeon that return to the Blue Water area to spawn. Festivalgoers can enjoy a live sturgeon touch tank, hands-on activities, dozens of vendor booths, workshops, Native American drum ceremonies, hand-release of baby sturgeon, food trucks, live music and more. You can even “adopt a sturgeon” that scientists have tagged and are tracking in the wild.

At the festival, passengers can board the Huron Lady Sturgeon Cruise and experience a rare, close encounter with lake sturgeon underneath the Blue Water Bridge. The one-hour, narrated cruise takes riders on the St. Clair River and Lake Huron to interact with biologists who are catching, tagging and releasing the fish. The cruise sets off at 11 a.m. and tickets are $30. Festival admission is free.

Get full festival details at SturgeonFestival.com.


DNR firefighters responded to hundreds of fires in 2021

color cover of the 2021 DNR wildland fire report, with nine small pictures of fire crews, smoky landscapes, Smokey Bear and moreWhen smoke and flickering flames blaze across the landscape, red trucks with flashing lights and teams of DNR firefighters are close behind. Wildland firefighters arrive at the scene of hundreds of wildfires each year, ready to protect. Units battled 274 fires that burned 2,379 acres of land in 2021.

While 574 homes, businesses and structures were threatened, just 20 were destroyed – all outbuildings.

“We place a priority on saving homes whenever possible,” said DNR state fire supervisor Dan Laux. “Our firefighters are proud to defend their neighbors and communities from harm.”

The annual DNR wildland fire report shares further details on the 2021 fire season, including fire prevention efforts, fire causes and more. (It’s useful information for 2022, too; halfway through this year, DNR crews already have fought more than 140 wildfires!)

A key takeaway: the No. 1 cause of fires for 2021 again was yard debris burning, starting 34% of fires.

“It’s disappointing that debris burning, a preventable fire cause, continues to top the list every year,” said DNR fire prevention specialist Paul Rogers. “Safe burning saves lives. Don’t burn on a windy day, stay near your fire and always have a water source nearby.”

bottom part of a bright green rake, placed over a pile of dried, brown, curled leaves that are spread over green grassInstead of burning, consider other means of brush and leaf disposal such as chipping or composting.

Other major fire causes were escaped campfires (10%), power lines (9%) and equipment (8%). Equipment can cause fires when sparks from machinery ignite dry leaves, or when hot equipment brushes over long grass. Most fires, at 80%, originated on private property.

In addition to fighting fires, staff made improvements to forest roads, removed hazardous trees, assisted with forest health work and conducted 57 carefully planned prescribed burns to renew the landscape.

Prescribed burns are conducted to set back invasive plants and renew fire-dependent forest and grassland ecosystems. Burns benefit species such as turkeys and pheasants, the endangered Karner blue butterfly and the Kirtland’s warbler.

Learn about wildland firefighting and fire safety at Michigan.gov/FireManagement.


THINGS TO DO

If your plans include swimming, especially along the Great Lakes, be sure to brush up on beach safety before anyone goes near the water! Always have U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets for new or inexperienced swimmers, too.

BUY & APPLY

Summer is a great time to fit in recreation safety classes! Find a classroom-based hunting, boating, ORV, snowmobile, bowhunter or trapping class in your area, or a field day to complete your online or home study hunter education course.

GET INVOLVED

Do you have a favorite hiking trail? A quiet kayaking spot? Or the perfect pathway for a horseback ride? You can direct a donation today toward these and other trail uses; it’s easy and it elevates the work of our volunteers and trail partners.

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!

DNR, Michigan State Police team up to fight wildland fires

DNR, Michigan State Police team up to fight wildland fires

 
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June 1, 2022
Contact: Dan Laux (DNR), 517-256-6378 or Lt. Patrick Lawrence (Michigan State Police), 517-335-9900

DNR, Michigan State Police team up to fight wildland fires

A Michigan Stae Police helicopter teamed with a DNR "Bambi Bucket" is now a key tool available for fighting wildland fires. An idea first conceived in 2016 has become reality – and likely will be a big help in fighting future wildland fires in Michigan.

Earlier this month, a Michigan State Police UH-1 helicopter, known best as a “Huey,” hovered low over a northern Michigan lake to fill with water a 320-gallon collapsible bucket owned by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The Huey carried the water back to the fire area and released its load to calm the flames.

The devices are commonly referred to by the trade name, “Bambi Bucket.” Though some assume the bucket’s name is somehow connected to the famed Disney deer, industry lore says that inventor Don Arney – a 2017 National Inventors Hall of Fame inductee – made up the name as a joke. It stuck.

“It’s another important tool in the toolbox when it comes to fighting fires,” said Dan Laux, Fire Section manager for the DNR’s Forest Resources Division. “The Bambi Bucket can help in the early stages of a fire to keep it manageable, keep it small, especially in an area that’s hard to access.”

A cooperative effort years in the making

A Michigan State Police helicopter equipped with a Bambi Bucket carries a load of water over the forest.  When a fire is burning hot, dropping water also can help cool it down so crews on the ground can get near it more safely.

“We’ve worked with the DNR for years on different projects within Aviation and outside of Aviation, and this is further expanding the cooperation between the two agencies,” said Lt. Patrick Lawrence, chief pilot for the Michigan State Police Aviation Unit.

The idea was initially presented to the State Police by former DNR Fire Section leader Jim Fisher and pilot Bill Green in 2016, both of whom have since retired.

The Michigan State Police acquired the helicopter from federal military surplus. Flying with the bucket requires a crew of three – a pilot, a radio communicator and a bucket operator.

Meanwhile, DNR fire staff worked to purchase the bucket, which costs about $25,000, with federal grant money.

The two agencies also had to craft a plan for how the partnership would work.

“This was a great opportunity to utilize existing aerial resources within the state for wildfire suppression. Michigan State Police and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources programs saw the mutual benefit of working together to protect natural resources, life and property during wildfire events. The addition of the Bambi Bucket adds to the long history of collaboration between the two agencies,” said Kevin Jacobs, DNR aviation manager.

For the past couple of years, on days with high fire danger, the helicopter flies from its base in Lansing to stand by in Roscommon. From there it can respond quickly to places in the northern Lower Peninsula.

The results are effective

“We want to support both agencies where it makes sense, and this is absolutely an arena where working together is good for the people of Michigan and good for both agencies,” Lawrence said.

He flew the first mission May 9 as air support to contain a fire south of Kirtland Community College’s Roscommon campus.

“It felt good to support the guys on the ground and help them get the fire under control,” Lawrence said.

Laux said a second mission, on a fire near Grayling May 14, was also effective.

“It was a huge save in keeping that fire under 20 acres,” he said.

So far in 2022, the DNR has worked to suppress 138 fires covering more than 2,900 acres across the state. Learn more about the department’s wildland firefighting efforts at Michigan.gov/FireManagement.


Note to editors: Accompanying photos are available below for download. Caption information follows.

  • Helicopter and bucket:  A helicopter owned by the Michigan State Police is paired with a “Bambi Bucket” that is used to scoop water to fight wildland fires. Photo credit: Michigan State Police.
  • Action! The Michigan State Police UH-1 or “Huey” helicopter drops a 320-gallon load of water over the forest. In an example of interagency cooperation, the helicopter is used with a DNR-owned water-scooping bucket to fight wildland fires. Photo credit: Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
  • Video: The helicopter drops a load of water. Video credit: Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

 

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Electric vehicle chargers in Michigan state parks

Electric vehicle chargers in Michigan state parks

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The following news release was issued earlier today by the Office of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and we’re sharing it with our subscribers. The version linked in this note includes photos from today’s event at Holland State Park.


May 26, 2022
Media contact: [email protected]

Gov. Whitmer celebrates partnership with Adopt a Charger, Rivian to install electric vehicle chargers in Michigan state parks

Installation at Holland State Park kicks off phased state park EV charging installations as part of Lake Michigan EV Circuit and across the state

Near the beautiful, sandy beaches of Lake Michigan at Holland State Park, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer today joined state and local officials and representatives from Adopt a Charger and electric vehicle automaker Rivian to celebrate the first of approximately 15 electric vehicle charging sites to be installed at state parks and a state fish hatchery in Michigan over the next few years.

Two Rivian Waypoints chargers were unveiled today at the 142-acre state park in Ottawa County, followed by an inaugural charge featuring a Rivian R1T pickup.

“This partnership to install charging stations in our state parks speaks to the collaborative approach we are taking to grow our economy and address climate change head-on through clean, reliable energy,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “These charging stations along the Lake Michigan EV Circuit build on our rich Pure Michigan tradition of exploration and bringing together communities and businesses to ensure that we honor our past as the place that put the world on wheels and continue to invest in our workforce as we lead the transition to electric vehicles. Together, we will keep growing our economy, creating good-paying jobs, and lowering costs for drivers and working families.”

Rivian, an electric vehicle maker and automotive technology company, under an operating agreement between Adopt a Charger and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, will be providing open-network, Level 2 Rivian Waypoints chargers at no cost to the state or taxpayers.

“We applaud the state for continuing to adopt policies that keep Michigan at the forefront of innovative electric mobility which is why we’re proud to take our collaboration with the state up a notch today at Holland State Park,” said Chris Nevers, Senior Director of Public Policy at Rivian. “Our state parks charging program is how we come together with our partners to offer a solution to EV-charging gaps. We’re making this investment because we believe that exploring the natural world should be possible without contributing to local air pollution, climate change, or damaging the environment.”

Adopt a Charger, a nonprofit organization, will provide technical, marketing and sponsorship support for the operation of the chargers throughout the duration of the agreement. ITC, an electric transmission company, will provide the funding for the electrical use for two years. Consumers Energy, through the Power MI Drive program, is providing the funds to pay for upgrades to the electrical systems at state parks necessary for charger installation.

From Warren Dunes State Park in the southwest corner of the Lower Peninsula, north along the Lake Michigan “gold coast” and additional points inland, an estimated total of 30 chargers are scheduled to be installed as part of the first phase of the project with the next installations beginning in summer and continuing through the year.

“This project will not only benefit Michigan in the near term but will also pay dividends far into the future as we move toward a sustainable energy future,” DNR Director Dan Eichinger said. “From these EV charging stations, to installations of solar arrays that power fish hatcheries and other facilities, to building with mass timber and our innovative carbon sequestration development, we are working to improve the environment as we update our own portfolio.”

The state park charger installations deliver on Gov. Whitmer’s announcement in 2021 of a Lake Michigan EV circuit, an electric vehicle route with reliable charging options along Lake Michigan and key tourism clusters, creating the best new road-trip for EV owners in America. The Lake Michigan EV Circuit is part of ongoing efforts, such as the Charge Up Michigan program, to employ green technologies throughout the state, including solar-powered amenities, carbon sequestration and numerous efficiencies.

One example of this are solar panels recently installed at Holland State Park by Utopian Power, on a building adjacent to the electric vehicle chargers. The arrays will provide power for some of the park functions.

“As the transition to an electrified mobility future continues to accelerate, innovative initiatives like these are vital to ensuring EVs can be more easily incorporated into our everyday lives, regardless of where you are in the state,” said Trevor Pawl, Chief Mobility Officer with the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification. “By identifying creative partnerships and opportunities, we are making significant progress in creating a safer, more equitable and environmentally conscious transportation future for all Michiganders.”

The ability to link state parks with electric vehicle travelers will benefit both parties by increasing the number of visitors at parks, while providing convenience and significantly increasing range for EV motorists. Rivian’s Level 2 Waypoints chargers are equipped with a J1772 plug, suitable for all electric vehicles including Rivian’s R1T pickup and R1S SUV.

The rollout of the accessible chargers across the state is being done in phases. State parks in the Upper Peninsula are scheduled to be part of the second phase, targeted to take place next year.

The tentative list of installations for this year includes two Rivian Waypoints chargers at Warren Dunes (Berrien County), P.J. Hoffmaster (Muskegon County), Charles Mears (Oceana County), Ludington (Mason County), Orchard Beach (Manistee County), Leelanau (Leelanau County), Young (Charlevoix County), Petoskey (Emmet County), Wilderness (Emmet County) and Interlochen (Grand Traverse County) state parks, four at Holland and Grand Haven state parks, both in Ottawa County, and two at the Oden State Fish Hatchery in Emmet County. Installations are anticipated in subsequent years at Palms Book State Park (Schoolcraft County) and Fayette Historic State Park (Delta County).

As Michigan continues to welcome travelers to the state, increased access to EV charging sites is one way to continue to bring new leisure travelers to the state.
With tourism one of the industries hit hardest by the impacts of COVID-19, the Lake Michigan EV circuit builds on the continued success of the state’s Pure Michigan campaign to help the industry recover by offering an exciting ecotourism attraction and reducing range anxiety for out-of-state EV drivers from population centers along Lake Michigan, like Chicago and Milwaukee.

To learn more about how Michigan is leading in transportation mobility and electrification, visit MichiganBusiness.org/Mobility/.

Additional partner quotes:

“The Adopt a Charger goal is to enable zero emission tourism in Michigan, and inspire visitors of all ages to consider the impact of their decisions on the environment,” said Kitty Adams Hoksbergen, executive director of Adopt a Charger. “I am grateful to everyone at DNR for proactively planning and offering EV charging at state parks, and to Rivian for their generosity in making it happen. Thanks to ITC for sponsoring the electrical usage so EV motorists can charge their vehicles fee-free for the first two years. I grew up camping with my family at Michigan State Parks, and am grateful to be promoting what I believe in while supporting the places special to me.”

“Consumers Energy is excited to work with Governor Whitmer and Rivian to help launch the Lake Michigan circuit of EV charging infrastructure. Our PowerMIDrive program analyzed the network needed to support EV charging and to optimize the final locations, collaborating with the State of Michigan to help enable charging ports that will be installed in a number of state parks,” said Jeff Myrom, Consumers Energy’s director of electric vehicle programs. “Consumers Energy’s partnership with the State of Michigan will help enable Pure Michigan tourism and convenient charging infrastructure over the largest segment of the Lake Michigan Circuit.”

“Today’s announced partnership between the DNR and Adopt a Charger fits nicely with MDOT’s goal to enhance connectivity,” said Michigan Department of Transportation Director Paul C. Ajegba. “This also compliments the ongoing work by MDOT and our colleagues in other state departments to deliver on a vision for a Lake Michigan Electric Vehicle Circuit.”

“These EV chargers are an important way to encourage sustainable travel across our state, while sharing the tremendous beauty and recreation offered by our world class state parks here in Michigan,” said Dave Lorenz, Vice President of Travel Michigan, part of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. “As we encourage travelers to Pursue their Pure this summer, ensuring easy, reliable access to EV charging helps us continue to share these amazing opportunities with new travelers.”

DNR partners with McDonald’s for safe boating campaign

DNR partners with McDonald’s for safe boating campaign

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May 26, 2022
Contact: Lt. Tom Wanless, [email protected], or Katie Gervasi, 517-290-0679

DNR partners with McDonald’s of Michigan for summer-long safe boating campaign

Officers and children on boatJust in time for the Memorial Day holiday weekend, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and McDonald’s of Michigan are teaming up again to increase awareness about the importance of boater safety and wearing a life jacket.

It’s also National Safe Boating Week (May 21-27), a week devoted to promoting responsible boating and encouraging boaters to always wear life jackets while on the water.

From Memorial Day weekend through the Labor Day holiday, conservation officers will pass out vouchers to youth and teen boaters who are observed appropriately wearing a life jacket while actively boating. The vouchers are valid for a free ice cream cone or apple slice package at participating McDonald’s of Michigan locations.

“It was great seeing kids (and their parents) get so excited, and have a positive law enforcement interaction, last year when our officers rewarded them for being safe on the water,” said Lt. Tom Wanless, state boating law administrator and recreational safety, education and enforcement supervisor with the DNR. “A fun day of boating begins with safety. A tasty treat on the way home is a great way to end the day. We hope parents will use this as an opportunity to discuss the importance of boating safety with their kids.”

In 2020, the U.S. Coast Guard reported drowning as the cause of death in 75% of national boating-related fatalities. Statistics specific to Michigan for the same year include:

  • 159 boating accidents.
  • 29 deaths involved in boating accidents.
  • More than $2,204,000 in damage.

Boating with an operator who has completed an approved boating safety course and wearing a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket are two ways to reduce the risk of recreational boating accidents and drownings.

If you plan to operate a boat in Michigan – and you were born after June 30, 1996 – you need a boating safety certificate. If you were born after Dec. 31, 1978, and plan to operate a personal watercraft, such as a Jet Ski, you also need a valid boater education safety certificate. The DNR offers boating safety education as an online and traditional classroom course to teach new and experienced boaters about current laws and basic survival skills.

Wanless encourages everyone, before leaving shore, to get up to date on boating laws and regulations and ensure that boats and personal watercrafts (such as Jet Skis) – and life jackets and other safety gear – are shipshape.

“Taking time to make sure you’re boating safely now can prevent potential problems later,” Wanless said. “Accidents can happen at any time and weather can quickly affect water conditions on inland waters and the Great Lakes. Familiarizing yourself and your fellow boaters with valuable safety tips and equipment can mean the difference between a great day on the water and a needlessly tragic outcome.”

McDonald’s coupons are valid at participating McDonald’s of Michigan locations. Learn more about boating opportunities, safety information and other resources at Michigan.gov/Boating.


Note to editors: Accompanying photos are available below for download. Caption information follows.

Boating: Conservation Officers Thomas Jaakkola (left) and Mike Drexler (right) gave vouchers for free McDonald’s treats to two children who were spotted wearing life jackets while boating on Bruin Lake, located in Washtenaw County, during September 2021.

DNR COVID-19 RESPONSE: For details on affected DNR facilities and services, visit this webpage. Follow state actions and guidelines at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus.
Come on, Michiganders! Plant a tree and map it

Come on, Michiganders! Plant a tree and map it

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Mi Trees map shows the location where people have reported planting trees in Michigan. May 20, 2022
Contact: Kevin Sayers, 517-582-3209, or Mike Smalligan, 517-449-5666

Join Mi Trees and plant a tree (or trees!) for the future

More than 50,000 trees already have been planted and mapped statewide

Want to help Michigan with cleaner air and water? Want to provide cooling summer shade and a haven for wildlife?

Start with a tree. Pick one out at your local nursery, plant it and then pin it on the DNR’s interactive map!

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources invites residents to help in planting 50 million trees by 2030 through our Mi Trees campaign. Whether you have a family forest plot handed down through generations or a small city lot, a new tree (or trees!) can make a big difference in your landscape.

“Michigan’s natural beauty and resources are the pride and joy of every Michigander,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “To protect our state’s green spaces, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is encouraging Michiganders to join the Mi Trees campaign, helping to plant 50 million trees by 2030. If you’re interested in being a part of this statewide effort, plant your own tree, and log it online through the DNR website. As governor, I’ll keep working across the aisle to make bold investments in our parks and public lands, including the $450 million investment we made in our state and local parks earlier this year—the largest one-time investment ever—in the Building Michigan Together Plan.”

Tree seedlings grow in a DNR nursery. These red pines are about 6 inches high with feathery green needles.

One state, global effort

Mi Trees is part of 1T.org, a global effort to plant more trees to help communities adapt to the world’s changing climate. Since Michigan’s campaign launched on Arbor Day, nearly 270 planters have pinned over 50,000 trees on our map!

The DNR plans to plant more than 6 million trees this year on state forest land. The department typically plants millions of trees a year.

Help your trees thrive

“To make sure new trees stay healthy, plant them correctly and water through the summer,” said Kevin Sayers, Urban and Community Forestry coordinator for the DNR’s Forest Resources Division.

  • Spring and fall are best for planting trees. Staff at local nurseries can help you choose a tree from their inventories that will thrive where you want to put it.
  • Consider the size your tree will be when it is fully grown and plant an appropriate distance from your house or other buildings and away from power lines. These tips from the Arbor Day Foundation can help you make the right selection.
  • Consider planting native trees, which provide food and cover for wildlife.
  • Water your tree daily during the first week, then weekly afterward. You want a balance; enough water but not too much. If the ground feels wet, you may not need to water.
  • Once you plant your tree, go to our interactive online map and log in your tree.

For more information on how the DNR takes care of state forests, visit Michigan.gov/Forestry.


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Firefighters have Blue Lakes Fire 75% contained

Firefighters have Blue Lakes Fire 75% contained

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May 16, 2022
Contact: Kerry Heckman, 517-643-1256

Firefighters have Blue Lakes Fire 75% contained, drones deployed to map hot spots

A firefighter operates suppression equipment, creating fire break area of mineral soilThe Blue Lakes Fire in the northern Lower Peninsula now is 75 percent contained and estimated at about 2,200 acres, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Some closed roads in the fire area also have been reopened, said Kerry Heckman, DNR fire public information officer.

DNR firefighters and cooperating agencies have been working since Friday to contain the fire, which covers portions of Montmorency and Cheboygan counties. It has been determined that the fire originated with a Wednesday lightning strike that smoldered for a few days before spreading into dry fuels, resulting in a wildfire. The fire was reported about 12:40 p.m. Friday.

Heckman said that containment doesn’t necessarily mean the fire is out, but rather that it is unlikely to spread beyond the containment lines. These are areas where firefighters have been able to plow a line down to bare earth (removing all fire fuels) around that portion of the fire.

“There may still be hot spots within the contained area,” she said. In the case of the Blue Lakes Fire, the uncontained portion of the fire line is primarily in low, wet areas that are difficult for firefighters to reach. Crews will be working today in those areas to connect gaps in the containment line.

Estimating a fire’s size

Fires are mapped throughout the duration, and acreage is estimated. The 2,200 acres being reported today is smaller than Sunday’s estimate due to improved mapping with firefighters on the ground using a variety of tools, Heckman said.

“We will be using a drone to do some infrared imaging to identify hot spots within the containment line that need attention,” Heckman said.

Road/river closures

Although some roads have reopened, Blue Lakes Road between Hardwood Lake Road and Black River Road is still closed. The Black River is still closed between Blue Lakes Road and Clark Bridge Road until nearby hot spots can be identified and addressed.

DNR crews on the scene today include 32 DNR firefighters, two emergency medical technicians and a 13-member incident management team, with law enforcement assistance from two Montmorency County Sheriff’s deputies and three DNR conservation officers. Local assistance also is provided by Tri-Township EMS, Montmorency County Emergency Management and the Michigan State Police.

Equipment in use includes five engines, two tractor plows, five utility terrain vehicles and one DNR spotter plane.

Fire danger remains high in northern Michigan. Due to increased fire risk, the DNR has not conducted prescribed burns and has not been issuing burn permits. Before any open burning, check Michigan.gov/BurnPermit and get fire safety tips at Michigan.gov/PreventWildfires


Note to editors: Accompanying photos are available below for download. Caption information follows. Credit: Michigan Department of Natural Resources

  • Fire map: Map showing updated fire coverage and local road closures.
  • Fire equipment: A firefighter operates a tractor plow, creating a containment line by plowing down to bare soil.

 

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