Firefighters have Blue Lakes Fire 75% contained

Firefighters have Blue Lakes Fire 75% contained

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DNR News

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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DNR News: Honoring current, fallen conservation officers

DNR News: Honoring current, fallen conservation officers

 
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DNR News

May 12, 2022
Contact: Katie Gervasi, 517-290-0679

Honoring current, fallen conservation officers during National Police Week; memorial dedication Tuesday in Roscommon

a gray-and-black, square granite memorial with officer names etched and the DNR logo, surrounded by tall, green treesServing as a Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officer is a physically and mentally demanding career that requires a huge commitment from both the officers and their families. During National Police Week (May 15-21) – and especially National Peace Officers Memorial Day this Sunday – the DNR is proud to recognize the more than 200 conservations currently serving our state.

“Michigan’s conservation officers protect and serve our people, parks and public lands,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “Choosing to answer the call of public service is a noble act, and today, we honor every conservation officer who has served and those we have lost in the line of duty. Every Michigander and visitor who enjoys our great outdoors knows how invaluable our conservation officers are. They are professional, personable and always eager to help people of all ages. They keep us safe, protect our pristine natural resources and represent our highest values.”

Chief Dave Shaw, DNR Law Enforcement Division, said that part of being a conservation officer is being an embedded and trustworthy community member.

“Officers and their families are often approached at the store, in school and at sporting events by neighbors eager to ask questions about new regulations, learn where the fish are biting or confirm rumors of a local trophy buck,” he said. “Our job relies on these positive relationships and doesn’t stop at the end of a shift.”

Game wardens, now referred to as conservation officers, have protected Michigan’s natural resources since 1887. Since then, 16 officers have lost their lives because of an incident that occurred in the line of duty.

“Through advanced technology, equipment and training, we’ve come a long way to ensure officers have what they need to stay safe,” Shaw said. “What remains constant, though, are the rural and remote woods and waterways officers patrol, often alone and in inclement weather. There are inherent risks involved in performing the duties of a conservation officer, and we will always support the families of our fallen officers.”

May 17 memorial event

DNR staff and family and friends will mark the week with a ceremony Tuesday, May 17, to dedicate the recently completed memorial to Michigan’s fallen conservation officers. Located on the grounds of the Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center, 104 Conservation Drive, in Roscommon, the 7-foot-wide by 6-foot-tall granite memorial includes the names of Michigan’s 16 conservation officers who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The ceremony starts at 2 p.m. and will include a rifle salute and remarks from DNR representatives and the Michigan Conservation Officers Association. Family members of fallen officers also will be welcome to speak, if they choose.

Media are welcome to attend. For more information, contact Katie Gervasi at [email protected].

“The Michigan Fallen Conservation Officers memorial is a place to preserve and honor our state’s fallen conservation officers,” said Jessie Curtis, president of the Michigan Conservation Officers Association. “This memorial will serve as a tribute to the Michigan conservation officers who died or were killed as a result of an incident that occurred during the line of duty, and who will never be forgotten.”

Included among those 16 are two officers, Elgin McDonough and Karl Zimmermann, who were killed together in a vehicle collision Dec. 21, 1932, but whose rightful association with the fallen officers memorial was discovered only last year.

In 2021, the DNR was notified by the Officer Down Memorial Page of McDonough and Zimmermann, who were at the time unrecognized by the department due to the details of their deaths having been lost in a 1951 building fire that destroyed 25,000 documents and damaged another 30,000 documents.

Earlier this year, McDonough and Zimmermann were added to the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Visit Michigan.gov/DNRFallenOfficers to learn more about the officers who lost their lives in service to the state.

Michigan conservation officers are fully commissioned law enforcement officers who provide natural resources protection, ensure recreational safety and protect residents through general law enforcement and lifesaving operations in the communities they serve.


Note to editors: An accompanying photo is available below for download. Caption information follows. Credit: Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Memorial: The recently completed granite memorial to Michigan’s 16 fallen conservation officers, on the grounds of the Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center in Roscommon.

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Pathogenic avian influenza confirmed in three red fox kits

Pathogenic avian influenza confirmed in three red fox kits

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DNR News

May 12, 2022

Media contacts:
For questions on wild birds or mammals: Eric Hilliard (DNR), 517-281-5607
For questions on poultry or domestic birds: Jennifer Holton (MDARD), 517-284-5724


Highly pathogenic avian influenza confirmed in three red fox kits from Lapeer, Macomb and St. Clair counties

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources received confirmation Wednesday evening that three red fox kits died from highly pathogenic avian influenza – the state’s first such confirmation of the HPAI virus in wild mammals. The fox kits, collected between April 1 and April 14, came from three separate dens in Lapeer, Macomb and St. Clair counties.

The DNR had received a report from a wildlife rehabilitator in southeastern Michigan about the fox kits exhibiting neurologic signs of HPAI before death. The kits were observed circling, tremoring and seizing. Two of the three died within hours of intake, while one appeared to respond to supportive therapy but then died in care. Interestingly, an additional kit that was a sibling of the Macomb County kit did survive, but developed blindness, making her non-releasable. This kit will be housed at a local nature center.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza is a virus known to affect birds throughout North America, with detections in backyard flocks and commercial poultry facilities, to date, in 34 states and detections in wild birds in 35 states. HPAI is highly contagious and poultry are especially vulnerable. In addition, this viral strain also affects waterfowl, raptors and scavengers (like turkey vultures, eagles and crows).

In Michigan, HPAI has been confirmed in 69 wild birds, with the outbreak continuing to spread throughout North America. Follow the current status of HPAI in Michigan at Michigan.gov/BirdFlu and Avian influenza updates (Michigan.gov).

The three fox kits were sampled for HPAI at the DNR Wildlife Disease Lab and submitted to the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for testing. All three kits tested “non-negative” (presumptive positive) on May 6 and were confirmed positive by the National Veterinary Services Lab in Ames, Iowa, on May 11. The virus was detected in swabs collected from the nose, mouth, throat and brain tissue of all three kits, and a full postmortem examination was conducted to aid in learning more about this disease in foxes.

The DNR Wildlife Division continues to collaborate with many partners within the state and across agencies to share findings.

HPAI in red foxes outside Michigan

These cases in Michigan are not the first confirmed detections of HPAI in red foxes:

“HPAI H5N1 viruses may occasionally transmit from birds to mammals, as occurred in these cases, and there may be additional detections in other mammals during this outbreak, but they likely will be isolated cases,” said Megan Moriarty, the state wildlife veterinarian with the DNR. “At this point, it is unclear how the fox kits became infected, but it’s possible that they were exposed by consuming infected birds, such as waterfowl.”

Reporting sick or dead wildlife

Anyone who notices what appears to be unusual or unexplained deaths among wild birds or sick, dead or neurologically abnormal foxes is asked to report the information by:

Moriarty encouraged the public to continue sharing such wildlife observations, even though the DNR will be unable to respond to every person submitting a report.

“We greatly appreciate the effort to report instances of animals that are sick or appear to have unusual or unexplained deaths, because those tips often lead to important information,” said Moriarty. “Every bird or animal reported may not be tested for HPAI, but all observations are important.”

Highly pathogenic avian influenza primarily affects birds, but it is important to remember that it can be a zoonotic disease (one that has the potential to be transmitted from domestic or wild animals to humans). According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the public health risk associated with HPAI remains low, but advises people to avoid handling any sick or dead wild birds. If it is necessary to move a dead bird, use a plastic bag or shovel to do so and thoroughly wash your hands afterward.

HPAI in domestic flocks

Highly pathogenic avian influenza is highly contagious and can be spread to domestic flocks by wild birds, through contact with infected poultry, by equipment, and on the clothing and shoes of caretakers. Make sure domestic poultry (e.g., chickens, turkeys, geese and ducks raised for the production of meat or eggs) is separate from and has no contact with wild birds.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development stated that no birds or bird products infected with HPAI will enter the food chain. As a reminder, all poultry and eggs should be handled and cooked properly, with a safe cooking temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Domestic bird owners and caretakers should watch for unusual deaths, a drop in egg production, a significant decrease in water consumption or an increase in sick birds. If avian influenza is suspected, immediately contact MDARD at 800-292-3939 (daytime) or 517-373-0440 (after hours).

For more on highly pathogenic avian influenza, visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s HPAI webpage or the state of Michigan’s HPAI webpage at Michigan.gov/BirdFlu.


Note to editors: An accompanying photo is available below for download. Caption information follows. Credit: Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

  • Red fox kit: A healthy red fox kit in a grassy Michigan forest.

 

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Get ready for summer with NotMISpecies webinars

Get ready for summer with NotMISpecies webinars

 
May 10, 2022
Contact: Joanne Foreman, 517-284-5814

Decon, didymo and DIY: Get ready for summer with NotMISpecies webinars

Now that temperatures finally are warming up across Michigan, it’s time to head outdoors! Whether you’re planning a weekend on the water or digging into a landscaping project, this summer’s NotMISpecies webinars offer tips to help you prevent and manage invasive plants and animals to protect the places you love.

NotMISpecies webinar bannerWith more people  ̶  and more invasive species  ̶  on the move, decontamination (or “decon,” for short) is now an essential part of travel. Upcoming webinars will show you the best tools and methods for assuring no invasive hitchhikers tag along on your journeys. If invasive plants have crept onto your property, NotMISpecies is also offering some do-it-yourself tips for management.

Supported by the Michigan Invasive Species program, the monthly, hourlong webinars are designed to keep people informed about available programs, current research and emerging issues in the state and the Great Lakes region. Question and answer sessions and links to resources help attendees get the most out of each presentation.

“Clean It Up, Drain It Out, Dry It Off” (9 a.m. Thursday, May 12) will show how easy it is for boaters to adopt the Clean, Drain, Dry process to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. Kelsey Bockleman from Michigan State University Extension and Kevin Walters from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy will provide a live demonstration of each step in the process. The team will demonstrate watercraft decontamination essentials using basic tools like towels and brushes and display the features and operation of a trailer-mounted mobile boat washing system.

Didymo on fishing fly“Didymo: What You Need to Know” (9 a.m. Thursday, June 9) will provide important information for anyone fishing or boating in Michigan’s rivers. The December 2021 discovery of didymo (also known as “rock snot”), an aquatic nuisance algae species, in the Upper Manistee River signals the need for increased decontamination practices by all river and stream users. Dr. Ashley Moerke of Lake Superior State University will provide an overview of didymo’s ecology, potential effects on cold-water organisms, and what LSSU researchers are doing to better understand spread, impacts and potential triggers of didymo nuisance blooms. Moerke will be joined by staff from the Department of Natural Resources and EGLE to answer questions and discuss techniques to help prevent further spread.

“Not in My Backyard! Managing Invasives with Help from CISMAs” (9 a.m. Wednesday, July 27) demonstrates how you can control invasive plants in your landscape. Vicki Sawicki of North Country Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area and Elise Desjarlais of Lake to Lake CISMA will share identification tips and treatment tricks for common invasives including garlic mustard, Japanese knotweed and several invasive shrubs. Learn the importance of monitoring, re-treating and restoring beneficial vegetation after invasive species removal and how to get additional resources from your local CISMA.

The webinar series takes a break in August and will be back in September with more great information.

If you can’t wait for its return, take some time to catch up on topics you might have missed, including this year’s forecast for spongy moth (formerly gypsy moth), collaborative efforts in invasive carp management, and the threat posed by spotted lanternfly.

Recorded versions of all previous NotMISpecies webinars are available at Michigan.gov/EGLE/Outreach under “Featured Webinar Series.”

Michigan’s Invasive Species Program, a collaborative effort of the departments of Natural Resources; Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy; and Agriculture and Rural Development, coordinates and supports invasive species initiatives across the state and provides support through the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program.

Celebrating 75 years of launching boating adventures

Celebrating 75 years of launching boating adventures

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speedboat in the background with mother and daughter paddle boarding

DNR News

May 9, 2022
Contact: Maia Turek, 989-225-8573

Celebrating 75 years of launching boating adventures

Michigan State Waterways Commission logo with Celebrate 75 years of Michigan boating taglineBoating has been a human pursuit for at least 8,000 years, with waters tempting us toward adventure, providing food and helping to build cities and economies. Those motivations for taking to the water have persisted and are still true today.

In 2022, Michigan is celebrating the 75th anniversary of the waterways program, a modern concept meaning the access and infrastructure needed for boating: launches, marinas, gas docks, locks and dams, and the maintenance to keep these destinations accessible and operational.

The Michigan State Waterways Commission, a seven-member advisory commission appointed by the governor, was created in 1947 to advise on how Michigan would place, fund and manage harbors to provide safe, navigable boating on Michigan’s Great Lakes. The program has evolved significantly since its early charge and today is looking toward the future of boating to ensure our state continues to be a world-class freshwater boating destination.

“Michigan is blessed with a fantastic diversity of water-based recreation, and our waterways program is integral to making the most of those opportunities and boosting quality of life for communities all over the state,” said Ron Olson, chief of the DNR Parks and Recreation Division. “Nearly 90 percent of Michigan’s registered boats are under 25 feet long, and many of those boaters rely on safe, accessible points of entry to get on the water.”

Olson credited Michigan’s waterways program for the acquisition and development of nearly 1,300 public boating access sites. Through the harbor of refuge program, too, local and state harbors are available nearly every 30 miles surrounding the Great Lakes shoreline.

“The Michigan State Waterways Commission advises the DNR, the Parks and Recreation Division and the waterways program to ensure that boaters are part of the conversation and their voices are heard,” Olson said. “Thanks to the many volunteer commissioners who have served our enviable waterways program for the past 75 years and built a strong legacy for the future of Michigan boating.”

Origin, evolution of waterways management

Established by the Michigan Legislature in 1947, the commission was created to take advantage of federal monies made available from the 1945 Rivers and Harbors Act, which provided funding for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects on navigable waters of the nation. Congress then approved the plan for Michigan to create a safe harbor of refuge network on the state’s Great Lakes shoreline. This also funded:

  • Protective breakwater structures still in use.
  • Harbor basin and channel dredging to establish many of the harbors we know today.
  • Routine maintenance dredging responsibilities for which the state, in turn, would provide mooring and boat ramp facilities.

This plan formed the basis of the state’s harbor program.

By 1949, the state had launched additional efforts to expand the harbor of refuge network by collaborating with local units of government (counties, townships and cities) on the construction, maintenance and operation of these facilities. This started what is known today as the Grant-in-Aid Program, establishing federal, state and local partnerships in the development of Great Lakes harbor facilities. Today, there are 82 state-sponsored harbors.

In 1968, the functions of the commission were transferred to the Department of Natural Resources and added the responsibility of selecting and creating boating access sites (commonly referred to as boat launches) on Michigan’s abundant inland lakes, too.

With this expansion of the program, funding to meet the needs of Michigan’s boaters became a priority, which is how Michigan became the first state in the nation to establish a state marine fuel tax. This carved out a portion of the state tax on the sale of gasoline for a fund that helps to provide boaters better, broader access to Michigan’s waters. Michigan was the first state in the nation to establish such a fund, creating a model for recreational boating now used by many other states.

Today, Michigan is home to more than 800,000 registered recreational boaters , with the industry contributing $7.8 billion a year to Michigan’s economy. At 3,288 miles, Michigan’s Great Lakes shoreline is longer than that of the Atlantic coast and our state is home to some 11,000 inland lakes.

Celebrate waterways your way

Everyone is invited to help mark this Michigan maritime moment. Visit Michigan.gov/DNR/CelebrateBoating to learn ways you can celebrate, including:

  • Signing up for “Water Wednesday” texts.
  • Seeing aerial drone footage of some of Michigan’s harbors and marinas.
  • Sharing your photos.
  • Learning about the upcoming Waterways Adventure Lab and Paint the Waterways programs.
  • Learning about new sustainable boating efforts.
  • Downloading free coloring pages.
  • Finding 75th anniversary merchandise.

Help shape the future of waterways

Boaters and others interested in having their voices heard are encouraged to learn more about the Waterways Commission, including reviewing past meeting minutes and upcoming meeting schedules. These public meetings are an excellent forum to share ideas and ask questions related to boating access, infrastructure and sustainability.

More on Michigan boating, celebration details and information on the commission can be found at Michigan.gov/Boating.


Note to editors: High-res boating photos and logos are available in the anniversary toolkit, found at the bottom of the Michigan.gov/DNR/CelebrateBoating webpage.

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Showcasing the DNR: New services coming to Porcupine Mountains

Showcasing the DNR: New services coming to Porcupine Mountains

 
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Showcasing the DNR

A vintage wooden sign displays an ad for skiing at the Porcupine Mountains.

New services coming to Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park

By JOHN PEPIN
Michigan Department of Natural Resources

At the conclusion of a cooperative and productive partnership with Gogebic Community College that spanned 10 years, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources will now again operate the popular downhill winter sports complex at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in Ontonagon County.

In addition, after more than three decades, the DNR has also contracted with a new concessionaire to run several business enterprises familiar to park visitors, as well as provide new park amenities the DNR hopes will enhance the ski hill and park operations on a year-round basis.

Park shuttles, sea kayak rentals and more are coming soon.

An exterior autumn photo shows the Porcupine Mountains Sports Complex chalet.Across Michigan, the DNR partners with businesses and outside organizations to enrich visitor experiences at state parks. Concessions contracts cover numerous features, including park stores; kayak, bike and other rentals; food and water parks.

In 2021, a total of 76 concessions contracts were in place for DNR operations across Michigan. The revenue statewide from those concessions, leases and operating agreements totaled $2.2 million.

At the Porcupine Mountains, home of Michigan’s largest state park, a ski hill has been operated since the 1940s, along with a lodge concession, ski rentals and, more recently, a Frisbee golf course during summertime.

The park also offers fall color ski lift rides and maintains a store at the site of a historic park headquarters and a store at the park’s visitor center.

In addition, in 2006, the DNR entrusted the local volunteer group Friends of the Porkies to develop three programs at the park, which have proven successful. They include the park’s Folk School, annual music festival and Artist in Residence program.

In 2012, Gogebic Community College took over the use agreement at the ski hill, including the winter food and the ski shop facilities.

This arrangement would remain in place until September 2020, when college President George McNulty contacted the DNR to announce the facility’s intention to discontinue management of the ski hill.

“At the start of this partnership, Gogebic’s vision was to assist the State of Michigan in rebuilding the Porkies’ operations and facilitating economic development and/or stability in the region,” McNulty wrote in a letter to the DNR. “Over the last eight years, the college now believes that we have accomplished this vision.”

The DNR asked the college if it would continue operations through the 2021-2022 season. The department had also granted contract extensions to a concessionaire who had been operating at the park for more than three decades to help provide a smooth transition.

“The college is committed to the prosperity and growth that was achieved over our tenure, and if needed, is more than willing to collaborate and to be a resource for the new vendor in keeping the Porkies successful,” McNulty wrote.

An interior photo of vintage skis and other memorabilia at the Porcupine Mountains ski chalet.Doug Rich, DNR western U.P. Parks and Recreation Division district supervisor, said the relationship with the college has been beneficial, acknowledging the college’s contributions to stabilizing operations at the ski hill.

“GCC set us up for future success,” Rich said.

In fall 2020, the DNR requested bids for combined summer-winter management at the park, including all ski hill operations, chalet, cafeteria, park stores and vending machines.

Two bidders submitted proposals, including the prior concessionaire, but neither met bid qualifications.

The DNR took several months to consider its options, deciding in fall 2021 on a cooperative approach, which would see DNR Parks and Recreation Division staff operate the outdoor ski hill functions year-round, while a concession contractor would operate the indoor chalet, cafeteria, park stores, retail sales and rentals, vending machines, disc-golf course and events.

The contractor, Friends of the Porkies and park staff would collaborate for major events at the ski hill.

“We are prepared to once again take on this important role in partnership with our concession contractor,” Rich said. “In doing so, we plan to fulfil the DNR Parks and Recreation Division’s mission to acquire, protect and preserve the natural and cultural features of Michigan’s unique resources, and to provide access to land- and water-based public recreation and educational opportunities as implemented through the division’s Strategic Plan.

“Having a sustainable management system in place will help ensure the stability of this important component of the entire park resource.”

A vintage sign advertises the Porcupine Mountains ski hill.The DNR began a second bidding process in alignment with Michigan law and the DNR’s commercial use policy.

In 2021, Simple Adventures – an Auburn Hills company with 11 managers and more than 75 employees – secured contracts with the DNR to operate a concession at Interlochen State Park in Grand Traverse County and Fort Custer Recreation Area in Kalamazoo County.

The firm invested a total of $11,000 in those two facilities, resulting in revenue increases of 45% and 20%, respectively.

The competitive bidding process at the state park in the Porcupine Mountains included advertising for bids and a sealed-bid-opening before evaluation of proposals by a panel that independently scores each bid. An optional pre-bid meeting was held prior to the 2020 bid request.

“This process requires applicants to provide their best proposal, including everything they are willing to offer and can demonstrate they can provide,” Rich said. “…One of the long-standing goals was to provide an enhanced variety of recreational opportunities to make the ski area more of a year-round destination and to encourage visitors to stay longer in the area.”

According to the bid specifications, the DNR wanted the contractor to develop previously unavailable warmer-weather activities.

Some expansion ideas contemplated by the DNR included: installing a second ski chairlift, developing park shuttle service between Memorial Day and mid-October, building fat tire and mountain bike trails around the ski hill area, creating alternative lodging for guests or staff, and acquiring a liquor license at the ski hill cafeteria.

An early autumn photo shows two park visitors on the ski lift at Porcupine Mountains.At a minimum, the prospective contractors were also expected to provide firewood sales and sea kayak and bicycle rentals.

Simple Adventures offered added amenities, including year-round food at the chalet, shuttle service to the Lake of the Clouds Scenic Overlook and the Presque Isle Unit of the park, online food ordering and equipment rentals.

Specialized services beyond concession management were also offered, like mountain biking and sea kayaking services to park guests. Simple Adventures and the DNR are currently hiring workers at the park.

The new services are expected to be welcome additions to the visitor experience at the 59,020-acre state park.

From the heights of a pronounced escarpment overlooking the Big Carp River and at Summit Peak, to the shimmering beauty of Lake Superior at Union Bay, the waterfalls of the Presque Isle River at the park’s west end and the heart of the territory, marked with dozens of hiking trails, the Porcupine Mountains are a fabulous destination visited by more than half a million people every year.

Find out more on job openings with the DNR or Simple Adventures.

Check out previous Showcasing the DNR stories in our archive at Michigan.gov/DNRStories. To subscribe to upcoming Showcasing articles, sign up for free email delivery at Michigan.gov/DNR.


Note to editors: Contact: John Pepin, Showcasing the DNR series editor, 906-226-1352. Accompanying photos and a text-only version of this story are available below for download. Caption information follows. Credit Michigan Department of Natural Resources, unless otherwise noted.

Text-only version of this story.

Chalet: An interior photograph shows vintage skis and other memorabilia at the Porcupine Mountains Ski Chalet.

Exterior: An exterior photo shows the Porcupine Mountains ski chalet in Ontonagon County.

Lift: An early autumn photo shows two park visitors riding the ski lift at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in Ontonagon County.

Sign-1 and Sign-2: Vintage signs advertising the ski hill at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park are shown from the chalet at the hill.

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The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to Michigan.gov/DNR.