Beaver Island Michigan

Obviously there is a considerable amount of misunderstanding that needs to be openly discussed. But keeping on track here, I would like to add one last post before tonight's meeting: The charge: 2 out of 21 members of the NREC behaved inappropriately by advocating for a BSA designation. 1. Both town...

Dear Mr. Robert: I will contact the site administrator and inquire as to why your last post was deleted. There are 3 possibilities: the delete is due to the tone of the e-mail regarding the Chamber's lack of response, your well wishes to the Natural Resources Eco-tourism Commission, or a technical e...

Below is the resolution establishing the NREC for your review as posted on the Peaine website as requested by a citizen. Amended and Restated Resolution Establishing the Beaver Island Natural Resources and Ecotourism Commission Whereas, Beaver Island has abundant beautiful and accessible natural res...

Thank you for the personal phone calls and e-mails related to this post. There were a couple of themes that ran through and I thought others may also have similar questions but do not want to post on the Forum for various reasons. â?¢ Why didnâ??t the NREC just give the letters to the NorthernIsland...

Hi Adam: Some of the terms are not mine but the DNRE, like the Core Design Team. This was a group of individuals appointed to review the State of Michigan and come up with the initial recommendations for the "best represent the diverse nature of our stateâ??s biological heritage (biodiversity) ...

Dear Mr. Robert: I cannot speak as to whether the Chamber Board of Directors or their membership have discussed BSA designation for the Island or have come to consensus. I can say that their Executive Director attended our January meeting where BSA designation was discussed. More on that meeting can...

I'd be glad to provide copies at the meeting. Thanks for asking.
If you wish to review any and all meetings, they can be found on Peaine Township's website under Beaver Island Natural Resources and Eco-tourism Commission.

I realize most of you have read and heard opinions being presented as to why the Islandâ??s townships should dissolve your relationship as a Township with the NREC. St. James did not have this information for their decision because we were unaware that it would be on their agenda until later in the day. We found out through the grapevine and many members were off island and unable to represent themselves.

To begin, the NREC was attacked for writing letters because:
1) a BSA designation is incompatible with QDM enactment;
2) a BSA designation is incompatible with Wildlife Certification; and
3) a BSA designation is inappropriate because Beaver Islandâ??s state lands were procured through Pittman-Robertson funding which establishes them as hunting or trapping preserves.
As it turns out all three of these charges are false.

We can solve the letter BSA situation and the NREC has no hidden agenda.
I cannot control misrepresentations of the facts. Iâ??ve attached my letter to the Peaine Township board to clarify some of the statements taken out of context. Biodiversity Stewardship Areas simply stated is a program of the DNRE that identifies high quality ecological areas, monitors their well-being, and has no impact on the property ownerâ??s use. Landowners who boarder such an area will be given information to do with as they like. It is voluntary. The BSA can only provide benefit to the Island. According to Peg Kohring of the Conservation Fund, biodiversity is important to the next big wave of retiring baby boomers and communities that market themselves correctly will be the economic winners.

If Peaine Township pulls out of this large collaborative relationship, we are no longer a commission of the township. Dissolution will result in:
â?¢ A presentation/meeting scheduled for February 15 with three members of the Nature Conservancy, and representatives from the Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Tribes, DNRE, Island Planning Commissions, and the county will be canceled.
â?¢ The working relationship with 21 members from the mainland and the Island will be dissolved.
â?¢ Furthermore, the work slated for other invasive species this spring with the Dept. of Ag, Conservation Resource Alliance, and the USDA will also be suspended.
â?¢ A March presentation to the Great Lakes Commission highlighting Beaver Island's natural resources accomplishments will not be made.
â?¢ The Phragmites program will be in jeopardy.
â?¢ The NREC is in the process of developing a Birding Festival similar to Leelanauâ??s event. We are developing this with assistance from other organizations that is an off season activity which has the hopes of bringing in badly needed money to our economy.
â?¢ Future well attended publicly supported seminars, state/federal technical and financial aid, ramifications with the property owner supported Save Our Shores savings account, tribal and DNRE support, unfinished conservation planning, cancellation of badly needed restoration work, and hundreds of volunteer hours that make our island a better place, will all be suspended.

The Townshipâ??s commission status allows all the above to happen. This work is too important to the Island and it will take NREC an entire year to achieve a 501 (c) 3 organization status. Will personalities and one allegedly improper letter be the reason for the Township's removal of Commission status and end the NREC?

The Island truly has bigger issues to face with declining school populations, an aging population, and lack of economic opportunity. I hope that you will find time to read my letter and come to your own conclusion that having a commission to assist with all the work that needs to be done is in fact in the best interests of the Island.

Pam Grassmick

Dear PeaineTownship Board Members:
I understand that you will be asked to dissolve the township relationship with NREC, an action taken by St. James at its meeting this week. Their action was based on incomplete information. Currently, 21 members make up the NREC. If one or two people have offended you as a township board, it would seem prudent to solve that problem directly versus offending off island organizations such as the Tribes, Little Traverse Conservancy, DNRE, CMU, as well as island organizations who participate in our collaborative organization. It is a wonderful assortment of people and organizations. Your action at the upcoming township meeting has the potential to impact future funding and professional organizational relationships with the Island. Whether or not the Township should continue to work with the Commission is a very small issue compared to the major issues that the townships faces related to a decreasing population, declining school populations, and changing tax base. While we may get a few more deer hunters, we need more families to come and stay. It would be misguided to believe that hunting alone will solve all of our Islandâ??s economic problems. We need taxpayers to sustain the economy. The NREC recognized the need to develop an economic plan and work with the Island to provide for needed stimulus through our partnerships.
A few questions for the township board to ponder based on recent developments:
â?¢ When did Beaver Islandâ??s designation change from a Game Area to an Experimental Game Area?
â?¢ Why did the Town Boards adopt QDM if so doing would force it to renounce its previous support of enhancing biodiversity?
â?¢ Why didn't the BICC alert the Town Boards that adopting QDM would force it to renounce its previous support of biodiversity?
â?¢ Who were the voices in Lansing advocating for only hunters interests without informing the townships that it was lobbying and speaking for the Island?
â?¢ And who had led the DNRE to believe that the township government had endorsed Wildlife Certification?

By now, most of you will have read the NorthernIslander which reads â??Breach of Public Trust.â?￾ The article does little to support the claim but takes statements out of context. What the article doesnâ??t tell you:

â?¢ Areas can have more than one designation-there are many areas classified as Game Areas, Natural Areas, Forest Areas, State Forests and National Parks that will have the BSA designation along with multiple other designations including Wildlife Certification when it is developed.

â?¢ That Beaver Island was the only island severely modified from the DNRE Core Design Teams recommendations.

â?¢ That I asked Jack Gallagher to clarify an e-mail statement sent to me by Russ Mason in which Russ had been lead to believe that the townships had discussed and endorsed Wildlife Certification without having a document to review. The following statement in an e-mail by Russ Mason was inaccurate. â??As you know, the Wildlife Division is moving forward with Wildlife Certification for Beaver Island in partnership with all of the wildlife and conservation groups on the island and with the approval of the township governments. While QDM was the precipitant for discussions and remains an important component of the Wildlife Certification, much broader considerations are involved, and in ways entirely consistent with the preservation of unique biotic features and the effective management of both game and nongame wildlife. As asked by the township governments and the various wildlife and conservation groups on the island, we, in partnership with the residents, will be considering the values and desires of everyone on Beaver Island to assure that Certification means something both for the residents and for the island economy.â?￾

â?¢ Wildlife Certification does not exist and is not defined at this time. It may have relevance to the islands in the future but it is Russ Masonâ??s idea which has not been put to paper or approved by the DNRE. The Wildlife Club is proposing an outline of a potential certification plan and proposing to involve the NREC in that plan. Wildlife Certification would not be in jeopardy by the designation of a Biodiversity Stewardship Area.

â?¢ Some DNRE lands within potential Biodiversity Stewardship Areas have been purchased or are maintained with funds that carry a specific intent for the management of these lands (e.g., hunting and trapping). These lands will continue to be managed for their intended purpose. Where practical, the BSA planning designation may modify some of the land management activities used to meet the intended purpose on these lands. Which means hunting, logging, and other recreational activities will continue.(DNRE)


â?¢ Non-DNRE lands within BSAs are equally important to Michiganâ??s biological heritage, but it is up to individual landowners to determine if and how they will use that information. The DNRE hopes that this designation will lead to partnerships that help to conserve Michiganâ??s unique biological heritage. It is voluntary and would provide education, inventories, and monitoring for the landowner who may own a high value conservation site. (DNRE)
.
â?¢ BSA designation has nothing to do with management of the deer herd or QDM. According to the DNRE, it would be a nightmare for each township to come up with a deer management plan and expect the DNRE to manage each area given their staffing model. The Antler Point Restriction was the only agreed upon part of QDM with the DNRE and it will be presented by Jeff Powers on February 10 at the Natural Resources Commission meeting in Lansing.

â?¢ Not all the public land on Beaver Island was acquired under State Game funding and none was purchased with Pittman-Robertson funding. 1/3 of the State holdings were acquired from tax reverted lands. None of the lands that were so acquired necessarily have hunting as its primary purpose.

â?¢ I did go to a DNRE public meeting in Lansing in December as a citizen and comments made at the St. James Township meeting by Pete Lodico suggest that my attendance was wrong. I do hope that Peaine Township does not advocate the silence of the public.

â?¢ The Northern Islander attributes the hold on QDM plans and Wildlife Certification to be due to my letter and offered a quote from Brent Rudolph. In an apology to me written by Brent Rudolph: â??I did not intend to convey in my note or the later conversation with Gavin that you were providing an official statement on behalf of the group, but I probably did not realize the importance of being very clear about that.â?￾ I would be happy to submit Rudolphâ??s e-mail for your inspection.

â?¢ A draft proposal for a policy related to all NREC correspondence was submitted by Tom Bailey of the Little Traverse Conservancy and is being put before the commission which will address the Townshipâ??s concerns.

â?¢ Beaver Island Archipelago Complex would have been working to preserve these interior specific types of habitats under the BSA (Biodiversity Stewardship Areas) as was proposed by the DNRE Core Design Team and listed below as confirmed not by NREC members:

â?¢ 1.) Boreal Forest â?? One of highest ranked examples documented in state
â?¢ 2.) Coastal Fen â?? One of the highest ranked examples documented in state
â?¢ 3.) Dry-mesic Northern Forest
â?¢ 4.) Great Lakes Marsh â?? Two of highest ranked ex. in region
â?¢ 5.) Hardwood-Conifer Swamp â?? Highest ranked example documented in state
â?¢ 6.) Interdunal Wetland
â?¢ 7.) Limestone Cobble Shore
â?¢ 8.) Mesic Northern Forest
â?¢ 9.) Northern Wet Meadow â?? Highest ranked example documented in state
â?¢ 10.) Open Dunes
â?¢ 11.) Poor Fen
â?¢ 12.) Rich Conifer Swamp
â?¢ 13.) Sand and Gravel Beach â?? Gr. Lk. Ver.; one of highest ranked ex doc in state
â?¢ 14.) Wooded Dune and Swale Complex
â?¢ The head waters of Iron Ore Creek-a cold water brook trout stream.

â?¢ At the BSA meeting held in December, Mike Donovan of the Wildlife Division (DNRE) stated that hunting interests were the only ones expressed by Beaver Island and that if we wanted a broader focus, we should write letters to the DNRE. Other taxpayers who were aware of the situation also have provided public comment to the DNRE. The deadline for public comment was January 14. The NREC meeting of December 27 was canceled due to many members being off island and we were unable to discuss BSA as a group. At a January meeting, BICC reported that they were aware of the BSA meetings for 60 days. Why did they not share the information with the Island and the NREC only to find out from a Petoskey News Review article?

Please consider that good decisions should be based on the best possible information and not a personal vendetta against one or more people at the risk of destroying relationships of the other 20+ members. The NREC has followed the directions of the Township as evidenced by working QDM into our planning documents and placing the Chamber of Commerce, the Beaver Island Conservation Club, and other organizations on our Commission. St. James Township did not grant an opportunity for the NREC to respond to their charges nor were we notified by the Township that their dissolution from the NREC was going to be on their agenda. Our officers were not available to attend the meeting or answer questions. I urge you to take time to carefully study and deal with the situation and not be swayed to make a quick decision by ½ truths, statements taken out of context, and misrepresentations. Considering the amount of work our group has accomplished to benefit the Township and the future potential of such a collaborative effort, it seems unreasonable to pull out because of the actions of St. James. Most of Beaver Island state land is in Peaine Township and we have been an active contributor to to the Township. When Peaine Township considers the example of St. James Township actions without fully understanding the ramifications and related consequences, you should take into consideration: the suspension of future well attended publicly supported seminars and upcoming multi-agency meetings, the Phragmites program, state/federal technical and financial aid, ramifications with the property owner supported SOS savings account, tribal and DNRE support, unfinished conservation planning, cancellation of badly needed restoration work, and hundreds of volunteer hours. The actions that you each take at the next Peaine Township meeting will speak volumes to all township commissions, future volunteer work, and the best interests of our Township.

Sincerely,
Pam Grassmick


DNRE Living Legacies Comments December 27, 2010 Forest Management Division
P.O. Box 30452
Lansing, Michigan 48909-7952
RE: Beaver Island Biodiversity Stewardship Area Designation
Dear Ms. Amy Clark Eagle:
Beaver Island is noted in bi-national reports as one of the highest ranking bio-diverse islands of 32,000 Great Lakes islands and has some of the best examples of natural communities within the State, according to the Michigan Natural Features Inventory. Additionally, the island has also been identified in CELCP's Northern Lake Michigan Terrestrial Biodiversity Investment Area. Beaver Island's shoreline and interior had been nominated by the Core Design Team to receive the Biodiversity Stewardship Area (BSA) designation. A sliver of the shoreline is all that remains from that recommendation. I understand there are approximately 150 BSA nominations, some as small as 26 acres to Sleeping Bear National Park size. Beaver Island was the only island severely modified from the nomination list. Despite the Islandâ??s interior areas being identified as having the highest ranked Dry Mesic Forest, several old growth sites-some containing Maples 450 years old, excellent Boreal Forests as last refuges for species due to climatic changes, and the head waters for Iron Ore Creek which is the longest cold water trout stream on an island in Lake Michigan and according to tribal fisheries surveys, indicate a thriving population of coasters, a brook trout.

For Beaver Island, our natural resources are our bread and butter. What will assist a northern Michigan geographically isolated economy more with paying for fundamental services while attracting families to buy a home here-a Biodiversity Stewardship Area, where you can hunt and the natural resources celebrated, appreciated, and protected or another Game Area? We can be a Game Area; however, the BSA designation offers an attraction for both the hunter and a naturalist seeking a special area.

In the Nature Conservancyâ??s "Island's of Life" report, we were also described as being one of the top 10 most threatened islands. It appears that the public areas will be developed for game species only, and the highest quality conservation areas will not be under best practice management as evidenced by the statement that â??the interior areas were removed due to the incompatible dedication of these areas for game management research.â?￾ These public lands are for all of Michigan residents to enjoy, treasure, and preserve for future generations. They are truly our "Living Legacy" and we are in need of assistance to preserve these areas.

The EPAâ??s 1999 State of the Lakes Conference (SOLEC) identified Key Protection Needs for our archipelago as well:
- â??Local communities and individual landowners need to be given information about the ecological importance of the islands and the coastal lands, as well as developing and managing land in a sustainable manner.â?￾
- â??Research needs to be conducted on the impacts of threats to the ecosystem, such as recreational activities and invasion of non-native species.â?￾
- â??The islands are known to have significant biodiversity values, but need to be inventoried, then
monitored for changes and trends.â?￾
- â??Monitoring efforts might be focused on bald eagles, piping plovers, other migratory and colonial nesting birds, small mammals, and various types of vegetation sensitive to fragmentation, such as pitchers thistle. Information on changes in communities and habitats such as wetlands would also be valuable.â?￾

The Michiganâ??s Wildlife Action Plan (MWAP) describes conservation needs and gaps in the area of scientific knowledge threats. Great Lakes islands have been identified by national and state organizations, NGOs, and tribes as fragile and poorly studied. The BSA will provide the necessary communication and cooperation between conservation partners to combat threats to preservation and conservation of Beaver Islandâ??s natural resources.

The BSA designation for the Island will strengthen MWAP and EPAâ??s conservation efforts.
Excerpts from the MWAP: â??Many of the ways disturbance regimes and other ecological processes influence ecological communities and species remain inadequately understood (Pess et al. 2003). This lack of understanding makes it difficult to identify management goals and conservation actions. Therefore, understanding a particular system in one part of the State does not necessarily provide complete knowledge of the same type of system in another part of the State. Public attitudes and perception of landscape features, species and certain land-management practices affect the ability to initiate conservation actions (Witter 1990). Information distribution is an important element in obtaining public support for conservation actions (Peyton 1990). Awareness and knowledge are two building blocks in establishing citizensâ?? attitudes, values and patterns of action (Barro & Manfredo 1991).â?￾

While recreational use, hunting, logging, and mining can continue in some areas, the BSA designation will engage private property owners who hold 2/3 of the interior and the shoreline and the other 1/3 which is held by the State of Michigan in coordinated conservation educational efforts. This designation would benefit our regionâ??s economy by elevating the Island's status, for hunters or bird watchers, while encouraging academics research. The opportunity of the BSA status to assist with more inventories and monitoring can be a huge benefit to the Island in a way that the Game Area designation cannot. As indicated above, management of state held lands solely for game management has the potential of doing irreparable harm to our Islandâ??s precious natural resources.

As a 4th generation islander, Beaver Island continues to identify and struggle with the same issues regarding conservation and preservation of high value areas. By assigning the BSA designation to the entire island, it acknowledges the necessary steps to preserve our marvelous natural resources and assist us in a collaborative effort to address wildlife directives in accordance with the Wildlife Restoration Act (formally Pittman Robertson) and Michiganâ??s Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act.

Thank you for your consideration,
Pam and Brad Grassmick
30170 East Side Drive
Beaver Island, Michigan 49782
e-mail: mcgrass@ameritech.net


An excerpt from the BSA report indicating the high quality natural communities found on our archipelago.

Beaver Island
Archipelago Complex
18,455 Charlevoix
State Wildlife Area

A very high-quality complex of many large and small patch natural communities (particularly Great Lakes shoreline communities) across several Lake Michigan islands. Large documented examples of natural communities include: Boreal Forest (excellent), Coastal Fen (excellent), and Open Dunes (1-good, 1-fair). Small documented examples of natural communities include: Boreal Forest (2-good to fair, 1-fair), Coastal Fen (1-excellent to good, 1-good, 1-good to fair), Dry-Mesic Northern Forest (good), Great Lakes Marsh (2-excellent to good), Hardwood-Conifer Swamp (excellent), Interdunal Wetland (1-good to fair, 1-fair), Limestone Cobble Shore (fair), Mesic Northern Forest (1-good, 1-fair), Northern Wet Meadow (excellent), Open Dunes (4-fair), Rich Conifer Swamp (good), Sand and Gravel Beach (2-excellent), and Wooded Dune and Swale (fair to poor). There is a high probability of the area representing a greater expanse of high-quality Boreal Forest and Mesic Northern Forest, as well as additionally representing high quality Poor Fen. The natural communities have good natural function due to the remoteness of the islands. This area includes all or significant portions of a large number of previous
designations, including two areas nominated for legal protection under the Wilderness and Natural Areas statute, two areas designated as natural areas through other means, four Critical Dunes areas, three areas designated as critical habitat for the endangered Piping Plover, seven Coastal Environmental Areas, thirteen Ecological Reference Areas, and three Potential Old Growth areas. It also supports a large number of rare plant and animal populations and a Great
Blue Heron rookery.

Beaver Island Arch
Complex
43,629 Charlevoix 7.6 Modified Combined with the High Island Complex BSA. The BSA upon Beaver Island was reduced to focus upon the endemic Great Lakes shoreline
communities. Interior areas were removed due to the incompatible dedication of these areas for game management research.
18,455 Beaver Island