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Greetings!
If you have friends interested in the Michigan dunes who are not receiving this newsletter, please forward it to them so they have the opportunity to join the mailing list.
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Dunes of Saugatuck
Continuing threats challenge environmental groups
In the last issue, we reported that The Nature Conservancy was working to purchase the southern portion of the Denison property in Saugatuck. Those efforts continue. Another significant organization in efforts to preserve this land and protect it from development is the Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance. For an update of recent events and efforts to raise funds from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Board visit their website.
Additionally, there is an effort to protect the Saugatuck Dunes State Park which is being threatened by development of a water treatment plant. Quoting from their website: "Concerned Citizens for Saugatuck Dunes State Park ('Concerned Citizens') is a steadily growing grassroots group of more than 1000 individual members and twelve organizations who believe Saugatuck Dunes State Park and Natural Area ("the Park") belongs to the citizens of Michigan. The Park's Master Plan, designed by a local citizens advisory committee and approved unanimously by the Natural Resources Commission in 1982, set aside this tract of land for nature study and preservation, and low impact recreation. Concerned Citizens believes that remains the best possible use of the Park's resources.
"Concerned Citizens does not believe that a water plant can be built in or next to the park or maintained there without causing permanent damage and threatening the Park's status as a premier location for nature study and preservation, and for a wilderness experience. Concerned Citizens asks the State of Michigan and the Department of Natural Resources to honor the spirit of the 1982 Master Plan by committing themselves to careful stewardship of the Park. Concerned Citizens will provide whatever support it can in that stewardship, and requests that park users be included in any decision-making processes that affect the Park.
"In regard to the proposed water intake facility (intake, pumping station, pipeline, and treatment plant), Concerned Citizens calls for a moratorium on the application process until a Public Hearing can be held and all concerns and questions adequately addressed."
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Lake Michigan Water Level Rises
Expect smaller beaches in 2009
The water level in the big lake has been
down to near record lows in the past years. The level has started to trend.
In January, the water
reached a level one foot higher than it had been a year earlier, in January 2008. While this is still
about one foot below the long term average, it should mean increased
beach erosion and shallower beaches than we have seen in years.
To read more and see the multi-year charting for each of the Great Lakes, visit the US Corps of Engineers website for six month projections.
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Update on DEQ Clarifies Its Jurisdiction
Extent of Submerged Lands Defined
In the last newsletter we describe the DEQs ruling on lands that fall under the Submerged Lands Act. The attorney for the landowner has announced plans to contest the ruling.
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Support Preserve the Dunes
Preserve the Dunes is a not for profit organization. Donations are tax deductible.
We are a strictly volunteer organization. 100% of your donations go to support PTD's activities. There is no paid staff. But we do have expenses for maintaining a web site, mailing newsletters, monitoring the activities of the sand miners and developers, administrative expenses, program costs, etc.. We depend on your donations. Please support these efforts. You can use your credit card or your PayPal account; just click donate below.
 You can also send your donation to Preserve the Dunes, PO Box 581, Riverside, MI 49084-0581.
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Correction re: Jean Klock Park Update
In the November e-newsletter we provided an update on a recent filing of a brief on appeal with the Michigan Court of Appeals In Grand Rapids.
In the beginning of the update there was a link to the website of Friends of Jean Klock Park. At the end of the update there was a link "For more info..."which mistakenly took the reader to the website of ProtectJKP, or Protect Jean Klock Park, another organization that has filed a separate lawsuit on behalf of the park.
These are two separate lawsuits. One is a now in appeal that was filed by the Friends of Jean Klock Park. As plaintiffs in the 2003 lawsuit to stop the City of Benton Harbor from selling JKP, their lawsuit/appeal is to enforce the deed and the donors intent for the park, as well as the 2003 consent judgment restricting further private development in JKP.
The second organization, Protect JKP, has filed a federal environmental lawsuit.
PTD is not involved in either suit.
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"These dunes are to the Midwest what the Grand Canyon is to Arizona . . .
once lost, the loss would be irrevocable." Carl Sandburg
Sincerely,
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Use this area to provide your subscribers information about your organization.
Sincerely,
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