There are seven members of the Natural Resources Commission, the policy setting body for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The following letter was sent to all seven members of the Commission.

Please write a letter to the members of the NRC. Click here for their addresses.

Mr. Keith J. Charters, Chair

126 Spring Hill Road

Traverse City, MI 49686

Dear Mr. Charters,

The Citizens to Save Deer Lake Coalition wishes to inform you of our opposition to plans by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to construct a concrete boat launch, 10 space parking lot, and access road on the east end of Deer Lake in Onota Township, Alger County. Our Coalition opposes the MDNR plan because of the large amount of environmental damage that will result to the pond, forest with century-plus aged trees, a sand bank that will be bulldozed next to the shoreline, and the dredging of a wetland community and shallow part of the lake. We believe the construction project is in violation of both the Inland Lakes and Streams Act and the Michigan Environmental Protection Act.

A plant survey at the proposed launch site, paid for by the Deer Lake Association and conducted by a professional plant taxonomist, has revealed a habitat rich in wetland species and at least one rare plant found only in the Upper Peninsula and for the first time in Alger County. Plans are to conduct further surveys of vertebrate and macroinvertebrate species, by qualified taxonomists, in the affected area which most probably will reveal the presence of additional uncommon or rare species, and possibly species listed as Threatened or Endangered.

Here is an example of why these surveys need to be done before any destruction of habitat occurs at the east end of Deer Lake. The author of this letter supervised an insect survey (on file at the Hiawatha National Forest, Munising) at Scott's Marsh, located approximately 25 miles southeast of Deer Lake. Several rare and one Federally listed species were identified during that survey.

An Alternative Plan has been drafted by our group that would provide access to Deer Lake for fishermen and other boaters while conserving the environmental integrity of the east end of Deer Lake. We believe our plan resolves the issue regarding the increased amount of habitat loss, pollution, noise, and danger that would ensue from the MDNR's planned launch site, and we believe our plan would serve the welfare of the most citizens for the longest period of time.

Much information regarding this issue has been posted on our web site and you are encouraged to visit at:

http://members.nbci.com/SaveDeer/index.htm

Would you please reply to our request for your help to conserve this rare and beautiful piece of public land? Thank you for your kind consideration.

Sincerely yours,

Don Snitgen