PLEASE SAVE DEER LAKE
PLEASE SAVE DEER LAKE
The following information is extracted from a series of newsletters, THE DEER LAKE JOURNAL. The newsletters (first edition published March, 1998) served as a means to alert citizens to the impending environmental disaster to Deer Lake which will be wrought by the construction of a concrete boat launch, 18-space parking lot, and access road proposed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Deer Lake is a 243 acre body of water located in Shelter Bay, Onota Township, Alger County, Michigan.
Two citizens groups, The Deer Lake Association and The Citizens to Save Deer Lake Coalition, are devoted to stopping the ill-conceived plans to construct the boat launch. It is the purpose of both these groups to inspire public opposition to the proposed launch site with the ultimate goal of preserving the beauty and environmental integrity of this unique ecosystem.
Many of you who read this are very familiar with the popular picnic area and swimming beach, managed by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), located on the east end of Deer Lake next to highway M-28. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) manages a small tract of land south of the picnic area and adjacent to it. Present plans are for the MDNR to construct a boat launch adjacent to the swimming beach. It will be obvious to anyone who visits the area for swimming, that increasing the number of motor-powered boats will diminish the value of the area for its present uses.
Some proponents of the boat launch plan are perpetrating the myth that a group of rich Deer Lake landowners wish to keep the rest of the public off the lake. This is not true. Please peruse our Alternative Plan for providing fishing access to Deer Lake. The public already has access to the lake. Ice fishermen currently use it as do snowmobilers and crosscountry skiers. There is plenty of room in the south part of the MDOT parking lot for a vehicle towing a boat trailer. Suggestions made to the MDNR included constructing an 8 foot wide, woodchip trail from the parking lot to the lake for persons to carry/drag their small rowboats, canoes, and kayaks to the shoreline. Not one tree larger than 6-inches in diameter would have to be cut to form this access facility, and construction costs would be significantly less than the proposed boat launch. Everyone could then use and enjoy the lake without destroying it and the contiguous forest and pond.
Look at it this way. No one objects to spending money, time, and resources to build museums for the preservation of rare and valuable objects. What we are trying to save and preserve is a rare and valuable object---more rare than many of the artifacts in our museums. Show me ten places on the earth that feature the combination of an unpolluted, quiet, freshwater lake with a small patch of old growth forest located where people may have easy access to view and experience its natural beauty. Many of the century-plus-aged trees that we are trying to save are white pines, the State Tree of Michigan.
Responding to requests from citizens, the MDNR conducted a public hearing at the Deerton School, Wednesday evening, May 13, 1998. The meeting began with the MDNR explaining what the boat launch project is and why they want to construct it. Their proposal includes an 18-space parking lot, an access road from M-28, a concrete ramp out into the lake, and a chain link fence between State property and private property to the south.
Public comment followed the MDNR presentation. According to an article in the May 14, 1998, Marquette Mining Journal, "Just less than 100 people attended the hearing with about 45 offering comment. The majority of those testifying were opposed to the boat launch."
A representative of the Alger Sportfishing Association stated that he had 476 signatures of people favoring the boat launch. A representative of Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) also spoke in favor of constructing a boat launch. I find it hard to believe that the entire membership of the MUCC would support construction of a boat launch with no regard for the environmental consequences.
Of the 45 people that spoke during the public hearing, nearly 40 stated they were opposed to the project! All presented eloquent testimony listing many different reasons for their opposition to constructing a boat launch. The people who use Deer Lake the most for esthetics and recreation want the east end left undeveloped.
Following public testimony the meeting was opened to questions and answers. A number of important points came out of this portion of the meeting. But, the most amazing outcome of the entire meeting was when the MDNR representative announced he had concluded that, if a few changes were made in the present plan, it would be O.K. to go ahead and construct the boat launch!
I requested another public hearing because the MDNR representative stated there would be modifications to their plan, and he agreed to conduct one. Subsequently, he has reneged on this promise. Ironically, the most recent stance taken by Mr. Mike Cieslinski, Acting District Supervisor, Parks and Recreation Division, MDNR, is that there are no firm plans on the board for the launch site!
Subsequent to this outrageous behavior on the part of the MDNR, The Citizens to Save Deer Lake Coalition, and its most active coalition member the Deer Lake Owners Association, have mounted a public awareness campaign to educate citizens about the proposed boat launch and the danger it poses to the environment on the east end of Deer Lake. It is our sincere hope that all of you who have arrived at this web site will give careful consideration to the information provided, and then, most importantly, take action to help us stop the boat launch project so that Deer Lake may be preserved to perpetuity.
You will find suggestions for ways you can help in the ACTION section of the web site. The HISTORY section includes a variety of letters to the MDNR, to the editor of the Mining Journal, and to State Representatives that may provide ideas for you to compose a letter. Check out the NEWS section to keep informed as to current events related to the fight to save Deer Lake. And, finally, be sure to peruse the PHOTO section in order to see why Deer Lake must be saved!
Thank you for your help.
Don Snitgen, Shelter Bay, February, 1999.
