In 2013, the DNR developed a public land strategy aimed at guiding public land ownership and maximizing benefits to residents and the state’s natural resources. As part of its multiyear state land review process, the DNR has completed review of the ninth and final group of parcels and now the public is invited to share input Oct. 24 and 25 during virtual meetings, a news release said.
“We set out to carefully evaluate the nearly 4,000 acres set for review, and then either retain them as being important to the DNR mission, protect them through conservation partners, trade to consolidate state ownership or make them available for sale to the public through auction,” said Scott Whitcomb, director of the DNR’s Office of Public Lands.
It’s a long-term, detailed process that Whitcomb said helps ensure the DNR is focused on the lands with the greatest conservation, recreation and resource management potential.
“We are now at a point in the review of the ninth group of parcels where the next important step is to hear from the public – the people who know these local areas and use them in a variety of ways – about their ideas on the initial recommendations,” Whitcomb said. “We’ve had a great response from earlier public reviews and, using local knowledge of the areas, made several corrections to our maps and ownership records, underscoring how important it is to have this input.”
The classification label for each parcel may be based, in part, on the natural or cultural resources present on the land; how the land is used, accessed or managed; and whether the land contributes to the department’s mission. The DNR’s initial recommended classifications (by total number of parcels) for the public land in this review break down as follows:
- Retain (50.6 per cent)
- Offer to alternate conservation partner (4.3 per cent)
- Exchange (1.1 per cent)
- Dispose through public auction (44 per cent)
Use the interactive map to see DNR recommendations and submit your comments.
You don’t need Microsoft Teams on your computer or smart device to join, but please note that each link is specific to its meeting date and time and will not be live or accessible until each meeting is “opened” by the moderator. Anyone without access to a computer may call in using the phone number provided.
- 2 p.m. (Eastern) Tuesday, Oct. 24
- Join Microsoft Teams meeting Or call (for audio only) +1 248-509-0316, 282107743# Conference ID: 282 107 743#
- 6 p.m. (Eastern) Wednesday, Oct. 25
- Join Microsoft Teams meeting Or call (for audio only) +1 248-509-0316, 662784152# Conference ID: 662 784 152#
People unable to participate can view a recording of the public meeting presentation, available on the DNR's state land review webpage, along with additional updates that will be posted throughout the process.
For additional resources on public lands, visit Michigan.gov/PublicLands. For special accommodations requests, contact Kerry Heckman at 517-643-1256.
