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Eastern Upper Peninsula Citizen Advisory Council DNR Division Reports Date of Production: February 2017 This documentation is provided by Michigan DNR staff as supplemental information to the Eastern UPCAC members via email on February 15, 2017.

Upper Peninsula Regional Coordinator: Stacy Haughey DNR Public Meetings February 8 UP Sportsmen Coalition, DNR Shingleton Field Office,

6:00pm February 9 Natural Resources Commission Meeting, Lansing February 23 Eastern UP Citizen’s Advisory Council, LMAS Health

Dept-Newberry, 6:30pm March 9 Natural Resources Commission Meeting, Lansing March 14 Joint UPCAC (Both East and West) Council Meeting,

Marquette Township Hall, 5:30pm U.P. State Park & State Sponsored Activities February 11 Tahquamenon Falls State Park – Upper Falls Guided Snowshoe Hike/Lantern-lit Ski & Stroll February 11 Straits State Park – Winter Family Fun Day February 11 Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park-Lantern-lit Skiing and Snowshoeing February 18 Tahquamenon Falls State Park – Upper Falls Guided Snowshoe Hike/Lantern-lit Ski & Stroll February 18 Van Riper State Park–Lantern-lit Snowshoe Hike February 25 Tahquamenon Falls State Park – Upper Falls Guided Snowshoe Hike/Lantern-lit Ski & Stroll February 25 Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park-Lantern-lit Skiing and Snowshoeing March 4 Straits State Park – Winter Family Fun Day March 18 Van Riper State Park-Lantern-lit Snowshoe Hike Upcoming U.P. Recreation Events For a host of winter events around the UP, go to www.uptravel.com. Here are just a few… February 8-11 Michigan Tech University Winter Carnival, Houghton, www.mtu.edu/carnival February 11 Long Riders Relic Ride, Manistique, 906-573-2414 February 11 Bent Ski Classic/Snowmobile Adventure Run, St. Ignace,

www.straisareasnowmobileclub.com February 12 Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club/Sons of Norway Barnelopet, Hancock,

www.keweenawnordic.org/barnelopet/ February 15-19 Michigan Ice Fest, Pictured Rocks-Munising, www.michiganicefest.com February 16-18 Antique Snowmobile Run for Fun, Copper Harbor, www.facebook.com/Vintage-Snowmobile-

Run-For-Fun-187671457926101/#sthash.kgqHQZHK.dpuf February 16-19 UP 200, Marquette/Grand Marais, www.up200.org February 16-19 Snowsfest, Les Cheneaux Islands, www.lescheneaux.net February 17-18 Top of the Lake Snowmobile Show & Ride, Naubinway, www.snowmobilemuseum.com

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February 17-25 Northern Michigan University WinterFest, Marquette, www.nmu.edu February 18 Great Lakes Endurance Tahquamenon Snowshoe Race, Paradise,

www.greatlakesendurance.com February 18 Polar Roll Fat Tire Race 2017, Marquette, www.travelmarquettemichigan.com February 19 Annual Winter Fest, Escanaba, www.deltami.org February 18-19 McDonald Lake Ice Fishing Derby, Gulliver, staciez@centurytel.net February 18-19 Michigan’s Free Fishing Weekend February 24-26 Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) Winter Program, Big Bay, www.michigan.gov/bow February 24-26 Paradise Ice Festival, Paradise, http://paradisemichigan.org February 25 Snowburst 2017 Winter Carnival, Porcupine Mountains,

www.facebook.com/Snowburst2013 February 25 Trenary Outhouse Classic, www.trenaryouthouseclassic.com February 25 Snowshoeing with Sasquatch, L’Anse, www.baragacounty.org February 25 City of Manistique Snofest, Manistique, 906-341-2290 February 25 Millecoquins Lake Winter Carnival, Engadine, www.facebook.com/events/1316586675046877/ Recent DNR Press Releases For full details, go to: http://www.michigan.gov/dnrpressroom Outdoor Channel’s ‘Wardens’ to feature Michigan DNR (2/1/17) Gov. Snyder applauds Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant recommendations (1/24/17) DNR seeks information on Iron County wolf poaching (1/24/17) Michigan’s trail conditions affected by unseasonable warmup (1/23/17) Chronic wasting disease identified in two Mecosta County farmed deer (1/20/17) Showcasing the DNR: Michigan’s wintry snowmobile wonderland (1/19/17 DNR begins supplemental deer feeding in southern U.P. (1/17/17) DNR conservation officer rescues man in Schoolcraft County (1/14/17) Grant funding available for U.P. deer habitat improvement projects (1/13/17) State awards more than $3.5 million to battle invasive species (1/12/17)

Grant Contacts For other grant information, to go: http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-58225---,00.html

Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant Merrie Carlock, 517-284-5931, carlockm@michigan.gov Recreation Passport Grant Merrie Carlock, 517-284-5931, carlockm@michigan.gov Aquatic Habitat Grant Kelly Parker, 517-284-5957, parkerk4@michigan.gov Michigan Invasive Species Grant Kammy Frayre, 517-284-5970, frayrek1@michigan.gov Wildlife Habitat Grant Kelly Parker, 517-284-5957, parkerk4@michigan.gov U.P. Deer Habitat Improvement Partnership Grant Bill Scullon, 906-563-9247, scullonh@michigan.gov The Natural Resources Commission met in Lansing on February 9, 2017. The only major action taken at today’s meeting was the approval by Resource Deputy Bill Moritz – on behalf of Director Keith Creagh -- of a land exchange in Benzie County.

February 2017 NRC Meeting Summary – Ed Golder, Public Information Officer

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2017 U.P. NRC Meeting June 8, 2017 Michigan Tech

University Houghton, MI

In addition, Deputy Moritz announced that on Feb. 2, Director Creagh signed a memo that eliminates a 10 percent discount that had been in place for all-species non-resident fishing licenses. The memo also discontinues free replacement licenses. These changes will go into effect with the new license year, which begins March 1. The day began with a meeting of the Michigan State Parks Advisory Committee. Linda Walter of Parks gave a report on the Outdoor Adventure Center in Detroit. Linda recounted the transformation of the historic building on the Detroit riverfront that became the OAC, a transformation that mirrors the Renaissance of the city. In its first full year of operation the OAC saw 100,000 visitors. Surveys show that high numbers of people are extremely satisfied with the quality of instruction at the OAC. The plan in the coming year is to expand class offerings, offer field trips and develop a variety of new and creative programs, including "date nights" for young professionals. The committee reviewed the management plan for the Menominee River State Recreation Area in the western Upper Peninsula, the only park or recreation area in the state managed collaboratively with another state, Wisconsin. Deb Jensen from Parks said the plan was developed in cooperation with Wisconsin. The recreation area was established in 2011, with a land purchase from a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant. It comprises 7,652 acres in both states. The recreation area includes 17 miles of Menominee River frontage and Piers Gorge, an area of the river with Class IV whitewater rapids. It offers camping, hiking, boating and fishing, in addition to ATV and snowmobile trails. The management plan aims to improve access and incorporate education and interpretation at the site. The committee passed a resolution recommending approval of the management plan. Parks and Recreation Chief Ron Olson gave an update on exploratory drilling at Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park. I would encourage you to read the press release on the subject, which fully explains why this limited drilling is happening, the safeguards put in place to protect the park and the cooperation from Highland Copper, the company that owns the minerals beneath park land and which by law has a reasonable right of access to those minerals. The department is undertaking an inventory of state park land to determine where sub-surface mineral rights may be owned by somebody other than the state. The department has a long-term goal of unifying surface and mineral ownership where possible. Vicki Anthes of Parks gave the committee an overview of Parks' strategic planning process. The draft Strategic Plan articulates eight goals:

• Be exemplary stewards of Michigan's natural and cultural resources. • Provide users with quality outdoor recreation experiences in balance with resource protection. • Continue to advance Michigan as the "Trails State." • Provide a relevant gateway to connect people to nature and foster understanding and support for PRD's mission

among future generations. • Improve and maintain strong public, stakeholder and department communication, relationships and

partnerships. • Engage in strategies to increase community and state economic prosperity. • Align expenditures with revenue to sustainably support PRD programs, operations and facilities into the future. • Foster and adopt effective and safe business practices.

PRD is seeking comments regarding the draft plan from advisory groups, PRD staff and the department management team, as well as the general public and stakeholders. The hope is to finalize the plan by June. Matt Lincoln of Parks reviewed PRD's applications for grants from the Natural Resources Trust Fund and the Land and Water Conservation Fund. PRD has 18 projects on the list for the two grant programs, derived from a master priority list of needs across the Parks system.

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Ami Van Antwerp of Marketing and Outreach gave a presentation on PRD marketing plans. The plans include efforts to increase sales of snowmobile trail permits, boat registrations and slip reservations. The plans also focus on destination marketing aimed at particular parks and designated dark sky parks, as well as an over-all goal of increasing park attendance, Recreation Passport sales and camping reservations. These campaigns will rely on social media, marketing emails sent via GovDelivery, video creation and other targeted messages. The use of boosted Facebook posts has already proven an effective method to increase visits to particular parks, and increase campground reservations and sale of snowmobile permits. An example is a two-week campaign conducted last summer to drive visitors to Palms Book State Park in the Upper Peninsula. The campaign – targeted at Millennials – sparked an 86 percent increase in attendance at the park compared to the same time the previous year. The Policy Committee on Wildlife and Fisheries met next. Fisheries Chief Jim Dexter updated the commission on the Black Lake sturgeon season, which took place Feb. 4 and lasted all of 66 minutes. Jim said it is likely the shortest fishing season anywhere. Some 332 anglers took part. There was an allocation of a total of seven fish for all of the participating anglers. The department sought to limit the harvest quota to six fish. This year the allocation was exceeded by one fish -- for a total of eight fish taken -- because it took some time to notify those on the lake that the season had closed. Jim also talked about lake trout stocking in Lake Michigan. Stocking of lake trout will remain at the same level this year compared to last. The only difference is that some of the lake trout stocked in the mid-lake reef will be moved from Wisconsin waters to Michigan waters -- a shift of a few miles. This shift has caused some concern among anglers. The important thing to know is that lake-wide numbers for lake trout stocking are not changed this year and there should be no change in catch rates as a result. Wildlife Chief Russ Mason told the committee about the release of his division's annual report. He talked about the first meeting of the Bird Conservation Steering Committee, which occurred in January and included the DNR and a variety of partners -- from the Audubon society to the National Wild Turkey Federation and Ducks Unlimited. The group's purpose is to create a comprehensive birding communications strategy that takes into account the mission and audiences of these various organizations. Tom Cooley of the Wildlife Disease Lab was recognized for receiving the 2016 Outstanding Conservationist of the Year Award from the Michigan State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation. Tom, a wildlife pathologist, has worked for the DNR for nearly 40 years. The federation recognized in particular his behind-the-scenes work in the restoration of turkeys in Michigan. DNR Conservation Officer Angela Greenway was recognized for receiving the Officer of the Year Award from the National Wild Turkey Federation. Officer Greenway has worked for 14 years in Lake and Mecosta counties. She was lauded for her enforcement efforts during turkey seasons and for her participation in NWTF conservation efforts. Barb Avers from Wildlife gave a presentation on the 2017-2018 migratory bird hunting seasons. The regulations were before commissioners for information this month and will be before them for action at next month's meeting. Kevin Swanson from Wildlife previewed recommendations for the 2017-2018 bear season. Wildlife Division recommends a state-wide harvest goal of 1,530 bears, an increase of 168 bears compared to last year. Bear nuisance complaints in the northern Lower Peninsula continue to climb, Kevin said. The complaints -- which include bluff charges and attacks on dogs -- have become more of a concern, one of the reasons for increased quotas in those areas. The recommendations would also ban chocolate in baiting, because of concerns that chocolate can poison bears and other species. In addition, the cap on non-resident bear licenses would go from 2 percent to 5 percent under the department's proposal. An outstanding issue is whether to allow barrels to be used for baiting on public lands and Commercial Forest lands. Allowing barrels on these lands is not being recommended by the DNR. The commission asked the department to provide justification on the quotas in three management units -- Gwinn, Red Oak and Baldwin – for consideration at next month’s meeting, when a final decision should be made on bear regulations. During the director's report in the Committee of the Whole, Wildlife Chief Russ Mason recognized the winners of this year's Pure Michigan Hunt: Michelle Ketchum of Sparta, Richard Farris of Altmont and Jerry Peak of Crystal. In addition

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to offering the hunt of a lifetime to the lucky winners, the Pure Michigan Hunt has raised a considerable amount of money for conservation -- more than $1.2 million since 2010. Erik Eklund of Finance and Operations provided an overview of the governor's FY 2018 budget recommendation. Highlights of the budget were detailed in a note yesterday from Director Creagh. Ron Olson told the commission about several awards his staff received at the recent MParks meeting in Grand Rapids. Recreation Passport sales are up 2 percent since October, the beginning of the fiscal year, Ron reported. Lodging reservations are up 23 percent year-to-year in the same time period. Harbor reservations are up 208 percent. ORV licenses are up 5 percent and trail permits are up 8 percent. Snowmobile permits, meanwhile, are down 21 percent Jim Bowes of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development updated the commission on the Privately Owned Cervidae facility in Mecosta County where chronic wasting disease was recently discovered. MDARD hopes to complete depopulation of the facility by month's end. Chad Stewart of Wildlife reported on the DNR's efforts to conduct surveillance around the Mecosta County facility to determine if CWD is in the free-ranging deer population in that area. Trevor VanDyke, head of the DNR’s Office of Legislative and Legal Affairs, gave a brief report on legislation affecting the department. Finally, the commission recognized the work of former NRC Commissioner Tim Nichols, who left the commission at the end of last year. Tim's time on the commission focused especially on engaging young in the outdoors and developing future conservation leaders. The commission passed a resolution recognizing him for his service. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. -Ed Golder, Public Information Officer HB 4082 – Require Notification of Department Prescribed Burns – Rep. Whiteford This bill seeks to amend section 51501 and add section 51503c of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to require 24 hour notice to a township supervisor and primary point of emergency contact of prescribed burns.

• The bill was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources. • The Administration has not taken a position on this legislation.

HB 4095 – Provide First Preference to Veterans in Hunting Lotteries – Rep. Kosowski This bill seeks to amend section 43536 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act by adding section 43536b to provide any veteran who submits an application for a license to take game through a lottery, first preference in that lottery. This bill also provides a specific definition for a “veteran” as used in this added section.

• The bill was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources. • The Administration has not taken a position on this legislation.

SB 0076 – Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) 2017 – Sen. Booher Pursuant to the recommendation of the Natural Resources Trust Fund Board, this bill would appropriate $47.6 million from the MNRTF for 27 acquisition projects (approximately $27.7 million) and 87 development projects (approximately $19.9 million). Total matching funds of $40.1 million result in total project costs of $87.7 million.

• This bill is before the Senate Appropriations Committee. • The Administration supports this legislation.

February 2017 Legislative Update - Trevor VanDyke , Director, Legislative & Legal Affairs Office

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SB 118 – Trail Sponsor and Limited Liability – Sen. Hansen This bill seeks to amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act by amending sections 72108 and 73301 and adding section 73302 to allow the Department to become a rail-trail sponsor and to expand liability coverage to individuals conducting work on Department trails and other lands.

• The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Outdoor Recreation and Tourism. • The Administration has not taken a position on this legislation.

SB 141 – Department of Natural Resources Budget – Sen. Green This bill seeks to make appropriations for the Department of Natural Resources for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, and to provide for the expenditure of the appropriations.

• This bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Appropriations. • The Administration supports this legislation.

If you would like to learn more about these and other bills, you can access the Michigan Legislature website at www.legislature.mi.gov. WUPCAC Meeting: The WUPCAC met on January 18th in Baraga. Agenda items included Western UP Trails Update, Western UP Deer Season Recap / 2017 Sportsman Coalition Meeting Dates, New Council Members, UP Wildlife Habitat Workgroup Update, CWD & UP CWD Taskforce Update, and Subcommittee Reports. One new council member was introduced: Susan Rasch of Baraga. Mary Peterson of Ishpeming is another new member and will be present at the March Joint meeting. Public attendees commented on Oman Creek and wolf depredation questions. Two resolutions were presented: 1) designating Lake Gogebic State Park as an ATV friendly park (motion passed); and 2) support of a one permit system for ORV’s (motion failed). The next meeting is a Joint UPCAC meeting on March 14. Eastern UP Fisheries Division Field Units (Cory Kovacs, Acting Lake Superior Management Unit Manager) Newberry has completed 2018 work plans and have finalized sampling locations for 2017. Highlights for 2017 waters

to be sampled are Lake Milakokia, Au Train Lake, Anna River, Lake Gogebic, and Grand Marais-West Bay.

Staff participated in a partnership meeting discussing issues relevant to the Upper Peninsula. Topics ranged from mining permit updates, response to the western UP flooding in 2016, and aquatic invasive species awareness. Partner agencies in attendance were US Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Army Corp. of Engineers, and Michigan DEQ.

Staff participated in the Lake Superior Basin Team Meeting in Marquette. Topics covered during the meeting were work plan approvals, Walleye marking, fish stocking, and regulation change proposals.

Newberry field staff is in the process of completing age and growth analysis of fish species collected during the 2016 field season.

Staff attended the Resource Inventory Team meeting in Gaylord. The RIT is responsible for reviewing and setting standards for sampling methods and techniques across Fisheries Division. Each management unit has one representative on this committee.

Newberry fisheries technicians are preparing equipment to assist with the Black Lake-Lake Sturgeon season occurring the first weekend in February. This year six Lake Sturgeon will be allowed to harvest. In any given year there can be up to 250 anglers on the ice participating in this event.

This February, Cory Kovacs will be attending the Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference in Lincoln, Nebraska. Cory is the Chair of the Esocid Technical Committee which discusses and evaluates the needs for Muskie and Pike research

Western UPCAC Update

Division Updates

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in the Midwestern states. The committee will hold its winter meeting during this conference in Lincoln. In addition, Cory also provided assistance to a Lake Superior State University student on their senior thesis project which evaluated the relative abundance of predators in the Tahquamenon River. The student will be present a slide presentation and a poster at this conference.

Marquette Research Station (Ed Baker) Surveys All Survey work has been completed for 2016 field season and planning is underway for 2017. Survey work in 2017

will be reduced relative to 2016 due to a retirement (see Personnel info below). Meetings/Training Biologists Sitar and Zorn attended the Lake Superior Tech Committee meeting in Marquette Biologist Zorn continues to meet with other members of the Grayling working group and the Coldwater Resources

Steering Committee. Biologists Zorn, Baker, and Sitar have been working on pre-proposals for various projects Biologists Zorn and Sitar continue to work on population models for walleye, lake trout, whitefish, etc. Captains Rathbun and Little attended the Great Lakes Captains Association meeting and the Great Lakes Association

of Science Ships meeting in Traverse City January 9-12. Office/lab/workshop/building activities Staff is fully engaged in processing samples (otoliths, fin rays, scales, stomachs) collected during 2015 and 2016 field

surveys. Due to retirement we have redistributed work among remaining staff. Biologists continue working on data analysis, reports, manuscripts for journal publication, and proposal preparation

for GLFT and GLFWRA funding sources. Biologist Sitar submitted a manuscript to Fisheries (AFS) describing the Voice Data Recording System and submitted

a manuscript on the Lake Trout Hooking Mortality study to the North American Journal of Fisheries Management. Staff continues to work on net building/repair, equipment maintenance, etc. in between bouts of lab and field work. Personnel Fisheries Technician Karen Sanford retired December 30. The position will remain vacant for the foreseeable future. RV Lake Char Captains Rathbun and Little are in the process of updating their captain’s licenses with the USCG. Marquette & Thompson State Fish Hatcheries (Jan VanAmberg) Marquette State Fish Hatchery All fish to be stocked during the spring 2018 stocking season have been inventoried into inside rearing tanks. We

expect to meet all our rearing assignments at this point. Yearling fish to be stocked in spring 2017 are maturing nicely in the outside raceways and have been requiring

increased times from the technicians. Broodstock fish have recovered from fall spawning activities and inventory adjustments have been completed. Technicians have been doing seasonal equipment maintenance and fish vaccinations. Biologist has been writing year end summaries and preparing permit applications/certifications. Yearling brook trout are experiencing a mild parasite infection outside. Having difficulty getting permission from

DEQ to conduct a treatment with formalin. One 2,000 gallon fish planting unit replaced this year. Thompson State Fish Hatchery Planning for Hatchery upgrade work at Thompson Hatchery is underway. $10.2 million dollars was secured through

Gov. Snyder’s 2017 budget. Enhancements include upgrades for steelhead production and additional facilities and ponds for walleye and muskellunge production.

HDR Engineering firm was selected for design work Preliminary design work to be completed by June 2017 Construction to start as early as fall, 2017 Completion expected in late 2018 or 2019 Additional fish production from new facilities in 2019 or 2020 Work will support production of larger and healthier steelhead and additional annual production of 250,000 walleye

and 15,000 muskellunge fingerlings.

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Steelhead to be stocked in spring of 2017 are growing well outside. This lot is on track to the largest lot of steelhead ever produced at Thompson Hatchery. We expect our rearing assignment of 615,000 yearlings will be met.

Chinook Salmon went into rearing tanks on February 1 and are doing well. They will be ready to stock in May. The rearing assignment for them should also be met.

Technicians are busy with inside tanks and outside raceways to care for. Biologist is working on year end reports, NPDES permit changes, gathering data and researching equipment for the

upcoming hatchery upgrade project, and has presented hatchery information and experiments at several meetings. EUP Wildlife Division: Terry Minzey, Wildlife Supervisor (prepared by Cody Norton, Biologist) The 2016 U.P. Deer Camp Survey report should be sent out next week. The deer camp survey is used to monitor

deer sightings, deer harvest, and hunter opinions during the 16-day firearm season. It provides hunters and DNR staff with feedback on the status of the deer herd and hunting satisfaction soon after the season ends. A total of 522 camps occupied by 2,043 hunters participated in 2016. Many statistics improved compared to the 2015 season.

WLD staff is continuing to measure snow depths at 15 stations in the UP to index winter conditions and anticipate their effects on deer and other species. As of January 30th, the UP average Total Accumulated Snow depth (TAS) index is just below the 2005–16 average.

Due to total accumulated snow (TAS) values surpassing established thresholds by January 16th, supplemental feeding of deer is now allowed in southern UP counties. This includes Schoolcraft, Mackinac, and Chippewa (south of T43N-44N boundary line) County in the East UP. In order to supplemental feed deer in the UP, a permit must be obtained from your local DNR office (East UP offices with WLD staff: Sault Ste. Marie, Newberry, or Shingleton). When supplemental feeding deer in winter, it is important to only feed food sources such as grains, alfalfa/clover, and pelletized food. Feeding fruits, vegetables, or a high proportion of corn can be detrimental to wintering deer. Permittees are not allowed to use any fruits or vegetables.

In January, the DNR confirmed Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in two 3.5 year old does submitted for testing by a privately-owned cervid (POC) facility in Mecosta County. This is the second time CWD has been found at a POC facility in Michigan; the first was during August 2008 at a facility in Kent County. A 9-township CWD surveillance area has been set up around the facility, where various methods will be used to collect deer for testing to determine if the disease is present outside the facility in free-ranging deer. The DNR has tested over 11,000 deer since the first free-ranging CWD-positive deer was discovered in May 2015. So far, 9 free-ranging deer have been CWD-positive in Michigan.

WLD staff has begun the process for hiring seasonal wildlife assistants across the UP to assist with habitat work,

nuisance wildlife, and other tasks. There will be 7 assistants hired throughout the UP. We advertise in the fish and wildlife departments at all of the local universities and on the Texas A&M job board to get some students and young people good field experience in the wildlife profession.

WLD staff is still registering harvested river otters and bobcats. The mandatory registration and sealing of some furbearing animals reduces opportunities for poaching and provides the DNR with extensive biological and harvest data to be incorporated into harvest quotas and habitat management. It also provides opportunities for WLD staff to get input from hunters and trappers about their season and regulation or quota changes they would like to see in the future.

Forest Resources Division: Jeff Stampfly, Eastern UP Supervisor (prepared by Kristen Matson) The 2019 Year of Entry (YOE) inventory is progressing, with over 108,300 acres scheduled for inventory this year.

Open house and compartment review schedules are posted online, along with other state forest inventory information at: www.michigan.gov/forestry.

As of January 25th, 243 timber sale contracts are open in the EUP. This represents 468,190 cords of timber on 32,234

acres, and is valued at approximately $24.0 million.

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Foresters are working on the 2017 timber sale plan of work. The EUP is scheduled to set up harvest on approximately 12,000 to 13,000 acres of timber in the 2017 fiscal year.

In the EUP, approximately 10 sales were sold last fall, one of which was a re-sale of a previously unsold sale. All

sales sold, but prices were mainly at or just above minimum bid. In January, Shingleton offered three sales and one went no-bid and is in the process of being reoffered.

The forest road inventory continues to be a top priority in the division. Recent estimates have the northern lower

peninsula approximately 70% complete. While there have been a few computer glitches, the work has gone well. Training for UP staff on the classification system is later in February.

Logging activity in the EUP is currently average to high, with approximately 30-35 active sales. Most of these sales

are low ground sales with winter cut only specifications. The recent extended warm-up in January is presenting some additional challenges for these logging operations in regards to road access and operating in low/wet soil types.

The second Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) timber sale in the EUP (Hiawatha National Forest) is scheduled for bid

opening this month. The first sale sold in December with good prices. Staff recently met with the Hiawatha to discuss work available in 2017 and 2018.

Current vacancies in the EUP include fire supervisors in both the Sault and Shingleton units and a fire officer at

Seney. All three positions will be filled and interviews for the fire supervisors are scheduled in February. Introduction to fire behavior training was held recently and additional fire training is scheduled for February. Both

fire and forestry staff attend these trainings to increase their qualifications for firefighting. Forest protection staff are working on equipment maintenance for the upcoming spring fire season, performing

hazard tree removal in campgrounds, and are also working with PRD on snowmobile program activities, including mid-winter trail inspections.

Shingleton fire qualified staff recently completed burning two large slash piles left from logging. This will benefit

reforestation.

Marking for the MSU hardwood research project in the EUP is complete. DNR foresters are now cruising the stands and preparing timber sale proposals. The purpose of the research is to study reproduction in hardwood stands using various timber removal methods.

The division is continuing to monitor stands that are at high risk for loss due to the current outbreak of Spruce

Budworm. Aerial detection flights are being used to detect the hardest hit areas. These areas will be reviewed in the context of the whole resource and salvage sales maybe set up to utilize the trees before mortality occurs. For more information on this and other forest pests go to: www.michigan.gov/foresthealth.

The Commercial Forest 2016 listing application inspections and hearing reports have been completed. CFM

foresters are working on a project in cooperation with the USFS, NRCS, conservation districts, forest industry, sportsmen’s clubs and private landowners to establish an ongoing series of newsletters and training sessions for private landowner, professional foresters and biologists regarding wildlife habitat enhancement through carefully designed silvicultural practices.

Finance & Operations: Christina Hammill, Eastern UP Dates to Remember 2/1 – Deadline for Spring Turkey license applications 2/1 – Bobcat trapping season closes (Unit A & B) 2/1 – Crow season opens

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2/11 – Last day to register Bobcat (trapping season Unit A & B) 2/18 & 2/19 – Free Fishing Weekend 3/1 – New Year licenses go on sale (most licenses expire 3/31) 3/1 – Can apply for 2018 Pure Michigan Hunt 3/1 – Hand netting opens (smelt, suckers, bowfin, carp, gar, shad, goldfish); see digest for exceptions 3/1 – Squirrel and Fox hunting seasons close; also Fox, Coyote, Muskrat, Mink trapping close 3/1 – Bobcat hunting season closes (Units A, B, C) 3/1 – Tree stands and raised platforms must be removed from all public lands 3/1 – Pike and Walleye season closes on the Boundary Waters 3/6 – Drawing Results posted for Spring Turkey hunts 3/11 – Last day to register Bobcat (hunting season Unit A, B, C) 3/13 – Leftover Turkey licenses on sale @ 10:00 am EST (unsuccessful applicants, rest on 3/20) 3/15 – Walleye, Pike, Muskie seasons close on Inland Waters 3/20 – Dip netting opens (smelt, suckers, bowfin, carp, gar, shad, goldfish); see digest for exceptions 3/31 – Hunting, Fishing, and ORV licenses expire (also Watercraft Registrations) 3/31 – Ice shanties should be removed from ice by midnight in Upper Peninsula 3/31 – Crow and Rabbit/Hare seasons close Parks & Recreation Division: Eric Cowing, Eastern Supervisor Brimley State Park/Detour Harbor/Lime Island

- The failed portion of shoreline at Conley Point boating access site (BAS) is scheduled to be reconstructed in the spring.

- Working with state agencies to remedy failed cathodic test on Detour Harbor diesel tank. - Algonquin Pathway attendance: 1,188 (12/12/19 to 1/24/17) - Park staff attended DNR-all meeting in Sault Ste. Marie. - Supervisor attended EUPISD Mock Interview Night as an

interviewer. This event gave students with disabilities the opportunity to sit through a practice interview with real employers.

- A trail counter was installed at Pine Bowl Pathway to record pathway use.

- PRD collaborated with FRD to design an informational sign for Algonquin Pathway about the future timber harvest adjacent to the pathway. The sign was installed by park staff.

- Algonquin Pathway continues to be groomed for X-C skiing, by park staff, approximately three times a week. Pine Bowl Pathway continues to be groomed one day a week (usually on Fridays) by a volunteer.

- Replaced water heater in park headquarters/shop building. Fayette Historic State Park

- Shop/Office: Shingle south end west face. - Campground: Work continues on toilet/shower building.

Sanitation station and sewage treatment areas essentially complete.

- Harbor: Contractor continues to struggle with Bender System (electrical).

- Fall Fest held October 1: Camps: Friday- 61, Saturday-60, down one camp from 2015 and up 8 camps from 2014. Day Use: 560 people in, up 175 people from 2015 and up 304 people from 2014!

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- XC ski, snowshoe, hike Kerosene Lantern Event* held January 28th. Due to unseasonably warm & rainy conditions leading up to event, the trails were in terrible condition. Temps finally went below freezing and the trail firmed up, albeit with icy spots, frozen footprints, no snow spots & generally shaky conditions. 160 people showed up!!!

- Lack of snow and generally poor winter weather has allowed staff to groom the XC ski/snowshoe trails only once this season

- All the construction projects in park are nearing completion and staff is ready to tackle this new era of Fayette’s rich heritage.

Straits State Park

- Toilet/shower building punch lists are still in the process of being completed. - Straits had a shoe year’s event on January 7 with about 80 in attendance. This was a lantern lit event with a

warming fire. - The friends of Straits State Park have now achieved their 501c3 status.

Tahquamenon Falls State Park - The lower falls capital improvements are on hold until spring. The project is expected to be completed by June

15th. - Seasonal Ranger Ryan Brown is set to attend the PRD Law Academy later this month. - The park hosted the “Roadtrek” annual winter camping trip again this year. We had 40 camps for the weekend

of January 21st. The group enjoyed snowshoeing, skiing, & dog sled rides among other things. We are also set to begin our “Saturdays in February”, which includes guided snowshoe hikes, lantern lit skiing/snowshoeing and a bonfire with hot chocolate/coffee.

- Winter camping is up again this year with 148 camp nights in January. - The two week period of mild weather has made it difficult to maintain good skiing & snowshoeing conditions.

Recent colder weather has helped….Let it snow!! Muskallonge State Park

- Phase I of the campground electrical upgrade construction is still pending settlement. Negotiations between the bonding company, contractor’s lawyers, and the attorney general’s office are still ongoing.

- Design and engineering for Phase II of the headquarters relocation is 100% complete. The project is currently posted for bid. If an awardable bid is received and awarded it is proposed construction will begin in May.

Newberry Field Office

- Finishing up on one vault toilet and going to build four more when supplies arrive. Inspecting heavy equipment for the upcoming season is being performed.

- Someone plowed Twin Lakes Access Site and we think there is damage to the parking bumpers but have to wait for thaw to really see what is damaged.

- Millakokia State Campground has been used for access to the lake for ice fishing; we see no damage to the area.

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Trails Section Unit Report – East U.P.

- Snowmobile Trail Updates 1. Warm-up of over a week was hard on trails, still some riders, most trails held up well, still some areas not

able to get through, South of Paradise, South of Curtis. Recent snow fall has helped get most trails back in great shape.

2. American Snowmobiler Magazine will hold a Come Ride With Us event in Munising February 10, 11, 12. The magazine has worked on publishing some articles regarding off trail riding and noise issues.

3. Snowmobile Advisory Workgroup meeting will be at Kedwadin Casino in the Soo March 2, at 10:00 am 4. MSA Groomer Work Shop, March 3-4th, begins at 8:00 am.

- ORV Trail Updates 1. Mackinac County ORV Route Proposal- Is at the Division Chief level of approval. The proposal is a 109 mile

of Route to connect St. Ignace, Trout Lake, Brevort, Cut River, Rexton, Newberry, Naubinway, Curtis, and Gould City communities with long distance ORV riding opportunities.

2. Have a number of ORV trail improvement and restoration projects for the coming year. - Event/Use Permits: Great Lakes Relay – July 14-16, 2017

Law Enforcement Division (LED): Lt. Skip Hagy, District 2 This has been a great winter so far for outdoor activities. The brief warm spell only kept the snowmobilers down for a short while. Officers have been making many contacts with fishermen, snowmobilers, predator and rabbit hunters as well. During the weekend of February 4th, the I-500 snowmobile race took place in the Sault. This event drew many spectators and snowmobile enthusiasts to the area and local trails. An enhanced patrol was conducted on area trails over the weekend and officers made over 500 contacts most of which were very positive. Officers did write 20 citations, including 3 for sound level violations on snowmobiles. They also gave out 66 verbal warnings.

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The new Wardens show on the Outdoor Channel aired for the first time on Monday, February 6th. The show featured officers here in District 2 making an illegal bear case. The show also described the license drawing process and the biological side of the bear hunt. I encourage all of you to try and see the show if you have not already (online). Below are some of the cases officers have been involved in since the last CAC. CO Chris Lynch conducted a meat processor inspection and observed a suspicious deer tag attached to a 7 point buck. A follow

up interview with the hunter revealed he shot the 7 point without a license then purchased a combo license. He then shot an 8 point buck later in the season and had his son in law tag it even though he had one buck tag left. A confession was received on all violations and charges will be sought through the prosecutor’s office for taking the 7 point without a license and failing to tag the 8 point he harvested.

CO Chris Lynch was doing follow up on information of a suspicious license purchase. A follow up interview with the hunter lead to a confession of a hunter who shot a 6 point buck then went and purchased the license afterwards. Charges are being sought through the prosecutor’s office for taking a deer without a license.

CO Chris Lynch was doing follow up on a suspicious license purchase. Follow up revealed the hunter shot a 9 point without a license then bought a license after the fact. The 9 point was harvested on opening day of 2016. While investigating this case CO Lynch learned the father of the hunter had shot two 8 point bucks on opening day of 2015. A check of his license history showed he did so without a license buying his licenses after the fact. A confession was received from both hunters and charges are being sought through the prosecutor’s office for three deer taken without license. The combined restitution for the three deer equals $18,500 under Michigan’s new trophy buck laws.

While investigating an illegal deer case, CO Lynch was led to a meat processor who has never been inspected. The processor’s records were not in compliance with law and enforcement action was taken.

CO Chris Lynch successfully served an arrest warrant on a hunter who shot an 8 point buck without a license. CO Chris Lynch successfully served an arrest warrant on a subject who shot a deer on property of another without permission

and had multiple counts of driving on a suspended license. The suspect was taken into custody without incident and lodged in the Delta County jail.

COs Chris Lynch and Marc Zitnik were on patrol when a call came out for a car vs train accident. The COs responded to the scene and assisted. The victim was airlifted to a local hospital. CO Lynch responded to another car versus train accident at later date. In the second incident the driver’s vehicle was totaled but he only sustained minor injuries.

CO Marc Zitnik served two arrest warrants on a couple. One was for the female hunter who shot a seven point without a license and used her boyfriend’s tag. The other warrant was for the boyfriend for loaning a tag to his girlfriend.

CO Chris Lynch was on patrol when he observed a vehicle run a red light in front of him. A traffic stop was conducted and enforcement action was taken.

CO Chris Lynch and Sgt. Jerry Fitzgibbon patrolled on Little Bay de Noc over the weekend to check ice anglers. Addressed violations were fishing no license, unattended lines, failing to exhibit fishing licenses, failing to license ORV’S, riding double on ORVs not designed for this, no helmets on ORV’S and snowmobiles, no name and address on ice shanties, and no name and address on tip ups. 4 citations were issued and many warnings were given.

CO Mark Zitnik patrolled the snowmobile trail system in his area. Snowmobile violations including no trail permit, operating unregistered snowmobiles, fail to attach trail permits, and fail to display registrations were observed. Several citations and numerous warnings were given.

During a patrol of Little Bay de Noc, CO Pat Hartsig contacted numerous groups on the ice. Many violations were encountered such as fishing with too many lines, unregistered ORV’s, and possession of marijuana. Enforcement action was taken and several warnings were given.

CO Pat Hartsig attended ALERRT (Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training) with other first aid instructor trainers. The training included treating wounded in an active shooter setting. Aspects of the training will be used in the Divisions First Aid program.

While on a group patrol on Little Bay De Noc, COs Robert Freeborn, Pat Hartsig and Sgt Jerry Fitzgibbon checked several fishermen. Even with the sub-zero temperatures there were several fishermen out. Overall compliance was good. The COs did encounter a few violations including, fish with no license, no ORV license and fish too many lines.

COs Robert Freeborn , Brett Gustafson, Robert Watson, Mark Leadman and Sgt. Mike Hammill instructed a snowmobile school for the newly hired COs. The new COs were taught snowmobile laws, riding techniques and maintenance. The final day of the training consisted of an enforcement trail ride from Seney to Grand Marais and back.

While on the trail ride at snowmobile school, CO Robert Freeborn stopped a group of snowmobiles that failed to stop at a stop sign. Once the CO stopped them he determined that two snowmobiles did not have trail stickers and one was missing a registration. CO Freeborn immediately recognized one of the snowmobilers as one he had dealt with last season. The snowmobiler was driving the same snowmobile and did not have a registration or trail sticker last season either. Both snowmobilers received citations for their violations. Shortly after CO Freeborn came across another group of snowmobilers that were from out of state and did not have registrations on their snowmobiles or proper paperwork. Enforcement action was taken.

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Sgt. Jerry Fitzgibbon and CO Kevin Postma attended SFST (Standard Field Sobriety Test) training in Iron Mountain. The CO’s spent 3 days learning and practicing the tools necessary in recognizing and arresting drunk drivers.

CO Mike Evink and Forest Service Officer David Tembreull initiated a search and rescue effort for two stranded snowmobilers in Alger County in sub-zero temperatures. The snowmobilers were riding in a back country area and were broke down and lost off a trail in four to five feet of snow. The officers were able to reach the stranded men and bring them back to safety.

CO Mike Evink was dispatched to a home in Schoolcraft County where two men were overcome by carbon monoxide. A propane delivery man was delivering gas when he noticed a man lying unresponsive on the garage floor. He initiated CPR and called 911 but was soon overcome by the carbon monoxide poisoning that rendered him too unresponsive. CO Evink arrived and checked the condition of both victims finding only the delivery man with a pulse and opened the big garage door and worked to get fresh air flow while rendering aid hoping to get the victim with a pulse to regain consciousness until Advanced Paramedics arrived. CO Evink is credited for saving the life of the delivery man but unfortunately the home owner did not survive.

CO Bobby Watson attended court for a case which occurred during the 2016 firearm deer season. The individual involved was ordered to pay $150 in fines and restitution for exceeding the legal limit of bait, $1,000 in restitution for taking an illegal antlerless deer, $75 in reimbursement for processing fees, and ordered to forfeit his rifle.

COs Bobby Watson, Jon Busken and Calvin Smith conducted a group patrol on a local lake. The COs came across an ice shack that was vacant but there were still six tip ups left out that were unattended. The COs waited for quite some time before following a set of snowmobile tracks to a cabin. There they were met by the owner of the tip ups who stated “I knew we needed to get back out there, I thought I saw some snowmobiles go by”. Law enforcement action was taken.

CO Calvin Smith was dispatched to a SUV versus County snowplow truck accident. CO Smith provided First Aid to a victim who had multiple lacerations to the forehead and was complaining of neck pain. The victim was transported to Helen Newberry Joy Hospital.

CO Jon Busken was checking ice fishermen on Milakokia Lake when he saw three unattended tip-ups on the ice. One of the tip-ups had a flag up. CO Busken followed the footprints to a residence on the lake however, no one was home. While the officer was attempting to make contact with the homeowner via phone, the angler returned home. The man claimed he had only been gone for a few minutes to check his mail. The officer then observed his wife unloading groceries from a store located 30 minutes away. Enforcement action was taken.

CO Jon Busken was patrolling Big Manistique Lake when he encountered a 21-year old subject ice fishing. The angler did not have her fishing license on her but stated that her father always buys her license for her. A Retail Sales System check showed that she had never had a fishing license. Enforcement action was taken.

CO Tom Oberg was on patrol when he received a call from Central Dispatch of a rollover accident in Chippewa County. CO Oberg responded he was the closest and only available unit at the time. Once he arrived, CO Oberg met EMS and determined that no serious injuries were present in the two occupants of the truck. CO Oberg completed the traffic accident report and made sure they were able to get their truck towed.

COs Tom Oberg and Kevin Postma were on snowmobile patrol near Paradise when they encountered a group of snowmobilers taking a break. It was observed that one of the snowmobilers had an ORV sticker on his snowmobile rather than a Snowmobile trail sticker. The subject stated that he asked for a snowmobile trail sticker at the time of purchase and claimed to have even paid $48.00 for the mistaken ORV sticker. A citation was issued and was told that the ticket would be voided if he could get a copy of the receipt and prove that he actually paid $48.00 for the ORV sticker.

CO Tom Oberg was on patrol when a call came from Central Dispatch of a vehicle in the ditch just down the road from his location, CO Oberg was the closest unit and responded. Once he arrived it was determined that the vehicle had left the roadway due to the icy conditions and caused some damage to the front of the vehicle. CO Oberg completed a traffic accident report and remained on scene until the vehicle was removed from the ditch by the towing company.

Sgt. Mike Hammill responded to a call of stranded motorists with a deputy from the Luce County Sheriff Department. The motorists drove their SUV up a groomed snowmobile trail approximately 2 miles to a county road with approximately 3 feet of snow on it. The SUV became severely stuck approximately 9 feet after making the turn. Sgt. Hammill drove the snowmobile trail in reverse with his patrol truck approximately 2 miles with Deputy Jago warning oncoming traffic. Once the officers arrived back on scene, the vehicle was able to be pulled out quickly. The tourists were attempting to reach Crisp Point Lighthouse.

COs Mark Leadman from District 1, Brett Gustafson, Bobby Watson, Robert Freeborn and Sgt. Mike Hammill, instructed a recent snowmobile enforcement training for the newly hired Conservation Officers. The COs were instructed on patrol techniques and the Laws regarding snowmobile enforcement. The final day of the training consisted of an enforcement trail ride from Seney to Grand Marais and back. Multiple citations were issued.

COs Mark Zitnik, Chris Lynch and Robert Freeborn patrolled the busy trails from Munising to Grand Marais. Even with the warmer weather the COs contacted large amounts of snowmobilers. Overall compliance was good however the COs did write 6 citations for no trail permits, expired registrations and failing to display trail permits and registrations.

CO Robert Freeborn received a complaint from MSP and Sault Tribal police regarding a subject they had arrested a day earlier on unrelated charges that had a tent set up on state land and had been staying there for a while. CO Freeborn went out to the

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scene and documented the “camp” with a large amount of litter around it. CO Freeborn made contact with the suspect in jail and advised him he had to remove all his belongings from state land when he gets out in to avoid a litter citation.

COs Robert Freeborn and Mike Evink responded to an injured eagle along Highway US2. Upon arrival it was determined that the eagle was paralyzed. Wildlife Division personnel also arrived on scene and determined the bird couldn’t be saved. It was taken for testing.

CO Robert Freeborn received a complaint regarding a snowmobile trespass. The complainant stated that the neighbor’s house is rented out to snowmobilers on weekends and that the snowmobilers make laps on his property and run over his asparagus and berry bushes. CO Freeborn advised to put up proper signage so it’s clear they are not to enter his property and to call when it happens again.

CO Pat Hartsig and Sgt. Jerry Fitzgibbon patrolled the Wetmore area for snowmobile activity. Violations such as no trail permits, improper registration placement, and careless operation were addressed.

While checking snowmobilers in Alger County CO Pat Hartsig stopped a snowmobile that did not have a snowmobile trail permit on it. The operator produced it from his wallet and stated he didn’t want to place it on his sled because he was saving up for custom decals for his snowmobile. When CO Hartsig instructed him to put it on his windshield, he was worried about how it would affect his future “wrap” for his sled and didn’t want to affix the permit. Enforcement action was taken after explaining to the operator that the trail permit was more important than the decals.

CO Pat Hartsig has been patrolling Little Bay de Noc frequently. The recent warm weather had deterred many of the usual hundreds of fishermen from venturing out onto the ice. In addition to that, the slower walleye bite has kept fishermen ashore. Violations such as fishing without licenses, fishing with too many lines, and numerous ORV violations were addressed with citations and warnings.

COs Pat Hartsig and Chris Lynch attended a sportsman’s coalition meeting at the Escanaba sportsman’s club. Questions were fielded regarding the past deer season and the COs experiences with hunters in the field.

CO Michael Evink assisted a RN from Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital teach Wilderness first aid to a local group of Girl Scouts. He educated the group on some techniques that would be beneficial in wilderness settings.

CO Mark Zitnik along with Alger County Sheriff’s department received a call of two deer stranded on the ice on Lake Superior. A Hovercraft was deployed, CO Zitnik and the Alger Co. Sheriff Department successfully removed the two stranded deer from the ice and onto the shoreline unfortunately both deer died shortly after.

CO Mark Zitnik was checking anglers on Munising Bay when two anglers attempted to keep the CO away from their shanty. When CO Zitnik reached the shanty he smelled the strong odor of marijuana. CO Zitnik asked the angler where the drugs were and the fisherman produced a small mason jar of marijuana, a pipe, and a vapor pen with a jar of resin. The 22 year old carpenter said he is trying to get his medical marijuana card but didn’t have it yet. Enforcement action was taken.

CO Chris Lynch successfully served a warrant on a hunter for possession of marijuana from the rifle deer season. The suspect was taken into custody without incident and lodged in the Delta County Jail.

CO Chris Lynch successfully served an arrest warrant on a hunter who shot a 6 point buck without license. COs Marc Zitnik, Mike Evink, and Chris Lynch conducted a snowmobile patrol and made hundreds of contacts. The COs issued

12 tickets for violations pertaining to trail permits and registrations along with several warnings. COs Jon Busken and Calvin Smith were on snowmobile patrol in Paradise when they observed several snowmobiles fail to stop

at a stop sign where the trail crossed a school driveway. A traffic stop was conducted and contact was made with the operators. One of the operators was found to have an Administratively Denied and Revoked Michigan Driver’s License. Enforcement action was taken.

CO Jon Busken contacted three anglers on Big Manistique Lake. The group said that they had had some success and showed the officer two walleye they had caught. The officer measured the fish and asked if they had kept any other fish. All three said they had not. The officer told the group he was going to go and count their tip ups. At this point one man said that he had a pike on the ice. He said he had not measured the pike but would keep small pike for the day and release them before he went home. CO Busken measured the pike, found it to be undersized and explained that short fish must immediately be returned. The man told the officer he had no other fish on the ice. CO Calvin Smith arrived on scene and continued counting tip ups. At the first tip up CO Smith checked he found a 17 inch pike. A prior check showed the man had 10 DNR priors. One was for this same violation last winter. Multiple citations were issued.

CO Watson was on ice fishing patrol during a local ice fishing tournament. Contact was made with a fisherman who informed CO Watson that his uncle had just taken some fish back to the cabin to clean. CO Watson found this odd, and followed snowmobile tracks back to the cabin where he made contact with the family member. A pile of fileted fish, mostly walleye, was discovered in the snow bank. Five of the fish were discovered to be undersized walleye. Enforcement action was taken.

CO Watson and Sgt. Mike Hammill were conducting ice fishing patrol when Sgt. Hammill made contact with a fisherman who had multiple tip-ups set out near his shanty. It was quickly discovered the individual was fishing with too many lines. Sgt. Hammill also discovered an undersized walleye which the individual had tried to hide. Enforcement action was taken.

CO Watson and Sgt. Hammill made contact with a young fisherman who smelled of marijuana. After a brief search of the area, an undersized pike was discovered in the snow bank along with a handful of drug paraphernalia items. The fisherman claimed

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his friend who was back at their cabin had caught the fish. CO Watson and Sgt. Hammill located the cabin and made contact with the friend. The friend confessed that the short pike was his and enforcement action taken.

COs Kevin Postma, Calvin Smith and Tom Oberg, worked a group patrol on Munuscong Bay. CO Postma observed a group of fishermen with numerous tip-ups out. After being checked by CO Smith, it was determined that one of the fishermen was fishing on a tribal subsistence license, which allows him to have 10 tip-ups. CO Postma continued his observation of the group and observed one of the non-subsistence fishermen catch and keep a short walleye on the subsistence fisherman’s tip-up and a second non-subsistence fishermen tend several of the subsistence fisherman’s lines while he was gone. COs Smith and Oberg addressed the violations and enforcement action was taken.

COs Calvin Smith and Tom Oberg were working a group patrol on Munuscong Bay when they were made aware of a snowmobile accident that had just occurred. COs Smith and Oberg responded to the scene just a short distance away to find a fisherman that had rolled his machine. It didn’t take long for the COs to realize that the driver was extremely intoxicated. Approximately a mile off shore CO Oberg contacted CO Kevin Postma and requested him to meet them to assist with running sobriety test. CO Postma arrived and made contact with CO Oberg. CO Smith attempt to walk the highly intoxicated driver off of the ice it was quickly apparent that this was not feasible, as the driver kept falling. CO Postma then unloaded a dog sled type sleigh from his trailer and pulled it by snowmobile out to CO Smith’s location. The Intoxicated driver was then transported in the sled to where sobriety tested could be given. The driver did not pass sobriety tests and was arrested and lodged in the Chippewa County Jail for OWI on a snowmobile.

CO Kevin Postma received blood results back from an OWI ORV incident that occurred back in the beginning of January. The individual advised CO Postma that he had stopped drinking at about 2:00 a.m. and was still a .14 BAC at noon when the accident occurred.

While on snowmobile patrol, CO Kevin Postma issued a trail permit citation to a member of one of the local grooming associations.

Marketing & Outreach Division: Jon Spieles, Education Services Section Since the end of October, Education Services staff has been working hard to complete school programs for 13,500+

K-12 students along with more than 80 public programs. These include ice fishing clinics, snowshoe-building classes and winter hikes, fishing rod building classes, winter survival courses, lantern ski events, owl prowls and many other activities and events that round out the winter programming at our nine facilities now open around the state.

The programming included The Hard Water School at the Hunt and Fish Center in Cadillac. This two day school had

35 students from all over the state, 7 volunteers, and 9 companies represented on January 28 and 29. Work has started to recruit and hire more than 60 seasonal interpreters that will staff nine visitor centers and 45

State Parks next summer. Job fairs are being attended and postings have been prepared and are being delivered through numerous channels.

DNR's 10th Summer Teachers Academy More Popular Than Ever! This summer, July 9-14, the DNR will offer its 10th

Academy of Natural Resources (ANR) and registrations are at an all-time high. One class is already closed and the others are 50% of capacity. Known as ANR (or RAM Camp), the summer academy is a week-long immersion into natural resources management and environmental education. Held at the DNR's Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center on the north shore of Higgins Lake, the RAM center offers an amazing retreat site for education workshops such as ANR. Five nights lodging, fifteen meals and instruction are included for only $395. Scholarships from Novi Chapter Safari Club International can lower the price to $295. Graduate credits and SCECH are also available. For more information, go to: www.michigan.gov/anr.

DNR and Michigan Tech unveil ANR North for August 2017: When Michigan Technological University (MTU) offered to partner with DNR to offer a new Upper Peninsula version of ANR, a pilot program was held in August of 2016. The pilot gave select educators an opportunity to participate and evaluate the program. They then assisted in planning and designing future ANR North courses. This August, ANR North will debut for the first time beginning the evening of Sunday the 6th and ending Thursday evening, the 10th. Sunday and Friday allow travel time to and from the western UP. ANR North will be an introduction to the vast and magnificent natural resources of the western UP and include sessions on forestry, parks management, fish and wildlife, copper mining impacts and tribal resource management. The fee for five nights lodging (single room), 13 meals, instruction and field trip costs is $350. ANR North will be held at MTU’s Ford Center and is limited in size to 20 educators so expect it to fill up quickly. To

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register or get more information about ANR North, email Kevin Frailey at Fraileyk@michigan.gov, or call 517-284-6043.

Projects WILD and Learning Tree offer Winter Workshops: Several workshops are coming up that will enrich your

background and enable you to bring fun environmental education activities to your classroom. Nationally renowned Projects Wild and Learning Tree, America’s two oldest supplementary conservation programs, are offering workshops February 11th in Sterling Heights, March 4th in Grand Rapids and March 18th in Grand Rapids. For more information, go to: www.michigan.gov/michiganprojectwild.

Michigan Science Teachers to Gather in Novi: Michigan science teachers will be coming by the thousands to the annual MSTA conference March 24th and 25th at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi. The conference is a tremendous opportunity for both formal and non-formal educators to learn new teaching techniques and trends, network with like- minded science teachers and browse past vast vendor exhibits. The Michigan DNR will be on hand Friday with a series of back to back seminars and sessions as will the Michigan Alliance of Environmental and Outdoor Education.

Public Information Office: John Pepin, Deputy Public Information Officer The new season of the “Wardens” television show premiered on the Outdoor Channel Feb. 6. The program will

continue to include DNR conservation officers from the Upper Peninsula. The latest U.P. filming was taking place in and around Houghton on Feb. 11.

I am working with the U.P. CWD Task Force and the Wildlife Division to help get the word out through television and radio about continuing efforts to “Keep the U.P. CWD Free.”

We have had several issues receiving a good deal of press lately including the Highland Copper exploratory drilling at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park and rescue efforts by some of our conservation officers in the U.P.

I am still collecting Showcasing the DNR story ideas for 2017. We have several great stories coming up. These stories are issued on Thursdays and are issued statewide. We have readers from outside the state too. Please send me any good ideas at pepinj@michigan.gov.