Huron Pines and Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council are pleased to announce that public input meetings will be held on October 17th in Grayling and October 27th in Petoskey to gather regional input for Michigan’s Great Lakes Restoration and Protection Initiative.

In June of this year, Lt. Governor John Cherry joined the Michigan Office of the Great Lakes and Michigan United Conservation Clubs to announce the Initiative in Lansing which has since led watershed alliances, sportsmen’s organizations, tribal entities and other non-governmental and governmental stakeholders to participate in developing a framework for a comprehensive restoration and protection plan for Michigan.

Part of the framework involves gathering regional priorities for the plan. These meetings are crucial for the involvement of the region’s local stakeholders in the plan. For far too long we have seen how polluted runoff, aquatic invaders, and habitat degradation have impacted our region’s sport fishery, economy, and quality of life. It’s encouraging to take part in the process that will hopefully turn back these negative impacts on our community and make our lakes healthy again.

Huron Pines and the Watershed Council have worked with MUCC and the Office of the Great Lakes to sponsor the events and ensure that a wide variety of local stakeholders will show up to contribute their concerns and priorities for regional restoration and protection.

Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting Northern Michigan’s lakes, streams, wetlands, and ground water. “We really encourage all Northern Michigan community members to come and share their thoughts,” said Jennifer McKay, policy specialist with Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council.

“Our jobs, recreational passions, and quality of life depend on the Great Lakes and they are in trouble – please come to make sure your ideas and stories are heard so that governmental leaders and non governmental organizations will work together in this process to develop a plan for the Great Lakes that will fix the issues that trouble our community.”

The first meeting hosted by Huron Pines will take place at the Grayling Township Hall, 2090 Viking Way (just off M72 west) from 7 to 9pm on Friday, October 17th. For questions, please contact Brad Jensen at 989 344-0753 or brad@huronpines.org.

The second meeting hosted by Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council will take place Monday, October 27th at North Central Michigan College, 1515 Howard St., Petoskey, MI 49770. For questions or more information on the second meeting, contact Jennifer McKay at 231-347-1181 or jenniferm@watershedcouncil.org.