DNR U.P. Citizens Advisory Councils Scheduled To Meet

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Eastern and Western Upper Peninsula Citizens’ Advisory Councils are scheduled to meet next week, in separate sessions, on back-to-back days.

The councils are designed to provide local input to advise the DNR on regional programs and policies, identify areas in which the department can be more effective and responsive, and offer insight and guidance from members’ own experiences and constituencies.

Council members represent a wide variety of natural resource and recreation interests. Agenda items are set by the council members and council recommendations are forwarded to the DNR for consideration.

The Western U.P. Citizens’ Advisory Council will meet from 6-8 p.m. EST, Wednesday, Jan. 18 in the conference room of the Baraga Lakeside Inn, located 900 U.S. 41 in Baraga.

Prior to the meeting, at 5:30 p.m. EST, DNR division reports will be presented by staff.

Agenda items include updates on new council members, western U.P. trails and a western U.P. deer season recap. Additional discussion will include updates on the U.P. Wildlife Habitat Workgroup and chronic wasting disease.

The Eastern U.P. Citizens’ Advisory Council will meet from 6:30-8:30 p.m. EST, Thursday, Jan. 19 in the conference room of the Luce-Mackinac-Alger-Schoolcraft Health Department, located at 14150 Hamilton Lake Road in Newberry.

This council meeting was rescheduled from Dec. 15, when weather forced postponement of the session.

Agenda topics include updates on the DNR’s forest roads inventory, eastern U.P. trails, bear and deer seasons, council member term expirations and new members.

The public can participate in these two council sessions by offering comments to the discussion during two specified periods at the meeting (for instructions on comment procedures, see www.michigan.gov/upcac).

Anyone interested in being considered as a future council member should fill out the application form found on the DNR website at www.michigan.gov/upcac. For more information, contact the DNR Upper Peninsula regional coordinator’s office at 906-226-1331.