June 2006 newsletter

PIGEON RIVER COUNTRY ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

JUNE 21, 2006

President’s Corner

We’ve already had two separate 90 degree days, each followed a few days later by a day with a high in the 60’s – typical Michigan weather! Anyway it’s nice to see summer here. The morels are gone, but the flowers are out and the fish are biting. I hope your summer is going along well.

We were, of course, distressed to hear about the illness of Joe Jarecki, the DNR Unit Manager for the Pigeon. So far he has been responding well to his chemotherapy treatments. We hope that by this fall he’ll be in good enough shape to be able to go hunting.

There are a couple of issues to deal with this summer. First, it’s time to reprint the High Country Pathway booklet, and Jamie Green and Carolyn Hunt (a PRCA sponsored intern in 2004) have proposed an entirely new version. It would be a map, probably 20" by 20", on one side. The other side would have detailed information about the Pigeon River Country as well as the High Country Pathway and a text description of markers along the trail on the other side. Jamie who is with the Michigan Mountain Biking Association has gotten all the mapping information together while Carolyn has used her summer experience here to update the text. The map would be printed on waterproof paper and folded into the same size as the HCP booklet. I think it will be great. We hope to have a draft version at our annual meeting, which is later than usual this summer.

However, in the process of trying to set this up, the upper echelons of the DNR found out that we have been selling the HCP booklet and the PRC map at headquarters and they have said this could no longer be done. This probably means we will have to distribute them through local stores and our web site. This will complicate our operations. We need a volunteer to help here. If you are interested please let us know at info@pigeonrivercountryforest.org.

The other issue is gas development in the PRC. Some years ago, Terra energy was planning on drilling in the Blue Lakes area because the state could not acquire the mineral rights when they purchased it. Well, for various reasons Terra did not follow through, but now Aurora Energy out of Traverse City has acquired the rights and plans on drilling for Antrim gas there. Rick Kropf has a piece elsewhere about this threat.

At least Blue Lakes was not included in the area to which the original Ingham County consent agreement restricting development in the PRC applied. I have heard that the Song of the Morning Yoga Ranch is interested in drilling for Antrim gas on their property just off the Sturgeon Valley road. Most of their property does fall under the consent agreement. It’s my feeling that drilling there would be a major breach of the court order, and we should certainly go to court if they attempt to get drilling permits.

We’ll have an update on both of these items at our annual meeting. We decided to try a Sunday meeting this year. So don’t forget our meeting at DNR Headquarters – 2:00 on July 23. I look forward to seeing you there

Pigeon River Country Advisory Council

The main subject taken up at the Advisory Council’s June 16^th meeting was the update of the 1973 Concept of Management for the Pigeon River Country Forest. This has been a massive undertaking, with drafts prepared by separate committees covering various aspects of the whole subject. At this Advisory Council meeting, a review of all the drafts (supplied ahead of time to the Council members) was made with the exception of the Introduction and History of the PRCF -- which was done at the previous meeting.

Among the changes suggested was a repeated call for more forceful language, especially when it came to prohibiting -- rather than just "discouraging" -- certain activities of a particularly disruptive nature or that border on commercial ones. Some concern was expressed that other sections of the drafts were not explicit enough -- for example, just where snowmobiles will be allowed or prohibited in the forest after the new updated Concept of Management goes into effect, and how these rules are to be enforced.

Other concerns of great importance had to do with the road systems and oil and gas development in the newer "annexed" areas of the forest. In some of these places mineral ownership was not acquired by the state. In the northeastern portion of the PRC oil and gas wells are already present and in the Blue Lakes tract, Antrim Shale gas wells are about to be developed, despite this being an area long closed to wheeled motorized traffic by a special order of the Director of the DNR. The council members were faced with either opposing acquisition of any more such areas where complete control of mineral development is not possible, or else having to put up with such development for a time in favor of greater acquisition of public land. The council opted for the latter as the lesser evil -- or the greater good.

Other issues of concern at this meeting were plans to harvest some areas larger -- on account of the age of the stands -- than the 40 acres maximum specified by the original Concept of Management. The public may review these plans at the Forest Headquarters "Open House" scheduled for July 18^th from 3 to 7 pm. Plans will be finalized at the Compartment Review held there on August 10th beginning at 9 am.

The Wildlife Division reported on the activities of the Pigeon River Habitat Initiative, a partnership to control development and enhance wildlife on private lands surrounding the forest.

Council members also expressed concern that for some time there has been no input from the Fisheries Division of the DNR and so no advice addressing the continuing problem posed by beaver dams and their warming effect on the streams.

The next advisory council meeting is scheduled for September 15, 6:30 pm, at the Pigeon River Headquarters. The public is always welcome.

Report by Richard Kropf

Report on Antrim Gas Drilling in Blue Lakes

In 1989, the State of Michigan acquired what was the second most significant addition to the Pigeon River Country since its dedication as a specially administered state forest in 1973. The first of these acquisitions was the former McLouth Steel Corporation's "Green Timbers" property on the west border of the forest along both sides of the Sturgeon River. This second purchase, of the former Blue Lakes Ranch on the east side of the forest, which along with its several lakes has about three miles of frontage on the Black River, was, like the first, made with money accruing to the Michigan Land Trust Fund. This fund was created in tandem with the compromise agreement allowing gas and oil production in the southeastern portion of the forest. The idea was that by allowing some oil and gas drilling in the southeast third of the Pigeon River Forest, more land could be purchased for public use from oil and gas royalties. The Green Timbers and Blue Lakes purchases were the most spectacular payoff from this compromise. Both of these acquisitions were set aside as special "walk-in" quiet areas, with even snowmobiles banned from Green Timbers, while the two Blue Lakes themselves were set aside for special catch and release fishing.

However, there was one big difference. Where mineral rights came with most of the Green Timbers purchase, the former owner of the Blue Lakes property retained the mineral rights. So soon there was a bid, by Terra Energy of Traverse City, to begin drilling Antrim Shale wells in various locations within the Blue Lakes tract. At the time, then DNR director Rollie Harmes reminded Terra Energy that although they might lease the mineral rights, the stringent drilling regulations that applied within the original compromise agreement area still applied, even in this newly acquired area of state land. But Terra was not deterred by this, and eventually applied for permits for six wells to be drilled within the Blue Lakes tract. However, after facing a host of other special restrictions as to how they could operate these wells, and after Terra Energy itself was accused of shady dealings regarding revenues from other wells elsewhere on state land, the project was set aside.

The fact was, however, that the economic prospects of the proposed gas wells on Blue Lakes looked rather chancy to begin with at that time. But even after gas prices began rise a bit and speculation began in other quarters about developing Antrim gas wells alongside older and deeper Niagaran reef wells that sparked the conflict to begin with, Shell E & P, the sole operator in the Forest, promised acting DNR Director Gordon Guyer, that there would be no new wells drilled. Likewise, Governor Engler promised, in one of his State of the State addresses, that there would be no more wells drilled in the Pigeon River Forest.

But now it seems that times have changed. Gas prices have risen dramatically, and Aurora Oil & Gas Corporation, developing a new Antrim gas field along the Black River, is all set to move into the Blue Lakes

tract. The state, having lost 96 million dollars in the infamous Nordhouse Dunes "takings" lawsuit years back fears the consequences if permission to drill on Blue Lakes is refused.

However, this does not mean that the DNR need back down from the all stipulations it was prepared to demand from Terra Energy for permission to operate on Blue Lakes. Except for some lumbering, nothing much has changed. In fact, over the last decade and a half, the Blue Lakes tract has become wilder than ever, as many of the old roads and trails have become even more overgrown. And after the latest update of the original special "Concept of Management" that governs whole area, the Blue Lakes tract, as a favorite winter haunt of the elk herd will also become off-limits for snowmobiles.

So is this special pristine area soon to succumb to the kind of "industrial park" atmosphere that has become the fate so much of the rest of public land in northern lower Michigan? It is largely up to those governing the DNR, which still has control over what happens on the surface, and the DEQ, which controls wells and what is done underground as well. Working together, these two agencies can do their very best to minimize the disruption, waste and pollution that has characterized so much of the oil and gas drilling and production until the public stepped in and demanded higher standards from the industry and those charged with its oversight. We expect that the public will continue to demand this, and in special places like the Blue Lakes tract, demand even more. It may be true that the DNR is charged with the oversight of this land, and the DEQ with whatever is under it, but in the end it is land that belongs to all the citizens of Michigan.

R W Kropf 6/20/06

Again -- Don't forget this year's annual meeting Sunday July 23rd. 2 PM at the Pigeon River Country Forest Headquarters

PS: Minutes of last year's metting can be seen below

Pigeon River Country Association

Annual Meeting July 9, 2005

Meeting Minutes

Present
Judy Jarecki, Joe Jarecki, Dorothy Elliott, Ed Elliott, Dan Sikarskie, Clair Christiansen, Ed Lebowsky, Lyle Horsell, Sandra Boyd, Janice Boyd, Frances Hoobler, Ray Hoobler, Eugene Horan, Doug Kilgren, Roland Wikman, Ivan Wikman, Greg Keith, Jim Lynn, Tim McCorry, D.C. Dilley, Lance Weyeneth, Richard Kropf, Tony Morse, Marie Brabb, Dale Franz

Approval of Minutes
2004 annual meeting minutes approved unanimously.

President’s Report – Ray Hoobler
Brief overview of topics discussed later in the meeting, including: new website and listserv, upcoming Pigeon River Country Advisory Council (PRCAC) board member appointments, updates to the PRC Concept of Management. Also discussed work projects completed the past year, such as erosion control measures at the bridges over the Sturgeon and Pigeon rivers on Old Vanderbilt Road and the Pigeon river at Pigeon River and Pigeon River Bridge campgrounds, and the increased funding for this years intern due to a longer time commitment by the intern.

Internet Committee Report – Lance Weyeneth
The PRCA has purchased its own domain name and hired a hosting company to host and design a new website. This site will be largely controlled by the PRCA, once the initial learning curve for the software is mastered. Features include a moderated listserv component, allowing quick communication from the board to members and a photo gallery for highlighting natural features of the forest. Brief discussion of rules for the photo gallery, site layout, and site manipulation software.

Treasurer Report – Greg Keith
Data from past three years shows an average equality of income/expense when specific, one time expenses are taken into account.
For the year 7/10/2004 – 7/9/2005, there was a net deficit of $2538. This compares with the same period the previous year of a gain of $1632, and the year before of a deficit of $1211.
However, there were some new expenses this past year which the board felt appropriate to fund. These include an extra $1000, for a total of $4000, for the intern, a $500 donation to Anglers of the Au Sable for their court challenge to oil & gas drilling in the Mason Tract of the South Branch of the Au Sable, and $1300 in hands on projects such as working on stream erosion and planting trees along Pickeral Lake.
These efforts do put a strain on our working budget, but the board feels it’s working towards our goals. Absent these new expenses, the PRCA would be in the black, and they should, mostly, be one time expenses. Nevertheless, we may have to consider increasing revenue or decreasing expenses in the future.
As of this date (7/9/05) there’s $4700 in our checking account. We also have a money market account, geared toward funding publication of things like booklets, trail maps, or other publications of about $3500, and a CD fund of approximately $3000. Exact figures will vary by day.
I’d like to think that this year’s relatively large deficit is both an aberration, and a sign of renewed on the ground commitment by our members to pursue our goals for the PRC, even though it has financial cost. These things take time, commitment, and money. We appreciate financial help, but even more when you can help directly.

DNR Report – Joe Jarecki
See attached report. Also discussion of logging and clear cutting techniques regarding habitat regeneration.

Pigeon River Habitat Initiative – Dan Sikarskie
Update on various land conservation and cost sharing strategies available to interested land owners surrounding the PRC. Dan recently hired to implement goals of PRHI.

Pigeon River Country book – Dale Franz
University of Michigan Press to publish new, updated version of book. PRCA eligible for volume discount purchases, about 50% off, for resale as a fundraising venture.
Dale requests input from members on revisions to the first edition: corrections, additions, updates, new developments, etc.

Elections
By unanimous vote, the following board members were elected:

President: Ray Hoobler

Vice President: Rudi Edel

Treasurer: Richard Kropf/Jim Lynn

Secretary: Greg Keith

Lance Weyeneth continues as a board member as chair of the Internet committee set up last year (PRCA bylaws hold that any committee chairs are de facto board members). Lance has been a real leader in this area, and done a lot of work. We’re thankful for his contributions.

Concept of Management
Authorized sending attached letter regarding PRCA views on revisions to the official Concept of Management for the PRCA to DNR Director Becky Humphries and PRCAC chair Pete Gustafson. In addition to formal recommendations, the board also in support of special attention by law enforcement to the PRC, given its unique status & regulations.