PRCA 2010 General Membership Meeting
June 27, 2010
Present
Members: Joe Jarecki, Ray and Fran Hoobler, Eugene Horan, Rick Kropf, Greg Keith, Rudi Edel, Mike Brown, Glen Ruczynski, Liz and Craig Hitchcock
Non members: Chris Engle (Gaylord Herald Times), Peter Gustafson, Carol Armour, Richard Smolarz and Richard Bottomley (joined PRCA after the meeting)
DNRE Staff: Scott Whitcomb
Meeting opened at 1 pm with everyone introducing themselves.
Approval of Minutes
Motion by Eugene Horan to approve minutes from last year’s meeting, seconded by Fran Hoobler. Approved by unanimous acclamation.
Treasurer’s Report – Joe Jarecki
Report is interim, since fiscal year ends in several days on June 30. Current total balance $16,880.94, down $4007.71 from last year’s starting balance of $20, 888.65. Expenses totaled $9280.96, income $5273.25.
Major expenses were student intern, Golden Lotus litigation, contribution to AmeriCorps volunteer for this year, newsletter costs (printer, postage, toner, etc.). Major income came from dues and map, poster & book sales. See report for full details. Motion to accept by Eugene Horan, seconded by Rudi Edel. Approved by unanimous acclamation.
President’s Remarks – Ray Hoobler
Ray noted that new bridge over the Pigeon River is completed.
There is no PRCA funded student intern this year, due to lack of living quarters and lack of time for forest manager Scott Whitcomb to properly train and supervise one this year. Fixing up the staff house at the headquarters for living quarters will be looked at for the future.
The Michigan Bar Association named the drilling case in the 1980’s as a ‘legal milestone’. They held a ceremony to install a plaque at the Otsego County courthouse. The PRCA didn’t originally receive an invitation for some reason, but a couple members did attend.
The DNRE has completed a proposed equestrian access plan for the forest per new legislation, opening up an additional four miles and six loops to horses. Final decisions on the plan aren’t expected until September 2010.
All parties in the Golden Lotus/Song of The Morning dam removal case reached a mediated agreement to remove the dam. Ray praised the efforts of Bryan Burroughs from the Michigan Council of Trout Unlimited, Don Handyside (chairman of the board of Golden Lotus), and especially Association and Trout Unlimited lawyer Pete Gustafson in reaching a settlement that avoided going to court and will work to the betterment of the Pigeon River. Bryan Burroughs is also actively involved in the removal and restoration process. His doctoral dissertation was specifically on removing dams on trout streams. Sediment testing has been done and results are being analyzed. A meeting is scheduled in July to begin planning the removal process. Actual pond draw down is expected to begin next spring (2011).
Advisory Council Report – Mike Brown
The sand trap on the Sturgeon River at Sturgeon Valley Road was dug out recently. The site will need to be re-vegetated due to the effects of the heavy machinery involved.
Blue Lakes Road has been torn up by logging trucks in the area. The Montmorency Road Commission has directed the trucks to use an alternate route. The Montmorency County Road Commission graded water turnouts so that they deposit sediment directly into Stewart Creek, and that needs to be corrected.
Ray Hoobler asked if the road commissions are maintaining deteriorating roads. The general consensus was that they maintain existing roads they’ve historically worked on, subject to funding, but not ones they haven’t worked on in recent history.
Similar to the above, the Cheboygan County Road Commission isn’t expected to replace the bridge over the Pigeon River on Webb Road until next year due to budgetary constraints.
Forest Manager’s Report – Scott Whitcomb
The equipment operator position in the forest is being filled by the DNRE after a year long vacancy. Scott expects this person to be able to help with an intern next year, but Scott doesn’t have enough time to train and supervise both this summer.
Scott expressed appreciation for the work by last year’s intern, Matt Storey. Among other tasks, Matt performed some of the vacant equipment operator’s duties, documented road and access issues, and prepared an orientation/training manual for future interns.
The Pickerel Lake campground has been re-opened after being renovated.
Foot bridges over the Pigeon and Black rivers on the High Country Pathway have been repaired. The bridge over the Pigeon River near Pine Grove campground was damaged again by a fallen tree causing bank erosion and undermining the bridge support. Plans are being developed to repair it.
Some Antrim gas wells in the north east of the forest in Cheboygan County have been pulled. The operator is in bankruptcy, and site reclamation funds are expected to be made available by the bankruptcy court. These sites will not be re-developed in the future.
The Natural Resources Trust Fund has provided $1 million to acquire inholdings within the forest. Offers were sent out in the last two weeks. The recent surge in drilling/leasing activity may lead to difficulty in acquiring mineral rights along with surface rights. This complication may be minimized by negotiating with the owner as part of the purchase agreement of the surface that the owner will restrict surface drilling activity to a small area to limit its impact if/when they lease the minerals.
900 acres of the Ford property is in the process of being purchased by the state. This would not be in the Pigeon River forest proper, but would be a significant nearby acquisition.
600 acres are proposed for purchase on the Black River at Saunders Creek (the Thies property). A decision on the grant request to fund this is expected by December 2010.
Miscellaneous items include: a 2700 acre plot in the north of the forest is proposed for biodiversity stewardship status; logging averages about 1500 acres harvested per year; Chandler dam on the Black River is slated for removal this summer in conjunction with Huron Pines; building demolition at various sites is continuing; and the DNRE is considering revamping Elk Hill campground to possibly add more regular sites from in the group camping area.
Ray Hoobler mentioned that the DNRE is considering various proposed changes to fishing regulations on the Pigeon, Black and Sturgeon Rivers, such as gear restrictions, catch limits, season changes, etc.
Old Business
Board member Carol Armour from Song of the Morning Ranch stated her concern for how wildlife would be affected by the dam removal and elimination of the pond. She asked for any available help and support for mitigation and/or relocation efforts. Pete Gustafson and Ray Hoobler suggested that she come back with specific proposals or requests for the PRCA to consider. Ray expressed the willingness of the PRCA to help as appropriate if the proposals benefit the Pigeon River Country.
Association lawyer Pete Gustafson said that, as provided in the agreement to remove the Song of the Morning Ranch dam, a conceptual plan has been developed and presented for review to the DNRE technical review team, which includes Brian Burroughs. When the technical review team review is complete, there will be a meeting between the parties, probably in July, to finalize the plan. Soon after the July meeting, permits could be issued. Based on discussions with technical folks, Pete said he does not expect drawdown of the pond to start until spring because the objective is to expose soil at a time when new vegetative growth will do the best (not the fall), because of the risk of erosion due to spring breakup and storms with exposed soil, and because of the impact on wildlife that has historically used the pond for hibernation. Pete said that things are moving on schedule. At this point we are beyond litigation and hopefully that will continue to be the case. The process will be one of impoundment drawdown, not dam removal since Golden Lotus will be allowed to continue to use the top of the dam as a road, and the gates will be removed, but they will still be allowed to have a bridge over the river where the gates were located.
New Business
Joe Jarecki asked that people contact him if they’d like to help the AmeriCorps volunteer with his work documenting the state of the Pigeon, and possibly Sturgeon, River systems. This work is expected to take place July through September, 2010.
Joe would also like someone to take over the duty of checking the Association’s PO box in Gaylord and responding to the mail, i.e. mailing maps, depositing checks, etc. New Association member Richard Bottomley volunteered to do this.
Elections
Prior to the meeting, Lance Weyeneth, Web Committee chair, had stated other commitments prevented him from continuing to serve on the board.
Eugene Horan made a motion to re-elect the current slate of officers, (minus the Web Committee chair). Mike Brown seconded the motion. The motion was approved by unanimous acclamation. The 2010 – 2011 PRCA Board is:
Vice President: Eugene Horan
President Emeritus: Rick Kropf
Treasurer: Joe Jarecki
Secretary: Greg Keith
PRCAC Representative: Mike Brown
Adjournment
President Hoobler adjourned the meeting at 3:30 pm.