DNRE Soliciting Public Input on Trout Regulation Changes:
Have your voice heard, attend a townhall meeting and speak up!
Over the past 2 years Michigan TU has brought you information on changes to trout regulations for our streams, and has been active in working with the DNRE to modify them. Now is the time to provide the DNRE with your personal comments on their proposed changes. They will be holding local townhall meetings around the state during the month of June, and this is your time to be heard.
The DNRE has produced a document explaining the changes they plan to make, and explaining the changes they will not be making. This document is largely a response to the public input they received for “gear-restricted” waters nominations several months ago. This document can be found at http://bit.ly/9z6pJB. A press release directly from the DNRE on this process can be found at http://bit.ly/acffRA. Additional information on MITU’s involvement in this process can be found online at http://bit.ly/bJMbNn, and in our past issues of MICHIGAN TROUT magazine ( which can be found online at http://bit.ly/cNmByK).
An important component of deciding which regulations are best is understanding what to manage the fishery for (e.g., lots of fish, big fish, or the chance to keep lots of fish). This is inherently based in social desires, and is exactly why the DNRE now needs your help to understand how to modify their proposal. They will be depending on these townhall meetings to hear from the public on what the public wants. IT IS CRITICAL THAT YOU ATTEND ONE OF THESE MEETINGS TO LET YOUR OPINIONS BE HEARD. Each meeting will focus on the rivers nearest to the meeting, but at each meeting you can provide your comments about ANY river. Below is a list of the meeting times and locations – please attend and provide your comments. If you want more detailed information on TU positions for particular rivers, please contact the local TU chapter in the area (http://bit.ly/9jG0d0). Thanks for taking an active role in improving inland trout stream regulations!
The schedule of public meetings is:
Southern Lake Huron Management Unit:
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- 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 8, at the Bay City State Recreation Area Visitors Center, 3585 State Park Dr., Bay City
Northern Lake Huron Management Unit:
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- 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 8, at the Crawford Au Sable Primary School Cafeteria, 306 Plum St., Grayling
- 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 9, at the Mio Community Center, 305 East 9th Street, Mio
- 7 p.m. Thursday, June 10, at the Northland Sportsmans Club, Old Alba Road, Gaylord
Eastern Lake Superior Management Unit:
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- 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 10 at the Newberry Public Library , 700 Newberry Ave., Newberry
Western Lake Superior Management Unit:
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- 7 p.m. (Eastern) Tuesday, June 22, at the Negaunee Township Hall, 42 M-35, Negaunee
- 6 p.m. (Central) Thursday, June 24, at Gogebic Community College, E4946 Jackson St., Ironwood
Lake Erie Management Unit:
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- 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 23, at the Rochester City Hall Auditorium, 1000 Rochester Hills Dr., Rochester Hills
Northern Lake Michigan Management Unit:
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- 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 16, at the Dickinson County Library, 401 Iron Mountain St., Iron Mountain
- 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 22, at the Escanaba DNRE Pocket Park, 2401 12th Ave. North, Escanaba
Central Lake Michigan Management Unit:
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- 7 p.m. Monday, June 7, at the Bitely Conservation Club, 12016 Woodbridge (M-37) in Bitely
- 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 8, at the Crawford Au Sable Primary School Cafeteria, 306 Plum St., Grayling
- 7 p.m.Thursday, June 10, at the Carl T. Johnson Hunting and Fishing Center, 6093 E. M-115, Cadillac
Southern Lake Michigan Management Unit:
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- 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 9, at the Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery Interpretive Center, 34270 CR 652, Mattawan
- 7 p.m. Thursday, June 24, at the Maud Preston Memorial Library, 500 Market St., St. Joseph
Sincerely,
Dr. Bryan Burroughs Kimberly Wetton
Executive Director Michigan TU Chair
