Posts by lschultz
Public Input Requested Regarding Future Management of Public Lands
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is requesting public input regarding the development of their public land management strategy. Originally created in 2013, the public land strategy is used by the DNR to outline management plans for Michigan’s public lands and natural resources to ensure that Michiganders and visitors alike are able to recreate…
Read MoreOn the Ground: Impact by Habitat Type
Although the 2020 field season has been severely limited by the COVID-19 pandemic, it has provided a valuable opportunity to analyze program data that has been collected since the On the Ground (OTG) program’s inception in 2013. We regularly monitor volunteer numbers and volunteer hours dedicated to wildlife habitat improvement, as well as overall acreage…
Read MoreMUCC and The Average Conservationist Partner to Give Back to Conservation
Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) and The Average Conservationist are excited to announce a collaboration benefiting conservation. A t-shirt collaboration between the organizations will raise funds for direct conservation work in Michigan. The design features the words Michigan United Conservation Clubs underneath a forest and white-tailed deer silhouette. To buy one of these exclusive shirts,…
Read MoreNational Wildlife Federation Affiliates Vote to Address PFAS Concerns
Recently, delegates to the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) Annual Meeting voted to work to address the impacts of PFAS chemicals on fish, wildlife and human health. PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which are used in products ranging from firefighting foam and household cleaning products, to consumer goods like non-stick cookware, apparel waterproofing and…
Read MoreCommercial Fishing Legislation Brought Up in Senate Committee
The Michigan Senate Committee on Natural Resources heard its third round of testimony on House Bills 4567, 4568 and 4569 Wednesday. The three bills seek to protect game fish and update rules that have not been changed since 1971 for state-licensed, Great Lakes commercial fishers. The tie-barred, three-bill package would update decades-old statute by keeping…
Read MoreNational Pollinator Week: Pollinators and the OTG Program
The week of June 22-28, 2020 has been designated as National Pollinator Week. Thirteen years ago, the United States Senate unanimously approved that one week in the month of June be used to both celebrate pollinators and bring attention to their rapidly declining populations. Since the inception of National Pollinator Week, the initiative has grown…
Read MoreOTW is coming to the west coast!
On the Water is coming to the west coast of this great mitten state! On July 25 OTW is partnering up with Kitchel-Lindquist Dunes Preserve to pull the invasive species Purple Loosestrife. Invasive species are organisms such as plants, mammals and invertebrates that are not originally from the location that they are found in. That…
Read MoreCitizen Science Opportunity: The Tick App
As tick-borne diseases continue to increase annually, researchers from Michigan State University, University of Wisconsin and Columbia University teamed up to create an app that allows individuals in regions of high-risk for tick exposure to track their tick encounters. The Tick App also provides an abundance of resources about tick prevention for humans and pets,…
Read MoreU.S. Senate Passes Monumental Public Lands Package
The United States Senate passed the Great American Outdoors Act (S. 3422) on Wednesday, which will address deferred maintenance on our public lands and permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Federal land management agencies have accumulated a deferred maintenance backlog in excess of $19 billion, while LWCF has only been funded at…
Read MoreOTW is cleaning up Sault Ste Marie
On the Water has a packed 2020 field season! We did not have any events in April, May, and June due to COVID-19, but we are back for the rest of summer and fall for a variety of events all around the state of Michigan! During this current time please remember to remain safe, practice…
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