Camp Grayling Permit Application Awaits Review by Department of Natural Resources

Policy Intern • April 16, 2024

The Michigan Army National Guard has just submitted a land use permit application regarding Camp Grayling military training to the Department of Natural Resources for review.

In April of 2023, the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) proposed a 20-year lease of over 160,000 acres of state forest land. After multiple community input sessions and a lengthy review, the DNR rejected this proposal.

Most lands within the proposed 160,000-acre lease violated buffer zones, or land ineligible for lease for other reasons. The remaining 52,000 acres that fell outside of these excluded areas could be eligible for military training activities on a short-term basis. 

Michigan United Conservation Clubs opposed the original lease proposal and has multiple policies reaffirming the organization’s opposition to the expansion. MUCC is committed to minimizing environmental impact and maximizing recreational opportunity and is opposed to any future expansion of Camp Grayling.

In place of the proposed lease, the DNR and the DMVA came to an agreement under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU allows the DMVA to apply for limited land use permits which the DNR evaluates for recreational, economic, and environmental impacts. The permits would allow the DMVA to conduct low-impact military training on approved acreage if approved. 

This type of permit applications are not normally made public, but the DNR posted the proposal in the interest of transparency. 

Specifying in the MOU that only “low impact” activities are allowed excludes the use of live fire and tanks and prohibits permanent fencing or structures.

Conditions within the memorandum require recreational access to be available at all times. Additionally, the DNR doubled the size of buffer zones around protected lakes and streams in the MOU from the initial 1,500 feet to 3,000 feet. 

Under the new MOU, the National Guard has submitted a permit application that would allow up to two vehicles and 8 individuals to conduct low-impact military training at one time. The training would be allowed on eligible state forest lands between April 20 and October 31, 2024. 

The proposed land use was requested to train soldiers to utilize electronic sensing systems. The permit application is currently under review by DNR staff, who have assured the public that recreational opportunities, fisheries, wildlife, and forest management activities will be taken into consideration throughout the process. 

To ensure our natural resources remain protected and managed thoughtfully in perpetuity, join Michigan United Conservation Clubs today: http://bit.ly/JoinMUCC .

Recent Posts

World Wildlife Conservation Day: Western Lesser Siren

By Olivia Triltsch • February 27, 2025
As declared by the United Nations in 2013, World Wildlife Day is March 3rd, 2025, with the theme being Wildlife Conservation Finance.

On the Ground: Wood Duck Boxes & More at Maple River State Game Area

By Katelyn Helsel • February 24, 2025
On Saturday, February 15, 2025, 26 volunteers joined MUCC’s On the Ground program in partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for a wood duck nest box event at Maple River State Game Area in Gratiot County. This area located just north of Lansing consists of farm fields, woodlands, grasslands, and cattail marshes. It is a popular destination for hunters, trappers, birders, and wildlife viewers alike. Volunteers Maintain Nest Boxes & Remove Decking During this project, volunteers worked within three separate units of the state game area. Each group checked nest boxes and replaced old nesting material with fresh material as needed. Any use of the nest boxes by either wood ducks or other wildlife was also noted onto a data sheet. One group of volunteers also installed two brand new boxes in an area adjacent to several ponds. These new boxes will help increase nesting success even further for this incredible species. They will continue to be monitored by the DNR in addition to the existing boxes. Additionally, brush covering the entry of the boxes was cleared and used to create brush piles for small game habitat. Another group of volunteers removed old decking from a cross-bridge located between two units. Removal was fairly easy given that the boards were old and rotting away, which made the project all the more important. The boards will be replaced with fresh wood later in the year, therefore improving hunter accessibility. In total, volunteers improved approximately 49 acres of wildlife habitat directly through this project.

Spongy Moths: The Caterpillars Who Take 'Eat Local' Seriously

By Olivia Triltsch • February 20, 2025
Due to the ability of humans to travel long distances, this species is able to reach a larger area quicker than it naturally would.
More Posts
Share by: