On the Water Event Cancellations

lschultz • April 21, 2020

Due to recent announcements and the public health concerns surrounding COVID-19, all On the Water (OTW) volunteer events have been canceled for the month of May. 

This includes all OTW events such as the Friends of the Rogue River Rouge Rescue on May 16 and the Grand River Clean up with Jackson Conservation District on May 30. Seven out of the eight educational events that OTW was going to be part of have also been canceled. There is a possibility that there will be continued event cancellations into the summer, depending on the COVID-19 situation at the time. Some of the canceled OTW events do have the potential to be rescheduled if public health regulations permit in the future.

For more updates please visit the  mucc.org/on-the-water , MUCC’s Facebook page or contact Emma Nehan at  enehan@mucc.org. We apologize for any inconvenience and will hopefully be able to reschedule these events in the near future. The safety of our volunteers is our main priority, and thank you for your patience and understanding in these uncertain times.

MUCC’s OTW Virtual Mi Invasive Species Bingo Game is still happening until early May! And so far it has been a success! The Virtual Mi Invasive Species Bingo Game has gained traction on  Michigan Out of Doors Podcast with Mike Avery ,  WHMI 93.5   and the  Detroit Free Press.

All ages are welcome to participate in the Virtual Mi Invasive Species Bingo Game–just please remember to abide by the Stay Home/Stay Safe/Save Lives guidelines for the State of Michigan, which you can find  here.

So how do you play Virtual Mi Invasive Species Bingo Game? Below are some easy step by step instructions on how to play!

 

  • Download or print off the Virtual Mi Invasive Species Bingo card  here
  • Every time you find an invasive species out in nature mark it off on your bingo card
  •  Take a picture of the invasive species with a time stamp on the picture to prove that you found it in the month of April
  • Once you have found all three in a row, submit your bingo card, pictures and home address (where you would like your OTW swag bag to be sent) to Emma Nehan enehan@mucc.org

 

 

  •  If your bingo card is correct you will receive an OTW swag bag!

 

This Virtual Mi Invasive Species Bingo Game started on April 7 2020 and goes until May 7 2020. Please remember to follow the Stay Home/Stay Safe/Save lives guidelines for the State of Michigan while you are playing this game. Find the guidelines  here 

Need some help identifying Michigan invasive species? Check out the links below to get you started!

 

Recent Posts

October NRC Recap

By Justin Tomei • October 9, 2025
The Natural Resources Commission met today, Thursday, October 9th for their October meeting. The commission reaffirmed its intent to allow for lethal year-round coyote management on public and private land via a unanimously passed resolution before passing fisheries orders, and tabling more for consideration in November. The commission passed Fisheries Orders 210.26 , and 254.25 before tabling 206.26, 219.26 , and 253.26 . Commissioner John Walters provided an amendment to the fisheries order to expand underwater spearfishing opportunities to most of the Great Lakes, allowing for some spatial closures for the protection of particularly sensitive areas. The commission took steps to make good on their promise to allow year-round coyote management, unanimously passing a resolution more clearly stating their intent and what the pending wildlife conservation order will look like. The next meeting is Thursday November 6 in Lansing.

October NRC Meeting Preview: Wildlife, Habitat, and Regulation Updates on the Agenda

By Justin Tomei • October 7, 2025
The Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) will convene for its October meeting on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at Michigan Technological University’s Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts in Houghton, MI. This monthly gathering brings together commissioners, Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) staff, and the public to discuss policy decisions and updates impacting the state’s natural resources, wildlife, and outdoor recreation opportunities. The meeting will begin with Coffee with Commissioners from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., followed by the formal session at 9:30 a.m. Attendees can park for free in Lot 10, located east of the Rozsa Center. The meeting will open with a presentation from DNR leadership, including several notable updates and informational reports: Spring Turkey Regulations: Wildlife Division staff will present proposed changes to spring turkey hunting regulations for 2026. Wildlife Habitat Grants : Program leads will outline new habitat grant initiatives and highlight ongoing restoration efforts across the state. Moose Population Monitoring: A presentation will cover results from the most recent moose survey and discuss ecological and environmental factors limiting population growth. White-Nose Syndrome: The Wildlife Division will provide the latest data on the spread and impact of white-nose syndrome on Michigan’s bat populations. New Business The commission will consider a range of new proposals and action items, including: Oil and Gas Lease Auction: Approval for a proposed October 21, 2025, lease auction for energy development on state-managed lands. Land Transactions: Consideration of multiple land sales, acquisitions, and donations, including parcels in Tuscola, Wayne, St. Clair, and Luce counties. Wildlife Orders: Review of spring turkey regulations for the 2026 hunting season . Old Business The NRC will also revisit several regulatory items from previous meetings, including proposed amendments to a number of Fisheries Orders. This includes an amendment further expanding underwater spearfishing to larger portions of the Great Lakes. All orders and amendments for consideration can be found at the NRC agenda, HERE .

Michigan Legislature passes budget, DNR highlights

By Justin Tomei • October 3, 2025
Early Friday, morning, the Michigan Legislature approved a budget for the 2026 fiscal year. The two chambers and the governor agreed to a deal earlier this week and passed a stopgap to keep the state government open while work on the omnibus bill was finalized. The DNR budget is highlighted by some minor cuts, and new boilerplate language: No license fee increases were included No recreation passport opt-out was included Nature awaits program was removed as an on-going program Reduces 4.0 FTE positions for Fish Production and 15.0 FTE positions for Fisheries Resource Management Reduces 20.0 FTE positions and $200,000 for Wildlife Management Reduces invasive species prevention and control by $1.2 million Appropriates $2.8 million GF/GP (one-time) for fish production and stocking in Great Lakes and inland fisheries Reduces wetland restoration, enhancement, and acquisition funding by $1 million. In-person work prioritization New DNR scorecard and reporting requirements Prohibition on utility scale solar and wind projects on public lands An authorization to increase restricted fund appropriations if a license fee bill is passed The House Fiscal Analysis of the budget can be found HERE . To ensure our natural resources remain protected and managed thoughtfully, and our outdoor heritage defended, join Michigan United Conservation Clubs today: http://bit.ly/JoinMUCC .
More Posts