Recreation Committee

Chair:
Matt Wiesen

Members:
Felicia Bloom
Gary Croskey
Ken Fosmore
Annette Lewis
Carl McBride
Bill Meserve
John Peppler
Edwin Ricker
John Soderholm
Bob Smith
Joanne Sprouse

Responsibilities:
The  Fisheries, Wildlife, Recreation, and Water Safety Committee has newly expanded responsibilities over and above its original scope of the Water Safety Committee.

Statement of Purpose:
To use the resources available to conserve, protect, and  enhance fisheries, wildlife, plants and their habitats; while continuing to manage and improve the recreational facilities and water safety issues within the Glen Lake Watershed.

Sub-committees and their charges within this Committee:

Buoys
We place the marker and no wake buoys on each side of Narrows Bridge, two buoys to mark the rocky shallow point on the North side of Big Glen, and install the sign at the entrance to Big Fisher reminding boaters of no wake zone and the support of the sheriff’s department in this endeavor.  The committee will see that these are in place before Memorial Weekend.  Our committee has no jurisdiction to place any additional markers or buoys in the watershed.  Any inquiries need to be addressed to the Department of Natural resources.

The DNR Law Division has advised us they will not authorize additional buoys or markers for our watershed.  Their reasoning includes aesthetics, boaters rights and liability reasons.

Boating and Water Safety
We promote boating and water safety by distributing pamphlet information to the local stores, marinas, resorts and at the boat launch site on Little Glen.  These booklets educate and promote proper handling of water craft, following Michigan State specific water craft laws, and suggested boating etiquette guidelines.  We co-oporate and coordinate with local law enforcement agencies including Leelanau County Sheriff’s Marine Division and the National Park Rangers to promote the safety of all those enjoying our watershed areas.  To report accidents, unsafe activities or have questions on specific laws involving our watershed, please call the Leelanau County Sheriff’s Department @ 231-256-8800.

Click Here to view Michigan Boating Laws and Responsibilities Handbook.

Fisheries
We will strive to maintain a healthy fisheries base for our watershed lakes and streams through proactive monitoring of the many issues we face that can challenge this success.  Some of the current issues of concern are: Adequate numbers of various trout species being stocked annually; Invasive species effects on the fisheries; Reacquire connectivity to the spawning areas for our pike, bass and perch, such as the Day Mill Pond, Tucker Lake, Fisher Lakes, and Brooks Lakes; Ottawa and Chippewa Indian rights to fishing our watershed; Crystal River Dam height to stop invasive species from entering our lakes;  Increasing populations of beaver causing property damage and blocking connectivity to our fisheries; Working with the local conservation officers to support their efforts to control the illegal taking of our forage fish from Hatlem’s Creek; and Pursuing grant monies to help fund the projects we hope to initiate.  We are working in conjunction with the DNR Fisheries Division, which is very cooperative in supporting our goals to continue to enhance our fisheries into perpetuity.

Wildlife
We are looking forward to working with the DNR Wildlife Division to understand their involvement within the watershed and what this committee might do to be more actively involved.

Recreation
We need to develop this part of the committee, so we can recognize opportunities for improvement in this arena.

Our committee has been newly formed and has taken on a full plate of responsibilities, but we are very excited about the opportunity to have a positive future impact in the areas we’ve chosen.  We appreciate your comments and ideas.  We also welcome any interest in working with our committee.

If you would like to assist on this committee or have helpful suggestions, please contact the committee chair.

Click here to view the latest Fisheries, Wildlife, Recreation, and Water Safety Committee Report.