Wildlife Division Lost Nation State Game Area Review

+ Wildlife Division Lost Nation State Game Area Review of Pack and Saddle Animal Access Restrictions 1/18/2011 Public Information Meeting 6 -8 pm

Lost Nation SGA Agenda • • • Introductions Meeting Objectives/Structure Legislative Overview Horse Access Review Questions of Clarity Comments

Introductions • Julie Brockman, Facilitator MSU School of Human Resources and Labor Relations • DNRE Staff -Wildlife Division -Law Enforcement Division

Meeting Objectives/Structure • • • Gain clarity on HB 4610 & SB 578 Provide Lost Nation SGA background Review status of land use rules Answer questions Receive comments

Meeting Guidelines • All Participants Should Give the Meeting Their Full Attention, Energy, and Commitment • All Participants Will Be Open, Candid, and Honest and Allow Others to Do the Same • Respect Should Be the Foremost Goal of All Participants; We All Will Center on Issues, Not Personalities • All Participants Will Center First on Gaining Understanding, Second on Convincing Others

Public Act 45 & 46 of 2010 • HB 4610 & SB 578 • Enacted 4/2/2010 • Reaffirmed existing land use rules, provided for their review, and created future planning process

Lost Nation SGA Access Review • Current Land Use Rules: – R 299. 992 Rule 22: …[I]t is unlawful for a person or persons to do any of the following: (v) To ride or lead a horse, pack animal, or other riding animal, or any animal-driven vehicle on any area except …

Lost Nation SGA Use Areas

Lost Nation SGA History • • 1951 – Initial acquisition of ~1, 000 acres 1966 – Name changed from Pittsford SGA 1966 – Total acreage of 2, 374 Present – Continued acquisitions, now 2, 565 acres, last acquisition 2006

Lost Nation SGA History • Primary Purposes: – Wildlife habitat and population management – Providing public hunting opportunities in s. MI • Primary Purposes have been reaffirmed for nearly 60 years – Management and maintenance – Land use rules – Land acquisitions

Laws and Regulations • Pittman-Robertson (PR) Wildlife Restoration Act and Dingell-Johnson (DJ) Sport Fish Restoration Act • Together, PR and DJ provide ~27 million annually to fund fish and wildlife management in Michigan

Laws and Regulations • Assent Legislation – Protects license fees from being diverted to uses other than for managing the state’s fish and wildlife resources • Code of Federal Regulations – Protects license fees and assets acquired with license fees, e. g. , lands and major developments – Sets penalties and remedies for diversion

Laws and Regulations • Section 40 of Title IX of the Michigan Constitution – 2006 amendment – Protects restricted fund sources

Lost Nation Fund Sources Fund Source License Fees PR Funds MNRTF Total Acres 1, 693 802 70 2, 565

Lost Nation SGA

Recreational Uses and Conflicts • 1956 – Proposal to change to a park – Delegation of MUCC, Chamber of Commerce and Hillsdale – Would have to replace investment – PRD: not enough interests to change • 1970 s – Sporadic requests to allow horses • 1990 s – Sporadic requests to allow horses • 2000 s – Sporadic requests to allow horses

Riding Opportunities • State Parks and Recreation Areas – 16 have equestrian trails and amenities – 7 equestrian campgrounds – 208 miles of trails • State Forests – ~3. 8 million acres have no horse restrictions, open to dispersed riding and camping – 322 miles of trails – 457 campsites for equestrian use • Shore to Shore Riding and Hiking Trail

Conclusions • Lost Nation SGA – current rules governing land uses are appropriate and adequate: – Horse trails have never been designated – Current conditions do not support allowing horse use