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MUCC Policy Report for August 10, 2007This edition:
MUCC at work: Boat ramp in Detroit protected, improved. Next step is expansion!Recently, MUCC heard rumblings that the City of Detroit was planning on closing its only public access boat ramp, Reed Ramp (commonly referred to as St. Jean Ramp, located at the end of St. Jean Avenue). Protecting and improving public access to Michigan’s natural resources has long been one of MUCC’s core values and urban Detroit is one area in particular where the state cannot afford to lose any more public access to its waterways.MUCC was able to work with the Detroit Planning Commission, Detroit City Council and Mayor of Detroit to get to the root of the problem. The ramp will not be closed and thanks to MUCC’s interest and involvement in this issue, we may get the opportunity to help rehabilitate and reopen ANOTHER access ramp in Detroit’s Belle Isle region, Grey Stone Ramp! All Michigan’s citizens need and deserve access to our state’s abundant natural resources and MUCC will continually work to provide and protect that critical resource! Asian carp barrier bill moves, $9 million needed to keep carp outThe U.S. House has passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), a bill that contains the provisions to finish construction and maintain the electronic barriers at the mouth of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. These barriers work to keep the dangerous Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. Asian carp are voracious filter feeders and prolific breeders. Scientists believe that if Asian carp are allowed to enter the Great Lakes, our native fish populations will not be able to compete.The U.S. Senate is expected to pass WRDA in early September 2007. This is a critical issue for Michigan’s sportsmen and women. Keeping these fish out of the Great Lakes is a big step in protecting our valuable sports fishery! WRDA also contains other provisions that support the Great Lakes:
Cormorant legislation signed by GovernorAlthough faced with severe declines in the 1960’s due to toxic chemicals like DDT, double-crested cormorants have recently experienced a population boom in the Great Lakes. As their numbers have increased, cormorants have caused declines in our fish populations in many areas throughout the Great Lakes due to their aggressive feeding habits. Cormorants also cause ecosystem degradation because of their highly toxic feces and compete with other bird species for nesting habitat. Cormorants are protected by the Federal Migratory Bird Act, but in 2003 the federal government issued a Public Resource Depredation Order allowing certain government agencies to control the cormorant populations in twenty-four states, including Michigan.In Michigan, the U.S. Department of Agriculture APHIS office is the agency tasked with cormorant controls. APHIS has already seen success in some of their cormorant control programs. One example is the Les Cheneaux Islands near Cedarville, MI. Since cormorant controls have been in place, they have seen a huge resurgence of their perch populations and a resurgence of anglers traveling to that area. These new bills, which were signed into law on August 2nd, would require the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to work along with the federal agencies to implement a cormorant control program. HB 4471 (Booher) defines “cormorant damage” as “adverse impacts of double-crested cormorants on fish, including fish hatchery stock, wildlife, plants and their habitats.” HB 4614 (Sheltrown) would create a new “Cormorant Control Fund” within the state treasury that could receive money or assets from any source to help address cormorant damage. S 654 (McManus) would require the DNR to administer a program to control double-crested cormorants, require the DNR to work in conjunction with other states to address the cormorant problem on a regional scale and help create a “Cormorant Control Fund.” U.S. Congress passes resolution — don’t allow British Petroleum to release more chemicals into the Great Lakes; Senate looks for technological solutionsFor the first time in decades, a company has been granted a permit by the State of Indiana to increase the amount of pollution it dumps in the Great Lakes. British Petroleum(BP) has been given a permit to dump 54 percent more ammonia and 35 percent more total suspended solids into Lake Michigan each day as part of its refinery expansion program in Whiting, Indiana. This increase does fall within acceptable EPA guidelines, but in the face of efforts to try and restore our Great Lakes and keep our valuable Great Lakes sports fishery healthy and thriving, MUCC is concerned with what the possible impacts could be.In response to this news, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution (387 yeas- 26 nays) urging Indiana to reconsider its permit. All of Michigan’s U.S. Representatives signed on to support this resolution. Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow also discussed this issue at a recent press event, stating that she had been part of recent discussions with BP and other U.S. Senators, asking BP to look for technology options to decrease its potential impact on Lake Michigan. She said BP has committed to finding new technology options and will be reporting to Congress in September with its findings. Join MUCC for Sportsman’s Day at the Capitol, September 19thWhere: Michigan State Capitol Building, LansingWhen September 19, 2007 Time: 10am- 1pm This event is a rare opportunity for Michigan sportsmen to unite at the Capitol and tell the legislative community that our state’s natural resources and rich hunting, fishing and trapping heritage must be protected. MUCC will be setting up a booth for the event and all members are welcome to join us and show their support. Any clubs that would like to set up and staff their own booth during the event are also welcome and should contact Evan Steiner for more details on the opportunity at 517-346-6463. We are asking that all MUCC members that are able to attend this event RSVP through the MUCC office so that we can alert your legislator that they will have constituents present. Please call or email Evan Steiner if you will be attending (esteiner@mucc.org, 517-346-6463). Join the Michigan Teaming with Wildlife Coalition today!A new effort to keep Michigan’s wildlife healthy and abundant is gearing up in Michigan and we want you to be part of it! Teaming with Wildlife is a coalition of more than 5,000 organizations working to keep wildlife healthy and abundant by supporting increased state and federal funding for wildlife conservation, outdoor recreation and conservation education in every state. MUCC invites you to join our Michigan Coalition and help conserve wildlife and vital natural areas for future generations. If you or your club/ organization/ business would like to join the Teaming with Wildlife Coalition, download the Teaming with Wildlife Endorsement Form, or for further information email or call Amy Spray, (aspray@mucc.org, 517-371-1041).This is an exciting time for wildlife in Michigan. The state completed and is continuing to update a Wildlife Action Plan, which outlines specific actions developed by scientists, sportsmen, conservationists and members of the community, working together. For more information on the plan, please visit: http://www.wildlifeactionplan.org/michigan.html |
MUCC Policy Action Report
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