Minutes of the Board of Director’s Meeting May 5, 2007 PMWC Office, Baldwin

Administrative 1. The meeting was called to order by President Fred McLane at 9:03 2. Attendance: Jay Barnhart, Jim Bos, Jeff Carpenter, Jill Engelman, Fred McLane, Kevin Morlock, Jim Schramm, Dick Schwikert, Tom Seroczynski and Chuck Turk. Excused: Paul Bigford, Rick Conney, Steve Fraley, Dave Gibbs and Ken Sink. Guest: Eric Lewis 3. Minutes of the April 7, 2007 Board Meeting: Correction - Item #18, Tribal Negotiations: the pending delay is the consent decree, and the June date is the next court date. Motion by Jim Schramm to accept the minutes as amended: APPROVED. On file in PMWC office. 4. President’s Notices: The Great Lakes Commission has sent us a letter supporting their request for funding; they have contributed $25,000 for our Baldwin River soil and sediment control project. Fred McLane will respond with a letter of PMWC’s support.

The Lake County Community Foundation annual report has been published with an article on our endowment fund and habitat restoration efforts.

The FFF Great Lakes Conclave will be held June 15-17 in Roscommon – information is available in the GLC Flyline April newsletter, by email tlgreiner@comcast.net or phone (517) 694-5358.

Per Ken Sink an intern is filling in for retired Ed Rivard until a permanent replacement is named.

Ken has notified the Board of Director’s that he will be resigning from the Board. He was acknowledged for his continued contributions to PMWC and in particular for his 10 years of oversight of the Middle Branch habitat improvements.

Dave Gibbs has also announced that he will be leaving the Board as of July. Dave was recognized for his contributions to the Council over the years for his varied support at past Annual Banquets, Fly-Fishing Shows, computer/website assistance and more. 5. Iditarod: Kevin Morlock has returned from participating in the 1,100 mile Alaskan dogsled race. He stated it was much more difficult than he had expected, and weather conditions were worse than many past years. Winds of 60 mph at minus 30 degrees gave wind chills of minus 109 degrees. Kevin announced his retirement…..from further Arctic racing.

Old Business 6. Financial Integrity: A. Treasurer’s Report: Jay Barnhart. Report on file in PMWC office. Revenues from both dues and donations exceed forecast. PMWC dues to MUCC will be paid in May. Motion by Jill Engelman to accept the report. APPROVED. B. Membership: Jill Engelman announced we have 161 renewals plus 23 life members (2 new) to date. Additional contributions to the Wege and Nolph funds total $3,500. The 33% increase in memberships over last year may be attributed to the new formatted renewal form. A 2nd reminder for dues for members last current in 2005 and 2006 will be mailed in May. C. Annual Banquet: Jill Engelman. We have made contact with our first choice of speaker but have not received a response as of yet. The mailing of the invitation is awaiting confirmation of the speaker. Included with the invitation will be a 50/50 sweepstakes to allow everyone, even if they are not able to attend the banquet, to participate. Orvis has indicated that they will be donating a rod and reel for the auction. Director’s should notify Jill of their intended contributions. Excellence in Conservation awards (2) and Life Member Certificates will be presented at the banquet. D. Cast for Conservation© Event: Steve Fraley/Tom Curtin. Steve to confirm Flint Rainbow Club as the meeting site. We currently have five teams. Invitations have been sent to past participants, FFF, TU chapters, Fly Shops. We need to continue to publicize.

7. Restoration Committee: A. Jarvis Project: Phase II was to include the construction of 4-5 island structures with placement of more woody debris piles; work was to have been done this summer, but we want to begin construction sooner. Kim Balke will contact Sean Kanouse and report back. There are questions as to whether the Phase I structures are located with water at an adequate depth for fish cover. Fred McLane to contact the DNR fisheries biologist to review the structures. B. Nature Conservancy Plan: A meeting was held April 23rd to review the final draft. USFS Ranger Les Russell noted that the plans for the Whelan Lake primitive area needs sponsorship by a conservation organization in order to counter objectives from those wanting to continue motorized access. Emphasis is also being made for protection of Mississauga Rattlesnakes, now a rare occurrence locally. John Legge is preparing final plan. C. Baldwin Village Stormdrain: We have been unable to contact the new Village President, Doug Bolles. The Village needs to be made aware that DEQ’s permit will be valid for the year 2007 only. Kim Balke will approach Nordlund & Associates to notify the Village of the impending deadline for installation of the second (along with MDOT’s) vortex filtration for stormwater. West Shore Community College (WSCC): Group met at the public access off Taylor Rd btw. Anthony & Washington Rds, downstream of the bridge. PMWC had an incorrect location, thus did not participate in the water quality testing. D. Michigan Wildlife Action Plan: Ken Sink attended the initial Lansing session but cannot attend follow-up meetings. Tom Seroczynski will check into it.

8. Unified Management: A. Natural Rivers Zoning Review Board: Dick Schwikert. At the April 16th Public Hearing Stephen Priest (Little South just below Bell Sandtrap) had requested a permit to install over 100’ of treated lumber as a series of 3 retaining walls. It was pointed out that past de-vegetation has led to some erosion, but it is neither serious nor progressing. Despite objections from his landscaper and adjacent neighbor, it was advised he attempt rock stabilization and native vegetation with the help of Mason-Lake NRCS to attempt less intrusive stabilization first. Mr. Priest withdrew his application.

Jack Cannata (Little South down stream from Priest) requested a permit for an existing retaining wall. It was again felt that rock riprap would be more effective and not as unsightly. The permit was granted with conditions that the wall be lowered then screened with fieldstone.

The May 21st Public Hearing will consider the request from Peter Nammensma (Baldwin River just above M37 bridge) for an already completed deck and elevated boardwalk 30 feet from the river. Deck and boardwalk are in the floodplain.

B. Henry Campground: The Mason County Circuit Court has set a pretrial date for May 22nd to begin final litigation on the floodplain/wetland intrusion by landfill. C. Pagura Dam: Bill Farr reported that the Attorney General is following up on the Judge’s order to file plans for removal of the dam within 60 days. The Attorney General will ask for fines and legal expenses, then file for contempt of court for not complying with the plans to remove the dam. 9. Communications and Information: A. US Forest Service: Pere Marquette River Management Plan is scheduled for release Monday, May 7th. (PMWC’s copy arrived by postage immediately following the meeting) It provides for 30 days for comments following announcement in the Cadillac Evening News, planned for May 7th, making the deadline for receipt of comments Wednesday, June 6th. Forest Supervisor Leanne Marten selected Alternative #2 as the preferred alternate, which provides “a balance between recreation use and demands and the protection and enhancement of river resources” but may be changed based on comments received.

Lake County commissioners have signed a Law Enforcement Agreement between the Sheriff’s department and USFS; no indication whether this is the usual agreement or new collaboration as part of the River Plan. B. MDNR Land Consolidation: The April 12th DNR Public Hearing in Cadillac was intended to discuss disposition of excess state-owned land; MDNR has 829 parcels totaling 1064.34 acres to dispose of in Lake (mostly) and Wexford Counties. Of the 829 parcels, 43 would be retained for recreation, 65 go to alternate conservation organizations, and 721 (352 in Idlewild) to be disposed of.

The meeting quickly turned to the 25 parcels of 237.8 acres which include Pere Marquette River (and Baldwin River) public access sites. These include Wagonwheel, North Pond behind Shrine of the Pines, The Forks, M-37, and Sulak access sites. All discussion at the hearing opposed the proposal to transfer these access sites to the Federal Government.

Subsequent to the public hearing Jim Bos contacted NRC member Frank Wheatlake who was unaware of this issue and requested PMWC input. Fred McLane sent a letter to DNR Director Becky Humpries on March 20, 2007 and received a reply from Deputy Director Mindy Koch on April 9. 2007. PMWC’s request for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to address unified management and enforcement was not adequately responded to.

The Board of Director’s, not yet having seen the USFS’s PM River Plan decided there were two issue: 1. The transfer of State land to the Federal Government; and 2. Whether this issue ties into the concept of a unified management of the river. The Board reviewed Fred McLane’s draft of a letter to NRC’s Wheatlake. Motion by Chuck Turk that PMWC again address the issue that the State NOT transfer the river’s public access sites to the Federal Government stressing the issue that the State is not following their stated guidelines “….to evaluate…parcels…to determine if their natural resources and outdoor recreation values contribute significantly to the DNR’s mission….” Motion APPROVED unanimously. Fred will send the material to Commissioner Wheatlake for consideration at their May 9-10 meeting. C. MDNR Licenses: The DNR’s license revision package is now in the legislature; it allows fee changes to be phased in over a 4-5 year period. D. USF&WS Custer Weir: Over 5,800 Steelhead have passed the Weir to date (plus 20,000 + suckers and a Northern Pike. All Steelies appear in very good shape. They have trapped 175 Sea Lamprey at the ladder. E. Bell Sandtrap: High water has filled the trap; The trap was planned to be cleaned this month, but Kim Balke noted that DNR is facing scheduling difficulties. F. Turk Sandtrap: Ken Sink reported the trap was ¼ full and should be checked in 2 to 3 months. Ken has returned the keys to the gate at the trap. They will be held in the PMWC office. G. House Bill 4323 ORV on Roadway Shoulders: All press and publicity favors increasing tourism at the expense of the environment and safety. Lake County announced they would not hold a public hearing. Most road commissions oppose the proposal. It appears PMWC objection would have little effect. H. Right of Way Trimming (ROW Trimming): No word on a date to tour the river; Jim Bos will check with USFS Mike Joyce. I. MUCC: No report on whether Rick Conney will attend the June Sault Ste. Marie Meeting.

10. Ecological Impact: A. Water Symposium: PMWC along with the White River Watershed Partnership and the Muskegon River Watershed Assembly are planning a Fall symposium to address water sustainability and balance (how it gets here, where it goes). Scientists, legislators, conservationists will speak and answer questions. Ferris State University is being considered as the venue.

New Business 11. Lake County Road Commission: Kim Balke has been notified the roadway is moving closer to the PM River at the old Forks Sandtrap; a permit will be sought to armor the bank with rocks. 12. Sand: Dick Schwikert asks if others notice that the river seems to be very slowly widening? Is this the on-going source of sediment continuously filling our sandtraps? If only an inch or less each year, spread over many mile, this might easily exceed one eroding sandbank. We should follow up by cross-river transects to verify, and consider again the placement of large woody debris to channel the current, scour deeper holes, transport moving sand more rapidly. This will be an agenda topic for the next Restoration Committee Meeting.

13. Riparian Property: A PMWC member has decided to sell his cabin and asked if PMWC would advertise the sale in the Mainstream. PMWC has a policy not to commercialize our activities and this would establish precedence. We will respectfully decline.

14. Gleason’s Landing Condos: Local realtor John Weeks has submitted a site plan to locate 15 condominiums at 60th Street and Brooks Drive (last turn to Gleason’s). The site is not in the river corridor and not on the river. A Planning Commission public hearing will review road access off 60th Street.

15. PMWC Nominating Committee: Jim Schramm, Ken Sink and Dave Gibbs have requested retirement from the Board, and the position when Carolyn Henne left the Board earlier this year has not been filled. There will be two positions with terms ending in 2009 and two positions with terms ending in 2010 open. Directors should submit nominations to Fred who will pass them on to the Nominating Committee. We will consider both riparians and non-riparians.

16. With the leaving of Dave Gibbs, the Board will investigate the options of contracting with a commercial web manager to maintain our presence on the internet, unless a volunteer comes forward.

17. Tribal Litigation: Negotiations continue with a June court date scheduled. Motion by Chuck Turk that PMWC contributes $1,000 for litigation support to the Great Lakes Council. APPROVED.

18. Consumers Energy: A public hearing in June in Big Rapids will report water quality and temperature following draw-down of Hodenpyle Dam.

Meeting adjourned at 11:46 am.

Respectfully submitted, Edited and keyed, Dick Schwikert, Scribe Jill Engelman, Secretary