Minutes of the Board of Director’s Meeting December 1, 2007 Baldwin Business Center, Baldwin

Administrative 1. The meeting was called to order by President, Fred McLane at 9:06 am. 2. Attendance: Clint Anderson, Paul Bigford, Jim Bos, Jeff Carpenter, Jill Engelman, Dave Gabrielson, Eric Lewis, Fred McLane, Kevin Morlock, Dick Schwikert and Chuck Turk. Excused: Jay Barnhart, Rick Conney and Steve Fraley Absent: Tom Seroczynski Guest: Rich Rasmussen, Lake County Riverside Owners Property Association (LCROPA) 3. Minutes of the November 3, 2007 Board Meeting were APPROVED. Motion/Second – Jim Bos/Dick Schwikert 4. President’s Notices: ▪ Rick Conney and Fred McLane joined possibly by Jeff Carpenter will represent PMWC at the Macomb Midwest Fly-Fishing Show March 8-9, 2008. The Board voted to approve the $400 booth fee expenditure. Motion/Second – Jill Engelman/Jim Bos. Directors are encouraged to attend the show.

▪ Jim Schramm, past PMWC Board of Director, was recently inducted into the Order of the Lapis Lazuli of the Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF). This award is for exemplary and individual achievement and is the highest honor in FFF. Jim was recognized for his extraordinary contributions and service to FFF including his 23 years service on the Board of the Great Lakes Council and 15 years as President.

▪ Dick Schwikert distributed a draft of PMWC “In General Doctrination”, a document for consideration as the basis for a notebook outlining the past accomplishments and history of PMWC for potential new directors. Board members were asked to review and prepare suggestions for a future meeting (Feb-March?).

▪ Jill Engelman sent a thank you letter to the Mershon Chapter of Trout Unlimited for their donation of a total of $4,000 over the past four years to Conservation Resource Alliance (CRA) for their Baldwin River Project which included streambank restoration and sand trap work. Kim Balke of CRA relayed the information of the continued donations at the Restoration Committee Meeting 11/13/07.

Old Business 5. Financial Integrity A. The Treasurer’s Report for November was APPROVED. Motion/Second –Paul Bigford/Jim Bos. Jay Barnhart to prepare a proposed budget for the January meeting. Directors were asked to consider projects to be included under expenses.

B. To date PMWC has received over $1,300 of direct donations to the Lake County Community (LCCF) Pere Marquette Watershed Council Endowment Fund for 2007. Jill Engelman forwarded reminder letters to those who made donations in previous years of the special LCCF program of matching 2 to 1 and 1 to 1 funds – that funds need to be received by December 15th, 2007 to be eligible for the match in funds. . C. No update on the status of the barbecue grill was available.

D. Paul Bigford reported that the Lake County Riverside Property Owners Association (LCRPOA) is in process of listing of the Lake County riparians. Paul to also contact LCRPOA to relay the Board’s intent to split the cost of the project.

6. Restoration Committee A. Kim Balke, at the recent Restoration Committee Meting 11/13/07, updated PMWC on the status of the 319/CMI Grant. Contract agreement is due January 1st, 2008 including the fee for Conservation Resource Alliance (CRA). Kim is negotiating with the Land Conservancy for addition funds to assist CRA in its costs related to the updating of the PM River Management Plan to meet federal EPA standards.

Rick Westerhof, US Fish and Wildlife, was a guest at the 11/13/07 meeting and relayed to the group that his organization had funds available for the removal of dams throughout the watershed.

Kim relayed that the Hus work was complete and that CRA had billed the Owner $ 200. PMWC will be responsible for the remaining $200 of the original invoice.

It was noted that a streambank location on Cannon’s property, which was restored in the 1980’s, is eroding and requires additional work. Kim to review.

B. PMWC, to date, has received one response to our letters regarding the ORV issue to the State Senators and Governor. Senator Michelle McManus responded with a letter that made her supportive position on ORVs very clear and that she will vote to pass the ordinance. Paul Bigford to identify the chairman of the Natural Resource and Environmental Affairs Committee. PMWC to send a letter to the chairman asking for support to oppose the ordinance. Following discussion, the Board decided to hold on additional correspondence until such time the State votes on the ORV ordinance and then PMWC would deal with the issue on the local level at that time. C. PMWC has received several requests for, and mailed out, the Streambank Restoration Guide that Paul Bigford authored. Copies may be obtained by writing or telephoning PMWC.

D. Chuck Turk brought a sand issue to PMWC’s attention. The Owners of Grass Lake Club on Pease Creek a tributary of the Little South Branch of the Pere Marquette River, has a problem with sand as a result of several beaver ponds. Fred McLane to contact Kim Balke of CRA to review the property and consider deflectors or a sand trap as a possible resolution. PMWC will offer knowledge to the Owner and assist in the review process.

E. Fred McLane is continuing to follow up with Mark Tonello and Tom Rozich regarding the Quality Trout Lake issue.

F. No report available on CAFO/Right to Farm Contamination.

7. Unified Management A. Paul Bigford reported that there will not be a Natural River Zoning Review Board meeting in December.

B. Paul Bigford had previously reported that the Lake County 911 Dispatch issue was resolved with the Sheriff’s Office taking over control in December 2007. However the Lake County Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes noted that the issue had been postponed till January of 2008 due to funding of the position. It is noted that the Sheriff is adamant about stopping trespass.

C. Fred McLane to contact Dale Burkett, Program Director, of the Sea Lamprey Control Program to confirm the status of the future operation of the Custer Weir. It seems that several agencies have differing opinions the status. Local staff have noted that there are no plans currently to change operations.

D. Dick Schwikert reported that MDNR technicians revisited the Bell Sandtrap to survey the site in late November.

8. Communication & Information A. The USFS Pere Marquette River Environmental Assessment – Alternate 5 has been issued November 8, 2007. The Board reviewed a comparison of the changes from Alternate 2 prepared by Dick Schwikert and found that several of the items of concern listed in the PMWC comment letter dated June 4, 2007 had not been addressed. Fred McLane to draft a letter to the USFS restating our concerns and setting forth PMWC’s policy statement.

A second letter to be drafted to the USFS Milwaukee office that oversees the local USFS Federal Law Enforcement Officer Ed Miller. The letter to request additional personnel (only one currently on staff) whose priority would be to address the enforcement of the new PM River Environmental Assessment and stress the importance of the Wild and Scenic Designation. Ed Miller’s district covers several counties and cannot possibly enforce river issues sufficiently.

B. Fred McLane relayed that he sent PMWC’s letter of support for MDNR license fee increases to our two State Senators and Representatives, as well as MDNR Director Humpries, Mark Tonello and Tom Rozich.

C. Dave Gabrielson and Jill Engelman volunteered to assist Fred McLane in researching the options for the management of the PMWC website. If PMWC pursues the proposal by Annette Weathers the Board approved an expenditure of up to $500. Motion/Second: Jeff Carpenter/Dick Schwikert

D. Jim Bos stated that Frank Wheatlake has commented “…no decision to date…” with regards to the MDNR land transfers. Frank has recently been elected Vice Chairman of the Natural Resource Commission (NRC).

9. Ecological Impact A. Great Lakes – Great Michigan (GLGM) Coalition has established the amount of water that can be taken out of rivers. It is noted that 28% of water would be allowed to be taken out of the Pere Marquette River. PMWC voted to join the coalition at this time, but withhold comments on specifics of bills until details are available. Motion/Seconded: Dick Schwikert/Jeff Carpenter. B. Paul Bigford, the Chairman of the Lake County Economic Commission, reported that a firm that will convert used tires to diesel fuel is considering property at the gravel pit near the old prison. Another firm is continuing to consider the property by the airport for a bio-ethanol plant, and Nestle is considering a new plant at Evart. All manufacturing will be of concern to PMWC till it is determined if they will withdraw water, and/or pollute the watershed.

C. Report by Eric Lewis on Invasive Species was postponed to the January meeting due to time this month.

New Business 10. Report by Eric Lewis on the Baldwin Dam was postponed to the January meeting due to time this month.

11. The 2008 schedule of Board of Director’s meetings was reviewed. Jill Engelman to send a letter to the Lake-Osceola State Bank to request the 2nd floor community room the first Saturday of each month, except for the month of July.

12. During the discussion of the PM Environmental Assessment the education education of the public renting watercraft on the Pere Marquette River was addressed. At several other comparable rivers the public is given a short talk prior to launch about the river, Wild and Scenic status, Natural River status, and the general care and behavior expected during the float. The liveries do nothing at this time. Jill Engelman previously explored the option of PMWC creating, publishing and funding a information map that could be handed out to each person renting a watercraft with Baldwin Canoe Livery. They indicated they would consider the program but they had concern for the possible trash that the maps could create. Dick Schwikert noted that the maps could be printed on paper that would disintegrate quickly. It was also noted that at another river where maps are distributed that additional trash was not a problem. Jill to continue to work on this program.

President Fred McLane adjourned meeting at 12:04 pm.

Following the meeting Directors toured the new PMWC office and made selections from the “PMWC Sales Table”. Thank you to all who made purchases – proceeds will benefit the conservation work of the PMWC.

Hard copies of the following documents/handouts are on file in the PMWC office. 1. Minutes of the November 3, 2007 Board of Director’s Meeting 2. Treasurer’s Report – November 30, 2007 3. PMWC “In General Doctrination” 4. USFS Pere Marquette River Environmental Assessment Plan Comparison – Alternate 5 and the comparison document 5. Michigan Out-of-Doors Article on DNR Hunting and Fishing License Fees – December 2007 issue.

Respectfully submitted,

Jill Engelman Secretary