Excused: Dave Gabrielson Absent: Clint Anderson, Steve Fraley & Kevin Morlock 3. Minutes of the December 1, 2007 Board Meeting were APPROVED. Motion/Second –Dick Schwikert/Jim Bos

4. Paul Bigford summarized the qualifications and background of Dr. Grant Snider for a potential position on the Board. Following discussion, Paul moved that we invite Grant as a new Board of Director. Motion/Second Paul Bigford/Jill Engelman. The Board voted to APPROVE the appointment. Grant will stand as appointed until such time he is voted in by the membership at the July 2008 Annual Meeting. Grant will then begin his 2-year term concluding in 2010. This term of two years will maintain a balanced number of directors with terms expiring in each of 2008, 2009 and 2010.

5. President’s Notices: ▪ Rick Conney and Brian McKenna will represent PMWC at the Macomb Midwest Fly-Fishing Show March 8th and Fred McLane, joined by Rick during the morning will represent us on Sunday, March 9th. Directors are encouraged to attend the show.

▪ Kevin Morlock, PMWC Director unfortunately lost his home to fire just before Christmas. Donations to assist the family are being accepted by Help Ministries. Contributions may be sent to Dr. Paul Drewry, DVM, 243 N. Jebavy Drive, Ludington, MI 49304 - checks are to be made out to Help Ministries and sidemarked K. Morlock.

▪ Fred McLane sent letters to Les Russell, USFS District Ranger, regarding the PMWC’s comments on the Pere Marquette Environmental Assessment (PM EA) Alternate 5 and to Darrell Woods, the Acting Regional Forester for the USFS Eastern regional office regarding field law enforcement as a result of the new PM EA as directed by the Board during the December meeting.

Fred also sent a letter to Dr. Grenetta Thomassey, Policy Director of Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council regarding joining the Great Lakes, Great Michigan Coalition (GLGMC) and asking that we be kept abreast of issues.

▪ Fred McLane conversed with Jim Schramm via email and was told Jim at the Lake Michigan Fishery Advisory Council meeting that Dale Burkett of the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission indicated that there is no budget to fund any improvements to the Custer Weir during the remaining 2-3 year cycle. It appears that it is a matter of interpretation whether there is intent to shut down the Weir following this cycle. During a previous conversation between Fred and Dale Burkett, Dale relayed that there were no plans to close the Weir.

▪ PMWC received an acknowledgement of our Sympathy card from the family of the late Brett Fischbach – past Director for PMWC. Included was a poem “The Singing River” about the Pere Marquette River that was recited during his memorial.

Old Business 6. Financial Integrity: A. The Treasurer’s Report for December was summarized by Jay Barnhart. The year-end totals for expenses were $ 33,117.39 with revenue at $ 40,136.99 showing $ 7,019.60 increase for 2007. The total fund balance as of 12/31/07 was $ 77,397.80. Jay to move a portion of this to an alternate account with Lake-Osceola State Bank to earn a higher interest rate. Note: The fund balance is broken down into 5 separate funds, of which some have restrictions as to use. They are the General Fund, Nolph Memorial, Jarvis Fund, Riparian Rehab Fund and the Fred Mans Memorial. Treasurer Report was APPROVED. Motion/Second –Jill Engelman/Dick Schwikert. Note: it was agreed that it was important to retain our accounts with the local bank, as we want to support the community, which in turn supports PMWC.

B. Jay Barnhart presented a draft of the spending plan for 2008. Each revenue line item remained similar to the 2007 year-end total with the exception of the Cast for Conservation©, which was raised to $5,000 as additional team participation is planned. The expense line items, in general, were increased slightly over 2007 year-end totals to reflect expected higher costs. The Riparian Rehab line item was increased to $6,000 as several projects are expected to finish during 2008. Other habitat improvement projects were funded at $20,000. Right-of-Way Anchoring was budgeted at $1,500. New costs including Encourage Responsible Behavior projects, equipment replacement and WSCC projects were listed as $ 3,000, $1,500 and $2,000 respectively. Jay to finalize the budget and present it to the Board of Directors for formal approval at the February meeting. Each Director is asked to suggest projects to be included under the “Other Habitat Improvement” projects. To date suggestions from Steve Fraley are to include repairs to existing 1970’s +/- structures and new flow meter monitoring. It was also noted that CRA should be asked to research additional projects.

C. Jill to formalize a list of PMWC assets (i.e.: office equipment, value of the endowment funds, etc.) and provide copies at the February meeting. This list to become an addendum to the Annual Budget. Note: Rick Conney indicated that he would donate a piece of projection equipment that PMWC could utilize at shows or the banquet to present images of projects.

D. Fred McLane will arrange for the new Officers to complete signature cards at Lake-Osceola State Bank.

E. Jill Engelman reported that the Lake County Community (LCCF) notified PMWC that the Pere Marquette Watershed Council Endowment Fund has increased to a total of $22,260.88 as of 12/31/07. A total of $7,589.44 of direct contributions were received and an additional $10,498.88 was earned in matching funds. F. Tom Seroczynski relayed that Reeling and Healing Midwest, a fly-fishing group serving cancer survivors, has expressed interest in purchasing the barbecue grill. He will confirm sale for the February meeting.

G. Paul Bigford reported that the Lake County Riverside Property Owners Association (LCRPOA) has completed the list of the Lake County riparians. Paul to forward the CD to Jill Engelman so that it may be copied. Paul will contact LCRPOA to relay the Board’s intent to split the cost of the project. It was approved in a prior Board Meeting to make an expenditure of $100 for the use of this list.

7. Restoration Committee: A. Kim Balke to provide an update on the status of the 319/CMI Grant in February. Contract agreement was 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.

B. Riparian Rehab: Fred McLane shared with the Board photographs emailed by Kim Balke, CRA detailing the work completed at the Sessions property in the Fly’s Only section. The majority of the Riparian Rehab work is complete, with the log revetments and woody debris work to be completed next Spring/early Summer.

Ken Sink forwarded an email to PMWC asking for consideration in payment of $ 3,455 towards an invoice of $6,910 for Riparian Rehab restoration work completed at 9 individual sites on the Middle Branch. Properties included Sink, Gumser, Heyboar and others. Following discussion it was Moved/Seconded by Jay Barnhart/Jeff Carpenter to APPROVE the funding of this work. Check to be forwarded to the Osceola-Lake Conservation District.

C. PMWC has been made aware that Newaygo County intends to widen Walnut Avenue, make repairs to the Curtice Bridge and replace a lower culvert. Locations are between 14 and 16 Mile and 16 to 18 Mile Roads. There is a public meeting scheduled for January 9th in White Cloud. The project would fall under Natural Rivers Zoning. The project was thought to originally include only minor construction but has now escalated to a much larger project with possible detrimental results to the watershed. Dick Schwikert and Eric Lewis to attend the meeting on behalf of PMWC and to report findings to Dan Pearson, Natural Rivers. Directors were encouraged to attend.

D. House Bill 4324 ORV Ordinance is still stalled in the Senate. PMWC received a letter of response from Governor Granholm indicating that our concerns would be noted. It is rumored that the Governor will sign the Bill if passed by the Senate. It would then be up to the various northern counties to outline their own ORV ordinances.

E. The original bills regarding CAFO/Right to Farm Contamination are dead in the House. Corporate farmers will most likely rewrite the bills for new consideration by the House. Eric Lewis will have PMWC added to the “alert list” for future action by CAFO.

F. No update on the Quality Trout Lake partnerships between supportive organizations. Fred McLane to follow up.

G. The monitoring of the WashKing Laundromat on M37 south of 72nd Street which had a environmental spill several years ago continues. Early in December two (2) wells were re-dug along 72nd Street and another two (2) on Ivan’s Property to install computerized equipment to monitor the water quality and send data to Ostego County. Directors remembered that at the onset of the spill that officials indicated that the triclorethylene in ground water was dangerous but that when the chemical was released into the river that it evaporated and was not concern.

H. Rick Conney offered a corner of the open property to the north side of the Dunroven entrance to stockpile PMWC rock. Fred McLane to contact an interested member to organize the relocation of the rock from private property to the Dunroven site. This rock will then be available for streambank restoration projects.

8. Unified Management: A. Paul Bigford reported that there will not be a Natural River Zoning Review Board Hearing in January. P.M. Expeditions Canoe Rental was noted in the Ludington Daily News as reopening on the old Pere Marquette Highway. As the operation is west of the bridge over the Pere Marquette River it is outside of the area covered by the Natural Rivers Zoning. Legally watercraft can be rented as long as they do not launch or take out at MDNR access sites.

B. No update on the Pagura Litigation. Dick Schwikert to follow up.

C. Per the minutes of the December 12, 2007 Lake County Board of Commissioners meeting the Board approved an annual supplement of $10,000 for Deputy Mike Neumann during his interim 911 Coordinator duties to replace Mac McClellan effective 12/21/07. It appears that the 911 dispatch has become the responsibility of the Lake County Sheriff’s Department as thought late in 2007.

D. Tom Seroczynski summarized the Pere Marquette Custer Weir Daily Fish Count Log for 2007. The following were recorded. as “fish passed”:

Steelhead 7,725 Suckers 41,668 Redhorse 214 Brown Trout 83 Chinook 9 The report also noted that 519 Sea Lamprey were caught.

In reviewing the log it was noted that over 5,000 Steelhead passed through the Weir between March 22nd and April 3rd. The weather during this time was approximately 55 degrees with rain.

It was noted that since the last Lamprey was caught on June 14th that shutting down the Weir mid June could make for possible savings. It was countered that several years of data would be best to make that conclusion as weather and other conditions could affect the “last date”.

E. No update on the Henry Campground. Fred McLane to follow up.

F. It is understood that Mark Tonello, MDNR and MDEQ have a verbal arrangement regarding Right-of-Way (ROW) cutting that includes the capture of cuttings.

9. Communication & Information: A. No update on the status of the USFS Pere Marquette Environmental Assessment – Alternate 5 as to when the plan will put into effect.

B. Dick Schwikert spoke recently with Les Russell, USFS District Ranger and reconfirmed PMWC’s desires to partner with the USFS and work towards common goals. There has been a remarkable change in the attendance of USFS, US F&W and MDNR representatives at Board Meetings. It used to be common place for them to attend, but in the last few years seldom do representatives join the meeting. It was suggested that Les Russell, as well as Mark Tonello and Tom Rozich all receive personal letters of invitation to join PMWC at a future Board of Director’s Meeting. Jill Engelman to send the letters. PMWC wishes to continue the personal relationship we have with all representatives of USFS, US F&W, MDNR, etc.

C. No update on MDNR land transfers. Jim Bos to follow up.

D. Fred McLane reported that the MDNR “found” funding to support Programming without raising the license fees.

E. Paul Bigford relayed that the parking lot at the MDNR M37 access site would be reworked to include a catch basin and trench drain with grill to divert the runoff to the open land to the side of the lot. Work to take place Spring 2008. This will eliminate or at the very least reduce the runoff directly into the river.

F. Details of the PMWC website project were postponed to the February meeting due to time restraints.

G. Dick Schwikert asked for volunteers to assist with the PMWC Indoctrination Project. Eric Lewis, Dave Gabrielson, Paul Bigford and Fred McLane offered to help. Jill Engelman offered to collect the data and produce a unified document. It was noted that much of the information may overlap with that of the website. Each Director was asked to formulate a list of topics that he felt important and email to them to Dick. Anyone who is interested in writing a specific topic is encouraged to proceed – please coordinate with Dick. 10. Ecological Impact: A. No update on the Water Diversion Symposium.

B. Eric Lewis had previously emailed information about invasive species. More discussion to follow at the February meeting.

New Business 11. Eric Lewis gave a short summary of the recent incident at the Baldwin Dam. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit claimed that the maintenance staff at the Dam removed one or more flow control boards during a high water event that caused a six (6) foot headwall of water downstream. This surge resulted in damage to personal property. It is understood that the property owner is not seeking damages, only that the situation will not be repeated. PMWC has concern that the dam is old and may not be in the best repair. An expert is needed to review the structures condition and make recommendations. Eric to contact Kim Balke to gain contact information about their engineer. Jim Schramm and Barry Petermann are also possible contacts. As reported in last month’s minutes that Rick Westerhof, of US Fish and Wildlife, announced that funding is available to remove the dam if the owners so wish. 12. Information on the USGS Real-time data recorder proposal is postponed until such time Steve Fraley is present.

13. It was noted that as of January 1st, 2008, for farms only, that the burden of proof of private property status is on the potential trespasser, not the property owner. Again - this is true ONLY for farm property.

14. Earth Day is approaching on April 22, 2008. Rick Conney received Support for a PMWC project. Several Directors indicated they would participate in a project of Rick’s choice. Rick to proved details at the February meeting.

President Fred McLane adjourned meeting at 12:10 pm. Motion/Second – Jim Bos/Jeff Carpenter.

Hard copies of the following documents/handouts are on file in the PMWC office. 1. Minutes of the December 1, 2007 Board of Director’s Meeting 2. Treasurer’s Report – December, 2007 3. Draft of the 2008 Annual Spending Plan 4. Poem – “Singing River“

Next scheduled meeting is February 2, 2008 at 9:00 am at the Lake-Osceola State Bank, Baldwin.

Respectfully submitted,

Jill Engelman Secretary

Minutes amended February 2, 2008 Jill Engelman Secretary