Oct. 12, 2011 - "Greater Bear" Watershed Plan Steering Committee Meets October 19
Contact: Tim Ervin
231-723-4325
For Immediate Release
“GREATER BEAR” WATERSHED PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE MEETS OCTOBER 19
KALEVA, MICHIGAN – If you have an interest in helping to protect, preserve and wisely use Bear Lake, Bear Creek and its tributaries and surrounding lands, you won’t want to miss an October 19 meeting.
The steering committee for developing the “Greater Bear” Watershed Plan, encompassing Bear Lake and the Bear Creek watersheds and tributaries will meet on October 19, 2011 from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. at the Maple Grove Township Hall, located at 9213 Aura Street, Kaleva, Michigan. The meeting is open to the general public and all interests in the watershed are invited to attend.
“Whether you’re a full-time or seasonal resident or have an interest in Bear Lake or anywhere within the sprawling Bear Creek watershed – from Copemish downstream to where Bear Creek meets the Manistee River on Forest Service land, this meeting is for you,” said Steering Committee member John Mackinen who also serves as president of the Bear Creek Watershed Council. “If we are to convert this plan into meaningful action and stewardship, we need everyone to become involved, make their feelings known and pitch in to help.”
The purpose of the steering committee is to guide the development of a watershed plan for the “Greater Bear” watershed that considers current and future threats and opportunities and provides for the long term wise use, management and protection of the watershed. The steering committee works in partnership with Public Sector Consultants (PSC), the firm chosen to assist in developing the plan that will ultimately be subject to approval by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
In addition to providing a sound basis for community education and stewardship of water resources, an approved watershed plan may lead to funding opportunities for specific actions or programs to protect the area encompassed by the plan. The Greater Bear Watershed Plan is being prepared with grant funds secured by the Manistee County Community Foundation from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality under Section 319 of the Federal Clean Water Act.