GINLC Newsletter: Nature Area/Gibralter Bay Unit News

After a year of being shut out from the Grosse Ile Nature Area we are pleased to let our friends and nature lovers know that we expect it to reopen in the not too distant future. John Hartig, Refuge Manager, reports that the long-standing regulatory issues have been resolved and that "all agencies are on board [USEPA, USAGE, MDEQ, USFWS]." We will meet in late October with the refuge and township management to discuss conditions for public use.

Progress is being made with the Visitor's Service Plan, to cover each of the refuge units. As described by Kristi Thiel at last year's annual meeting the plan encompasses the six wildlife dependent recreational uses that guide public use of refuge lands: hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, environmental education, and interpretation. So far, public meetings have been held to discuss use for environmental education and hunting.