Dreams

McClendon property north of the Kalamazoo River

I have a dream that one day I can hike the trails threading through the parabolic dunes of the Saugatuck State Park and photograph life from the highest peak of a forested backdune to the clear, clean riverbed of the Kalamazoo River . . .

That this river that flows into Lake Michigan seven miles south of my home will one day be removed from the government’s list of the ten most toxic Areas of Concern on Lake Michigan . . .

That those who live, visit, or summer between the Macatawa and Kalamazoo River harbor entrances will one day have easy access to the lake, unencumbered by stairs, or long, sandy trails—perhaps a short, flat, eco-friendly riverwalk that makes the lake more accessible to the elderly, to families with very small children . . .

That one day the West Michigan Water Trail connecting Benton Harbor to Ludington will become a reality so kayakers and canoeists exploring Lake Michigan’s magnificent coast by day can easily visit the state’s unique potpourri of harbor communities in the evening, camp in state parks at night, including the Saugatuck State Park . . .

And that the former Denison house on the north side of the river mouth might become a place where we connect innovation, science, technology, and the environment—similar to the Discovery World facility adjacent to the Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee—only with a West Michigan flavor.

But that is not why I am writing the governor and asking for additional monies from the Michigan Trust Fund to help purchase the 315 acres of the McClendon property adjacent to the state park.

I have a dream one day the waters of Lake Michigan will be pristine . . . and that all native life along her shores will flourish. And one of the eight critical factors for improving the quality of Lake Michigan water is protecting our coastal habitat!

And there, just to the south of my home, are 315 acres of parabolic dunes, those ever-shifting mountains of sand created by strong winds and high waves. The forested backdunes, the rare interdunal pounds, the rolling hills of sand peppered with beach grass, and the white, sandy beaches provide a backdrop to nature’s way of balancing the ecosystem, of keeping stressors like nonpoint sources of pollution from reaching the fresh waters of Lake Michigan.

And so I am sending a copy of this blog to the people who can help. It starts with the state of Michigan–now, this month, before they allocate the 2015 Trust Fund monies elsewhere. We need the state at the table, along with private donors, community leaders, those who can help us get federal Great Lakes Restoration Initiative dollars, and, of course, Mr. Aubrey McClendon.

With 1,120 acres of the Saugatuck State Park to the north and 173 acres of the Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area to the south, the acquisition would put over 1,600 acres of pristine coastal land in the hands of the public . . . weathered hands, like mine, and the smooth, soft hands of Michigan’s children.

Will you help? Please join me in asking Michigan officials for their financial support in making these dreams a reality. Copy this blog or write your own note and mail it prior to October 23rd to the following: 

Governor Rick Snyder
P.O. Box 30013
Lansing, MI 48909

Keith Creagh
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Executive Division
P.O. Box 30028
Lansing, MI 48909
creaghk@michigan.gov

Matt Lincoln
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Parks & Recreation Division
P.O. Box 30028
Lansing, MI 48909
lincolnm@michigan.gov