epiehl
Registered: 02/07/04
Posts: 1
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Reply with quote | #2 |
Jason,
Yes, there is interest in bikepaths along Huron River joining Island Lake Rec Area and Huron Meadows, in accordance with, or in violation of, the Natural Rivers Act and the subsequent Huron River Plan developed under the Act. In Livingston County, Jim is your best resource. Further downstream, the HCMA is doing controversial stuff--for more info, see letter below. Further downstream, past Dexter, there is a public meeting tonight--for more info, see quote at bottom.
Now is a *terrific* time to get corridors for greenways approved by governments, so we can really get these built. Sorry I missed seeing your plan.
--Eric
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Rebecca Humphries
MDNR, Mason Building, Sixth Floor
P.O. Box 30028
Lansing MI 48909
October 22, 2004
Dear Ms. Humphries,
We are writing to object to the proposed bridge crossing on the Huron River, in SE Michigan, in a natural river zone.
The Huron Clinton Metropark Authority (HCMA) has proposed a new bridge crossing at the south end of the Hudson Mills Park in Washtenaw County (see map enclosed). As part of a county hike-bike path along the Huron, HCMA plans to build a path on the northwest side of the river from N. Territorial Road down through the edge of the golf course and eventually into the Village of Dexter. The HCMA has secured funds to pave the path down the west side of the river to the golf course, and they are proposing building a non-motorized bridge to connect with their present hike-bike loop in Hudson Mills. As this falls in the Natural River Zone, they are required to obtain a permit from the MDNR Natural Rivers Program.
We oppose this permit on four grounds:
1. The bridge crossing violates the intent of the Natural Rivers Act and the subsequent Huron River Plan developed under the Act and sets a new, dangerous precedent.
2. The bridge is not necessary (a connector bridge over N. Territorial Road from the proposed path to the hike/bike loop already exists).
3. This particular location is an especially rare, beautiful and natural stretch of the river and deserves protection.
4. The permit application process was flawed and the public input process was subverted.
The Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC), along with many others, worked hard in the early 1970s to designate the Huron as a Natural River under the Michigan Natural Rivers Act with a Country Scenic designation. This designation affords the river special protection and helps to ensure the preservation of a unique natural stretch —from Kent Lake Dam to Barton Dam—and some of its tributaries. Fundamentally, it requires certain setback and buffer distances from the river to assure a more “natural” look and greater protection from degradation.
At their first meeting on the proposed bridge, MDNR Natural Rivers Program Manager Steve Sutton informed the HCMA that a bridge crossing was a violation of the Natural Rivers Act and of the Plan developed under the act for the Huron. The plan allows no new bridges (motorized or non-motorized) in this area unless abutting an existing bridge/crossing. Indeed, since 1970 no new bridges have been built in the Natural River Zone.
In general, we are supportive of the hike/bike system; however, we believe that a bridge over the Huron at this location is neither necessary nor a good idea, for several reasons. Foremost, we agree with the MDNR Natural Rivers staff that the bridge is a violation of the Natural Rivers Act and of the Huron River Plan. Allowing an exception to the Natural Rivers Plan for the Huron at this location will set a precedent for additional bridges further downriver from Dexter, of which there are many proposed in the hike/bike route.
We need to balance the interest in the hike/bike path with the needs of ecologically sensitive areas along the river. In other locations further downstream, a bridge may be essential to the linkage of the trail, and an exception may be warranted. We are open to weighing this on a case-by-case basis. For this particular site, there is an alternate route across an existing bridge at North Territorial Road.
Second, it will harm the ecology and aesthetic experience of what is one of the highest quality rivers in Southeast Michigan. This section of the river is a rare stretch where you feel that you are “up north”. Both the construction activity and the permanent bridge will have negative effects on the riverbed and floodplain, and will disrupt riparian vegetation and soils. The bridge will also be a visual disturbance in an otherwise long stretch of natural area. Paddlers, fisherpeople, and walkers enjoy and use this area of the river. This particular location is an especially rare, beautiful and natural stretch of the river and deserves protection.
The third reason for our objection to this bridge is the handling of the permit application process. From the moment the MDNR Natural Rivers staff expressed their opposition to the bridge, the HCMA administration has sought ever-higher levels in the MDNR until they received a favorable response. The required public process for a permit like this would have been almost completely sidestepped had HRWC not pushed the issue. HRWC’s intervention generated approximately two dozen comments to MDNR.
In mid-April 2004 the out-going MDNR Director Cool issued a statement that, despite his staff objections, he intended to issue the bridge permit to the HCMA. In a subsequent meeting the MDNR Deputy Director stated that the directive came from the Governor’s office. A follow-up call to the Governor’s environmental advisor Dana Debel indicates that the Governor’s office and the MDNR want to show that the Natural River Act provides for flexibility. After last Fall’s legislative attacks to the Natural Rivers Act the State is trying to protect the act from further political attacks and show that the Act is not unreasonable and that it provides for discretion in management. We are upset about the precedent this bridge approval sets and thinks it undermines the strength of the Act.
We are asking that you reconsider the department’s decision to issue this permit and deny the permit. We have approached the funding partners of this project and all are willing to allow the HCMA to abandon the bridge and spend the money building the next section of the path down to the Village of Dexter. We believe we may even be able to get more money from the partners if we extend the path system to Dexter.
We are interested in talking further with you about this issue and to answer any questions.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Huron River Watershed Council, Friends of Brighton Trails, other organizations.
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PUBLIC MEETING Segment D1 Border to Border Trail
7:00 pm, December 16, 2004, at the Dexter Senior Center, 7720 Dexter Ann Arbor Road, Dexter, MI.
The Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission (WCPARC) is holding a Public Meeting regarding plans for a multiuse, nonmotorized trail from the Village of Dexter to Dexter-Huron Metropark. This 1.4 (one and four tenths) mile segment, “Segment D1”, is an important component of the 35 mile Washtenaw County Border to Border Trail which eventually will traverse the Huron River Corridor from Livingston County to Wayne County. To accommodate a broad range of users - pedestrians, bikers and inline skaters, the trail will be ten feet in width and have an asphalt surface. However, in environmentally sensitive areas, wooden boardwalks will be constructed above the ground surface to minimize the impact of the trail. The proposed trail route, south of the Huron River and high above its surface, is intended to provide panoramic views of the scenic landscape corridor below.
Segment D1 is the first phase of the entire “D” Segment, the second, called Segment D2, will extend an additional 2.8 miles southeast to Delhi Metropark. The plans for these trail segments, D1 and D2, have been developed for WCPARC by the Ann Arbor landscape architecture firm of Pollack Design Associates. Staff of the firm will present their plans at the meeting and take comments and questions from interested individuals in attendance. All are welcome to provide input on this exciting project.
Contact: Richard Kent Phone: 971-6337, ext 319 mailto:kentr@ewashtenaw.org
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