Hurray, Spring!!!

The calendar says Spring starts in March.  In Michigan, that really isn’t true.  Spring doesn’t start until you can leave your winter coat on the back of the chair (because tomorrow you may need it), go outside and feel the warmth of the sun, and realize it’s only in the 60s, but it feels so good.  There isn’t a longer period in Michigan than the time between when the calendar says Spring and the weather reveals Spring.

 

On this lovely 12th day of April, the temperature was in the mid-60s, the sun was bright with some wispy clouds, and I had a gap on my work calendar long enough to get on my bike outdoors.  This was the break I was waiting for.  I picked up my new bike last week and was itching to take it out of the stable.  I wasn’t disappointed in the ride or the day.  Other than the usual chaos at the back-to-back-to-back roundabouts I call the “triple-ring”, I put in a solid 18 miles.  It was too good, so later that evening, I went back out again and rode around Brighton for another 8 miles.  Can’t every day be like this?

 

The only disappointment during the ride was a sign I encountered along the Island lake Trail Connector getting into the park (article  link here: https://www.traillink.com/trail/island-lake-trail-connector-/). 

 

Look at the picture on the link above and compare it to the picture below.

A close-up of the sign reveals the Michigan DNR is trying to recreate an oak savanna.  Apparently, 78% of Michigan was this way in the past; probably when G.W. Howell traveled near here in 1816. I’m all for stewardship of this great resource, like the sign indicates, but I don’t understand how clearing a beautiful forest that nature created without human intervention is a good thing to do only to replace it with an oak savanna that is artificially created at this point in the history of the State.

 

https://www.dbusiness.com/daily-news/reclamation-project-will-improve-restore-island-lake-state-recreation-area-in-livingston-county/If this is a goal of our DNR, why not use the 540-acre gravel mine on the South side of the park that is currently in the middle of a 10-year lease?  The revenue from the lease is supposed to go towards restoration of the area back to its native grasslands when the lease expires (article link here)


Couldn’t that be the location of an oak savanna?  Since there are no trees there now, that would be a huge improvement to that space.   This would leave the forest around the mountain bike trails alone and the DNR could experiment elsewhere.

As usual, decisions are made without public discourse and are implemented after it’s too late to change course.  I can only lament that decision at this point.

By Dennis

Ninth generation Howell in North America

1 comment

  1. Great blog D! When I get to my keyboard I’ll expound. Trying to input on a phone QWERTY, well, we’d be leaving before I get done.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *