The Department of Natural Resources has further protected the Jordan Valley Management Area from additional oil and gas drilling by completing a mineral exchange, which resulted in the state acquiring 160 acres of mineral rights in Star Township of Antrim County. The exchange was for equal valued state-owned mineral rights in Montmorency County.

"Exchanges of mineral rights are often more complicated to conclude than exchanges of surface rights, because the lessee's interests must also be considered along with the interests of the mineral owners," said Thomas Wellman, manager of the Minerals and Land Management Section in the DNR's Forest, Mineral and Fire Management Division. "This exchange took several years to complete."

The exchange is part of the DNR's policy to consolidate their ownership and reunite severed mineral rights. Severed surface owners of state-owned mineral rights may also have the ability to reunite their rights through a mineral purchase application. For more information regarding mineral purchase applications, please contact Karen Maidlow, DNR property analyst, at (517) 373-7677 or maidlowk@michigan.gov.