June 8, 2011

The Department of Natural Resources announced today that Clinton Township was the first to accept the department's offer of a lease to manage one of 23 state forest campgrounds that were slated for closure this year.

"We are having ongoing conversations with several local units of government that have expressed interest in managing nine of these campgrounds," said DNR Forest Management Division Chief Lynne Boyd. "We hope to have these agreements in place within the next couple of weeks."

The agreement for Clinton Township to manage McCollum Lake State Forest Campground in Oscoda County was finalized just before the start of the Memorial Day weekend.

"The township was a strong advocate for this transfer from the very beginning," said Susan Thiel, DNR manager of the Grayling Management Unit (GMU). "They never waivered from this path throughout our discussions."

Ken Troyer, township supervisor, met with Mike Janisse, DNR fire supervisor for the GMU, on site last Friday in the rain to accept the keys and to conduct a walk through of the facility.

"The township is accepting this responsibility for the good of northern Michigan," said Troyer. "We expect that we will be able to realize enough savings under our management, that this facility will break even and possibly even turn a profit."

The public can now address any questions they have concerning this campground to Clinton Township at 989-848-5045. Information regarding other DNR camping facilities, hiking, ORV riding or boating opportunities in this region may be found on the DNR's website at www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails, or by calling the DNR Gaylord Operations Service Center at 989-732-3541.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.