DNR Director Rescinds Order to Close 23 State Forest Campgrounds

Contact: Mary Dettloff, 517-335-3014

Agency: Natural Resources

June 10, 2011

Department of Natural Resources Director Rodney Stokes withdrew an order to close 23 state forest campgrounds this summer at Thursday's Natural Resources Commission meeting in Lansing.

Stokes said he wanted to give the Department more time to work with local units of government on lease agreements, and he called on the Department to review the entire state forest campground system for possible local partnerships and interdepartmental agreements to operate state forest campgrounds.

The DNR announced the first lease agreement with a local unit of government earlier in the week, turning over operation of the McCollum Lake State Forest Campground in Oscoda County to Clinton Township. Talks continue with other local units of government on some of the campgrounds that were slated for closure, Stokes said.

The DNR Parks and Recreation Division will assume management of Lime Island State Forest Campground, and will conduct a pilot project with the DNR Forest Management Division to co-manage the Munuscong River State Forest Campground in Chippewa County.

The DNR will continue to operate the remaining campgrounds this year, Stokes said. He has asked Forest Management Division to develop a comprehensive cost estimate for operating the campgrounds slated for closure.

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.