Natural Resources Commission to meet Thursday in Lansing

Contact: Ed Golder, 517-335-3014

Agency: Natural Resources

Jan. 7, 2013

The Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) will hold its regular monthly meeting Thursday, Jan. 10, at the MSU Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, 4125 Beaumont Road, Lansing. All meetings will be held in Room 101 of the center.

The day will begin at 9 a.m. with a meeting of the NRC's Marketing and Outreach Advisory Committee. The committee will receive updates on the Mentored Youth Hunt, webcasting NRC meetings and the Youth Conservation Council. Also on tap are discussions on the ongoing Michigan Waterfowl Legacy program, the 2013 Youth Outdoor Jamboree, and improvements in the state's system for hunting and fishing on-line license sales.

At 10:30 a.m., the Policy Committee on Wildlife and Fisheries will receive reports from the Fisheries and Wildlife division chiefs, including updates on the recently completed elk hunt, and review a land order that would limit access to Kirtland's warbler habitat during nesting. The committee will also receive a status update on wolves following a new law that declared the wolf a game species in Michigan.

At 1 p.m., the NRC will hold a two-hour meeting on establishing NRC policy topics for 2013.

At 3 p.m., the Committee of the Whole will receive a report from Department of Natural Resources Director Keith Creagh and an update on legislative issues.

At 4 p.m., the NRC will present a Partners in Conservation Award to the Michigan Duck Hunters Association. In addition, the DNR Fisheries Division will present to Mentor Michigan a donation of $3,340, money raised during a silent auction.

Immediately following the awards presentation, the NRC will hear comments from the public. Those wishing to make public comments before the NRC should contact Deb Whipple, executive assistant to the NRC, at 517-373-2352 or whippled1@michigan.gov to register. Scheduled for action by the director are the land use order on Kirtland's warbler nesting areas and four land transactions.

For more information about the NRC, including the full meeting agenda, informational memos and past meeting minutes, visit www.michigan.gov/nrc.

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.