A 6.5 acre parcel of land on the Lake Huron shore adjacent to the south part of the Bay City State Recreation Area will allow the Department of Natural Resources to better manage public access to the recreation area and address an ongoing phragmites problem. DNR Director Rebecca Humphries authorized the purchase of the parcel at the Aug. 14 Natural Resources Commission meeting in Lansing. Humphries authorized the department to spend $370,000 from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund for the former Bay City Waterworks property.

"This acquisition will help us better secure entry to the park, and address some ongoing problems with phragmites and illegal trash dumping on this particular piece of property," Humphries said. "Plus, we will be acquiring some Lake Huron shoreline that will be open to the public for recreation."

The parcel has 6.5 acres of shore frontage covered with mixed hardwoods, open meadow areas and reed-covered shallows along 600 feet of shoreline. Existing structures on the property will be removed.

The parcel contains 464 feet of road frontage on State Park Road, which has proved a problem for park managers at Bay City Recreation Area in the past due to persons using it to gain illegal entry to the recreation area. The shoreline in the property also has been impacted by invasive phragmites, so the acquisition will enable the DNR to better address the invasive plant that has hindered access to the bay.

The boundaries for the Bay City State Recreation Area will be modified to include the parcel.