The web Browser you are currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site may not work as intended. Please update to a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge to experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer.
DNR News Digest - Week of March 2, 2026: Research expeditions, lumberjack runs, walleye fishing and more
March 04, 2026
Related News
'Three Free' Weekend June 13-14 means free fishing, ORVing and state park entry
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources encourages everyone to take advantage of “Three Free” Weekend, coming up Saturday, June 13, and Sunday, June 14.
Roberts Lake Dam removal and culvert installation set for August
Work to remove Roberts Lake Dam in Cheboygan County and replace it with a channel-spanning culvert will begin in August. The new culvert will allow water and debris to pass beneath the road, reconnect aquatic habitat and protect road infrastructure and downstream habitat, as well as prevent a future dam failure event.
DNR urges caution as fire danger rises across northern Michigan
With dry weather conditions persisting across the state, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is urging residents and visitors to use extreme caution with any outdoor activity that could spark a wildfire in the northern Lower Peninsula and throughout the Upper Peninsula.
DNR approves $4.035 million in grants for recreational boating improvements and development
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources today announced that seven communities throughout the state will share $4.035 million in Waterways Grant-in-Aid Program funding to improve public access to recreational boating. This year, projects in Benzie, Emmet, Mackinac, Marquette, Ottawa and Sanilac counties were approved for projects that include marina dredging, an engineering study and various site improvements. With each community’s matching funds, these projects represent a collective investment of more than $6.5 million.
Construction on new DNR shooting range in Roscommon County underway
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will soon offer a public shooting opportunity in Roscommon County, with construction just underway on a new shooting range. Using federal Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration funds, the DNR is building the range on Roscommon State Forest lands located at 10779 West Branch Road in St. Helen. See a map of the location. Construction is expected to be completed in the fall of 2026.
Showcasing the DNR: Looking back on a snowy, significant snowmobile season
The 2025-26 snowmobile season proved to be one of the best in recent years, because of consistent snowfall, riders out enjoying the trails around the state and an ongoing, successful Michigan Department of Natural Resources statewide safety campaign – Ride Right – that is steadily helping shift snowmobilers’ mindsets when it comes to safely navigating Michigan’s more than 6,300 miles of snowmobile trails.
DNR News Digest - Week of May 18, 2026: Enjoy birding, boating, beach and trail time, with safety first!
Have fun, stay safe and take care of the outdoors this Memorial Day holiday weekend!
Belle Isle Park to introduce new traffic patterns and enhanced two-way bicycle track
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has announced significant traffic circulation improvements and the upcoming completion of a dedicated two-way cycle track at Belle Isle Park. Visitors will see the implementation of some of the recommendations from the 2025 Belle Isle Park multimodal mobility plan, designed to ease traffic congestion, enhance accessibility and increase public safety for all park users.
Showcasing the DNR: New 1,100-foot accessible boardwalk opens at Tahquamenon Falls State Park
A new 1,100-foot, fully accessible boardwalk, which replaces an aging staircase, has opened at Tahquamenon Falls State Upper Falls. The new feature will offer all visitors close-up, panoramic views of the Tahquamenon River as it rushes over the edge and drops about 50 feet.
Heading up north? Have fun but be careful — fire danger is high
If you’re heading to northern Michigan to look for morels, hit your favorite fishing spot or get in a little time on the trails, be aware that fire danger is high. The MesoWest Great Lakes Fire & Fuels map shows the daily fire danger rating as high or very high for much of the state, so be careful with campfires, off-road vehicles, trailer chains and any power equipment that gets hot during use.