Our Journey...
Natural Resources Commission Agenda
Nov. 8, 2007
April 3, 2008
The Resource Steward's Position Paper to the MDNR on the Pigeon River
The Traverse City Record-Eagle
Published: April 04 / By Sheri McWhirter / smcwhirter@record-eagle.com
GAYLORD -- Hundreds of outdoor denizens are expected to gather at a rally in Gaylord to demand better accountability from state government for natural resources and the environment.
Bureaucratic waste and misdirected spending will top the list of complaints expected to be voiced at a weekend event in Gaylord, the second in a series of what some call anti-Department of Natural Resources rallies.....More.
D.N.R.'s Pigeon River Forest Proposal Has Some Upset
9 & 10 News / Posted: 4/4/2008
A proposal by the Department of Natural Resources has some people upset.... More.
Video at: 9 & 10 News
Equestrian News
The Concept of Management in the Pigeon River Country has closed all horseback riding trails except for one trail through the PRC that is maintained by the Michigan Trail Riders. The PRC has stated that we can ride on vehicle access roads. In addition, they have closed all offsite camping within the PRC. There were 15 offsites within 113,000 acres... More.
Conservation, land use subject of rally Saturday
By Jil Schult, Staff Writer / Friday, April 4, 2008
GAYLORD — Sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts are being encouraged to attend a meeting Saturday (April 5) regarding what some say is a threat to natural resources.
This is the second Michigan Natural Resources Rally, hosted by Antrim Conservation District (ACD)..... More.
Gaylord Rally by Matt Dunn / Weekly Choice
“This is a government by the people and for the people;
if we don’t get involved, changes won’t be made.”
April 5, 2008 / Weekly Choice / By Mike Dunn
Mike Meriwether of the Antrim Conservation District was the moderator of the meeting... More.
Natural Resource users joined together on Saturday afternoon in Gaylord to voice their concerns of how natural resource issues are handled in the state...... More.
Natural Resource users joined together this afternoon to voice their concerns at a rally in Gaylord..... More.
NRC to decide limits on recreational use of Pigeon River Country trails
Letter to R. Humphries from Representatives
APRIL 8TH 2008
TO MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
DIRECTOR REBECCA HUMPHRIES
Dear Director Humphries,
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter, I appreciate you doing so.
It is our understanding that the department of Natural Resources is currently determining whether or not to keep open a number of equine trails in pigeon River Forest.... More.
Hundreds attend Gaylord rally to demand government accountability
“This is a government by the people and for the people;
if we don’t get involved, changes won’t be made.”
-- Heidi Lang of the Antrim Conservation District
GAYLORD – Several hundred people packed the Knights of Columbus Hall in Gaylord on Saturday to express frustration about the direction they see the state government taking. The people who attended the rally were mostly part of “user groups” affected by recent regulations implemented by the Department of Natural Resources or the Department of Environmental Quality, or both state agencies.... More.
Forest plans prompt protest: Access to trails, campsites at issue in Pigeon River Country
GAYLORD — An estimated 400 people attended Saturday’s Michigan Natural Resources Rally, mostly expressing concerns regarding government natural resource cuts.
Hosted by Antrim Conservation District and various other sportsmen and conservation groups, the rally focused on the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) regarding finances and administrative management services.
According to Heidi Lang, Antrim Conservation District soil erosion officer who was one of the hosts, mostly “horse people” attended the standing-room-only forum...... More.
April 12, 2008
Proposal would set aside trails for bikers, riders
BY SHERI McWHIRTER / smcwhirter@record-eagle.comGAYLORD -- Changes could be in store for horseback riders and mountain bikers in the Pigeon River Country State Forest if state officials approve new proposed rules.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources wants to keep horseback riders to certain trails and campgrounds........More.
MUCC Policy Report for April 18, 2008:
DNR needs to start helping horse riders, too
May 02, 2008 / MLive.com
Two weeks ago, I wrote that the DNR's decision to restrict horse use in the 112,953-acre Pigeon River Country State Forest was a fair one, that the agency was correct in its desire to recapture some of the forest's wild feeling by limiting where horses, mountain bikers and snowmobilers could go.
That hasn't changed.
What has changed is my sense of how much the DNR needs to do to reasonably accommodate horseback riders, particularly those they are encouraging to ride on state lands other than the PRCSF...... More.
Minutes by Cynthia Kieliszewski
DNR Director Signs Land Use Order to Regulate Pigeon River Country State Forest
Contact: Mary Dettloff 517-335-3014
Agency: Natural Resources
A land use order designed to retain the wild character of the Pigeon River Country State Forest, while managing the use of the forest by multiple groups, was signed by DNR Director Rebecca Humphries at Thursday's Natural Resources Commission meeting in Lansing.
The order regulates equestrian camping and riding, and bicycling within the Pigeon River Country State Forest......... More.
DNR Director Signs Land Use Order to regulate Pigeon River Country State Forest
A land use order designed to retain the wild character of the Pigeon River Country State Forest, while managing the use of the forest by multiple groups, was signed by DNR Director Rebecca Humphries at Thursday’s Natural Resources Commission meeting in Lansing.
The order regulates equestrian camping and riding, and bicycling within the Pigeon River Country State Forest. The restrictions are needed to implement and enforce the recommendations outlined in the recently updated Pigeon River County Concept of Management. A link to the Concept of Management is available online to read on the DNR’s Web site.... More.
NOTE from Michigan Horse Council
Important meeting on equestrian trails on May 13, 2008...
Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources hearing
May 13, 2008
Marieta, Jim and Chappy Sloan, Charles Kleinhardt, Connie and Dick Kleinhardt,
Norm Seppi, Jacob, Maggie, Norma and Gordon
House Committee on Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources
Regarding May 13, 2008
Representative Sheltrown, Chairman,
Jacob and Maggie
House Committee on Tourism and
Outdoor Recreation Hearing regarding the PRC
May 13, 2008
Mr. Chairman and members of the committee:
Mr Dick Kleinhardt's interview to the house reporter
Gongwer Wednesday May 14
No More Horse Riding Off Pigeon River Trails
Last week Dick Kleinhardt found out he would be an outlaw if he kept riding horses on remote trails in the Pigeon River Country State Park.
On May 8, Department of Natural Resources Director Rebeca Humphries signed a land use order that restricted horse riding and camping in the 118,000 acre park that is home to the largest elk herd east of the Mississippi.....
Posted May 18, 2008
We hope you also take the time to go to the original website and post your comments.
The following letter was written by Matt Stahl:
Posted by Matt Stahl on 05/21/2008
I was made aware last week that the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has been working on (for many months) closing a large portion of the Pigeon River State Forest in Otsego and Cheboygan counties to horse riding, angering the multitude of horse back riders in our state, and many other people too.... More.
Legislators take ride into 'forest' conflict
June 17, 2008
Riders say they're being locked out of the Pigeon River Country
Vanderbilt — The Pigeon River Country may be a sanctuary for most but it’s becoming a battleground for others.
Following new guidelines from the state Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR), Pigeon River Country (PRC) users, especially horseback riders, are finding increased restrictions and scrutiny toward their activities.... More.
Senate Appropriations Committee Hearing
Dec. 10, 2009
Dick Kleinhardt giving testimony before the committee. Also testifying is Tom Tyler of Tom's Western Store, Norma Laine, president Shiawassee Trail Riders Association and attorney Rand Smith.
Rory Mattson, Representative Tom Casperson,
Dick Kleinhardt, __________ , and Mark Bartholomew.
Click here to read Dick Kleinhardt's
Senate Appropriations Committee on
SENATE PANEL HEARS TESTIMONY ON WILDERNESS AREA
Gongwer News Service -- Wednesday, December 10, 2008
SENATE PANEL HEARS TESTIMONY ON WILDERNESS AREA
"The Pigeon River Area was the topic of discussion at Wednesday's Senate Appropriations Natural Resources Subcommittee meeting with several House members saying the area should be open for broader use by horseback riders...."
The impression of the Senate Hearing held on December 10th was very positive! I would like to thank all that attended this meeting as well as those who spoke. It was so encouraging to see our State Reps. in attendance. Representatives Casperson, Sheltrown, Elsenheimer, Emmons, and Booher were in attendance. Not only were they there in support but the lst three mentioned above went up to testify in our behalf. These were the Representatives that attended our "Cowboy Picnic" this past summer.
Dick Kleinhardt
Click here for the May 29th Town Hall Meeting
Check back again soon. There is much more to tell about our journey!
Working to
preserve our
trails and
"The Right to Ride"
in Michigan
Recent Videos
-
332 Views - 3 Comments
Recent Forum Posts
