Please join The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for our next Heartlands public update meeting on Tuesday, November 12 at 7:00pm at the Allouez Township Community Center (338 Bumbletown Road in Allouez). TNC and DNR will provide updates on the Keweenaw Heartlands Project and answer questions from attendees.

We hope to see you there!

Thanks for Joining Heart ♥ the Heartlands Series

Thanks to everyone who joined The Nature Conservancy and community partners this summer and fall at our Heart ♥ the Heartlands events. We wrapped up the event series this month with a fall color viewing atop Brockway Mountain, co-hosted by Eagle Harbor Township, and a scenic slow ride through the Heartlands, co-hosted by the Keweenaw ATV Club.

If you attended one of these events, thank you for your engagement and support. We sincerely appreciate your participation. Stay tuned for more exciting events in 2025!

DNR General Management Plan Update

As mentioned in September’s newsletter, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has begun the General Management Plan process for Fort Wilkins Historic State Park and the Keweenaw Point state lands, which includes roughly 10,000 acres of the current Heartlands property to be acquired by the DNR and an additional 10,000 acres of existing state forest.

The two general management plans will define a long-range (10 to 20-year) planning and management strategy that protects the sites’ natural and cultural resources and provides access to land- and water-based public recreation and education opportunities. Additional information on both projects can be found online here.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is offering three ways to learn about and provide input to help draft a general management plan for the Keweenaw Point state lands:

Online public input survey: Take this brief online survey from October 14th through November 24th.
In-person meeting: Tuesday, Oct. 29, 6-8 p.m. at Grant Township Hall, 220 Gratiot St., Copper Harbor.
Virtual meeting: Tuesday, Nov. 6, 6-7:30 p.m. Register for the meeting in advance.

At each meeting, DNR staff will present an overview of the property and the planning process, followed by an opportunity for people to ask questions.

Feedback Requested: Keweenaw County Recreation Plan

The Keweenaw County Recreation Committee is seeking public input to help plan improvements to recreation sites in the County. The purpose of this short survey is to collect feedback from residents and visitors on the types of recreation opportunities they would like the County to maintain, develop, and/or improve. The results will help inform Keweenaw County’s Five-Year Recreation Plan.

Take the brief online survey. It will remain open through the end of October.

Save the Date: Next Heartlands Update November 12th