White Lake Shoreline Paddle Tour- August 10

kayaker (photo by JHY)

based on a news article in the Oceana Herald Journal

The White Lake Public Advisory Council (PAC) invites participants for a shoreline canoe/kayak tour of White Lake on Sunday, August 10. The tour begins at 2 pm, and will last approximately two hours.

Roger Scharmer, local historian, and Tanya Cabala, education coordinator for the PAC, will be the guides. They will talk about the purposes and benefits of shoreline habitat restoration along the Whitehall and Montague shorelines.

Due to industrial and municipal pollution, White Lake has been named one of 43 Great Lakes Areas of Concern. The US and Canadian governments work with states and provinces to develop and implement special cleanup plans. White Lake has been in the remediation process for over 20 years, and is in the final stages of a "remarkable comeback." It is scheduled for delisting at the end of 2014. This tour will highlight areas of improvement.

Greg Mund, Chair of the PAC, said, "Restoration of fish and wildlife habitat was a significant project. This will be a great opportunity to see the new habitat, as well as birds and other wildlife."

Any adult with basic paddling skills may participate. Staging will be at Maple Grove Park, 4655 Goodrich St. in Montague. Please arrive early enough to be ready to paddle at 2 pm. There is no additional cost for the tour. Some kayaks available for rent, but RSVP to tcabala@charter.net to reserve a kayak. Rain date is August 17.

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Buttermilk Creek Park in Montague Planned

conceptual plan of Buttermilk Creek Park, Montague (from Muskegon Conservation District)

based on articles in the White Lake Beacon

A park, currently located behind the Montague, Michigan, Post Office, on Ferry Street, may be more fully developed for multiple purposes. Jeff Auch, Executive Director of the Muskegon Conservation district, told the Montague city council that the proposed park could benefit recreational uses, but also improve the hydrology of Buttermilk Creek.

The plan tentatively includes an ice rink, playground and interpretive signage. Other suggestions included use of the rink as a splash pad in summer, and adding a zip line.

The city has voted to go ahead with writing a grant which would fund about 75% of the project. If approved, this money from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources [MDNR] would be in the amount of $299,300. The Downtown Development Authority will contribute the remaining 25%, which is $99,800.

The name, Buttermilk Creek Park, is not finalized.

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