Coastal Management Grants from EGLE

Rosy Mound beach (photo by jhy)

from a news article by WGVU Public Media

Ten grants have been awarded for coastal management by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). The total is $885,000. Three of the grants will come to west Michigan.

Grants are awarded annually from the Michigan Coastal Management Program whose mission is to protect, preserve, restore, enhance and develop coastal resources along the nation’s longest freshwater coastline

Rosy Mound Natural Area, in Ottawa County, will receive $50,000 to protect wetlands and improve public access.

The city of Saugtuck, in Allegan County, will be able to improve safety and access to Oval Beach with $20,000.

South Haven, in Van Buren County, is updating its zoning to better deal with shoreline protection strategies and erosion issues. They have been awarded $17,500.

See Rosy Mound
See Oval Beach


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Saugatuck Hoping to Fund a Riverside Park

Events Calendar

cconcept map (map from Saugatuck Township Facebook page) The map is clickable to enlarge

compiled from several sources

The Land Conservancy of West Michigan is working toward protecting 119 acres of ecologically critical forest, wetlands, and the shores of the Kalamazoo River as it flows into Lake Michigan.

In December 2025, the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) board recommended the Riverside Park project for a $2.46 million grant to support the Township’s acquisition of the land so it can become a public park—contingent on support from the local community. Eighty percent of the needed support is committed. The conservancy hopes to raise the remainder of the needed funds, and a private donor has agreed to match all gifts.

Over 75% of the land will be preserved and restored as native habitat, but the previously disturbed 25% of the land will be developed for recreational purposes including trails, a boat launch on the river, parking, pavilions and picnic areas, educational buildings, and athletic fields.

The acquisition would help the Conservancy meet one of its three strategic focal areas, preserving a critical migratory corridor and improving Kalamazoo River water quality.

The land is still privately owned and is not open for public use at this time.

See more at Nature Nearby


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Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area Officially Protected

Nature Preserve sign replaces private property sign (photo from the Land Conservancy)

if you like this article, click the Blip chiclet!
from the West Michigan Land Conservancy

On December 22, 2009 the long battle to preserve the Denison Dunes came to a successful end. More recently owned by Don McClendon, this property adjoining Saugatuck's Oval City Beach Park has been disputed for many years. From now on the area will be known as the Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area.

The cost of preserving this property has reached $22.1 million dollars (which includes management costs). There is still a need for $4.5 million to be raised from public donations. This is expected to be raised over the next three years, and during this time the city will lease the property from the Land Conservancy of West Michigan for a minimal but legal charge of $1 per year. The expected timeline will continue with an official fundraising kickoff in spring 2010, and the complete ownership transferred to the City of Saugatuck at the end of 2012.

The property is now open to the public for non-motorized recreation such as hiking, birdwatching, fishing, nature study, and photography. The 171-acre dune ecosystem includes 0.7 mile of Lake Michigan shoreline, rare plants and animals, dunes, interdunal wetlands, forests, marshes, and oxbow lake and access to the mouth of the Kalamazoo River. The historic site of "Fishtown" is included.

See Large Grant Almost Meets Purchase Price for Saugatuck Dunes
See Sides Step Back from Denison Dunes Confrontation
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Saugatuck May Purchase South Denison Dunes

Denison Dunes(Photo by kmh1967. The author or licensor of this image does not endorse me or my work and their image is protected under an attribution license)

from a news release of the Grand Rapids Press, "Saugatuck agrees to apply for state grant to help buy southern portion of Denison duneland," by Dave Muller, Jan 12, 2009 and other sources

Following a public meeting on January 12, the city of Saugatuck has agreed to attempt to raise $25 million to purchase 160 acres of the property commonly known as the Denison Dunes.

Billionaire Aubrey McClendon agreed in July 2008 to sell the southern portion of the parcel to the city. Previous negotiations had either ended unproductively or with McClendon offering to lease the land to the city.

Now, the city plans to apply for $15 million from the Natural Resources Trust Fund. The approval for that plus an additional $10 million need to be acquired before March 2, when the offer expires. The Nature Conservancy and the Land Conservancy of West Michigan are helping with the negotiations.

The parcel of land in question includes the mouth of the Kalamazoo River, and is considered one of the last great undeveloped treasures in west Michigan.

also see Billionaire may be willing to part with 160 acres of ex-Denison dune land, Grand Rapids Press, Jul 31, 2008
Deal Would Let Saugatuck Lease Part of Dunes Land
Sides Step Back from Denison Dunes Confrontation
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Deal Would Let Saugatuck Lease Part of Dunes Land

The following is an excerpt from a story which we believe is worthy of reading, but would lose too much of its value if it were re-written for presentation on this blog. Please link through for the rest of the story, but hurry back! ... Editor

by Ken Kolker

"The city could lease the south half of the old Denison dunes property for $1 a year as long as it maintained and protected the land, according to an attorney for the Oklahoma billionaire who owns it.

The attorney discussed the lease with the mayor and city manager in a telephone conference on Monday, though no agreement has been reached.

City officials say they want a long lease, but the attorney for Aubrey McClendon said the length hasn't been determined.... "

finish the story at the Grand Rapids Press - see FAIR USE notice.
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Sides Step Back from Denison Dunes Confrontation

Wednesday evening's meeting of the Saugatuck Township Board ended by again tabling the decision as to the level of development that will be allowed on the property known as the Denison Dunes. But it was a decision that both sides were generally happy with.

The property belongs to Aubrey McClendon, billionaire owner of the Seattle Supersonics. He purchased the 412 acres for $39.5 million, winning out against a local group that had hoped to buy the land for $37.5 million.

McClendon plans to build million-dollar homes on the north half of the property, which abuts Saugatuck Dunes State Park. The southern half adjoins Oval Beach Park.

James Bruinsma, a spokesman for McClendon, read from a statement. "We are working hard to be thoughtful and responsible new stewards of this special land," he said. The attorney asked the board to postpone their vote on the initial request (to change the zoning to allow for more homes) until new, specific plans could be offered in the spring. He tried to assure the crowd of 300 people who turned out for the meeting that the development plan is not as large as people are imagining.

Bruinsma said that McClendon has hired environmentally friendly engineers, architects and conservation consultants to help with plans for his development.

Conservationists simply say that the land is special and should be preserved in its untouched state.

The board voted to table the item until they see the plans which McClendon will present this spring.

from WZZM TV, "Proposed lakeshore development put on hold", Jan 2, 2008
from the Grand Rapids Press, "No rezoning of duneland yet", Jan 2, 2008
See Wednesday Meeting Critical for Saugatuck's Denison Dunes
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Saugatuck Residents Turn Out in Force to Oppose Development

A large group of interested people attended Wednesday evening's meeting to share their views on the plan of Oklahoma billionaire Aubrey McClendon to build homes on the dune property.

The land was zoned R-4, allowing one house on every five acres, at about the time McClendon completed his purchase. He claims he was not properly notified, and that he has the right to build one house on every 1.5 acres.

Residents support the township's R-4 zoning. They cite the natural beauty of the area as one of the greatest resources for attracting tourists.

The Saugatuck Township Board was scheduled to vote on an agreement with the developer at Wednesday's meeting, but the township board tabled it instead.

from WZZM TV, "Big crowd shows up to oppose billionaire's development plans", Dec 19, 2007
See Wednesday Meeting Critical for Saugatuck's Denison Dunes, Dec 17, 2007
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Wednesday Meeting Critical for Saugatuck's Denison Dunes

view of the Lake Michigan property near Saugatuck photo credit: Dan Irving/The Holland Sentinel

Another west Michigan battle of the preservationists vs the developers is shaping up near Saugatuck. Wednesday's Saugatuck Township Board meeting is a key piece of what will happen next.

A 413-acre tract of land which spans Lake Michigan beach between Saugatuck's Oval Beach on the south and Saugatuck Dunes State Park on the north is the issue. The property formerly belonged to Frank and Gertrude Denison, thus it is often referred to as the Denison property. The Kalamazoo River divides the property into two sections commonly referred to as the north and south parcels.

Now, Oklahoma billionaire Aubrey McClendon has purchased the property and wishes to develop it. He is sueing the township over zoning changes made before his purchase was finalized. Those changes reduced the number of houses which can be built on the property from over 250 to 83.

The township is proposing a settlement which allows the original zoning to be an option for one year. After that time, if no development proposal is approved the newer, restrictive zoning would take effect.

The Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance, a conservation group, has offered free legal services to the township to fight the lawsuits instead of settling them.

The lawyer for the developer says that their plan will preserve conservation set-asides, and that the area will "still look and feel like Saugatuck." The Dunes Coastal Alliance spokesman says that the township is caving in to demands, and asserts that if the township turns down any development proposal the developer will simply sue in a higher court.

For years, local residents and conservation groups have tried to preserve the duneland. It was standing room only at a December 5 township board meeting. The township decided at that meeting to delay its decision in order to give everyone more time to study the issue.

The follow-up meeting is this Wednesday, December 19, 2007. It will be held at Saugatuck High School, 401 Elizabeth St, at 7 pm.

The proposed settlement agreement can be seen by following the link below.

see Holland Sentinel, "Saugatuck Township delays decision on former Denison property", Dec 7, 2007
see Holland Sentinel, "Development decision", Dec 16, 2007
read the proposed Settlement Agreement from Saugatuck Township (a pdf file)
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