Park Locations
Tentative Park Locations
From east to west across the Upper Peninsula:
1. The Two-Hearted River Watershed Park, about 150,000 acres
2. Pictured Rocks National Lake Shore and Grand Island - optional
3. Huron Mountain Range, Michigamme highlands, including McCormick, Craig Lake State Park and lands extending eastward, 90,000 to 140,000 acres
4. Entire tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula, from Montreal Falls outward, except Copper Harbor
5. Porcupine Mountain State Park expanded westward
Comments:
1. In the Two-Hearted, 75% to 85% of the timber is on poor quality sites. And it would be the only watershed park in the lower 48 states.
2. Pictured Rocks is optional and unknown because of the strong attitudes in Alger County.
3. The Hurons are greater than 75% low-quality and poor access sites, and Mead is planning a major 50,000-100,000 acre sale as of this writing or by this fall.
4. The tip of the Keewenaw is too far away from a major mill, although I wonder that it is an OK timber site.
5. I am least familiar with the Porcupine Mountains area, but I do not want to omit the western UP. It is part of the UP, and no area shall be ignored. Plus, our UP map should be balanced, because balance in an important factor. Balance reflects justice. I wonder that there may be nice land to be added here.
I suspect there could be other smaller waterfront lands added, because of conditions in the Marquette area. Snowmobilers need corridors also. I would know what to add after communication with the Yoopers.
Overall, these proposed parks of course need a lot more work, including communication with Yoopers, DNR, and timber companies, and further study. It is a start.