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DNR seeks county input on public land review

ALPENA, Mich.– The Department of Natural Resources wants your feedback regarding public land in Alpena.

This year, the DNR is reviewing over 200 thousand acres of public land across Michigan. Over 70 percent of the land is retained to the DNR- it remains under the department’s care. Parcels of land that does not meet criteria related to the DNR’s mission upon review are offered for sale to local government bodies. Should no governmental body purchase the land, it will be put up for auction to the public.

“It boils down to natural resources protection, public recreation, and resource management that supports economies,” said Scott Whitcomb, the DNR’s Senior Advisor for Wildlife and Public Lands. “The land that we retain is going to fit in one or most of these categories.”

Land that is disposed does not benefit the DNR to continue to manage the parcel of land.

“A lot of them don’t have public access,” Whitcomb said. “They’re landlocked and they don’t have good access. We’re looking at possible replacement lands as being a better fit.”

The DNR invites Alpena County residents to a set of meetings on Tuesday (6 p.m) and Wednesday (2 p.m). The meetings are part of a long–term project reviewing the state’s public land holdings.Project leaders want to hear residents’ ideas for dealing with certain parcels of land that don’t meet the DNR’s mission.

To see which parcels of land are being reviewed in Alpena, you can access the DNR’s interactive map here: Review Map

To join the DNR’s virtual meetings, see the information below:

March 9, 2021 6-8 p.m.
Join us on Microsoft Teams for the March 9 virtual meeting

Or call in (audio only) +1 248-509-0316,,913574808#
United States, Pontiac
Phone Conference ID: 913 574 808#

March 11, 2020 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Join us on Microsoft Teams for the March 10 virtual meeting

Or call in (audio only) +1 248-509-0316,,661614816#
United States, Pontiac
Phone Conference ID: 661 614 816#