LANSING, MICH – A diverse coalition of over ninety groups representing hunters, anglers, conservationists, and recreation advocates today issued a letter to Governor Granholm urging reconsideration of Executive Order 45 of 2009. While expressing support for the core function of the Order to re-combine the Michigan Departments of Natural Resources and Environmental Quality, the letter urges the Governor to re-consider her surprise move to strip the bi-partisan Natural Resources Commission’s authority to appoint the Department director. The Coalition says this move reduces transparency and injects more political influence on natural resources management decisions.
The Upper Peninsula Sportsmen’s Alliance (UPSA) said combining the DNR and DEQ should be an opportunity to create a more transparent, open, and accessible Department, not the other way around. “UPSA will be the first to tell anybody that the NRC and DNR are far from perfect,” said UPSA President Dale McNamee. “However, we should be using this as an opportunity to make our new department more service-focused. A Department held entirely accountable to a politician instead of the citizens of Michigan only calls for more back-door decision making out of the public eye.” McNamee said encouraging more people to hunt, fish and enjoy the outdoors should also be a focus for the new DNRE, adding that the Order’s top-down political structure takes a step in the wrong direction for achieving that goal.
In 1996 nearly seventy percent of Michigan citizens supported the Michigan Wildlife Management Referendum (Proposal G) to remove political influence out of natural resource management in favor of science-based management principles. “As evidenced by Proposal G, Michigan citizens do not want natural resources management to be dictated by politics and the popular vote,” said Michigan Pheasants Forever’s lead biologist Mike Parker. “This Order is a positive step to consolidate the departments, but shifting the NRC’s appointment authority to the Governor is a move that injects more partisan politics into natural resources management by vesting a politically-motivated public official with complete authority.”
Michigan United Conservation Clubs Executive Director Erin McDonough said Michigan should take a lesson from Wisconsin before transferring appointment authority from the NRC to the Governor. The Wisconsin state assembly recently gave veto-proof approval to a bill that would restore the state Natural Resources Board’s authority to appoint the DNR Secretary (Director). “For the past fourteen years Wisconsin has been experiencing the effects of top-down political influence on natural resource management,” said McDonough. “The sportsmen and legislature in Wisconsin have seen enough. This current uproar should put Governor Granholm and the Michigan Legislature on notice as to what direction Michigan is heading if this Executive Order is not rescinded or rejected by December 7th.”
In closing, Coalition members asked Governor Granholm to rescind E.O. 45 of 2009 and reissue a subsequent Order restoring the NRC’s appointment authority for the purpose of increasing transparency and reducing political influence on Michigan’s natural resources management.
List of organizations signing onto the letter:
Statewide Organizations Bowfishing Association of Michigan – Archie Martell, President Great Lakes Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers – James Schramm, President Michigan Airboating Conservation Association – Ron Miller, President Michigan Association of Gamebird Breeders and Hunting Preserves – Jim Trinklein, President Michigan B.A.S.S. Federation Nation – Paul Sacks, President Michigan Bear Hunters Association – Phil Hewitt, Vice President Michigan Bow Hunters Association – Bruce Levey, President Michigan Charter Boat Association – Captain Denny Grinold, State Affairs Officer Michigan Conservation Foundation – Bob Jacobsen, President Michigan Duck Hunters Association – Drew Deters, President Michigan Hunting Dog Federation – Matt Wood, President Michigan Outdoors Women’s Club – Fran Yeager, President Michigan Pheasants Forever – Mike Parker, Regional Biologist Michigan Recreation and Park Association – Dennis Schornack, Executive Director Michigan Resource Stewards – Dave Borgeson Michigan River Guides Association – John Ray, President Michigan State United Coon Hunters Association – Jim Wale, President Michigan Steelhead and Salmon Fishermen’s Association – Rick Balabon, President Michigan Trappers and Predator Callers Association – John Caretti, President Michigan Trout Unlimited – Dr. Bryan Burroughs, Executive Director Michigan United Conservation Clubs – Erin McDonough, Executive Director Michigan Wild Turkey Hunters Association – Jim Maturen, President National Wildlife Federation – Andy Buchsbaum, Great Lakes Regional Executive Director Upper Peninsula Sportsmen’s Alliance – Dale McNamee, President
Former Department Director Howard A. Tanner, Phd – Former Director, Michigan Department of Natural Resources (1975-1983)
Regional and Local Organizations Bridgeport Gun Club – Jack Danks, President Chesaning Area Conservation Club – Brad Alcorn, President Cadillac Sportsman’s Club – Bruce Finnerty, President CassCounty Conservation Club – Chuck Chandler, President Cedar Rod & Gun Club – Tim Stein, President Chick-Owa Sportsmen Club – Tom Medendorp, President Dowagiac Conservation Club – Lee Maager, President Flint River Chapter, National Wild Turkey Federation – James M. Miller, President Frankenmuth Conservation Club – Karl Weiss, President Friends of Blueberry Ridge – Paul Hannuksela, President Friends of the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge – Charles Hoover, President Friends of PontiacLake – Ron Groeneveld, President German-American Marksmanship Club – Paul Werner, President Gun River Skeet and Trap, Inc. – David McMurray, President Holland Fish and Game Club – Drew Deters, President Kent County Conservation League – Vic Scudder, President Ludington Area Charterboat Association – Jim Fenner, President Michigan Anglers Association – Chris Matteson, President Michigan Fly Fishing Club – Joe Sattler, MUCC District 1 Director and club representative Montmorency County Conservation Club – Carol Rose, President North Macomb Sportsmen’s Club – Don Brown, club rep. and Macomb County Commissioner Oakland County Sportfishing Association – Jeff Loehr, President Oakland County Sportsmen’s Club – Joseph W. Oberlee, President Ottawa Sportsmen’s Club – John Stenvig, President Pine River Sportsman’s Club – Dick Herrmann, club representative Ravenna Conservation Club – Joe James, President Richmond Sportsmen’s Club – Jim Kuntz, Secretary Saginaw Field and Stream Club – Tom Heritier, President Saugatuck Area Charter Boat Association – Ron Westrate, President St. Joseph County Conservation & Sportsman Club, Inc. – Allen Kasdorf, Vice President Tri-County Sportsmen’s League – Robert Bolog, President TulipCity Rod and Gun Club, Inc. – Phil Wilcox, Director West Michigan Walleye Club – Jim Brandt, President Western Wayne County Conservation Association – Robert Haviland, President White LakeArea Sportfishing Association – Carl Churchill, President
MUCC District 8 Clubs – Bill Furtaw, Chair
B & BS Gun Club Detroit Area Steelheaders, Inc. Four Square Conservation & Sportsmen’s Association Friends of WC Wetzel State Park Gilbert’s Sportsmen Club HarsensIsland Conservation Club Huron Pointe Sportsmen’s Association Lake St Clair Walleye Association MichiganOntario Muskie Club Mid Thumb Bowmen Club Perch Point Conservation Club Selfridge Rod & Gun Club Southeastern Michigan Conservation St Clair – Pheasants Forever St Clair Hunt & Fish Club St Clair Shores Sportsmen’s Association
MUCC District 1 Clubs – Nancy Dittmar, Chair Downriver Walleye Federation Flat Rock Sportsman Association Four Seasons Fishing Club Friends of the DetroitRiver GardenCityHigh School Sports Club HuronRiver Fishing Association HuronValley Conservation Association Lincoln Bowmen Archery Club Metro West Chapter – MSSFA Paul Bunyan Club WayneCounty Raccoon Hunters Association Wolverine Sports and Conservation Club
