The Department of Natural Resources today announced recipients of the 2014 Wildlife Habitat Grants. A total of $737,720 was awarded to various conservation and nonprofit organizations, units of government and landowners.
Examples of funded projects include planting native grasslands for pheasant habitat at Lake Hudson State Recreation Area, planting fruit trees for wild turkey and ruffed grouse food sources in several locations across the state, and improving accessibility for limited-mobility hunters and wildlife enthusiasts at Sharonville State Game Area.
Below is a list of successful applicants, the award amount and the county in which the habitat projects will take place.
Applicant
Amount
County
Conservation Resource Alliance
$31,500
Benzie, Grand Traverse
Gratiot Conservation District
$16,900
Gratiot
Hiawatha Sportsman’s Club
$28,200
Mackinac
Huron-Manistee National Forests – Baldwin Ranger District
$15,500
Newaygo, Oceana
Kipple Creek Cliffs LLC
$53,900
Marquette
Mid-Forest Lodge
$16,800
Roscommon
Michigan United Conservation Clubs
$181,800
Statewide
Muskegon Conservation District
$59,200
Muskegon
Pheasants Forever, Inc.
$44,000
Lenawee
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute
$18,200
Barry
Ruffed Grouse Society
$30,800
Gratiot, Ionia, Montcalm, Clinton
Sanilac Conservation District
$35,100
Sanilac
Superior Watershed Partnership
$40,300
Alger, Luce
The Nature Conservancy
$32,400
Van Buren
U.P. Whitetails Association, Inc.
$19,800
Delta
Zero Day (Combat Veteran Job Skills Program)
$113,320
Jackson, Washtenaw
TOTAL
$737,720
The Wildlife Habitat Grant Program (WHGP), which began in October 2013, is funded with a portion of the revenue generated by the sale of hunting and fishing licenses each year. The WHGP is administered by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources through a cooperative effort between the DNR’s Wildlife Division and Grants Management Section.
The main objective of the WHGP is to enhance and improve the quality and quantity of game species habitat in support of specific goals from the Wildlife Division’s strategic plan – The GPS. Those goals are:
GPS Goal 2 – Manage habitat for sustainable wildlife populations in a changing environment.
GPS Goal 4 – Increase public participation, acceptance, and support of hunting and trapping and increase participation in non-consumptive wildlife-related recreation.
