Enjoy incredible stargazing opportunities right here in Michigan during International Dark Sky Week April 15-21, a time to celebrate the beauty of the night sky without the effects of light pollution.

Michigan is home to six state-designated Dark Sky Preserves (areas that are protected against light pollution) located within state parks, including Lake Hudson Recreation Area, Negwegon State Park, Port Crescent State Park, Rockport Recreation Area, Thompson’s Harbor State Park and Wilderness State Park. There also are plenty of excellent night-sky viewing opportunities across more than 15,000 square miles in the Upper Peninsula.

Participating parks will stay open later for self-guided views during Dark Sky Week. Please call ahead for individual park hours. Learn more at michigan.gov/darksky.

GW: Couple this prospect with the Democrat-lauded spending bill, the rubber-spined Republicans and Trump are proving there’s not a nickel’s worth of difference between the two.

Yesterday, NMMA issued a new Boating United alert encouraging all industry stakeholders to take action on the aluminum issue. With so much information out there, and so much at stake, the NMMA federal government relations team breaks down how the two different aluminum tariffs will impact the marine industry and our economic ecosystem:

Recreational boating is facing a triple threat as a result of two different aluminum tariffs:

1. The 10% worldwide tariff on aluminum recently announced by the Administration will increase the price of aluminum used by marine manufacturers, 90% of which is domestically produced. Alone, and at 10%, this wouldn’t be such a big deal.

2. However, the 10% tariff is threatening to ignite a trade war, starting with the EU. As a result, $1.7 billion in marine exports could be adversely impacted and damage the global competitiveness of the U.S. marine manufacturing industry.

3. The Department of Commerce is considering an ADDITIONAL 60% tariff on aluminum sheet, a major input to 43% of boats the industry produces, and the majority of trailer manufacturers. Combined with the 10% tariff and loss of exports, U.S. marine manufacturers will be forced to increase prices substantially, potentially crippling the market for some new boats. Read more

West Palm Beach, FL. —TransMedia Group, the public relations firm with a long and distinguished history of introducing revolutionary products, said it was hired to do it again Thursday at the Palm Beach International Boat Show. Read more

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will limit the number of designated backcountry campsites at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, to better protect park resources and help ensure a quality backcountry camping experience.

At roughly 60,000 acres, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is Michigan’s largest state park, home to towering old-growth hemlock-hardwood stands, roaring waterfalls and spectacular sweeping vistas.

Annual visitation to the park is estimated to have grown to over 300,000 people. Read more

Travel farther, faster, and with less impact using one of QuietKat’s FatKat Mountain bikes or trikes.
Colorado based electric bike company QuietKat’s mission is to go above and beyond the standard electric bikes to provide its customers with the ultimate hunting and outdoor recreation machine. The tough, overbuilt design gives users access to deep terrain while minimizing scent trails and noise pollution, allowing them to get closer to game without disturbing the environment. The folding models are ideal for portable transport in all outdoor applications and are a great tool for boating and camping.

QuietKat is running a 2018 sweepstakes to win a cutting edge QuietKat Rover equipped with a 750w hub motor, single-speed gearing, and rigid front fork. There is no purchase necessary to win. From now until the end of the year, visit their website and Facebook for multiple ways to enter. Read more

Tariff would be on top of the Department of Commerce aluminum sheet tariff NMMA has been fighting

President Trump has announced that he decided to impose tariffs on imported steel and aluminum–a tariff that is separate from the Department of Commerce anti-dumping and countervailing investigation on common alloy aluminum sheet from China that NMMA has been fighting.

In his announcement, the President determined he would place a tariff of 25 percent on foreign-made steel and 10 percent on aluminum. This decision was made based on the statutory authority of Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to conduct comprehensive investigations to determine the effects of imports on the national security of the U.S. Based on this investigation, the Secretary of Commerce will make recommendations to the President on how to address any potential issues, however, the final decision is made by the President.

In response to the announcement from the White House, NMMA President Thom Dammrich said, “Today’s decision by the Administration to implement new tariffs severely harms the $37 billion U.S. recreational boating industry and the 650,000 American workers it supports. While these tariffs are meant to protect American manufacturing, they do just the opposite. U.S. manufacturers, like those in our industry, which use American-made aluminum, depend on a competitive global market and fair pricing. What’s more, U.S. aluminum manufacturers are at capacity and unable to supply the wide-width aluminum sheet used by our members, forcing them to seek it overseas.” Read more