Contact: Jon Mayes, 517-284-5954

The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Board has recommended that the Michigan Legislature approve 60 recreation development projects and 15 land acquisitions totaling $45 million to be funded in 2026.

The board this year considered a total of 100 applications seeking over $56.6 million in funding. In a competitive process, all eligible applications were evaluated based on scoring criteria approved by the Trust Fund board.

The panel recommends funding to state and local agencies for development projects and land acquisitions aimed at furthering access to public outdoor recreation.

This year, the board recommended $19.1 million for development project grants and $25.8 million for acquisition grants.

Inside those amounts, there were 55 development grants totaling $17,704,000 and 10 acquisition grants totaling $10,266,000 recommended to be awarded to local units of government. In addition, five development projects totaling $1,430,000 and five acquisition purchases totaling $15,600,000 were recommended for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.”

“The Trust Fund continues to be a tremendous source of funding for important projects and land acquisitions across Michigan,” said Michigan Department of Natural Resources Director Scott Bowen. “Since 1976, more than 3,000 projects or acquisitions have been funded with the help of Trust Fund dollars, creating an outstanding legacy spanning nearly half a century.”

The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund is a restricted fund that was established in 1976 to provide funding for public acquisition of lands for resource protection and outdoor recreation, as well as for public outdoor recreation development projects. It is funded through interest and earnings on funds derived from the revenues of state-owned oil, gas and minerals.

Over the past 49 years, the Trust Fund has granted more than $1.3 billion to state and local units of government, across 3,015 allocations, to develop and improve recreation opportunities in Michigan.

“From a Keweenaw Heartlands land acquisition in Keweenaw County to a Salsinger Trailhead land purchase as part of the Joe Louis Greenway in Detroit, to dozens of development projects scattered all over our state, the Trust Fund is making substantial progress every single year,” said Dr. Brandy Brown, chairwoman of the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Board.

The Trust Fund board’s recommendations will go to the Michigan Legislature for review as part of the appropriations process. Upon approval, the Legislature will forward a bill to the governor for signing.

A list of the final recommendations made by the Trust Fund board is available at Michigan.gov/MNRTF.

One of Michigan’s crown jewels – the Pigeon River Country State Forest, known as the “Big Wild” due to its wilderness-like character and home to Michigan’s elk herd – just got bigger, and Michigan’s residents are the proud new owners.

On behalf of the public, using grant funding and private donations, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has acquired 8,850 acres of land, including over 14 miles of trout streams, three lakes and suitable habitat for a variety of wildlife, including elk, black bear and white-tailed deer. Read more

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced today 13 community recreation facilities projects recommended for a combined $11.9 million in Land and Water Conservation Fund grants.

“This year, the Land and Water Conservation Fund is directing just under $12 million in federal funds through the state of Michigan to local park improvements, acquisitions and development,” said DNR Director Scott Bowen. “Pathways, boardwalks, playgrounds, pools and more will be improved with this year’s Land and Water Conservation Fund grants, providing a valuable injection of funds into local communities for important recreation-related projects.”

The projects recommended for funding are in Barry, Benzie, Berrien, Houghton, Kalamazoo, Kent, Macomb, Oakland, Oceana, Van Buren, and Wayne counties. That funding will support replacing dilapidated play structures, restroom buildings, developing multi-use sport courts, outdoor community pool and much more.

The 2025 Land and Water Conservation Fund recommendations are:

• Village of Lawerence (Van Buren County) Lawrence Village Park Playground Improvements $301,200.
• City of Kalamazoo (Kalamazoo County) Milham Park Improvements $500,000.
• St. Joseph Charter Township (Berrien County) Eaton Park Restroom and Park Improvements $359,000.
• City of Farmington Hills (Oakland County) Heritage Park Playground and Parking $500,000.
• City of Ferndale (Oakland County) Martin Road Park Playground Replacement $150,000.
• City of East Grand Rapids (Kent County) Waterfront Park Improvement Project Phase 2 $500,000.
• Shelby Township (Oceana County) Shelby Community Pool $500,000.
• Village of Elberta (Benzie County) Terminus Park Acquisition $5,347,600.
• Macomb Township (Malcomb County) Lucido River Park Pathway and Boardwalk Project $500,000.
• White Lake Township (Oakland County) Stanley Park Improvements $500,000.
• City of Dearborn (Wayne County) Splash Pad at Camp Dearborn $500,000.
• DNR Parks and Recreation Division (Bay County) Bay City State Park Campground Utilities Upgrades $1,250,000.
• DNR Parks and Recreation Division (Houghton) Houghton Douglass Falls Phase 2 Development $1,000,000.

Projects were scored and selected from a field of 11 grant applications from local units of government and 2 applications from the DNR totaling $11,907,800. All eligible proposed projects received a site visit from DNR Grants Management staff, and all applications were evaluated, scored and ranked.

Check out an online list of the 2025 Rankings and Recommendations.

Program background

Funds are available to states through the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund program for land acquisition and development of outdoor recreation facilities.

The DNR uses Land and Water Conservation Fund dollars to help develop public outdoor recreation facilities to give people better, broader access to quality public outdoor recreation opportunities. The program supports Native American tribes, villages, cities, townships and counties and divisions within the DNR.

Following federal appropriation, LWCF funds are apportioned to the states each fiscal year, and then, the state’s project recommendations are sent to the National Park Service for approval.

Application information

Eligible applicants include any unit of government, such as Native American tribes, school districts or any combination of units with the legal authority to provide recreation. Applicants can seek funding for a variety of projects, including development of and improvements to playgrounds, trails and walkways, skate parks, boat launches, picnic areas, sports fields and campgrounds, in addition to improved access for users of all abilities beyond Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines.

Application materials and information for LWCF grants will be available early in 2026 at Michigan.gov/LWCFGrants. Applications for the 2026 funding cycle are due April 1.

If you’re an avid wildlife watcher but prefer a perch from the warmth and comfort of indoors, give Project FeederWatch a try. With Michigan temps predicted to stay fairly frigid, it may be the coziest way to connect with nature – and collect helpful birding data.

A November-April survey of birds that visit backyards, nature centers, community areas and other locales in North America, Project FeederWatch is headed up by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Birds Canada. People of all ages and skill levels are invited to help: children, families, solo seekers, classrooms, retirees, youth groups, nature centers and bird clubs.

While most people focus on birds coming to feeding stations, DNR wildlife biologist Karen Cleveland said a feeder isn’t a necessity.

“The only requirement is having an area from which you like to watch birds; the location and setting are entirely up to you,” she said. “The schedule is flexible, too. Count the birds you see every week or once all winter. You choose how much time you put into it.” Read more

The Michigan Community Tree Species Selection Guide is now available. This handbook, created by DNR Urban Forester Lawrence Law, is your guide to planting the right tree in the right place.

“Choosing the right tree for the right place is one of the most important steps in any tree planting project,” Law said. “Careful planning and informed species selection are essential.”

From downtowns and village centers to private yards, this guide will help you make informed tree decisions with practical, science-based guidance. The guide offers tips on what to look for when purchasing trees, help in evaluating different species and cultivars, and help in deciding which trees work best in an urban environment.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published four proposed rules to restore Endangered Species Act (ESA) regulations to their 2019 and 2020 framework. The service says the rules are designed to provide clarity and predictability to how the ESA is implemented while utilizing “science-based conservation that works hand in hand with America’s energy, agricultural and infrastructure priorities.”

Specifically, the service has proposed rules concerning the procedures and criteria used for listing, reclassifying, and delisting species, and designating critical habitat; reinstating definitions guiding how federal agencies cooperate in carrying out the ESA’s provisions; removing the “blanket rule” option for protecting newly listed threatened species; and revising the criteria used when designating any particular area as critical habitat.

Undoubtedly, the way agencies have implemented, and courts have interpreted, rules and regulations, the ESA has strayed from the act’s original intent. The Sportsmen’s Alliance has engaged in numerous ESA-litigation matters, including multiple ongoing lawsuits regarding the status of gray wolves throughout the United States. Unfortunately, we’re stuck in a cycle of agency action, litigation, new agency action, new litigation, and so on.

While we applaud the service for doing something to steer endangered species policy back onto the tracks laid by the ESA, we’re carefully reviewing and evaluating all four rules to ensure they effectively address necessary fixes to the act’s implementation without placing imperiled species and habitats behind development goals. In addition to commenting on the proposed rules, we’re prepared to enter legal battles that are sure to result from these proposals. Read more

Allegan is now the 17th Michigan county where chronic wasting disease has been identified in the wild deer population, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. An emaciated doe reported by residents of Leighton Township recently tested positive for the disease.

CWD was confirmed by the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. The sample was also sent for a secondary confirmation to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, but results may be delayed due to the federal government shutdown.

CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects white-tailed deer, elk and moose. To date, the disease has also been detected in the following Michigan counties: Clinton, Dickinson, Eaton, Genesee, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Mecosta, Midland, Montcalm, Ogemaw and Washtenaw.

The declining health of this 1.5-year-old doe was first noted by private landowners in late summer. In late September, the DNR was contacted and authorized humane euthanasia and collection of the deer. On exam at the DNR’s Wildlife Disease Lab, the deer was noted to be in poor physical condition with no body fat. Read more

New population confirmed in Jackson County

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) has completed its 2025 spotted lanternfly monitoring efforts, confirming a new population in Jackson County thanks to a report submitted by an attentive Michigander through the Eyes in the Field reporting tool.

“Spotted lanternfly does not pose a risk to human or animal health, but it can be a serious outdoor nuisance,” said MDARD Director Tim Boring. “Public reporting plays a key role in identifying new spotted lanternfly infestations and helping MDARD and its partners respond quickly.”

As of November 2025, MDARD has confirmed spotted lanternfly populations in Jackson, Lenawee, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland and Wayne Counties. Among other actions to slow the invasive insect’s spread, MDARD and its partners: Read more

Fortunately, two hunters are uninjured after an encounter with three grizzly bears on the morning of Nov. 5 on the Pyramid Pass Trail east of Seeley Lake.

The hunters had harvested a mule deer buck earlier in the morning and were hiking to retrieve the deer when they encountered the bears. They were about two miles from the Pyramid Pass Trailhead when they saw three grizzly bears approximately 100 yards away, running towards them.

The hunters reported that they yelled at the bears and waved their arms, but the bears continued running towards the hunters without slowing down. One hunter shot at and possibly killed two of the grizzly bears, and the third bear retreated towards the mule deer carcass.

The hunters left the site right away and immediately reported the incident as self-defense to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. The U.S. Forest Service has posted signs at the Pyramid Pass Trailhead to alert visitors of the recent bear activity. Read more