Corps of Engineers Consultation, June 15, 2010

Supervisor Pokorski arranged for a visitor from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to consult on wetlands in Presque isle Township, and he met us (Pokorski, Crouch, Lewis, Taylor and Kinney) at the 1870 Lighthouse at 11:00 on June 15, 2010. His name is Ed Arthur. (email: edward.j.arthur@lre02.usace.army.mil)
We agreed that we should actually see the properties in question, so we drove in separate vehicles first to the Range Light Park. Clif Taylor wanted to know about the process for building a pavilion at the Range Light Park. He was told to submit a plan for the pavilion and that mentioning planting grasses to hold the sand from drifting would be a nice touch toward getting a permit approved. We noticed that the range light markers on shore have been re-surfaced and refurbished by the Coast Guard and some of the bushes trimmed (although the bushes are growing back fast.)
We all (except Taylor & Crouch) then drove to the 1840 Lighthouse to examine the "dip." The place in question is a low section beyond the parking area close to the cottage and on the woods side of posts and ropes that have been installed by the volunteers. It contains blow-downs from a storm. Clayton Peters had hoped to merely chip up the blow-downs and leave them there and/or fill the area. Mr. Arthur said that would not work because it would constitute filling a wetland (the space is a wetland because it has hydric soils and vegetation even though hydrology was not present). Grinding the stumps to the ground level would be permitted and they may not be pulled out. Planting of similar vegetation would be permitted. Existing pathways in similar wetland areas cannot be mulched. There was discussion about the roadway and Mr. Arthur said that the exit and entrance from the open parking area to the 1840 LH would be more convenient to drivers if they were reversed,-but then present parking spots would need to be changed to fit the flow of traffic.
We asked about the memorial bench project. He said that we will be able to pour a concrete pad and install a bench on the higher ground near the bell. The lower land nearer the water is state land according to the 580.5 ft. rule. (Land below 580.5 feet in altitude is state land by law.) Bill Lewis asked about the "rock thieves." Mr. Arthur says that that the former MDEQ, now MDNRE has the responsibility to ticket rock thieves and lacks personnel (particularly personnel with that commitment). An employee, Scott Rasmussen, has been known to track down rock thieves in the past. A rock thief, he said, would be breaking at least three laws by removing rocks.
The others then drove to the 1870 property and visited the fog signal pavilion (I had to go home to make lunch for guests.) to look at the pavilion and determine what could be done about preventing potential rock thieves and drivers of all-terrain vehicles from driving on the rock beach. Some comments were made about a dock on the North Bay side of the 1870 project for wind-surfers and small sailboats that would require a permit, but would probably be positively received, according to the discussion. No more guidelines or decisions were considered, according to Bill Lewis who accompanied them.

Nancy Pearson Kinney, Acting Chair
Presque Isle Township Parks and Recreation Committee