Success Stories:
Planned Growth
in Michigan's Upper Peninsula
By Diane Meyer
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AnneMarie Askwith
discussing toxic chemicals getting into water systems |
EUP Conservation Design Task Force
Diane Meyer
3617 Bermuda Avenue
Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783
906-635-1003
E-mail: diane_f_meyer@hotmail.com
-or-
Annemarie Askwith
1300 Ryan
Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783
906-635-1003 (ext. 106)
E-mail: askwitha@30below.com
Residents of the Eastern
Upper Peninsula are very concerned about changes that
have taken place in recent years about what they perceive
to be increased development of seasonal homes, hotels/motels,
and mall/shopping centers, and about population size and
amount of traffic. After five task force members participated
in a four-session workshop on conservation design conducted
by Rod Cortright of the MSU Extension Office, the Eastern
Upper Peninsula Task Force was formed in February 2000.
Conservation planning and
design is a method of developing property while respecting
natural resources, which can be applied to one piece of
property, or to an entire township or municipality. Our
mission is to provide educational materials and presentations
on land use and conservation design zoning options to
city, county, and township officials, businesses, and
the public. Our volunteer task force members see the need
to minimize or prevent impacts of development on aquatic
habitat, farmland, woodland, birds, and wildlife, and
want the character of the EUP to be preserved as development
takes place. As a result of our efforts, we have seen
an increased awareness by the officials and the community
regarding conservation options and patterns of development.
Additionally, a local municipality is taking steps to
encourage conservation design. Conservation
planning and design is a method of developing property
while respecting natural resources.
What do you consider
the key to your success?
Public outreach, including
one-on-one conversations, informal gatherings for group
discussion, as well as contacts at public events (such
as the county fair) to listen to people’s concerns and
to build support. Our educational materials were very
visual and our displays included hands-on models that
added dimensions beyond words.
How would you outline
the steps you took to organize your project in order to
advise another group working on a similar project?
Weekly meetings helped keep
us on track and organized. Having an agenda is key to
a successful meeting.
What have the effects
of this effort been on your organization’s work?
This effort gave our campaign
a kick start. Along the way new task force members joined
the effort because they liked our goals and our approach
to the problem.
How has the project affected
your community?
Increased public awareness.
One city is currently working on rewriting its master
plan and zoning ordinance to allow and encourage conservation
design. This city could influence a county-wide zoning
ordinance.
What particular stumbling
blocks, challenges, or defeats did you encounter?
Challenges included:
(a) time restraints since
volunteers have full-time jobs
(b) a full-time coordinator
is needed,
(c) conflicting schedules
of volunteers limited the amount of outreach, and
(d) a number of task force
members moved or resigned over the course of our existence.
How many people were
involved?
(a) Initially: 5
(b) Finally: 9
(c) Total # serving as members
since beginning: 15 (3 of the 5 original members remain
on the task force, adding continuity).
(d) Others helped with articles
and displays. Hundreds of volunteer hours have been poured
into this project.
How was public involvement
motivated and facilitated?
The survey allowed public
input. The displays and educational models attracted the
public at the Spring Show and at the County Fair. Contacts
often led to presentations to other groups.
How was public education
a component of your program?
We prepared a number of
brochures and informational papers. We used an interactive
model that shows the impacts of development on wetlands
and groundwater. We used graphics showing increased development
in specific areas in the Eastern U.P.
What was the primary
means of communication?
One-on-one conversations
and small group discussions.
What resources were available/acquired/tapped
into?
- A Great Lakes Aquatic
Habitat Network and Fund Grant of $3,000
- A Chippewa/East Mackinac
Conservation District match of $1,500
- A Lake Superior Alliance
Grant of $900
- Volunteer hours
- MSU Extension staff presentations
- Lake Superior State University
staff time
What level and types
of media exposure were you able to obtain and how did
it affect/assist your efforts?
Articles announcing the
project and activities, and a series of newspaper articles
explaining conservation design.
Other comments that you
feel would be helpful to other grassroots organizations
working on similar projects.
Have a good structure in
place and a clearly-defined project with desired outcomes.
Put emphasis on personal contacts and alliances with a
broad base of community members and groups, educational
facilities, and public agencies. Plan on being active
over the long term.
EUP Conservation Design Task Force
Diane Meyer
3617 Bermuda Avenue
Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783
906-635-1003
E-mail: diane_f_meyer@hotmail.com
-or-
Annemarie Askwith
1300 Ryan
Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783
906-635-1003 (ext. 106)
E-mail: askwitha@30below.com
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