KALKASKA -- More than 1,700 acres of woods and water in Kalkaska County could soon be off limits from future development and open for public hunting, fishing and other recreation.
The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy is working with the state to buy the old Flowing Well fish hatchery and surrounding property, about eight miles east of Kalkaska.
State natural resources officials are considering the purchase of an approximate $3.4 million conservation and public access easement at the site, much of it bordered by state and federal land.
It will be the second largest conservation project in the local conservancy's history, said Matt McDonough who's their senior land protection specialist.
"There aren't too many 1,700-acre tracts of property out there to protect anymore," he said. The land is owned by a group of downstate residents who use it as a hunting and fishing retreat.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources intends to clean up fish disease contamination at the former hatchery, while the conservancy will remove a number of old buildings, officials said.
The nearly three square miles of property includes river frontage on the North Branch of the Manistee River, Morrison Creek and other smaller tributaries, all state-designated natural rivers. Habitats there include conifer swamps, aspen-birch and northern hardwood forests.
A bald eagle and red-shouldered hawk are known to live at the site, which also is ideal habitat for wood turtles and eastern massassauga rattlesnakes, McDonough said.
The hatchery closed down after a heavy infestation of whirling disease about six years ago. It's a potentially fatal fish parasite that spreads in water and can remain in sediment for decades, said Tom Rozich, DNR fishery biologist.
DNR officials do not want the disease to end up in the Manistee River watershed, he said.
"The parasite burrows into the skin of fish and gets into the central nervous system, avoiding the fish's immune system," Rozich said.
Existing fish raceways and ponds at the old hatchery will be drained, treated with lime and then buried.
There are no cost estimates yet for the work, Rozich said.
DNR Director Rebecca Humphries will consider the easement at the Aug. 14 meeting of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission in Lansing, while the conservancy's board will decide on the project at a meeting in September.
Osama Bin Laden Zombie Movie: "Osombie" Teaser Released
Thomas' moratorium: 'I'm out, peace'
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
NASCAR Drive for Diversity
VS Model Quits Over Religion
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week 2012
Androgynous Model Walks Runway As Man and Woman
Khloe Kardashian Responds to O.J. Rumors
SportsTalk Live: Most hated athletes - 2/8
Louis Vuitton Condoms?!
Tiger Woods 13: Legacy mode
Michelle Obama vs. Jimmy Fallon
Buffalo Barges Into Car
Video of Ga. Man Who Killed Girl Released
Has Iceland’s Nessie shown itself?
Brady-ing is Latest Internet Meme
Beyonce Is Sexy in Sequins
Mo. Teen Gets Life Sentence for Killing Girl, 9
Zip-Lining Man Slams Into Tree
