Hello, My name is Wendy Retzloff and I vacation at my Parents home in Crystal Michigan at Loon Lake in which the lake is divided by land as someone has filled in the wetland part of the lake in which is just about dried up. The neighbor's have written many letters to the state regarding destruction of the lake to the state with no response. "Loon Lake" was know as home nesting grounds to Loons, Sand Crain's and Herrings which are no longer seen, raccoons scavenge the area eating turtles, clams and fish that no longer have water as the water continues to drain. This all has occurred over the past two years in which is devastating the area greatly. Now the new Drain Commissioner hired her Husband who does sewer and drain work and spent county funds and put in a new drain which is also making things so difficult it will be very hard to recover the loss of this huge area of wetland. It appears that just anyone can drain a wet land and get away with it. I have been coming to stay at this lake every summer since I was 16 years old and now 32 years later, I have watched in two years how fast a wet land can drain and kill a special area that I used to catch turtles and watch the loons and other wildlife nest and grow. No longer there for anyone's grandchildren to watch and learn. Please advise as to what to do?
I've had numerous opportunities to attend educational workshop geared towards environmental issues/problems. They have always been well organized, well instructed and well attended. These have included the cougar infiltration in Michigan, feral hog problems, wildflowers, watershed management and wetland restoration. I am amazed that the MWF is able to conduct such a variety of workshops and services with a meager staff. The volunteer expertise they gather to assist is outstanding.
HI;
Don Elloitt and I have been a volunteers at Michigan Wildlife
Conservancy for ten years and have enjoyed all of the events and
projects we have worked on.
Helping in the gardens and planning the Annual Fall Family events
continue to be our favorites. Every time we volunteer time in the
gardens and at the Fall event we learn something new! Speakers at the
event have done an excellent job of teaching us how to help preserve
Michigan's streams, lakes, native plants and wildlife.
The staff is knowledgeable and always ready to answer our questions and
lead us on hikes through the many trails on the Conservancy
grounds.
The appreciate receiving the MWC news letter it is well written and informative.
Working with all of the volunteers at MWC is a very rewarding
experience. It provides the opportunity to meet and make friends with
so many people that we would not have encountered otherwise.
The MWC will continue to recieve our support.
Denise Elliott