By Louie Stout

(DNR conceptual illustration can be seen here)

Support is growing for a new access on Eagle and Juno lakes but the battle is expected to be a tough one.

The Eagle Lake Improvement Association has again contracted with an attorney and is expected to raise objections and stall the DNR development as it did with a larger site last fall.

The Michigan would like to purchase another property between the two Cass County lakes near Edwardsburg and will make a presentation of a preliminary site design to the Ontwa Township Planning Commission Feb. 5.

The meeting will be at the township hall, located across from Lunker’s, at 7 p.m. Area sportsmen are urged to attend to show their support and arrive early to get a seat. The hall is small and opponents of the access are expected to show up in force.

Representatives from the Michigan United Conservation Clubs, Michigan Bass Federation, Michiana Walleye Association and other sportsmen groups are expected to voice support for the project at the Feb. 5 meeting.

MUCC Executive Director Erin McDonough said her association, the largest statewide conservation organization in the nation, is firmly behind the new access.

“Boating and fishing access is a top issue to this organization,” she said. “We have seen private individuals try to keep the public off public resources and that’s not right. This is a resource everyone should have the right to enjoy and it’s critical we get a boat launch and access to these waters.”

It’s the second attempt by the DNR to procure access on the popular fishing lakes. Last fall, the state met stiff resistance from lake residents who ultimately formed an LLC and bought the former Dock property out from under the DNR when the state’s option to purchase ran out of time. The dock property served as a parking area for boaters for years.

Oddly enough, the new proposed site is adjacent to the one the DNR tried to buy last year. The smaller parcel consists of six vacant lots on Eagle Lake road, north of the Christina Lake channel and across from Eagle Lake. Asking price was about $594,000.

Ontwa Township resident Gary Owens spearheaded the effort to renew discussions on an access. After the DNR lost the first site, he researched available lands, alerted and prodded state officials to get involved, met with township leaders and rallied support from state conservationists.

“I believe we can still do this, but we’re going to need a stronger voice from the public to offset lake association resistance,” said Owens.

The DNR proposal calls for 16 vehicle/trailer parking spots, five spots for cars without trailers and a boat launch into the channel going to the Juno Chain.

The DNR also proposes to extend the shoreline on Eagle Lake for construction of a safer boat launch north of the existing ramp while providing access to the parking lot on the other side of the road.

The new concept not only answers many of the lake residents’ objections to the previous site, but it has gained support from statewide conservation organizations and some support from township officials.

“I support it and was in favor of the first one too,” said Ontwa Zoning Administrator Wayne Hardin. “That east end of the lake has been public beach forever. The new proposal offers less boat parking than the first one and it’s away from the road curve, making it a safer access, which were the lake association’s objections to the first project. Even so, it’s going to be up to the board members.”

DNR Project Manager Paul Yauk said he has received enough support from the township to try again before making a financial commitment to the land.

“I expect resistance, but I also see a lot of support from fishing and boating groups,” Yauk added. “We will offer the community an opportunity to get involved in the final development.”