Eagle and Juno lake residents have made it clear: They dont want us on their (public) lakes.
That was exemplified in Edwardsburg, Mi. recently when lake associations pinned back the ears of Michigan DNR representatives over a proposal to develop a new public launch site between the two lakes.
They strongly opposed development of a dual-purpose launch site along Eagle Lake Road. The DNR is ready to purchase the property from First Source Bank to improve access to Eagle and add a launch ramp on the channel leading to the Juno Chain.
The DNR gets negative reactions wherever they conduct public access open houses. In most cases, the uproar dies down after the site is built, in operation, and the residents realize it wasnt nearly as threatening as they believed.
But these homeowners came organized with talking points (irrational mostly), notebooks, and video cameras. If an angler voiced support for the project, he got a tongue lashing.
We were accused of everything from vandalism to bringing exotic plants into the lake, driving 300 HP outboards recklessly, and killing all of their fish.
One spokesperson compared the access proposal to Obamacare because he and others thought the DNR was hiding facts.
But this was an open house to gather public ideas on how to make good use of a great piece of property and create a quality access for boaters and anglers.
In addition to the new launch ramps, Yauk wants to turn the existing pond into a kids fishing site and provide the community with a facility in which it could be proud.
Most of the attending lake residents would have none of that, insisting that their lakes were being threatened by additional boating traffic.
Not surprisingly, a DNR official said that statistics show that a large percentage of boating citations written by conservation officers on public lakes go to lake resident boaters.
It wasnt that long ago that the Dock property was used for boat trailer parking and the public had plentiful access to Eagle Lake.
Since First Source took ownership, the number of outsider boats on the lake has been limited to a few. Not surprisingly, the lakers got accustomed to having their own private playground and now they dont want to share it.
The DNRs next step is to make a presentation to the Michigan State Waterways Commission June 21, followed by a presentation to the Natural Resources Commission in July. If all goes well, the land purchase will be completed in the fall and development/construction will begin next year.
But project leader Yauk needs to hear from non-lake residents who see merit in the project or have ideas how to enhance it. Email him (yaukp@michigan.gov) soon.
The clock is ticking.