In celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Superintendent Dusty Shultz is pleased to announce that the entrance fee to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (National Lakeshore) will be waived during the upcoming holiday weekend, beginning Saturday, January 14 and continuing through Monday, January 16.

The National Lakeshore, along with the other 397 units of the national park system, will waive the entrance fees as part of a nationwide initiative to encourage everyone to visit and experience the many wonders of their national parks acrossAmerica.  The other fee-free days this year include:  April 21-29 (National Park Week), June 9 (Get Outdoors Day), September 29 (National Public Lands Day), and November 10-12 (Veterans Day Weekend).

Winter is a great time to explore the National Lakeshore.  Visit the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center in Empire (open 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily) to learn about all the park has to offer in winter.  Bring your inner tube or saucer and enjoy the designated sliding hill at the Dune Climb, or cross-country ski/snowshoe one of the many trails in the park.  Also, don’t forget to join us for a Park Ranger-led snowshoe hike every Saturday. Hikes begin at 1:00 p.m. at the Visitor Center. Reservations are encouraged.  Park Ranger-led snowshoe hikes are limited to 30 participants.  Please call 231-326-5135, ext. 328, for details and to make reservations.

For more in-depth information, please call the National Lakeshore at 231-326-5134 or visit their website at www.nps.gov/slbe.

Explore Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (National Lakeshore) on snowshoes this winter! Join Park Rangers for a guided snowshoe hike this holiday season and every Saturday throughout the winter.  The first hike of the season will be on Thursday, December 29 at 1:00 p.m.  Thereafter, regularly scheduled Saturday snowshoe hikes will start up again on Saturday, January 7 at 1:00 p.m.  Meet at the National Lakeshore Visitor Center in Empire.  If you do not have your own, snowshoes will be loaned out at no charge.

Inside the Visitor Center, Park Rangers will first provide basic snowshoeing instructions and then everyone will travel by car to the trailhead or area of the National Lakeshore pre-selected for that day. Once there, the Park Ranger will help participants learn about the park’s unique features and winter’s effect on them by exploring and discovering clues on site.  Be prepared and plan to be outside until about 3:00 p.m.  Dress in layers and wear waterproof boots to be most comfortable.

Not only is snowshoeing easy, fun, and good exercise, it is also an activity that can be enjoyed by all ages.  The Park Ranger-led hikes are mildly strenuous, yet they proceed at a leisurely pace for only one and a half miles at the most. 

 Since the National Park Service has a supply of snowshoes for use within the National Lakeshore, participants need only purchase the park entrance pass or have an annual pass to join in the fun.  Reservations are required.  Park Ranger-led snowshoe hikes are limited to 30 participants.

For more information, please call the National Lakeshore at 231-326-5134, extension 328, for details and to make reservations or visit the website at www.nps.gov/slbe.  Also, check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sbdnl.

About the National Park Service:  More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 397 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities.  Learn more at www.nps.gov.

This is an official press release from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Empire. Release date: December 9, 2011. Contact: Lisa Griebel, 231-326-5134, ext. 301, lisa_griebel@nps.gov.

Official Press Release of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

December 9, 2011

Empire, MI - Please join Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on Saturday, December 17 at 1:00 p.m. for a shipwreck program presented by diver/historian Ross Richardson. Discover the legends and history of Sleeping Bear Point and learn about the shipwrecks that lie under her waters.  This program will last approximately 1 to 1.5 hours.  Meet in the Visitor Center Auditorium in Empire.

Ross Richardson Measures Shipwreck

The shipwrecks of the Manitou Passage have attracted underwater explorers for decades.  Today, the underwater photography of these explorers allows landsmen to visit the shipwrecks from the comfort of a warm, dry chair.  JoinParkRangers as diver/historian Ross Richardson helps us explore some of the shipwrecks of Sleeping Bear Point and unravel some of the mysteries they hold.  He has spent the last decade searching for, and documenting, shipwrecks off the coast of west Michigan.  Richardsonis credited with discovering the location of the legendary steamer Westmoreland, which sank south of Sleeping Bear Point in 1854.

Offshore of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore lies the Manitou Passage.  Although this 36-mile long waterway offers some protection from the open waters ofLake Michigan, even the waters of the passage can be treacherous.  Many ships seeking shelter sank in this passage, hitting shoals and sandbars and running aground before being destroyed by the waves ofLake Michigan.  There are 16 known shipwrecks in the passage and around the Manitou Islands, but there may be as many as 45 wrecks still undiscovered on the bottom.  Many wrecks are well-preserved and offer clues on how they surrendered to the strength of the big lake in the days before advanced navigation when ships relied on basic tools like a compass, clock, and chart.  Please join us for this glimpse into the pre-railroad era when shipping on the Great Lakes provided the means for westward expansion to the upperMidwest.  There is still much to discover!

Contact:  Lisa Griebel, 231-326-5134, ext. 301, lisa_griebel@nps.gov

For more information, please call the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore at 231-326-5134 or visit their website at www.nps.gov/slbe.  Also, check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sbdnl.

www.nps.gov/slbe/

About the National Park Service:  More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 396 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities.  Learn more at www.nps.gov.

Official Press Release of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

October 6, 2011

Sleeping Bear Dunes Confirms Type E Botulism in Recent Bird Die-off and Expects More This Fall

Four gull carcasses collected from beaches in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (National Lakeshore) have tested positive for type E botulism toxin (avian botulism). Type E botulism is a powerful neurotoxin that has been linked to large bird die-offs throughout several areas of the Great Lakes in past years. More than 200 birds have already been found dead on National Lakeshore beaches this summer, and based on trends from recent years, that number is expected to increase this fall.

Avian botulism is a paralytic, often fatal disease of birds that results when they ingest toxin produced by the native Clostridium botulinum type E; an anaerobic bacterium found in nutrient-rich lake bottoms. The bacterium spores rest in the gills and digestive tracts of fish living in many North American lakes. The spores can remain viable for years and are harmless until the correct environmental conditions prompt them to germinate. Type E botulism occurs only when the spores germinate and the bacteria multiply and produce toxin. Changes in the Great Lakes ecosystem have increased the growth of the botulism bacterium, which has led to an increase in birds poisoned by eating toxin-tainted fish or invertebrates.

The National Lakeshore is conducting a study of avian botulism to determine whether any steps can be taken to control outbreaks. Dead birds and fish are identified, counted, and collected for analysis. Dedicated National Lakeshore volunteers have helped discover that die-offs begin in the heat of the summer and reach their peak during the fall bird migrations. It is believed that the large flocks of migrating birds ingest the toxin in offshore waters, where it has been accumulating throughout the summer, resulting in the fall die-offs. These are usually detected when strong autumn storms blow the dead birds to shore. At this time last year, nearly 300 birds had been found dead, and then from early October to mid-November, another 385 birds washed ashore.

In addition to actively monitoring the shoreline for sick and dead birds, the park is collaborating with scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the University of Michigan, and Northwestern Michigan College’s Water Studies Institute, to conduct studies in the Lake Michigan nearshore environment to better understand the mechanisms of toxin transmission. Many of these studies are funded through President Obama’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to assure that Great Lakes beaches, fish, and sources of public drinking water are safe, and that the ecosystems that fish and wildlife depend upon are healthy.

Lake Michigan beaches within the National Lakeshore remain safe for swimming and recreation, however, park visitors should exercise caution upon encountering bird or fish carcasses. Type E botulism is not an infectious disease. It is a poison. You must ingest the toxin, usually by eating an undercooked infected fish or animal, to become ill. You are not at risk for contracting botulism by swimming in Lake Michigan. Visitors bringing pets to the park should keep them leashed and away from dead animals on the beach. Pets may be poisoned if they eat dead birds or fish containing botulism.

For more information, please call the National Lakeshore at 231-326-5134 or visit their website at www.nps.gov/slbe. Also, check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sbdnl.

Official Press Release of the Environmental Protection Agency

Traverse City, Michigan – October 6, 2011

EPA Provides Over $1.1 Million for Sleeping Bear Dunes and Grand Traverse Band Watersheds

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced funding for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative projects in Northern Michigan totaling $1.1 million.  The projects will help to restore the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Grand Traverse Band watersheds and put people back to work, using a conservation corps model to hire unemployed workers to improve habitat and clean up shoreline.

The National Park Service and Bureau of Indian Affairs projects were selected from 44 proposals totaling almost $25 million, which were submitted in response to a $6 million challenge that EPA issued in August to encourage federal agencies to sign up unemployed workers to implement restoration projects in federally-protected areas, on tribal lands and in Areas of Concern in the Great Lakes Basin.  To qualify for funding, each project is required to provide jobs for at least 20 unemployed people.

“The tremendous response to EPA’s challenge underscores the large backlog of Great Lakes restoration projects that are ready to be implemented and the strong support that exists for using a conservation corps model to get the job done,” said Susan Hedman, EPA Great Lakes National Program Manager, today at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. “This week, EPA is announcing a total of eight restoration projects worth $6.6 million as part of this challenge.  Each project will produce immediate, direct ecological benefits and will help to put unemployed people back to work.”

The National Park Service will receive $891,225 to expand wetland restoration work in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.  The Bureau of Indian Affairs will receive $255,365 to work with the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians on watershed restoration – part of $876,810 awarded to BIA to allow it to expand its work with tribal governments to complete Great Lakes restoration projects in Indian country.  Other tribes that will participate in the project are the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, the Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin and the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

“The National Park Service is very proud to contribute to this effort,“ said National Park Service Midwest Regional Director Michael T. Reynolds. “Our participation in the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has given us a terrific opportunity to do restoration work in all of our Great Lakes national parks that might never have been accomplished otherwise, and on a scale that can really make a difference.  This project at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore will not only provide jobs in an area with a high rate of unemployment, but will also accomplish much needed work to restore impacted sites throughout the 71,000 acre park.”

“The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians is very pleased to announce that we have received $255,365 to be utilized over 2 years.  We will be using the award to employ 4-5 individuals for ‘on the ground’ field work,” said Tribal Chair Derek J. Bailey.  “The work crew will be supervised by a Grand Traverse Band/Natural Resources Conservation Service collaboratively funded position.  Work will include removing woody debris, planting grasses and shrubs, river shoreline restoration, and hands on placement of bank stabilization materials.”
Selected projects will advance the goals and objectives of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan, developed by EPA with 15 other federal agencies in 2010.  The action plan, which covers FY 2010 through 2014, ensures accountability by including measures of progress and benchmarks for success over the next three years. It calls for aggressive efforts to address five urgent priority “Focus Areas”:

• Cleaning up toxics and areas of concern.
• Combating invasive species.
• Promoting near-shore health by protecting watersheds from polluted run-off.
• Restoring wetlands and other habitats.
• Tracking progress, education and working with strategic partners.

More information on selected projects is available at http://www.glri.us

Official Press Release of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

October 3, 2011

Fall was traditionally “shipwreck season” on the Great Lakes.  One hundred years ago, surfmen of the U.S. Life-Saving Service (LSS) set out each night to hike the shoreline in search of ships in distress.  The public is invited to relive history and join Park Rangers to recreate a traditional evening beach patrol.  Dress for the weather and meet at the Sleeping Bear Point Life-Saving Service Station/Maritime Museum in Glen Haven at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 8 and/or October 15.

Beach Patrol Surfman with Life-Preserver

Before radio communications were used at sea, ships could not call for help.  Spotting a vessel in distress from the shore was the only way rescue crews knew that their assistance was needed.  The beach patrol was one essential part of an LSS surfman’s duties.  Following a more in-depth explanation of the patrol process and some local shipwreck stories told from inside the station, the public will accompany National Park Service Rangers for a lantern-lit hike along the beach.  There are always a few surprises along the way and everyone should carry a flashlight for safety.  Wind and rain will only make the patrol more authentic, so be ready for any weather!

 Unlike the original surfmen, hikers may turn back at any time during the one-hour, one mile roundtrip beach walk and return to the Maritime Museum.  There, they will be welcomed by a volunteer and find shelter, warmth and a chance to see how the Life-Saving Service surfmen once lived in the restored crew’s quarters.  The entire program lasts about two hours.

For more information, please call the National Lakeshore at 231-326-5134 or visit their website at www.nps.gov/slbe.  Also, check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sbdnl.

Official Press Release of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

September 30, 2011

Please join Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (National Lakeshore) at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 8, for the Families United with Nature (FUN) event.  This time, join Park Rangers for a FUN afternoon of exploring the outdoors and create your very own nature book!  Meet at the D. H. Day Campground Log Cabin to take a closer look at nature, make bark and leaf rubbings, and wax paper leaf pressings.  Back at the log cabin, everyone can make a nature book about their adventures.  Be sure to dress for the weather.

FUN is a free outdoor activity club for families of all shapes and sizes that is hosted by the National Lakeshore.  Park Rangers lead programs for families to get outdoors together and try their hand at something new, breathe a little fresh air, and meet other families who enjoy being outside.  FUN meets once a month with additional special events throughout the year.  Some of the FUN activities this year included Winter and Summer Olympics, fishing, and a campfire!  Families do not have to attend all activities; just join in on the FUN whenever you can.

Join the club by attending a FUN event and filling out a membership card.  Members will receive free journals to document their outdoor activities.  FUN activities are free; however, a National Lakeshore Entrance Pass is required for each vehicle.  The Entrance Pass costs $10 and is good for a full week for everyone in the vehicle.  The Annual Park Entrance Pass is only $20 and good for a year from purchase date.  Buy either pass at the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center in Empire.  Reservations for programs are not required, but are recommended by contacting Park Ranger Sarah Chalup at 231-326-5135, ext. 331, or sarah_chalup@nps.gov.

For more information, please call the National Lakeshore at 231-326-5134 or visit their website at www.nps.gov/slbe.  Also, check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sbdnl.

Official Press Release from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

September 30, 2011

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (National Lakeshore) Superintendent Dusty Shultz announced today the availability of the South Manitou Island Boat Dock Extension Environmental Assessment for public review and comment.  The Environmental Assessment describes and analyzes alternative approaches for providing boat dock access to South Manitou Island.

The South Manitou Island boat dock lies in shallow water in an area subject to sediment accumulation.  Eventually, this buildup of sediment forms a sandbar beneath the boat dock that extends out into open water, blocking access to the dock.

The South Manitou Island boat dock, located on the southeast shore of South Manitou Island bay, is the only manageable access point to the island for public visitors and National Park Service staff.  From the dock, visitors have a short walk to the lighthouse, a U.S. Life-Saving Service and Coast Guard Station that now serves as a ranger station, and several historically preserved 19th century farm buildings.  The island’s many trails begin from the dock landing and allow visitors a scenic hike to the high perched dunes overlooking the island’s western shore, a natural inland lake (FlorenceLake), three designated backcountry campgrounds, and numerous other natural features.

Under the “No Action” Alternative, the proposed dock extension would not be constructed.  The existing dock facility would continue to operate.  There would be a continued need for ongoing maintenance dredging to support ferry operations.  This dredging would be conducted as needed and would result in the removal of materials from the dock area and the disposal of such materials in nearshore aquatic habitats.

Under the Preferred Alternative, the existing dock would be extended further into Lake Michigan.  This extension would allow boat access in deeper waters and would minimize or eliminate the need for future maintenance dredging at South Manitou Island.  Construction of this facility is expected to be completed in a three to four week timeframe.  The structure would be constructed out of wood and steel connectors.  Wood pilings would be driven into the lake bottom to form the basis of the structure and would be of a similar type as the existing dock facility.

The National Lakeshore encourages you to comment on the Environmental Assessment until the public comment period closes on November 4, 2011.  The document may be reviewed on the National Lakeshore’s website at www.nps.gov/slbe (just click on the “South Manitou Island Boat Dock Extension EA” icon).  Paper copies are available for review at theNationalLakeshoreVisitorCenter in Empire, the Glen Lake Community Library, Leelanau Township Library, Leland Township Library, and Suttons Bay Bingham District Library.

Please submit your comments electronically through a link on the National Lakeshore’s website.  Alternatively, you may mail comments to:  Superintendent, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore,9922 Front Street, Empire, MI 49630.

The National Lakeshore looks forward to receiving your comments concerning the South Manitou Island Boat Dock Extension Environmental Assessment.  For more information, please contact Facility Manager Lee Jameson at 231-326-5134, ext. 500, or visit the National Lakeshore website at www.nps.gov/slbe/

About the National Park Service:  More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 395 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities.  Learn more at www.nps.gov.

Official Press Release from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

September 27, 2011

The National Park Service will burn debris piles this fall at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.  About 45 burn piles were produced as non-native Austrian pines were cut during an invasive tree removal and dune restoration project.  Burning these piles will remove the woody material from what used to be a more open beach area, and allow native dune vegetation to again become established.  The restoration area is located in a remote section of dunes about a mile southwest of the mouth of the Platte River.

 To ensure safe, but effective consumption of the piles, they will be burned only under a specific set of weather and fuel conditions, or “prescription.”  In addition to safety, smoke dispersal is a primary concern and wind direction and speed will be monitored to minimize smoke drifting into developed areas and roadways from the remote fire location.  The prescribed fire program at the National Lakeshore is conducted by trained and experienced National Park Service fire personnel.

 Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is one of 395 units of the National Park System ranging from Yellowstone to the Statue of Liberty.  More information can be found at http://www.nps.gov/slbe/.

Contact:  Steve Yancho, 231-326-5134, ext. 421, Steve_Yancho@nps.gov

www.nps.gov

About the National Park Service:  More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 395 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities.  Learn more at www.nps.gov.

Official Press Release from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

September 15, 2011

(Photo by National Park Service)

If you love the sun, fun, and beauty of our area beaches, it is time again to show it! Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (National Lakeshore) is celebrating National Public Lands Day (NPLD) and inviting the public to help clean up its beaches on Saturday, September 24 from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m.  Admission to all national parks, including the National Lakeshore, is free that day, and volunteers will receive a voucher to use for entrance to various parks at a later date.  So bring your family, your class, your troop, your group, or just yourself, and join others across the country in protecting our public lands.

NPLD 2011 celebrates service and recreation, and encourages volunteers to get outdoors to explore, enjoy, and improve America’s natural wonders.  NPLD is the largest volunteer hands-on activity of its kind in the country.  Held in September each year, the event brings together thousands of individual and organizational volunteers to refurbish and restore the country’s public lands.  These are the places Americans use for outdoor recreation, education, and just plain enjoyment.  They encompass national parks, monuments, wildlife refuges, forests, grasslands, marine sanctuaries, lakes, and reservoirs managed by government agencies, but belonging to, and enjoyed by, all of us.

The National Lakeshore beach cleanup coincides with the International Coastal Cleanup, which is sponsored by the Ocean Conservancy and takes place around the world every year.  Participants not only contribute to cleaner coastlines, but collect data from the debris they pick up.  That data is then compiled and analyzed by the Ocean Conservancy, and locally by the Alliance for the Great Lakes, a non-profit group concerned with the future of the Great Lakes.  Volunteers will collect and tally all the trash they find along the beaches – plastic bags, balloons, cigarette butts – you name it!

Phillip A. Hart Visitor Center in Empire (Photo by NPS)

Park Rangers will meet volunteers at the Visitor Center located on Highway M-72 in Empire. Volunteers should bring water to drink, wear weather-appropriate clothes (rain or shine), sunscreen or hat, and closed-toed shoes.  Tools and other needed materials will be supplied.  As a token of appreciation, each volunteer will also receive a free, one-day pass good for entrance to any federal recreation land (national forest, national park site, wildlife refuge) before September 29, 2012.  Credit for three hours of community service will also be available, if interested.

For details, please contact Interpretive Park Ranger Ryan Locke at the National Lakeshore at 231-326-5134 or visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/slbe.  Also, check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sbdnl.