RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF ACQUISITION OF BATTLE CREEK WATERSHED PROPERTY TO MAINTAIN CONTINUOUS QUALITY WILDLIFE HABITAT AND PREVENT THE DESTRUCTION OF SAME WHILE PROTECTING WATER QUALITY OF ELK LAKE AND THE GRAND TRAVERSE BAY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
WHEREAS, public lands are essential to the spiritual and recreational needs of all of our citizens and affect their health and well-being.
WHEREAS, state demographers project the Grand Traverse Region will experience unprecedented growth-development pressure in the next twenty years.
WHEREAS, quality wildlife habitat is rapidly decreasing throughout the region.
WHEREAS, places of natural beauty, inhabited by a variety of wildlife, greatly enhance the quality of life for all who live in and visit this region.
WHEREAS recent research in regional economic development at Carnegie Mellon University reveals that communities that learn how to improve quality of life by conserving natural resources and safeguarding environmental values are more economically competitive. Moreover, superior environmental quality and accessible natural resources are vital in attracting talented people needed to compete in the new global economy.
WHEREAS, much of this proposed acquistion is wetland which is an important, valued factor in maintaining present and future water quality of the area. BATTLE CREEK flows into Elk Lake which flows into East Bay.
WHEREAS, this proposed acquisition, in addition to containing valuable wetlands, is a significant wildlife corridor and an area in which over 100 bird species have been observed since March 1, 2003.
WHEREAS, this watershed is a place where species of special concern in Michigan, the Northern Goshawk and American Bittern as well as species designated as threatened, the Red-shouldered Hawk and Caspian Tern, have been obseved.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the The Grand Traverse Audubon Club supports any action that facilitates the acquisition of as much of this watershed as possible by the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy for ownership by Whitewater Township, Grand Traverse County, the State of Michigan, or any organization or entity mandated to preserve its ecological integrity in perpetuity.
Adopted this 15th day of July, 2003 by the executive board of the Grand Traverse Audubon Club .
Robert Carstens
Vice-President – Environment
Kay Beerthuis
President – G.T. Audubon