Grand Traverse Bay: A Time of Choice Basic Issues

Abstract

With the passage of the Shorelands Protection and Management Act of 1970 (Act 245), the Michigan Water Resources Commission (WRC) was charged with the establishment of a shorelands management plan for Michigan's Great Lakes shorelands. In the process of formulating these management recommendations, the commission has been involved with the University of Michigan Sea Grant Program in a pilot shoreland study in Grand Traverse Bay. Soon after commencing this project the WRC and Sea Grant established contact with a number of concerned citizens w ho have provided valuable information and suggestions. In August of 1971 this group established itself as the Traverse Bay Shorelands Coordinating Committee, with the hope of gaining membership from all bay-area political, planning, and citizen groups. In response to requests by members of the Shorelands Coordinating Committee, Sea Grant is preparing a series of background papers which identify some bay shorelands and water problems and some initial recommendations. This general report is the first in a series which will be presented to interested citizens through the Shorelands Coordinating Committee. These conceptual reports will be supplemented by a continuing series of technical Sea Grant reports.