A Bi-Weekly Publication Friday November 7, 2003

				Dear Wetlands Advocate, Welcome to the first issue of the Michigan Wetland Action Coalition (MWAC) bi-weekly e-newsletter. We hope this will be a valuable resource for Michigan's wetland advocates. Please forward this on to those you think would be interested. If you would like to be added to or unsubscribed from this list, please email Chris Grubb. SAVE THE DATE – MICHIGAN WETLAND CONFERENCE Mark your calendars now for a statewide wetland conference celebrating the 25^th Anniversary of Michigan's Goemaere-Anderson Wetland Protection Act. The conference will include workshops and field trips on topics ranging from habitat values of isolated wetlands to state and federal wetland policy. This conference will be held May 20-22, 2004 in Traverse City, Michigan, and will be sponsored by a wide variety of federal and state agencies and NGOs. Stay tuned to the MWAC e-newsletter for more detail in coming issues. MWAC ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING IN LANSING – DECEMBER 9 If you would like to play a part in the organizational development of MWAC, please attend the upcoming half-day meeting on Tuesday, December 9 from 9am – 12 noon. After the meeting, those interested can have lunch together across the street at Clara's. The meeting will be held at the office of the Michigan Environmental Council: 119 Pere Marquette Drive, Suite 2A, Lansing, Michigan 48912 BEACH DOOMING NOT DEAD Despite the name, Save Our Shoreline (SOS), anyone familiar with this group's efforts knows they are doing everything but saving Michigan's shoreline. Under pressure from this group, a bill has been introduced in DC to mandate that federal regulations (Army Corps of Engineers permits) conform to the new Michigan law. While the bill may not be heard in committee until next year, wetland advocates need to be prepared to respond swiftly if it looks like the bill is moving. We will continue to be involved in this issue, and will keep you apprised. In the meantime, please check out the publication Be a Great Lakes Steward! that dispels several of the myths associated with bottomland grooming. If you are interested in reading a recent article on this issue visit the Traverse City Record-Eagle, Vegetation Grooming: Law fails to ease beach battle. MDEQ PRELIMINARY WETLAND INVENTORIES As noted in Michigan Department of Environmental Quality's Online Calendar, there are public hearings this month on preliminary wetland inventories in Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren counties. We encourage you to attend a public hearing in your county. FYI, this calendar is helpful for wetland advocates in identifying key public hearings to attend, and for public comment deadlines.			Citizen's Guide Available Michigan Wetlands – Yours to Protect The book is a comprehensive resource for citizens working to protect wetlands in their neighborhood and provides solid information to help citizens become involved in state and federal wetland policy. Click on the link above to access the book. Small Streams and Wetlands Critical for Health of Nation's Waters Where Rivers Are Born: The Scientific Imperative for Defending Small Streams and Wetlands This publication, sponsored jointly by the Sierra Club and American Rivers, synthesizes over 235 scientific studies reflecting the importance of small streams and wetlands for the health of our nation's waterways.
	Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council 426 Bay Street , Petoskey, Michigan 49770 Phone: (231) 347-1181 Fax: (231) 347-5928 Email: chrisgrubb@watershedcouncil.org Web: http://www.michiganwetlands.org