BLOG
Michigan Court of Appeals Affirms Eagle Mine’s Permits
On August 13, 2014, the Michigan Court of Appeals affirmed the lower court’s decision to continue the Lundin Eagle Project, the only mine in the U.S. where nickel is the primary targeted material in addition to copper. The original co-petitioners against the permitting of the mine include: Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve (YDWP), National Wildlife Federation (NWF), Keweenaw…
Marquette County Road Commission in Violation of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act
On August 4, 2014 the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) Water Resources Division issued a Violation Notice to the Marquette County Road Commission for an unlawful discharge of sediment and turbid water into a wetland ravine, tributary, and the East Branch Salmon Trout River during the creation of the haul road for Lundin Eagle Mine. The unlawful discharge…
Invaders
We never really decided on a name for ourselves: Thistle Exterminators, Thistle Destroyers, The Thistle Queens, to name a few. We also never really thought we would still be working on this project. In 2009, former YDWP director, Emily Whittaker, received a grant from the National Forest Foundation to do an invasive plant survey in…
Road Work on County Road AAA Polluting Wetland
Over the past two weeks, Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve has been investigating and documenting a serious water quality concern caused by the road construction on the County Road AAA. A spring that feeds the East Branch of the Salmon Trout River had been ruptured during construction activities and it is releasing spring water into construction…
Keeping an Eye on Total Phosphorus in Lake Independence
Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve is in the midst of the 2014 sampling season for the Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps) Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program. YDWP have been collecting data since 2010, and we have historical clarity data from 1974-1982. We intend to continue collecting information about Lake Independence water quality through this program indefinitely. The…
Remote Logging Work Not Adhering to Permit Conditions in an Area Previously Protected by the EPA
July 10,2014 Northern Marquette County, MI – During the week of June 23, 2014, a reconnaissance survey of forest and wetland conditions on the Snowmobile Trail 5 route by the Yellow Dog RIVERKEEPER ® led to a discovery of road construction by Plum Creek Timber Company that did not meet with stated permit conditions.
A Rare Song
I stuffed my picnic breakfast and snacks into my pack with the binoculars and camera, grabbed my hiking boots and thermos of coffee and ran to the truck. I was due to meet Nancy and Jeremiah Moran on County Road 510 at 7:00 a.m. to help with the annual Kirtland’s Warbler survey on the Yellow…
Contested Case Hearing Scheduled
The contested case brought against the State of Michigan for issuing permits to Kennecott/Rio Tinto (now Lundin) for the Eagle Mine Project is finally scheduled to be heard in Lansing in the Michigan Court of Appeals on June 3rd. The panel of judges includes Cavanagh, Stephens, and Owens.
Riparian Zone: Wild and Scenic River Paintings on Display at Babycakes
Local artist Kathleen Heideman-Rydholm is again displaying her beautiful watercolor paintings at Babycakes throughout the month of May. Please visit the local cafe to view the show entitled RIPARIAN ZONE: Wild & Scenic Rivers. Four of her paintings at the show are from the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, and one features the Yellow Dog River.
Dead River Derby Bout to Benefit Yellow Dog
On Saturday May 24, the Dead River Derby girls will be matched against the Escanaba Rollin’ Hellcats and proceeds from the event will benefit the Yellow Dog Watershed Preseve programs to preserve land, monitor water, and maintain a beautiful area for future generations to enjoy. We are looking forward to an exciting night! The Dead…