By Monica Evans, Chairperson of Traverse Group of Sierra Club

Wilderness designation must be the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore's top priority. Each year we see increased human and vehicular traffic as people come from all over to enjoy the beauty and uniqueness of the Park. Unfortunately, this means the real possibility of overuse and degradation of the environment within the Park's boundaries.

(Webmaster's note on "Two views of the Park's GMP process"
Editor’s note: The Enterprise asked U.S. Rep. Dave Camp (R-Midland) and Monica Evans, chairperson of the Traverse Group of the Sierra Club, and asked each to write a column about the General Management Plan process the National Park Service is using to shape the future of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. More views will appear in future issues of the Enterprise.)

The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore was authorized by Congress in October 1970, and was established to preserve the “outstanding natural features, including forests, beaches, dune formations, and ancient glacial phenomena,” considered “of global importance,” because of their relatively unimpacted state, the variety of features, their proximity to each other, and their protected status. Every measure must be taken to make sure that doesn’t change.

When the Park “came to town,” many local families, including my own, lost their beloved familial land to the National Park Service with the promise that it would be preserved and protected in perpetuity. The only way for the Park to make good on that promise is to do everything possible to protect it. That means increasing wilderness designation and taking strong measures to limit negative impacts on the natural resources of the parkland.

There is an attitude that we, as humans, have regarding the environment. We seem to think that just because it is there, that we deserve total access to it. But if we truly treasure the splendor that we are so fortunate to be surrounded with, then we have to recognize that the only way to truly ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy and appreciate the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is to take huge steps to protect it. We can’t sacrifice the environment for our own person pleasure.

So, how does that happen? First, again, by increasing wilderness designation.
Other ways to protect and preserve the Park’s environment would be by limiting motorized access to special places like the Giant Cedars on South Manitou Island, preserving the Bow Lake area by limiting parking and using non-impervious surfaces for parking and trails, and making all small inland lakes such as School Lake non-motorized use, as well as establishing a “no wake” rule on all 21 inland lakes. Banning the use of Jet Skis would be another important step, although obviously an unpopular one.

The SBDNL has been working hard to try and do the right thing. There has been a lot of pressure on them to loosen restrictions, open up access, develop new boat launches and make our Park more of a theme park than a National Park that is so deserving and worthy of protection. They have been under fire and the recipients of local outrage and anger. I don’t envy their responsibilities in the least. What we need to remember is that what we do now, effects our environment for generations to come, perhaps forever.

Northern Michigan is seeing a huge amount of development and loss of our wild spaces. We need something to hold onto. One place where we know won’t be trampled, overused, abused and taken for granted. Because we are the stewards of this land we call home, and it’s up to us to do all in our power to protect it. The SBDNL needs to stand strong in its efforts to protect and preserve the land, water and resources within the Park. This is a critical time for the Park, and it is crucial that they make every effort to adhere to the idea and promise of the protection of it.

By Monica Evans

Chairperson, Traverse Group of the Sierra Club