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Greetings! Thanks to the concerns about Baker Woodlot and the perspective
of Edie Britt who appreciates that MSU students still give a hoot! I will try to
provide some additional perspective. You can find the project information
as available through the Michigan Department of Transportation.
While the project does indeed spare Baker woodlot (http://www.cpa.msu.edu/nat_area/namap.htm,
http://www.cpa.msu.edu/nat_area/baker.htm),
it does impact 2 wetland areas. One of the wetlands comprises part of the MSU
Fisheries and Wildlife Club Management a
Area. Students are indeed impacted by this. In fact it is the second
encroachment of the management area in 7 years including the construction of the
Trowbridge Road extension.
In terms of public hearings, the process has included a series of working
groups involving consultants, MSU planners, MSU faculty and staff, and the
Fisheries and Wildlife Club executive board. I am extremely pleased with how the
students have addressed the situation in a very caring and professional manner.
The consultants have spent a great deal of time addressing the social and
environmental concerns, especially those related to stormwater that MSU's
stormwater team has raised. In fact, the project has enabled future teaching,
research and outreach related to innovative methods to minimize the ecological
footprint. Of course that does not take away the fact that the project does
reduce the size of the FW Club management area.
The project has indeed held several campus hearings and meetings and
I paste one of the announcements below. I personally have used the project
as a center-piece of the Introduction to Fisheries and Wildlife course this year
where students have conducted observations and read literature about the impacts
of roads on ecological integrity. I encourage students to attend the public
meetings and to bring their knowledge, concerns and insights with them.
They also have to balance the needs and interest of the safety concerns behind
the project. We discuss the project in terms of Aldo Leopold's
conservation ethic, stewardship and sustainability.
So Baker woodlot remains protected though access to it will diminish
over the next year or so starting in March. We continue our exploration of Baker
this week in class thinking that it might be the last Introduction to
Fisheries and Wildlife class to use the Farm Lane entrance for a while. Thanks
again for your concerns about the Baker Woodlot and MSU students! :)
Press Release below:
Subject:
The New Farm Lane: Informational meetings planned
August 21, 2007 The New Farm Lane: Bridge to the Future Good afternoon, Beginning in October, the Michigan Department of Transportation and MSU will start construction on Farm Lane. Farm Lane will be widened and rebuilt to pass under the two railroad tracks that intersect it. The project is designed to enhance vehicular, pedestrian and bicyclist safety and decrease delays on one of the university's main thoroughfares. With a project of this magnitude comes construction and construction impacts. To help minimize those impacts, the project will be constructed in two phases: Phase I begins in October 2007; and Phase II, which is expected to begin in March 2008 through August 2009, involves a complete closure of Farm Lane from Mt. Hope Road to Wilson Road and adjacent cross streets. Construction on Farm Lane will mean rerouting vehicular, pedestrian, bicycle and bus traffic. Communication is the key to the project's success. For this reason we would like to begin working with you to determine how this project will affect your organization. We have scheduled two information sessions to offer project details and timelines, as well as address any questions you may have regarding this major road closure. The goal is to better assess your needs and help you inform your various clients, patrons, or commercial and service organizations. Please plan to attend one of the following informational sessions: * 8:30 to 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 21, Room 206 Old Horticulture Building * 1 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25, Room A219 Clinical Center We look forward to meeting you at one of these meetings. If you are unable to attend, please contact me (Karen Zelt) to set up an individual meeting. Your cooperation and patience throughout this exciting project is appreciated! If you are not the appropriate person within your organization to receive this information, please forward it accordingly. Thank you! Karen Zelt Communications Manager Michigan State University Physical Plant kzelt@pplant. 517-432-3624 Kristin Anderson Communications Manager Michigan State University University Relations Ander284@msu. 517-353-8819 Kari Arend Communications Representative Michigan Department of Transportation arendk@michigan. 517-750-0406 Geoffrey Habron, Ph.D.
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Department of Sociology Michigan State University 13 Natural Resources East Lansing, MI 48824-1222 517-432-8086 habrong@msu.edu
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