November 26, 2001

To Whom It May Concern:

It has come to the attention of the Audubon Society of Kalamazoo that Laketown Township in Allegan County and the City of Holland are proposing the construction of a water pipeline within the boundaries of the Saugatuck Dunes State Park. We oppose anything compromising the integrity of the Saugatuck Dunes State Park.

The proposed location for the pumping station, filtration/holding system building and the pipeline would take a direct route to the lake, with the pipeline apparently following the route of the existing waterline that served the former prison. We understand that the pipeline easement is up to 100 feet wide. This would create an open corridor through the park's prime forested area.

The Saugatuck Dunes State Park is home to several species of resident and migratory breeding birds that require large forested areas to survive. These species include migrant breeders such as: Hooded and Cerulean Warbler (both species of special concern in Michigan), Black-throated Green Warbler, Wood Thrush and Scarlet Tanager. Year round residents include: Pileated Woodpecker and Barred Owl. The large mature forest habitats these species require are scarce in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula. An important consideration with respect to the Hooded and Cerulean Warblers is that they seldom occur north of the Muskegon/Bay City line. It is our contention that areas held in the public trust, such as Saugatuck Dunes State Park, should not be subject to violation or compromise.

The construction of this pipeline would create a treeless swath, apparently up to 100 feet wide, through this prime mature forest. The break in the cover of the tree canopy would significantly alter the forest and the bird nesting areas. Even more problematic would be that this unforested swath would facilitate penetration into the forest by Brown-headed Cowbirds. The Brown-headed Cowbird is a parasitic nesting species, meaning it lays its eggs in the nests of other birds, with the usual result that few if any of the host species young are raised. The cowbird is generally a species which favors more open country. However, it will exploit any unforested area in order to find a host nest. This phenomenon is well documented in the ornithological literature and is deemed to be a major factor in the declining populations of many forest bird species, which are attempting to nest and survive in fragmented forests.

While our comments have been limited to the degradation of the natural ecosystem as it relates to birds, that does not mean that we are without concern for the other significant impacts on the park. Specifically, both the proposed pumping station near the beach and the filtration/holding system building near the park entrance would not be at all compatible with a low impact park, such as Saugatuck Dunes State Park. The fragile natural communities of the park alone are worthy of complete protection and preservation. There are so few large blocks of this precious habitat remaining in Southwest Michigan that we think it extremely unwise to violate this vital natural area. At a recent meeting it was allowed by an official of Laketown Township that the reasons for choosing this site are cost and convenience. We do not think those are sufficient reasons to attack the forests and dunes of Saugatuck Dunes State Park.

The Audubon Society of Kalamazoo is an active organization committed to the preservation and enjoyment of birds, wildlife and their habitats. Speaking on behalf of the Board of Directors and its 325 members, it is our position that the Saugatuck Dunes State Park not be violated by the construction of any sort of pipeline, under any circumstances. Additionally, many of our members use and enjoy the park as it is.

Regards,

Russ Schipper
President, Audubon Society of Kalamazoo