5 December 2001
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing to express my concern about the current
proposals being considered by the Michigan DNR for the construction of a water
intake pump station, pipeline, and water treatment facility on the grounds of
Saugatuck Dunes State Park. As a scientist and long-time resident of Western
Michigan, I strongly oppose the current formulation of these proposals.
I am currently a plant, soil and fungus biologist in the
final year of a Ph.D. program in Ecology at the University of California-Davis.
I grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, received my B.S. in Biology from the
University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and have worked as a seasonal botanist and
bird biologist for a number of non-profit organizations in Michigan. My family
owns a retail store in Saugatuck, and I've spent countless hours hiking,
skiing, and bird-watching in Saugatuck Dunes State Park. As a member of the
Grand Rapids Audubon Club, I have participated in dozens of visits to the park,
which usually were followed by visits to the nearby communities of Saugatuck,
Douglas, or Fennville. Saugatuck Dunes State Park has played an integral role
in my personal development as a naturalist and scientist, as a site for
recreation by myself and the other members of my family, and for the education
and enjoyment of many other citizens of Western Michigan.
I believe I know the plants, birds, and fungi at Saugatuck
Dunes State Park as well as anyone, and it is my opinion as a natural scientist
that the construction of a pump station, pipeline, and water treatment plant as
proposed may significantly impact the rare and valuable collection of birds,
plants, and other organisms that currently reside in the park. Most
importantly, the pristine dune and beach habitats and their plant, fungal and
animal communities are among the rarest and most biologically valuable habitats
remaining in the United States. A number of plant species on the list of
threatened or endangered species reside there. Many other relatively rare
species that are not on such official lists nonetheless depend on the pristine
habitat in the park. For example, Saugatuck Dunes State Park is one of the few
nesting sites in Michigan for the hooded warbler (Wilsonia citrina). Dozens of
shorebird species, from the dunlin to the willet use the pristine beach habitat
as a safe haven during migration. Construction of the pumping station,
pipeline, and treatment plant as proposed would risk significantly impacting
these species and their habitats, robbing many citizens of Michigan of the
privilege of studying and enjoying them. Furthermore, the proposed facilities
would be an eyesore that would significantly detract from the esthetic appeal
of the park.
Please halt the current application process and consider
alternative plans for clean drinking water in western Michigan that do not
involve ruining one of our most prized biological and recreational treasures.
Sincerely,
Jason D. Hoeksema
Department of Environmental Science & Policy
University of California-Davis
Davis, CA 95616
Note:
Since writing this letter Dr. Hoeksema has finished his PhD and is now a
Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary
Biology at the University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064