The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is seeking to expand the official boundaries of the Warren Dunes State Park Natural Area.
The DNR has submitted a filing with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs to make the change official. The department’s Pat Whalen tells us the current boundaries of the natural area no longer reflect reality, so they’re making adjustments.
“There are a couple of areas that were identified that need to be removed because those areas are not compliant or compatible with the natural area dedication, and those areas are the existing rustic campground and an access road,” Whalen said. “And then there’s a proposed trail route that falls within the natural area currently that would not be compliant.”
Whalen says “natural area” means areas of the park that cannot be developed, left open only to foot traffic. Due to an oversight, the rustic camping area near Floral Lane is part of the current “natural area.”
So, will this change affect visitor access to Warren Dunes State Park?
“No, there won’t be any impact of visitation for any of the people coming to the park.”
While much is being removed from the natural area, Whalen says hundreds of acres of critical dunes are being added to it, bringing its total size from about 488 acres to about 600 acres. That’s because the park has acquired dune areas since the natural area was first defined in 1979.
The DNR estimates it’ll take about three months to complete the regulatory process.
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