Rebecca Humphries in U.P. for Natural Resources Commission meeting.
By Jeni Jewell
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 at 4:29 p.m.
Read more: Local, Rebecca Humphries, D.N.R., Department of Natural Resources, Natural Resources Commission
MARQUETTE -- The state DNR Director, Rebecca Humphries, will have a busy week with a Natural Resources Commission meeting on Thursday and tours of state facilities, like the Marquette Fish Hatchery.
"It gives us a chance to get out, meet with citizens in Michigan," said Humphries. "People that are interested in what we do, and we'll hear their testimony and also talk about issues that are relevant to that particular region."
Tuesday morning she met with staff at the Marquette Fish Hatchery. It's the second time she's visited the facility.
Humphries asked for input on minor fishing regulation changes, one of the topics slated for the N.R.C. meeting in Ontonagon on Thursday at 3 p.m., at the Theatre of Performing Arts.
The commission is also planning to look at changing the firearms deer season opener to a Saturday. They've discussed moving it to either the Saturday before or the one closest to November 15. The seven member panel plans to make a decision at November's meeting in Lansing.
Another topic will be the budget. Most of the DNR's revenue come from user fees. But, five percent of the budget comes from the general fund. Since the state hasn't given the DNR that figure, programs covered by that money are in limbo, and that means some state forest campgrounds might not reopen after the winter.
"We have so many of them and they're so small," Humphries said. "They're pretty expensive to maintain because at each one, we've got a well you've got to water test, every month. And there's a pump toilet, and you've got to drive out there and pick up trash."
Humphries said she hopes people come to the meeting on Thursday to give input to the commission.
