As heard on the July 8, 2011, Friday Edition, Q-90.1 FM, Delta College. Channeling Mel Torme’ …

 

1.

Pinconning Park is expanding. 

Bay County, which owns the park in Pinconning Township, has been awarded a $464,000 federal grant to acquire 54 acres of coastal property next to the park.

In addition to the grant, the county plans to spend about $10,000 for demolition and scrap metal removal on the land, known as the Prindle Property.

The county also has applied for $350,000 Michigan Land Trust Fund grant in connection with the expansion project.

Pinconning Park is open year round. The park features 50 modern campsites and six log cabins.

It’s located along Saginaw Bay, and is known as a good spot for walleye fishing.

2.

Speaking of camping, there’s a new mobile app for Michigan campers.

It’s called the MI Camping and Recreation Locator app and is available for free. There are versions for the iPhone, Android and Blackberry.

The app allows users to find information on places to camp, boat, hike and swim.

State parks are listed, along with state forest campgrounds and boat launches. You can search by proximity, region, and city. Activities for various locations also are included.

Find more information online at michigan.gov.

3.

As reported earlier, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is working on a feasibility study of options and technologies to prevent the transfer of Asian carp between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River.

A public comment period has ended, and more than 900 comments were received, the agency reports.

Comments were taken online and at a dozen public meetings through the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins.

This month, project managers plan to release a white paper with a list of 40 high-risk aquatic species.

These species, including Asian carp, are poised to potentially transfer between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins through the Chicago Area Waterway System.

Officials say risks from each of the species, and their potential to disperse and become invasive, will be discussed.

For more on this issue, see http://glmris.anl.gov/.

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– Photo by Alan Light