For Friday, Jan. 6, 2023

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1 – The Lake Huron Coastal Preserve is now open near Tawas City.

The permanent public preserve was transferred to Alabaster Township last month.

A nonprofit group called Huron Pines in Gaylord was among those behind a two-year effort to create the preserve to protect 145 acres and 4,000 feet of shoreline. The spot includes hardwoods, wetlands and beach, which provide important wildlife habitat and opportunities for low-impact recreation, according to the nonprofit.

In December 2021, the township received a $1.7 million state grant to acquire the preserve from Huron Pines. The nonprofit purchased the property from US Gypsum in 2020 to protect it from development. 

Alabaster Township and Huron Pines plan to work together on the preserve to expand trails and improve access to Lake Huron while also accounting for the unique ecological significance of the preserve.  

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2- There are increased fishing opportunities for walleye in Saginaw Bay. 

Starting this month, the possession season for walleye will be open year-round on the lower Saginaw River in Bay and Saginaw counties. 

The same regulation is in effect on Lake Huron waters including Saginaw Bay.  

The Michigan Natural Resources Commission approved the regulation in December to increase fishing and harvest opportunities based on walleye population numbers. The season used to close March 16 and reopen the last Saturday in April. 

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3 – Did you see lightning in the sky earlier this week? 

Michigan has millions of lightning events every year. But that’s nothing compared to Texas. 

An annual lightning report for 2022 counts more than 198 million lightning events across the U.S. last year. Texas, due in part to its size, is the No. 1 state, with more than 27 million events. 

Florida is No. 2 and Louisiana is No. 3. 

Michigan had just over 2 million lightning events last year, putting us in 29th place nationally.  

The report also measures lightning density, or events per square kilometer. Michigan was No. 34 in that category, with 8.27 events per square kilometer, compared to No. 1 Florida, with almost 110 events per square kilometer. 

Michigan’s lightning capital based on lightning density is Rosebush near Mount Pleasant, with 113 events per square kilometer. 

The data comes from the 2022 Annual Lightning Report and the Vaisala U.S. National Lightning Detection Network. 

– Mr. Great Lakes is heard Friday mornings in Bay City, Michigan, on Delta College Public Radio 90.1 FM (listen live). Follow @jeffkart on Twitter #MrGreatLakes

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