Envisioning a Sustainable Future for Northeast Michigan
Known for many years as the “sunrise side,” Michigan’s northeast coastal region is rich in natural resources and home to many significant historic and cultural sites. Residents and visitors alike enjoy the region’s long stretches of undeveloped shoreline for hunting and fishing, visit the area’s network of historic lighthouses, and dive the many shipwrecks preserved in Thunder Bay.
Capitalizing on these regional assets while maintaining a sense of place and community character was the focus of the Northeast Michigan Integrated Assessment (NEMIA), a collaborative project supported by Michigan Sea Grant. The goal of the region-wide effort was to examine ways to enhance sustainable tourism and economic opportunity in the three-county region that includes Presque Isle, Alpena and Alcona counties.
“Our goal was to work with the region in developing strategic and research-based opportunities to leverage these coastal resources for their tourism and economic values,” explains Michigan Sea Grant Extension Educator Brandon Schroeder, “while considering how we can plan for and protect the integrity of these resources and our local quality of life that is defined by these important coastal resources.”
Coastal Access, Tourism and Economic Development
The past few decades have been economically challenging for the northeast region due to a combination of factors including high unemployment attributed in part to lost jobs in mining, manufacturing and agriculture, as well as the closure of a U.S. Air Force base. In recent years, some of the traditional hunting and angling tourism base has also fallen.
To address these challenges, representatives from 32 local and regional organizations met regularly as part of the NEMIA project, which began in 2005. The meetings were convened by Northeast Michigan Council of Governments (NEMCOG) and held at Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Alpena.
Together, participants agreed to frame the assessment around the following policy question: How can coastal access be designed, in a regional context, for sustainable tourism that stimulates economic development while maintaining the integrity of natural and cultural resources, and quality of life?
To provide baseline information, collaborating researchers conducted five technical assessments to characterize the status of life in northeast Michigan. Assessments include socioeconomic, ecological, cultural, planning and zoning, and sustainable design. The sustainable design assessment was one of eight projects chosen nationwide to be conducted by the American Institute of Architects’ Center for Communities by Design.
Additional research collaborators included Michigan State University Extension, University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment, UM Department of Urban and Regional Planning, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Sanctuary Program, and The Nature Conservancy.
Identifying Priorities
Complementing the research, NEMIA stakeholders explored several case studies, two from the United States and one from Australia, where similar challenges and opportunities have played out. They also provided input to collectively develop a vision for the region. Several policy theme areas, with a suite of potential actions identified with each theme, emerged as priorities:
- Preserving a sense of place and community character
- Natural/cultural/maritime heritage and resources tourism
- Growing an entrepreneurial community and attracting business interests
- Government coordination and communication
- Incorporating modern technologies
These guiding principles helped provide a framework for the technical assessments, which are undergoing peer-review. Following peer-review, the assessments will be incorporated into a final document presenting policy options, potential actions, or legislative tools that will help the region realize its vision for a sustainable future.
New partnerships and collaborations have already emerged as a result of the NEMIA process. The following activities are among the highlights.
State Parks Planning Process
NEMIA served as a catalyst for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to develop regionally coordinated management plans for Negwegon, Rockport, and Thompson’s Harbor state parks. In addition to developing individual management plans for each park, the MDNR will develop a regional plan for all three properties with input from a newly formed citizen advisory committee made up of local residents. “NEMIA encouraged us to look at planning beyond the individual park basis,” notes Paul Curtis of the MDNR. “It made sense in this instance and has led to similar planning for three parks in southwest Michigan.”
Creating Entrepreneurial Communities (CEC) Initiative
NEMIA helped position a team from northeast Michigan to be selected as a CEC Pilot Community, a regional economic development opportunity supported by Michigan State University Extension and the MSU Product Center. Economic development consultant Bethany Styer was among the four people chosen to represent the three-county region in intensive five-day training focused on energizing entrepreneurs. Now certified to train others, Styer says the NEMIA process emphasized the positive benefits of thinking on a regional level. “It brought the three counties together to help take a look at the needs, to broaden our focus and realize that what we have in common is greater than what separates us,” says Styer.
Huron Blueways Project
NEMIA provided a grass roots process that led to successful MDEQ Coastal Management Program funding of a project coordinated by NEMCOG to identify coastal access points, water routes and other amenities from Mackinac to Harrisville in an effort to enhance recreational opportunities for paddlers along northern Lake Huron.
“NEMIA brought more recognition to this large coastal area to try to build upon but not spoil what’s there,” notes Richard Deuell of NEMCOG. “Anytime we can bring communities together to interact and discuss a common resource is always a plus.”
Regional Coastal Tourism Survey
Marine Sanctuary staff and NEMCOG are partnering with other NEMIA work group members to conduct a study to gather tourism data that are current, specific and relevant to northeast Michigan. Some of the ongoing initiatives in the northeast region include the US 23 Heritage Route Initiative, Huron Greenways, Sweetwater Trails, and development of Northeast Michigan as a Maritime Heritage Tourism Destination through the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries.
Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative Funding
The northeast region received $5,000 in funding from the Great Lakes Fishery Trust to support Great Lakes place-based education. This initiative engages schools and student learning through projects that provide coastal resources stewardship and community benefit. The NEMIA work group supported this proposal, and several work group members offered to help schools and students engage in coastal projects identified through NEMIA discussions.
Coastal Tourism Business Support Website
In its own commitment to implement the prioritized actions identified through the NEMIA process, Michigan Sea Grant is investing funding to develop a web-based clearinghouse or “toolbox” designed to provide targeted support to emerging entrepreneurs interested in eco- or cultural coastal tourism in the region. Businesses will have access to regionally relevant economic development and business start-up tools, tourism development and marketing products, agency resource protection strategies and plans, and “best practices” examples from existing coastal businesses successfully operating within
the region.
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