Details released on proposed mine bordering Watkins Lake State Park and County Preserve

Location of proposed sand and gravel mine in relation to Watkins Lake State Park and County Preserve. From Levy-Norvell Project Exhibit 2. Site Plans.

by Sara Swanson

We reported in our last edition that Norvell Township has received an application for a proposed 900-acre aggregate mining operation that would border Watkins Lake State Park and County Preserve (Watkins Lake SPCP). Though the mine would be located fully in Norvell Township, Watkins Lake SPCP spans both Norvell and Manchester townships. 

Norvell Township states that they have initiated a third-party review by various experts and interested agencies of the submitted application materials, and upon completion the findings will be presented to the planning commission. They will then host a public hearing, which has yet to be scheduled. The application has been published online and can be viewed at: https://levy-norvell.com/

With the publishing of the application, we now know that the mine would border the park along multiple sides, including the south and west sides of the western half of the lake. Most of the land the mine is proposed on is active agricultural land with a smaller amount of forest and grassland. The proposal leaves a 300-foot minimum buffer zone around the active mining area. There are areas of wetland and lakefront included on the property but all are in the buffer zones and not in the proposed mining areas. 

Of possible concern to park visitors is the potential disruption to the pair of bald eagles that reside at Watkins Lake. The application notes that while the pair were observed on the proposed mining property and their nest is very near the property line, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recommends at least a 660-foot distance between mining activity and bald eagle nests and their nest is more than 660 feet from the proposed active mining area. Additionally, part of the grassland habitat of the endangered Henslow’s sparrow also observed on the property is in the active mining area.

Because of the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act, the township isn’t allowed to prevent mining unless very serious consequences would result. However, it is the burden of the applicant to show that no very serious consequences would result from the mining, including the impact on existing land uses in the vicinity of the property, property values in the vicinity of the property and along the proposed hauling route, and pedestrian and traffic safety in the vicinity of the property and along the proposed hauling route serving the property. These potential impacts are addressed in the application.

Friends of Watkins Lake SPCP, a nonprofit organization formed last spring to help protect, steward, and advocate for the park, stated that they won’t be taking a formal position, however they are reviewing the application at present, engaging expert review, and have numerous concerns to be vetted. They added that they hope to hear from the broader community as well and will strongly encourage participation in the review process and upcoming public hearing.

Map showing phases 1 and 2 of sand and gravel mine bordering Watkins Lake State Park and County Preserve with setbacks and active mining areas marked. From Levy-Norvell Project Exhibit 2. Site Plans.

Habitat types. From Levy-Norvell Project Report Final Book 1.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and a founder of the Manchester Mirror.