06/15/2006

Trail to be opened for snowmobiles

BY SHERI McWHIRTER

sherimcwhirter@hotmail.com

CHEBOYGAN — State officials rescinded a non-motorized trail designation for the West Mullet Lake railroad grade, opening the area for snowmobiles.

Trustees of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund on Wednesday voted to overturn their previous restriction on the 12-mile stretch of former railroad grade that runs along the western side of Mullett Lake between Indian River and Cheboygan.

"This is excellent news," said Mike Grisdale, executive director of the Cheboygan Area Chamber of Commerce. "A lot of people have worked for a long time for a connection between Indian River and Cheboygan."

He said Cheboygan's winter tourism depends greatly on snowmobile riders and a new link from Indian River.

The railroad grade was purchased by the state in 1998 with Michigan Natural Resources Trust dollars, under the stipulation that it forever remain a quiet, non-motorized recreational trail. The DNR agreed safety and noise were concerns and refused to change positions for more than a decade.

Alternate proposed routes through the Pigeon River Country State Forest were never approved because of the expected negative impact on the sensitive wildlife area. Recent pressure from local business owners and snowmobile groups to find a route spurred the decision, said Mary Dettloff, DNR spokeswoman.

"We always wanted to be able to develop a trail there, but we just couldn't through the Pigeon," Dettloff said.

A public meeting about the West Mullett Lake Trail will be held in Cheboygan in late July, she said.

The Michigan Natural Resources Commission must sign off on the project, along with DNR Director Rebecca Humphries. The route may be opened for snowmobile traffic this year.

Gray Fischer owns property near the former railroad line and said he's disappointed state officials reneged on their promise to keep it a quiet trail, best used by bicyclists and walkers.

"We were given assurances again and again," Fischer said.

Plans to pave the route likely will be abandoned, Fischer said, as snowmobiles would tear up the surface.