LUNA PIER, Mich., March 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Consumers Energy
and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced a cooperative
management agreement that conveys 49 acres of unique coastal wetlands and
wildlife habitat into the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge.
The "Lady of the Lakes" property, as it is known, is located on Lake
Erie just north of the utility's J.R. Whiting generating plant, near Luna
Pier. The land is considered unique coastal beach ridge habitat, with
approximately 2,400-feet of frontage on western Lake Erie. Prominent
ecological features on the site are two natural, land-locked coastal
wetlands separated from Lake Erie by a sand beach ridge.
"I am so pleased to see Consumers Energy teaming up with the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service to make this happen," said Congressman. John D.
Dingell. "The Lady of the Lakes property is an ecologically significant,
important addition to the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge and I
commend Consumers and Fish and Wildlife for getting this project done for
the sake of wildlife preservation and the enjoyment of all future
generations."
"Lady of the Lakes is well known locally for its wildlife, including
waterfowl, blue heron, egrets, raptors and shorebirds," said Jack L.
Hanson, Consumers Energy vice president of generation engineering and
services. It was during Hanson's tenure as business manager at Whiting from
2003 to 2006 that the prospect of conveying the Lady of the Lakes property
to the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge was conceived.
The Lady of the Lakes property is considered an important piece of
remaining natural coastal habitat on western Lake Erie, at the intersection
of the Atlantic and Mississippi migratory flyways for waterfowl. It is
located in one of the top 20 'Biodiversity Investment Areas' as identified
by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Environment Canada.
The cooperative management agreement announced today for the Lady of
the Lakes property allows the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge
and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect remaining high-quality fish
and wildlife habitat; restore and enhance degraded wildlife habitats
associated with Lake Erie and promote public awareness of the important
resources of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge.
The J.R. Whiting Plant is a coal-fueled electric generating facility
located on an 875-acre site just south of Luna Pier. The three-unit plant
began producing electricity in 1952. With an associated oil-fueled
combustion turbine, it can generate up to 345 megawatts, enough electricity
to serve a community of 210,000.
The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge covers 48 miles of
shoreline along the western basin of Lake Erie and lower Detroit River. It
focuses on conserving, protecting and restoring habitat for 29 species of
waterfowl, 65 kinds of fish and 300 species of migratory birds.
Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, provides
natural gas and electricity to nearly 6.5 million of Michigan's 10 million
residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.
For more information about Consumers Energy, visit our Company Website
at http://www.consumersenergy.com
For more information about the International Wildlife Refuge, visit the
Refuge website at http://www.fws.gov/midwest/detroitriver/index.html
SOURCE Consumers Energy
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Related links:
http://www.consumersenergy.com
http://www.fws.gov/midwest/detroitriver/index.html
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/203850.html /
CONTACT:
Kelly M. Farr, of Consumers Energy J.R.
Whiting, +1-989-891-3451; or Dr. John Hartig, of Detroit River
International Wildlife Refuge, +1-734-692-7608
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