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Climate change is harming Michigan hunting and fishing, groups warn lawmakers

Brook trout, an iconic Michigan coldwater fish species, prefer water under 68 degrees. But climate change is making warm temperatures more common. Bridge file photo.

by Kelly House (Bridge Michigan)

LANSING—Climate change is threatening the future of Michigan forests, fish and wildlife, and Michigan must act now to bolster nature against a warming world.

That was the message delivered to legislators Tuesday by a recently-formed coalition of hunting, fishing and conservation groups organized around their concern for how warming temperatures are affecting Michigan outdoors.

“We know that our game species, our beloved species here in Michigan are impacted,” said Amy Trotter, CEO of the Michigan United Conservation Clubs. “And we want to be part of the conversation to address those issues.”

The presentation before the Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Agriculture came as climate activists demonstrated outside the Capitol in favor of carbon-free energy legislation being pushed by Democrats.

While members of the outdoor coalition said they support the spirit of those efforts, they came before lawmakers to stress how Michigan should prepare for changes that are already baked-in after generations of rising fossil fuel consumption.

“We don’t get into the weeds perhaps on the clean energy discussions of the day,” said Trotter. “But we understand the urgency.”

The outdoor groups, calling themselves the Changing Seasons workgroup, said Michigan must be more strategic and aggressive about how it approaches stream restoration, northward-shifting land animal territories, and siting wind and solar arrays in ways to avoid conflict with outdoor recreation.

Their comments accompanied a new report by the Changing Seasons group, outlining threats to key species underpinning the state $11.2 billion hunting and fishing economy. Although participation in such pursuits has been waning for decades, they remain major parts of Michigan outdoor identity. And revenue from license sales and taxes on guns, ammunition and equipment are the Michigan Department of Natural Resources biggest funding source.

But the resources that support that economy depend upon a functioning environment, members of the coalition said. And Michgan is under threat as climate change makes rivers too warm for native fish, pushes native tree species to the brink, stresses northern mammals like moose, and alters the migration patterns of ducks and geese.

As Bridge has reported, some changes to Michigan natural world are already becoming apparent:

• Waterfowl migration is happening later (or sometimes not at all) as warmer falls entice the birds to stick around longer.
• Hotter, drier weather is hindering monarch butterfly breeding, an added hazard for an endangered species already harmed by habitat loss.
• Heat is stressing Up North forests, causing die-offs of boreal tree species such as fir, spruce and cedar.

During Tuesday hearing, Michigan Trout Unlimited Executive Director Bryan Burroughs called for more efforts to restore rivers across Michigan.

A dependence on cold, clean water makes Michigan trout “the canary in the coal mine” for climate stress, Burroughs said. And rivers across the state are growing warmer, both because of higher air temperatures and more severe summer storms that pour runoff into waterways.

But Burroughs said Michigan can pre-emptively cool rivers by removing undersized culverts and unneeded dams, both of which block fish access to the cool upper reaches of streams.

“With as much opportunity as we have in Michigan with thousands of dams, we can actually offset (climate change) and make our rivers colder today,” Burroughs said.

But that work isn’t happening fast enough, he said.

Lawmakers largely listened, asking few questions. But Democratic Sen. Dayna Polehanki, of Livonia, took time to thank speakers for “saying the words climate change,” while noting that some Republicans still call it a hoax.

Republican Sen. Michele Hoitenga, of Manton, though, asked presenters whether they’ve researched the amount of birds and fish that are killed by wind turbines.

Presenters largely avoided wading into politics, and Trotter said after the meeting the workgroup isn’t pushing any particular legislation. Instead, she said, it hopes to inspire lawmakers as they consider their agendas and spending priorities for the ongoing session.

by Sara Swanson

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