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1837—Michigan
becomes a state. 1859—Fish
stocks already depleted in Lake St.Clair and Detroit River; first
fisheries regulations enacted. 1867—Lumbering
boom begins; Legislature establishes committee on tree-planting. 1870s—Michigan
Sportsman’s Association begins to agitate for controls on fishing and
hunting to protect vanishing game. 1878—Last
significant roosting of passenger pigeon in Michigan. Estimates of
market hunting kill at Petoskey range from 1.5 million to 1 billion. 1887—Michigan
becomes first state to create post of paid state game warden. 1880s—Lumbering
peaks and critics begin to challenge deforestation of northern Michigan. 1888—Legislature
creates Independent Forestry Commission to propose forest policy. 1889—Legislature
abolishes Forestry Commission in backlash to its conservation proposals.
Over 95 percent of state’s virgin forest has been cut, yielding $2.5
billion to private interests, but little of it has been replanted. 1899—Legislature
creates new Forestry Commission and gives it power to remove certain
state lands from sales to serve as basis for “forest reserves.” 1904—Michigan
Audubon Society forms to protect wildlife; Edith Munger becomes
President in 1911 and champions bird protection. 1908—Massive
forest fires gut northern Michigan, killing dozens, and spark public cry
for forestry reform. 1909—Legislature
creates Public Domain Commission (forerunner of DNR) to manage forests,
fish and game. 1919—Legislature
creates state park commission and begins state park system. 1918—International
Joint Commission reports on gross pollution of boundary waters,
including Detroit River, notes cholera/typhoid deaths from drinking
Great Lakes water. 1921—Legislature
creates Department of Conservation to replace Public Domain Commission. 1920s—Internationally
known author James Curwood of Owosso campaigns against “political
influence” in conservation policy. 1929—After
Curwood’s death, Legislature removes appointment of Department of
Conservation Director from Governor and transfers to Conservation
Commission. 1930s—During
Depression years, state receives millions of acres of tax-reverted
northern Michigan land to further expand forest holdings. Also
1929—Legislature creates Stream Control Commission to combat
water pollution. 1937—Responding
to another legislative attack on the independence of the Department of
Conservation, Michigan United Conservation Clubs forms and successfully
protects powers of Conservation Commission. 1945—Conservation
director P.J. Hoffmaster and Ironwood businessman Raymond Dick
successfully fight off lumber interests to preserve Porcupine Mountains
as a state park. 1948—Massive
duck kills on Detroit River due to oil and chemical pollution cause
public outcry. 1949—Legislature
toughens water pollution law and creates Water Resources Commission, but
pollution intensifies. 1965—After
outcry from citizens about soot and choking air pollution, Legislature
passes pollution control law and creates Air Pollution Commission. 1966—Department
of Conservation fisheries director Howard Tanner unleashes “coho
madness” with introduction of salmon to Lake Michigan, creating a new
constituency for cleanup of water pollution. 1968—Voters
approve $335 million clean water bond. Also
1968—West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC) forms. 1969—After
three-year fight, under prodding from Conservation Director Ralph
MacMullan, Michigan becomes first state to ban most uses of DDT. Also
1969—Department of Conservation becomes Department of Natural
Resources, and DNR acquires pollution control functions from Department
of Public Health in early 1970s. 1970—Michigan
Environmental Protection Act, Great Lakes Shorelands Act. 1972—Inland
Lakes and Streams Act. 1976—Organized
by MUCC Director Tom Washington, voters approve deposit on beer and soda
containers after industry kills bill in Legislature. 1977—Governor
Milliken wins tough limits on phosphates in laundry detergent to clean
up Great Lakes. 1979—Michigan
passes strong Wetlands Protection Act. 1980—Michigan
Environmental Council forms. 1982—First
state funding for toxic waste site cleanup. 1984—Voters
approve proposal to put Natural Resources Trust Fund in state
Constitution to prevent raids on land acquisition funding. 1985—Governors
sign Great Lakes Charter to stop diversions. 1988—Voters
approve $800 million environmental and recreational bond. 1989—Legislature
strengthens sand dune protection act to limit effect of
commercial/residential development. 1990—Polluter
pay law. 1991—Governor
Engler abolishes air, water commissions, transfers power to name chair
of Natural Resources Commission to himself. 1995—Polluter
pay law amended, brownfield redevelopment program launched. Also
1995—Governor splits DNR into two agencies, creating new
Department of Environmental Quality. 1998—Voters
approve $675 million pollution cleanup and recreation bond. |
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