Michigan Conservation/Environmental Timeline

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.

1939 - The Detroit Audubon Society was founded.

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.

2002—Bowing to public pressure, Legislature bans directional drilling for oil and gas under the Great Lakes. Voters approve $1 billion clean water bond by a margin of 60-40%.