LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – Michigan lawmakers are moving to give Keweenaw County a new tool to manage one of the Upper Peninsula’s largest stretches of public land.
The Keweenaw Heartlands Project covers 32,000 acres of forest and shoreline in Michigan’s northernmost county. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) bought the land from a corporate forest owner in 2022 to protect it from private development. Now TNC hopes to transfer ownership to Keweenaw County, but only once they have the ability to properly manage the land.
“This keeps the land open and accessible to the public,” said Rep. Greg Markkanen (R-Hancock). “Keweenaw County is really big on mountain biking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, kayaking, and it’s a gateway to Isle Royale.”
Under current Michigan law, a county must partner with at least one other municipality to form a recreational authority. Those authorities are typically created to build or maintain public amenities such as parks, trails, or recreation centers.
Last week, the Michigan House passed a three-bill package that would allow a single county to form its own recreational authority, clearing the way for Keweenaw County to independently manage the Heartlands. The measures passed with only two “no” votes and are expected to move through the Senate in October.
Markkanen says the change is crucial for a county of just about 2,000 residents. “Having 32,000 acres of public land handed to you, having a management plan and having a management authority will really help,” he said. “And this will be run by elected people from the county.”
The Nature Conservancy, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and a community advisory committee have been working since 2022 to create a governance plan. Their shared goal is to ensure the Heartlands remain public, protect wildlife habitat, and expand recreation for residents and visitors.
If the legislation becomes law, Keweenaw County could create its own authority to maintain trails, add amenities, and oversee public access, paving the way for the land to officially return to local control.
