File Code: Date: April 7, Dear National Forest User:

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1 United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Hiawatha National Forest Rapid River Ranger District 8181 US Hwy 2 Rapid River, MI Manistique Ranger District 499 East Lake Shore Drive Manistique, MI Dear National Forest User: File Code: Date: April 7, 2010 I am proposing to develop an interpretive wayside near Nahma, Michigan and I would appreciate your comments. Purpose and Need for the Project: The site of Sandtown represents a ca Anishinabe (i.e., Ojibwa, Odawa, and Potawatomi) logging and lumbering community affiliated with the Bay de Noquet Lumber Company ( ), the American Playground Company ( ), and the town of Nahma, Michigan. Many of the descendents of this community still live in nearby towns and communities of Delta and Schoolcraft Counties and frequently visit the site for family outings and annual gatherings. This community of descendants have raised awareness of the cultural and historical significance of the site of Sandtown and expressed concern over the degree of site destruction. Pursuant to Section 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, 36 CFR 68, and the goals and objectives for heritage resources outlined in the Hiawatha s Forest Plan (pg. 2-7 and 2-8), this project proposes to preserve, protect, stabilize erosion, and interpret the site of Sandtown (Forest Service site number ) for the general public. Figure 1. Map of Sandtown settlement and project area Caring for the Land and Serving People Printed on Recycled Paper

2 For several years the Sandtown site has been subjected to illegal OHV use resulting in the disturbance and increased erosion of several former house locations and associated archaeological deposits. This illegal use includes an illegal OHV race track running through the site (Figure 2). This activity has facilitated and exacerbated the spread of non-native plant species, such as sweet grass, black-eyed Susan, monarda, coreopsis, columbine, and common milkweed, throughout the site area to the detriment of native plant species. Figure 2. Illegal OHV race track and proposed location of wayside In addition, the Sandtown site is being used to cross the nearby ecologically sensitive marsh to gain access to the Lake Michigan shoreline. This shore line provides nesting habitat for the endangered Piping Plover This illegal OHV activities threat the recovery of the Piping Plover. Consequently, there is a need to: Raise awareness of the cultural and historical significance of the site of Sandtown through on-site interpretation (Forest Plan 2-7, 2-8, and 3-72). Stop the ongoing destruction of the Sandtown site by illegal OHV use (Forest Plan 2-8 and 3-71). 2

3 Mitigate the erosion of the archaeological deposits caused by illegal OHV use (Forest Plan 2-8 and 3-71). Stop OHV users from crossing the wetland marsh (Forest Plan 2-13) and disturbing the Piping Plover nesting grounds along the Lake Michigan shoreline (Forest Plan 2-19). Reintroduce native plants back into the landscape (Forest Plan 2-16). Eradicate the non-native, invasive plant species brought in and propagated by illegal OHV use (Forest Plan 2-16). Figure 3. Illegal OHV trail heading across marsh to the Lake Michigan shoreline Existing Conditions and history of the Sandtown Settlement: The site of Sandtown is located opposite the town of Nahma, Michigan on the west side of the Sturgeon River, squarely in the Sturgeon Wild and Scenic River corridor (Forest Plan 3-69 to 3-73) (Figure 1). Heritage resources are considered outstandingly remarkable value for the Sturgeon Wild and Scenic River. Heritage resources in the Wild and Scenic River Corridor include Pre-European and Post- European contact era sites, as well as traditional sites used by American Indians on federal and ceded lands. The site consists of the archaeological remains of several former house lots located on either side of County Road 497, running approximately ¼ mile west from the Sturgeon River Bridge. Historical maps and documents indicate that the Sandtown community was established around 3

4 the turn of the 20 th century as several Anishinabe families associated with the nearby Indian Point, Stonington Peninsula, Garden Peninsula, and Beaver Island communities moved to the location to take advantage of the work opportunities provided by the Bay De Noquet Lumber Company in Nahma, Michigan. Sandtown residents worked for the lumber mill, the boarding house, the railroad, and in the logging camps. The Bay De Noquet Lumber Company closed its logging and lumbering operations in 1951 and in 1952 sold the mill along with the town of Nahma to the American Playground Company. Although many Sandtown residents began to leave the area to look for work after 1951, several families continued to live in Sandtown until they were finally evicted in 1970 as part of the sale agreement between the American Playground Company and The Nature Conservancy. The land was sold to the U.S. Government a few years later. A culturally strong sense of place exists surrounding this location which continues to draw descendents and former residents to the site of Sandtown from locations throughout the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and even as far away as Louisiana. The majority of the former Sandtown residents were/are enrolled with the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa, the Hannahville Indian Community, and the Sault Saint Marie Band of Chippewa Indians. Despite the community s long history dating back at least to the late 1700s attempts to establish the Nahma Indian Community (i.e., Sandtown and Indian Point residents) as a federally recognized tribe were denied in the 1930s. Although geographically dispersed, this community remains vibrant and strongly connected to the site of Sandtown with annual gatherings and visits to the site. It is this community of former residents and descendents that have raised the awareness of the cultural and historical significance of Sandtown; brought the degree of site disturbance to the attention of the Hiawatha National Forest; and inspired this project. Proposed Action: This project proposes to address the site specific needs outlined above through a combination on-site interpretation and vegetation management. The Forest is proposing to construct a wayside that would provide safe off-road parking for 3 to 4 vehicles. The wayside will also accommodate up to 4 signs for interpreting the history and cultural significance of Sandtown and the greater Nahma Indian community for the public. This wayside would be located along the south side of County Road 497 within the site opening and directly in the path of the existing OHV race-track. The use of moderate development in the form of interpretive projects is an established strategy for addressing heritage resource protection needs (Ryan 1999). This approach has been successfully employed by the Forest as a means to thwart ongoing site vandalism and disturbances resulting from recreational activities at popular locations, such as Maywood and Bay Furnace. The wayside will be constructed using a gravel mix and will be designed to accommodate the turning radius for a school/tour bus size vehicle. These larger sized vehicles are often used by tribes for sponsoring community and site visits for tribal elders and the disabled. Likewise, 2 to 3 picnic tables will be set up near the wayside for visitor use. Construction of the wayside is funding dependent with an expected start date during fiscal year

5 Plant restoration projects to help stabilize the erosion of heritage resources is also a well established preservation technique (Thorne 1992).The restoration of native plant communities at Sandtown will begin with the eradication of non-native, invasive species through a combination of hand-pulling and herbicidal treatments. Plugs of sweet grass, black-eyed Susan, monarda, coreopsis, columbine, and common milkweed, along with shrubs of wild raisin, service berry, and hawthorn will be planted in the exposed and eroded areas (e.g., OHV race-track). Several planting season will be required to reach the desired condition for this site. Approximately 1,500 to 2,000 plugs will be planted each season. Public Comment: We are completing an environmental anlaysis for these.proposed projects. This project qualifies for categorical exclusion from documentation in an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment per 36 CFR 220.6(d) (4), Repair and maintenance of roads, trails, and landline boundaries.. This decision is not subject to an administrative review or appeal under 36 CFR 215. I would like to receive your comments by May 10, Send your comments to comments-eastern-hiawatha-rapid-river@fs.fed.us. Please refer to Sandtown in the subject line. You may also call or write me at the address provided at the top of this letter. Fax comments may be sent to me at (906) For more information on this project, contact Eric Drake at (906) This proposal is also available at Next Step: I will use your comments throughout the analysis and decision process. The most helpful comments are those that are within the scope of the proposed action, specific to the proposed action, have a direct relationship to the proposed action, and include supporting reasons for the responsible official to consider. All comments received are considered part of the public record for this project and will be available for public inspection under the Freedom of Information Act. Sincerely, /s/ David J. Silvieus DAVID J. SILVIEUS District Ranger 5