Michigan Land Use Trends and Their Influence on Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism
 
By Charles M. Nelson, Associate Professor, Department of Park, Recreation &Tourism Resources, Michigan State University

Recently, in cooperation with many scientists from MSU and elsewhere, working under the auspices of Public Sector Consultants and funded by the Kellogg and Frey Foundations, I participated in a study examining the impact land use trends may have on land-based industries in the future. These industries include agriculture, forestry, mining and natural resource based recreation and tourism.
 
Currently, the rate of land development in Michigan is eight times the rate of population growth. So, for every one percent our population increases we have an eight percent increase in developed land. These growth rates were projected for the state based on the statewide 1978 landmark land use mapping project and recent regional updates using sophisticated Geographic Information System technology. Then, scientists with expertise in key land based industries examined these land use trends and other data to assess future impacts.
 
A case study of hunting, fishing, motorized trail activities, golf and downhill skiing reveals some unique challenges faced by each sector. The full report is available in PDF format on the Internet at http://www.publicsectorconsultants.com/lbilu/index.htm.

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Natural Resource-Based Recreation and Tourism at a Glance  

Hunting:
 
About 935,000 people hunt annually in Michigan, totaling 18.4 million hunter days.  This is the largest number of hunters of any state in the U.S.
 
Hunters annually spend $304 million on Michigan trips.
 
Key challenges are loss of huntable lands through sprawl and access to those that remain.
 
Fishing:
 
About 1,824,000 people fish annually in Michigan, totaling 28.7 million angler days.  Michigan is fourth in the number of anglers behind Florida, California, and Texas.
 
Anglers annually spend $583 million on Michigan trips, including $123 million of boating expenses. 
 
Key challenges for fishing are sprawl contributing to degradation of fish habitats and conflicts over shoreline use. 
 
Snowmobiling:
 
Over 200,000 Michigan snowmobile trail permits are sold annually, with 40 percent to non-residents. 
 
Permitted machines account for 2.4 million snowmobile days annually with more than three-fourths on the 6,000 mile designated trail system. 
 
Annually, 1.4 million snowmobile days are spent on tourist trips away from home, with $110 million in trip spending.  Each year and additional $235 million is spent on equipment. 
 
Key challenges are breaks in the designated trail system and limited safe access to goods and services as a result of land fragmentation.
 
Golf and Skiing:
 
Michigan has 794 golf courses open to the public.  About 15.8 million 18-hole rounds are played annually, with 20 percent considered tourist golf (played away from home). 
 
$330 million is spent annually on greens fees/cart rental; $459 million is spent on travel. 
 
Downhill skiers in Michigan have 2.2 million days of participation annually, including 1.4 million skier days on trips away from home. 
 
Tourist ski travel spending is estimated at $110 million for winter 2000-01.
 
Key challenges are managing facilities to better promote environmental quality and using infrastructure in positive ways to reduce sprawl in surrounding communities. 

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For many, these outcomes are unacceptable if no change is made in current land use trends and we do not appropriately respond.  If we value and plan to have significant land based industries such as natural resource based recreation and tourism, as well as seek to maintain and enhance the quality of life Michigan's outdoors provides, we will need to make changes to limit sprawl.
 
This may mean better incentives to redevelop "brown field" sites rather than additional developmental sprawl to "green field" sites. It may also mean wiser development of residential areas with smaller lot sizes and more common open space. Finally, it may mean strategic investment such as public land acquisition that blocks in public land holdings and acquiring permanent easements for trail corridors. Business as usual is likely to mean that our children and theirs will not know a Michigan where open space and outdoor recreation are an integral part of everyday life and a key part of our economy.