BY AMY ROBINSON
The state is giving outdoor enthusiasts more time to weigh in on how they think state forests should be managed.
Michigan's first of their kind, State forest Management plans are intended to guide DNR decisions about activities on state forest land.
To ensure that both wildlife habitat and opportunities for recreation are protected.
Public comment was supposed to be in by yesterday. Instead the state is extending the deadline through early March.
Scott Jones is with the DNR. He said the plans are complex, and public input is important.
"The state forests really belong to the people of Michigan, and as you know, that really is very a wide spectrum of people with different interests, and we wanted to have comments from all of those interests represented in the plan." Jones said.
Jones said the DNR is working on three management plans: for the Western UP, the Eastern UP and Northern Lower Michigan.
The plans are expected to be completed this year: by late summer or early fall.