WASHINGTON (March 5, 2014) — Almost half of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore will be designated as federally protected wilderness after the U.S. House passed a bill on March 4 that would give it the highest level of conservation for federal public land.
According to the Detroit News, the legislation passed the Senate in June of last year, and is now on its way to President Barack Obama’s desk to become law. U.S. Senator Carl Levin introduced it and Sen. Debbie Stabenow co-sponsored the bill.
About 32,500 acres of land and inland water as well as 46% of the dunes will be treated as wilderness, and county roads, historical structures, and access to recreation will be protected.
