KBIC Natural Resources Department

10/22/2026

Successful hunters, please consider donating your lymph nodes for testing. We will provide you with a gift card to our Pines Gas Station and a Successful Hunters Patch for your participation. Help us stay proactive in keeping the herd healthy!

10/15/2026

🔥 Current Wildfire Update: Ridge, Craig Lake, & Black River Fires

Fire crews continue battling rugged terrain and difficult access on multiple fires in the Upper Peninsula, making steady progress on containment efforts.

1. Ridge Fire
Size & Containment: Estimated at 434 acres and 30% contained.

Location: 10 miles northwest of Marquette, north of the Dead River Basin west of County Road 510.

Details: Spotted by a DNR pilot on Oct. 9 (cause under investigation). Area landowners continue providing critical information to assist firefighters with access.

2. Craig Lake Fire
Size & Containment: Estimated at 604 acres and 50% contained.

Location: North of Craig Lake State Park.

Details: Detected by a DNR pilot on Oct. 8. The cause has been confirmed as a lightning strike from storms between October 5 and 8 that smoldered before high winds caused it to spread.

3. Black River Fire
Size & Containment: Estimated at 382 acres and 50% contained.

Location: 4 miles south of Wakefield, Michigan, burning in a densely forested, hard-to-access area.

Details: The DNR took over management from the U.S. Forest Service on Tuesday. Its cause remains under investigation.

⚠️ Safety Reminders & Restrictions
Ready, Set, Go! Protocol: The status for residents along North Basin Drive remains at “Ready.” Residents are encouraged to stay prepared.

Closures:
The Noquemanon Trail system west of the trailhead on County Road 510 is closed.

Craig Lake State Park is temporarily closed north of Craig Lake proper, along with the Teddy Lake Yurt and the North Country Trail within the park through the end of October. (The remainder of the park remains open).

Temporary Flight Restriction: A 5 nautical mile radius restriction is in effect below 3,500 feet over the Ridge and Craig Lake fires. Drones are strictly prohibited as they halt all air operations. Please avoid the area.

Thank you to all participating agencies including the our DNR teams, U.S. Forest Service, Michigan State Police, local Sheriff's Offices, emergency management teams, and local fire departments. Their coordinated suppression efforts are instrumental in tackling these wildfires!

10/08/2026

Happening this weekend!

Registration for Manoomin Camp is now open. While NOT required, it is helpful for understanding how much food and supplies to prepare!

Use the QR code on the flyer or the link below to register now:
forms.gle/VzuDPsThPxwB3hHU6

10/07/2026

Attention community members! We are hoping to get some yard waste from you, we will use it to supply our composting program. Questions? Contact Anthony Johnson (906)524-5757 ext. 4242

10/06/2026

Marquette residents, there will be an E-Waste Collection event on October 17th at the Ojibwa Casino in Marquette! Check out the flyer below for more details, do your part in supporting sustainable practices.

10/02/2026

Last Thursday NRD staff teamed up for an end of summer beach cleanup! We collected over 40 pounds of trash! A huge thank you community members who helped us throughout the summer. Without you I’m sure we’d have been picking up much more!

09/24/2026

09/24/2026

NOTICE: CLEAN WATER ACT, SECTION 401 CERTIFICATION

Baraga County Road Commission (BCRC) is proposing to complete a permanent culvert replacement on Skanee Road at a Silver River tributary. After a flash flooding event in 2025 the culvert was slip lined with a 60-inch diameter CMP pipe as a temporary emergency structure repair. BCRC is proposing replacing the existing culvert with a larger concrete box culvert. It is proposed that a temporary road and bypass culvert will be constructed to maintain traffic and stream flow during construction.

In accordance with Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community is evaluating the submitted materials to determine if there is a reasonable assurance- with conditions attached- that the activities associated with the Army Corps of Engineers’ verification of the Nationwide Permit will be consistent with relevant water quality considerations.

The Tribe seeks comments on CWA Section 401 Certification of the Army Corps’ verification for this project. All comments are considered during the project review. The 30-day public comment period ends on 10/24/2026.