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Friends of the Boyne River is a
nonprofit, nongovernmental, local
corporation organized under Section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
Code, “to maintain the environmental
quality of the Boyne River and its
watershed,” as directed in its
By-Laws, by:
A.
Protecting the water quality.
B.
Preserving and restoring the
aesthetic value and character of the
watershed.
C.
Informing and educating the public
about the corporation’s activities
and about issues involving the Boyne
River watershed.
D.
Promoting wise resource management
on public and private lands within
the watershed.
E.
Pursuing broad-based support of the
corporation’s activities.
F.
Facilitating the coordination of the
policies and actions of the various
individuals, groups, and agencies
affecting the environment within the
watershed.
In pursuit of these goals the
corporation has been involved in
numerous activities in the course of
its business, including but not
limited to:
A.
Initiating and pursuing legal action
against the Michigan Department of
Environmental Quality to prevent the
discharge of wastewater effluent
from Boyne City’s new wastewater
treatment facility into the Boyne
River.
B.
Organizing groups to clean up the
banks of the Boyne River.
C.
Completing a bank stabilization
project on the heavily fished waters
down-stream from Boyne USA’s
hydroelectric dam.
D.
Undertaking a large erosion control
and bank stabilization project along
the river bank in Old City Park in
downtown Boyne City. The project
includes access to the river
featuring stairs and a canoe/kayak
launch. This project will be used as
an educational demonstration site
showing that native plants look
beautiful as well as control
erosion.
E.
Controlling invasive purple
loosestrife by physical removal and
the release of beetles that feed
exclusively on purple loosestrife.
F.
Granting a yearly scholarship to a
college student studying the
biological sciences.
G.
Organizing river kayaking and
canoeing excursions.
H.
Participating in educational
programs with Tip of the Mitt and
Camp Daggett.
I.
Presenting educational and
informational programs at general
membership meetings.
J.
Studying water flow and chemical
composition of the river and
identifying invertebrate populations
in the river.
K.
Organizing walks along the river to
identify and enjoy the trees, birds,
flowers, and other wildlife that
live on or near the river.
L.
Organizing “Rambles” to parts of the
river’s watershed to view areas
needing attention or that have
enjoyed restoration. Rambles
are usually followed with
refreshments.
The membership of the Friends of the
Boyne River is broad based and
includes organizations as well as
individuals and families. This
reflects the fact that the
organization has many activities and
appeals to a wide range of
interests, and the activities follow
rapidly one after another. A
look around at a current board
meeting finds individuals with
interests in geology, ornithology,
kayaking, bike riding, gardening,
fishing, alternative energy, and
education. It is an excellent
organization for an individual to
join to promote his or her
environmental interests.
Anyone with environmental
appreciation is welcome to
participate.
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