HURON COUNTY LOOKING TO WATER FOR TOURISM BOOST
By Dawne Prochilo Newsweekly May25, 2005

The Huron-Tuscola County Heritage Water Trail committee met las week with David Lumberg, PhD and Jim Lewis, PhD of Western Michigan University regarding the beginning of a Heritage Water Trail around the 90 plus miles of shoreline of the neighboring counties.

“Huron County is a pilot trail in Michigan,” said committee organizer, Judy Valentine, represent the Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse Society. “There is a river water trail on the St. Joseph River, but we’ll have the first Heritage Water Trail on the Great Lakes.

“A Heritage Water Trail is defined as a waterway designated for any non-motorized watercrafts,” said committee member and Caseville bed and breakfast owner, Becky Dorfman. “The trail would be accessible for canoes and kayak’s mostly, but also for rowboats and rafts.”

Along the Heritage Water Trail will be designations historical markers, nature sights and places to eat, sleep or rest.

“There are many lighthouses, shipwrecks (122 along in the Thumbs Bottomlands Preserve serviced by the Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse) and historical sights to see and explore,” said David Lumberg.”This area is naturally ready for this type of venue.”

All participants of the water trail will receive a guidebook that explains all the destinations and what is available at each destination. Along the way of the water trail, there will be signs posted at each point of interest, and points access and egress the trail.

Sponsors will pay for the signs. The sponsors can be local businesses, organizations, families or any interested individual.

“The signs will have the name of the point of historical interest, a description of the point of interest, what is nearby for accommodations or restaurants, state logo of the trail and a
logo to be designed for the Huron County section of the trail and who has sponsored the point of interest,” said Valentine.

“The DNR has already given their approval for the use of Port Crescent and Sleeper State Parks’ boat and launching ramps as well as the other DNR boat ramps throughout the county,” adds Valentine.

“The State DEQ has already given a $20,000 grant for the pilot,” said Valentine. “The money is for the initial work on the guide, research and the mapping done by Western Michigan University.”
Lumberg and the committee hope to have the water trail in use by the summer of 2006. “For right now we need to plan do research,” said Lumberg. “The entire program will be for educational, environmental and tourism purposes.”

“Western Michigan University researchers have told us that the water trail can be used for educational purposes,” said Valentine. “Its content will meet all of the state requirements and MEAP standards.”

“For right now we need to try and determine the economic impact on the area,” said Lewis. “We’ll have to do a survey about the increase of tourism once the water trail opens.”

The committee is also trying to get sponsors for roadside signs inviting road travelers as well as the travelers to stop in for visits.

“All the road signs will be consistent so people will know that this is all part of the Heritage Water Trail,” said Valentine. Valentine said she “contacted the state regarding this project and everyone has been extremely helpful along the way. This is a major step in making the Thumb area a destination vacation locale. We originally began this for the Heritage and Cultural Tourism,” adds Valentine. “But we’ve discovered there’s more to it if you want to take full advantage of the potential of the project.”