IHCC urges Norvell Township to consider DNR’s warnings as it evaluates the proposed mining permit
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 9, 2026 | Norvell Township, Michigan
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has formally expressed serious concerns about the proposed American Aggregates of Michigan (AAOM) gravel mine adjacent to Watkins Lake State Park and County Preserve, urging Norvell Township to consider the potential harmful impacts as it decides whether to grant or deny the mining permit.
In a November 5 letter to the Norvell Township Board of Trustees, DNR Director M. Scott Bowen said the DNR is “deeply concerned” about the damage the proposed mine would do to the park.
“As the steward of the State Park and a significant adjacent property owner, the Michigan DNR is writing to you to express our concerns with the impacts such a mining operation would have on the park: its waters, wetlands, birds and other wildlife, and park users,” the letter states.
The letter highlights the park’s exceptional ecological resources, including its large Prairie Fen complex, habitat for rare and threatened species, and important waterfowl refuge. The DNR notes that 57% of the park’s 1,122 acres is classified as Ecologically Sensitive, Primitive, or Back Country.
The DNR warns that mining could alter and diminish ground and surface water flows and water quality, threatening the natural resources that sustain the park. It also raises concerns about harm to wildlife and reduced park use and visitation due to truck traffic, dust, noise, and visual impacts.
According to the mining application, the proposed operation would excavate gravel from a 625-acre site directly adjoining the park and Watkins Lake, with mining and truck operations continuing for 20 years.
The DNR’s letter brings significant weight to concerns that local residents and organizations have raised about the proposed mine. Its assessment underscores the seriousness of the potential consequences and provides important grounds for the Township to deny the mining permit.
“The DNR has confirmed that the proposed mine would cause substantial harm to the adjacent state park,” said Andy Buchsbaum, Vice President of IHCC. “That’s a very serious consequence and, under the law, any permit for a mine in this location should be denied.”
The DNR’s November 5 letter to the Norvell Township Board of Trustees is available in full here.