Bay City Recreation Area

Infobox_protected_area | name = Bay City Recreation Area
iucn_category =


caption =
locator_x = 225
locator_y = 215
location = Michigan, USA
nearest_city = Bay City, Michigan
lat_degrees = 43
lat_minutes = 40
lat_seconds = 6
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 83
long_minutes = 55
long_seconds = 5
long_direction = W
area = 2,100 acres (8.5 km²)
established =
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body = Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Bay City Recreation Area or Bay City State Recreation Area (formerly Bay City State Park) is a convert|2100|acre|km2 state park located near Bay City, Michigan in Bay County, Michigan, on the shore of Saginaw Bay. The Tobico Marsh, one of the largest remaining freshwater, coastal wetlands on the Great Lakes is located in the park. Other natural features of the park include a mile of sandy beach, over convert|2000|acre|km2| of wetland woods, meadows, oak savannah prairies, and cattail marshes. The park is a haven for migratory birds and wetland wildlife. [cite web| url = http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/ParksandTrailsInfo.aspx?id=437| title = ParkList - Bay City Recreation Area| accessdate = 2006-07-11]

Facilities and activities

*Hunting - The park is open to hunting during open seasons.
*Wildlife viewing from three observation towers, boardwalks, viewing platforms and shoreline spotting scopes
*Swimming
*Playground
*Hiking on seven miles of trails
*Biking
*Cross-country skiing
*Fishing in the Tobico Lagoon
*Picnicking
**Picnic Area
**Picnic Shelter
*Camping
*Metal Detecting - Metal detecting is recognized as a legitimate recreation activity when it is conducted in ways that do not damage the natural and cultural resources in Michigan State Parks nor violate applicable state statutes. [http://www.michigandnr.com/publications/pdfs/RecreationCamping/metal-maps/baycity.PDF Use a map] that shows clearly where this activity may take place. Any items found must be reviewed by park staff and may be retained for further investigation.

Beach pollution

Pollution on the beaches boardering the Saginaw Bay comprised of organic matter has posed a significant issue to park patrons and local waterfront land owners in recent years. Although beach grooming has been implemented to clean up the beaches, much of the shoreline along the bay is muddied with "muck".

Much of the pollution found along the bay shore has been attributed to waste runoff from local farms settled within the Saginaw River watershed, wastewater treatment failures, and leaking septic systems, which contribute nutrients into the water, causing algae blooms. [cite web| url = http://www.mlive.com/news/bctimes/index.ssf?/base/news-9/1180019807314550.xml&coll=4| title = The Bay City Times - GOOD-BYE MUCK, HELLO SAND| ]

References

External links

* [http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=437&type=SPRK Bay City Recreation Area - Michigan DNR]
* [http://sea.unep-wcmc.org/wdpa/sitedetails.cfm?siteid=80400&level=nat World Database on Protected Areas - Bay City Recreation Area]