Michigan Administrative Code › Department - Natural Resources › Parks and Recreation Division › Pure Michigan Trail, Water Trail, and Trail Town Designation › Section R. 324.1453 - Requirements for designation; trail; water trail

Current through Vol. 24-12, July 15, 2024
Rule 3.
( 1) The
				department shall consider a trail or water trail for a Pure Michigan
				designation if the trail or water trail meets the requirements established in
				section 72103 of the Act, and the following requirements:
(a) The trail or water trail is open for use
				by the public and publicly available access sites, staging areas, trailheads,
				and rest areas are appropriately spaced for the type of trail.
(b) The trail or water trail is identified on
				a website with a map that can be printed and is appropriately signed to make
				the user aware of all of the following:
(i)
				The location and length of the trail or water trail.
(ii) Hazards and level of difficulty of the
				trail or water trail.
(iii)
				Amenities related to the trail or water trail, including easily accessible
				access sites, staging areas, trailheads, rest areas, lodging, eating
				facilities, and other recreational opportunities.
(c) The trail or water trail is appropriately
				signed, including pictures as appropriate, to do all of the following:
(i) Make users aware of their location on the
				trail or water trail.
(ii) Make
				users aware of easily accessible access sites, staging areas, trailheads, rest
				areas, trail amenities, lodging facilities, and eating facilities as well as
				hazards, towns, and emergency contacts.
(iii) Encourage safety and respect for the
				environment.
(d) Unless
				the trail or water trail is primarily a looped trail or water trail or
				otherwise intended for the user to return to his or her vehicle in
				1 day or less,
				lodging facilities appropriate to the type of trail or water trail users are
				available for at least the following:
(i)
				Every 12 miles for trails primarily used by walkers.
(ii) Every 12 miles for trails located upon
				water.
(iii) Every 15 miles for
				trails primarily used by cross country skiers.
(iv) Every 40 miles for trails primarily used
				by bikers.
(v) Every 40 miles for
				trails primarily used by equestrians.
(vi) Every 100 miles for trails primarily
				used by snowmobile or ORV riders.
(e) The trail or water trail is designed so
				that increased use of the trail or water trail will not degrade the local
				experience, cultural resources, or the environment. Applicants shall identify
				the designs applied to ensure sustainability of the trail or water
				trail.
(f) At a minimum, for a
				water trail, the water body shall meet water quality use designations for
				Partial Body Contact standards, as established by Michigan department of
				environmental quality, in addition to the requirements established by section
				72103(3)(c) of the Act.
(g) The
				trail or water trail has a formally adopted plan that does the following:
(i) Identifies the existing and planned
				amenities associated with the trail or water trail and how those amenities will
				be maintained and enhanced.
(ii)
				Establishes a schedule for the maintenance of the trail or water trail that
				identifies funding sources and the party or parties responsible for maintaining
				the trail or water trail and discouraging vandalism.
(iii) Includes programming and educational
				activity associated with the trail or water trail that allow or increase
				enjoyment of the trail or water trail, understanding of the natural, cultural,
				and historic resources related to the trail or water trail, boating skills,
				outdoor ethics and, for a water trail, efforts to improve the quality of the
				waterway and its water.
(iv)
				Identifies a mechanism to evaluate the economic impact of the trail or water
				trail at least every 5 years that includes an understanding of users and where
				they live, impact on area businesses, and money spent in conjunction with trail
				or water trail use.
(v) Includes a
				marketing plan for the trail or water trail.
(h) The trail or water trail has a resolution
				of support of the designation of the trail or water trail as a Pure Michigan
				Trail or Water Trail by the local unit of government, authority, or non-profit
				that is primarily responsible for the trail or water trail.
(i) The trail or water trail is supported,
				managed, and maintained by
				1 or more
				organizations. If the trail or water trail is supported, managed, and
				maintained by more than
				1 organization,
				the organizations shall enter into a written agreement with each other. The
				organizations shall be broadly representative of the community, including
				recreation, education, conservation, heritage, business, public safety, health,
				and government organizations and shall obtain permission from all persons or
				entities that have an ownership interest over any portion of the trail or water
				trail.
(j) The trail or water trail
				is part of the statewide trail network.