07-17-2002, 10:29 AM
<b>Bay City Recreation Area</b><br><br><br><IMG SRC="http://www.michigandnr.com/images/RecreationCamping/parkphotos/baycitylowwater.gif"><br><br> ATTENTION: Low water levels in the Saginaw Bay have affected beach conditions at Bay City Recreation Area. This is causing the beach area to return to a vegetative state. Along with the low water levels, warm shallow water and phosphorus content in the water is producing spirogyra algae blooms. While this has no detrimental impact to beach users, some are uncomfortable with the color of water at the waters edge. Permits are being procured form the Department of Environmental Quality and the Army Corp of Engineer to restore the north area for the beach to a user friendly area. <br><br>There are plenty of other activities for the Bay City State Recreation Area visitors to enjoy. Camping, picnic shelters, children's play scape, bicycle trails, hiking trails, and wildlife and waterfowl viewing is great along the bay and in the Tobico Marsh. The Saginaw Bay Visitor Center is open daily from Noon-5PM and offers many summer programs. For current beach conditions and more information on programs, please contact the Park Office at 989-684-3020.<br><br>Photo 1: Distance from parking lot to designated beach.<br><br>Photo 2: Waters edge at designated beach<br><br>Photo 3: Mowed pathway between the parking lot & the designated beach<br><br>Photo 4: North Beach conditions, shortest distance to this beach is to follow the trail behind the visitor center.<br><br>Photo 5: North beach (permit applied area)<br><br>Photo 6: Waters edge at North beach<br><br>Photo 7: View from the waters edge at North Beach.<br><br>Introduction Bay City State Recreation Area, situated on the shores of the Saginaw Bay, is home to one of the largest remaining freshwater, coastal wetlands on the Great Lakes - Tobico Marsh. A mile of sandy shoreline and over 2,000 acres of wetland woods, wet meadows, cattail marshlands and oak savannah prairies make it an ideal staging area for migratory birds. The park has long been known for its outstanding variety of bird life and as a haven for wetland wildlife and plants.<br><br>Saginaw Bay Visitor Center Every visit to the park should begin at this award winning facility, newly renovated and reopened in 1996. The center acquaints visitors with the unique natural features of the coastal wetland and the Saginaw Bay and provides interpretive program opportunities for visitors to discover the wealth of the wetlands! Inside visitors may explore the Jennison Exhibit Hall, shop at the Wetland Wonders Gift Shoppe, secretly view wildlife from the Wildlife Observation Room and the Marsh Camera, experience the panoramic, multi-image presentation, "The Saginaw Bay Story" and enjoy the changing lobby exhibits. <br><br>Interpretive Programs Enrich your park experience by participating in one of many interpretive programs offered everyday throughout the summer and on special weekends during the school year. Opportunities include special event weekends, trail hikes, birding adventures, fishing and hunting clinics, and touring cultural and natural resource artists. <br><br>Campground Sheltered under a canopy of hardwoods and just a short walk from the Saginaw Bay, the campground features 193 electric-service sites, modern toilet/shower buildings, sanitary dump station, 2 mini-cabins (nightly rental), organizational camp, amphitheater, and playground. <br><br>Day Use Visitors can picnic on the sandy shoreline of the Bay or under the shelter of lofty cottonwoods and ash trees which border the Tobico Lagoon. The day use area includes five picnic shelters (available for group rental), restrooms, volleyball and basketball courts, open play area, swimming beach, accessible fishing dock, and trails. <br><br>Fishing and Hunting The Saginaw Bay is home to a world class fisheries resource. DNR boat access sites are within a few miles of the park. Ice fishing can be done from just off the park's shore and the Tobico Lagoon provides sites for pike, carp, bass, and pan fishing. The park permits hunting of deer, waterfowl, and small game within designated areas. <br><br>School Programs Especially for student groups, a wide selection of K-12 wetland conservation programs are offered by special reservation. Hands-on, learning experiences have been designed to meet Michigan Essential Goals & Objectives for Science Education and inspire appreciation and stewardship of wetland resources. Saginaw Bay Visitor Center is open year-round, Tuesday-Sunday, 12noon until 5:00pm. Closed Mondays. For program reservations or more information call: (517) 667-0717 <br><br>Playscape "Come Play by the Bay" is a unique, 3-acre, community built, fully enclosed and accessible playground. Swings, towers, bridges, slides, and creative play equipment will provide adventure and fun for the young and young at heart. <br><br>Trail Information Over seven miles of trails help visitors explore the wetlands! Includes over 3 miles of paved accessible pathways, three observation towers, boardwalks, viewing platforms, and shoreline spotting scopes. Bicycles and rollerblades are welcome. The Chickadee Nature trail features colorful trailside displays with recorded messages. <br><br>Location The park is just north of Bay City. Use the Beaver Rd. exit #168, off I-75 and travel east 5 miles to the park. <br> <br> <br> Bay City- Modern - (800) 447-2757, 193 site(s), $15.00-13.00, Toilets/Electricity, Electricity Only, Mini Cabin <br> Bay City- Organization - (989) 684-3020, $15.00-13.00, Organization Camp for Non Profit use <br> <br><br><br><br><br><A HREF="http://myweb.ecomplanet.com/MESS6438/" target="_new">http://myweb.ecomplanet.com/MESS6438/</A> <br>For Kids Sake <br>Recycle your old Equipment<br>Dave