Allegan State Game Area & Kalamazoo River (Galesburg to Saugatuck)

Allegan State Game Area, owned and managed by Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources. Other river sections privately-owned.

Ornithological Summary

Large number of nationally vulnerable and/or management concern species, regional source population for area-sensitive neotropical migrants; concentrations of Canada Goose (MPP) and Mallard; average number of Canada Geese present during the winter = 10,718 (1991-1995); approximately 140 species present during some portion of breeding bird survey

Conservation Issues

Threat types include invasive species, inadequate funding (listed as reduction of land management), recreational development/overuse, and succession/afforestation. Major threats (10%-50% of resource) include invasive species and inadequate funding (listed as reduction of land management).

Ownership

Michigan DNR owns the entire State Game Area. The forests along the Kalamazoo River between Galesburg and Saugatuck are primarily privately-owned, with small portions in municipal/county ownership. Percentages offered are approximate.

Habitat

Dominated in Oak forest, lowland deciduous floodplain (along the banks of the Kalamazoo River and tributaries), grassland, and shrub swamp. Lesser percentages of agricultural land, aspen forest, and miscellaneous cover types are represented.

Land Use

Forestry, hunting/fishing, wildlife conservation/research, agriculture/cultivation and recreation/tourism.