The Deerlick Creek area has many natural resources worth protecting. Resource Protection Opportunities include:

• 172 feet of Lake Michigan shoreline
• 700 feet of Deerlick Creek (MDNR designated trout and smelt dipping stream)
• 0.82 acres of forested wetland and floodplains supporting many migratory song birds

The site is dominated with native species. Trees on site include Black Willow, American Beech, Red and Swamp Oak, White Ash, Eastern Hemlock and Tulip trees. Shrubs include red-oiser dogwood, highbush cranberry, spicebush, and sandbar willow (a few non-native honeysuckles). The beach area has native Dune or Marram grass. (See attached letter from Robert Venner of the DeGraaf Nature Center, Holland, MI.)

The site also provides many recreational opportunities. These opportunities include:

• Boating (Small boats can be carried down the gentle slope and launched from the beach and larger boats anchor off shore.)
• Kayaking/Canoeing (Deerlick Creek Beach will be a future destination on the Bangor-South Haven Heritage Water Trail.)
• Swimming /Sunbathing (The mouth of Deerlick Creek provides a safe, sandy place for small children to swim when the lake is too dangerous.)
• Wildlife and Bird Watching (Bird watchers have reported spotting rare birds such as Yellow throated and worm-eating warblers. Also Deerlick is an excellent site for spotting waterfowl such as three species of scoter, Harlequin, wood and mallards. Deer, fox and turkey are often spotted at or near the site.)
• Rock and Sea Glass Collecting (Many claim that Deerlick Creek Beach is the best place for rock and sea glass collecting.) ( Click Here To See a website highlighting rock collecting at Deerlick )
• Nature Watching (Beautiful sunsets can be viewed from the beach or from the vehicle/parking area for those with physical limitations.)
• Nature Photography (Several photographers claim that Deerlick is their favorite place to photograph sunsets and the moon reflecting off the creek and lake.)
• Biking/Hiking (A trail connection from the proposed Deerlick Creek Beach to the existing Kal Haven and Van Buren State Park trails and the proposed Blue Star Highway trail is planned.)
• Scuba Diving (The shore off of the proposed Deerlick Creek Beach is part of the Southwest MI Underwater Preserve, designated by State of MI in 1993 with a 1880’s shipwreck (City of Green Bay) less than 50 feet off shore.)
• Duck Hunting (Hunters often launch boats off Deerlick Creek and hunt diving ducks (buffalo head, blue bills, etc.) that congregate at the mouth of the creek.
• Fishing (Fishing enthusiasts from all of southwest Michigan have enjoyed fishing Deerlick Creek and Lake Michigan at this site for years. See letter from MDNR, Fisheries Division.

Education Opportunities:
The Friends of Deerlick Creek are planning to install educational/ interpretive signs at the proposed park to raise awareness about the Great Lakes ecosystem, water quality issues and fisheries. Further, a group of individuals participate in the Alliance for the Great Lakes Adopt A Beach clean-up program every year.