By Associated Press
UNDATED – The State of Michigan has completed the purchase of more than 1,000 acres of wilderness land along the Sturgeon River in the Upper Peninsula. A recent grant from the Natural Resources trust fund paid for the final 681 acre section. Altogether, Michigan has acquired 1,054 acres from WE Energies, a Wisconsin utility that has been selling U.P. land no longer needed for electricity generation. The purchase assures preservation of about 5.6 miles of waterfront property along the sturgeon, a federally designated wild and scenic river. It connects with neighboring state land to form a 30 mile stretch of public property along the river, securing a critical segment of the north country trail. The land will be available for recreation and habitat for wildlife such as eagles, osprey and deer.