Isabella County received $1,854,862 in 6 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grants the past 35 years

In 1976, Michigan became the first state in the nation to earmark state revenue generated through mineral, including oil and gas, activity for acquisition and improvement of environmentally sensitive and/or public recreation lands. The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) was created by the Kammer Recreational Land Trust Fund Act, signed by Governor William G. Milliken on July 23, 1976. Through 2010, the Fund has awarded 1,601 MNRTF project grants either active or closed (completed) in each of Michigan's 83 counties totaling more than $816.6 million.

 From the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula to a harbor park in downtown Detroit, more than 1,600 public recreation facilities from rail trails to parks to fishing piers statewide have benefited from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, born of a unique alliance of government, environmental groups and the Michigan oil and gas industry in the mid-1970s serving as a solution to a seeming impasse.

Now the history of the MNRTF has been brought to life by a new book from retired Michigan Oil & Gas News magazine Managing Editor Jack R. Westbrook, who covered the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund from embryo to adulthood. In his “Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund 1976-2011: A 35 year Michigan investment heritage in Michigan’s public recreation future”, Westbrook takes the reader on a tour  of the places to play in Michigan's great outdoors made possible by this historic Fund, listing the projects in each county with general, and oil and gas, histories of their county home venues..

According to the new book, with 574 square miles Isabella County is 38t^th largest county and 28^th largest in population with 70,311 residents.

The discovery of the Mt. Pleasant Field in 1928 brought an influx of people and equipment to the county, sheltering the area from the worst financial stress of the Great Depression. Since then, 1,678 holes have been drilled in the search for oil and gas. Isabella County has produced 46,209,912 barrels of oil and 38.146 billion cubic feet of natural gas, ranking 9^th and 29^th respectively among the 64 oil or gas producing Michigan counties. Isabella County has received $1,854,862 in 6 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grants, ranking  33^rd  in number of grants received and 55^th in grant dollars awarded.

Isabella County has received $1,854,862 in 6Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grants, ranking 33^rd in number of grants received and 55^{th th} in grant dollars awarded.

The 222 page soft-cover book, Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund 1976-2011, published by Jack R. Westbrook ORSB Publishing and printed by Createspace.com, is available in bookstores now and at Amazon.com now. The book officially launched on the anniversary of Governor Milliken’s signing of the bill, with a book-based slide presentation by Westbrook at the Michigan Historical Museum and Library auditorium in Lansing on Saturday July 23, 2011


One of the last standing traditional oil derricks in the state with a sign declaring Mt. Pleasant – Oil Capital of Michigan” along US-127. The sign has now been converted to a Mt. Pleasant commercial promotional sign while the derricck still stands.

One of the last standing traditional oil derricks in the state with a sign declaring Mt. Pleasant – Oil Capital of Michigan” along US-127.