With the passage of Michigan Public
Act 57, 1993 (MCL 322.821-826),
Michigan became
the first state in the nation to designate a tract of land as a
"Dark Sky Preserve". Night
time lighting is controlled with the intent of preserving an area
for the enjoyment of
the night sky.
In creating the Dark Sky Preserve at
Lake Hudson State Recreation
Area near Clayton,
Michigan, the Michigan Legislature set up a demonstration project
to show that preserving
night skies for enjoyment is fully compatible with management for
other recreational uses.
The legislation requires that outdoor
lighting within a dark sky
preserve does not
unreasonably interfere with nightime activities that require
darkness,
including enjoyment
of the night sky, nightime photography, and wildlife
photography.
Such permanent lighting
as is deemed necessary has to be directed downward and provided
by fully shielded fixtures,
with motion sensor fixtures wherever practical.
The legislation places no
restrictions on light used by park users,
who are asked to use
nightime lighting in moderation, arrive with headlights on low beam,
and use courtesy in
dealings with others.
By managing for dark night skies as
well as other recreational activities,
showing that
such management has positive recreational and use benefits for
public
lands, it is hoped
that Lake Hudson can be a model for other dark sky preserves in
other areas of the country.
Lake Hudson State Recreational Area
Lake Hudson State Recreation Area,
consists of approximately 2,200
acres of land
surrounding Lake Hudson. The 600 acre lake was impounded in 1971.
The Park offers
a semi-modern campground, picnic area, boat launch, and a beach,
with hand pumps and
pit toilets.
Deer, geese, and wild turkey are
common, and hunting is permitted
in season. The Lake
has some of the largest muskellunge found in Michigan's inland
waters.
Boats on the lake
are limited to "no-wake" speeds.
Take M-34 east of Hudson 6 miles to Clayton and go one mile south on M-156.
Hints and tips about
Astronomy at
Lake Hudson State Recreation Area
Lake Hudson has one of the best
combinations of dark skies and clear
horizons available
to amateur astronomers in southern Michigan.
Skies are generally dark, but skyglow
is frequently a problem toward
the east,
toward Adrian, the closest major town.
Local astronomical observers setting
up at Lake Hudson usually use
the Picnic or Beach
parking areas, as there generally is less night activity there.
The campground is occasionally used
for observing, as it is the only
area where 110 volt
power is available to the public, but campfires, lights, and
campground
traffic may interfere.
Amateur astronomers should remember
that Lake Hudson is a public
park, and that there
are often other legitimate nightime recreational users of the park
present who may not
share a sensitivity toward dark skies. Your courtesy and
patience
is requested. Most
such interference tends to die out by an hour or two after sunset.
Lake Hudson is normally closed in
areas outside the campground from
10 PM to 8 AM.
Observing outside the campground is normally permitted if the park
manager is contacted
ahead of time at (517) 467-7401
Lake Hudson, like all other Michigan
State Parks and Recreation Areas,
requires a daily
or annual Motor Vehicle Permit for entry.
Permits are available at the park
contact station, when open, or
at Knight's Grocery,
1 1/2 miles north of the entrance at the corner of M-34 and M-156.
Annual permits issued elsewhere in the state are also good at Lake Hudson.
For more information about the park,
or to get night time use permission,
contact the
Park Manager at:
W. J. Hayes State Park
1220 Wamplers Lake Rd.
Onsted, MI 49265
(517) 467-7401
For Camping Reservations Call: 1-800-44PARKS
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