The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is soliciting applications for open volunteer positions on the Eastern Upper Peninsula Citizens Advisory Council.

The council is designed to advise the DNR on regional programs and policies, identify areas in which the department can be more effective and responsive, and offer insight and guidance from members’ own experiences and from the public.

A Feb. 28 deadline has been set to apply for membership to the council. Three vacancies are currently available.

The council meets every other month, with meeting agenda items addressed set by council members. Council recommendations are forwarded to the DNR for consideration in policy-formation and decision-making processes.

“The council is a great opportunity for members and the public to learn about, and have input into, DNR issues, programs and decisions,” said John Pepin, DNR deputy public information officer. “Since their creation, the eastern U.P. council — and its western counterpart — have drafted over 80 recommendations on a wide variety of topics, the wide majority of which have been approved by the DNR.”

Council members, who are required to have their primary residence located in the U.P.’s easternmost five counties, represent a wide variety of natural resource and recreation interest groups or the citizenry at large.

Members are selected for the council based on a variety of factors.

The eastern U.P. council includes roughly 20 members, each of whom reside within Alger, Chippewa, Luce, Mackinac or Schoolcraft counties.

Application forms and more information about the councils are available online at Michigan.gov/UPCAC or by calling the DNR’s Marquette Customer Service Center at (906) 226-1331.

Completed applications may be faxed to (906) 228-9441, emailed to dahlstromk@michigan.gov, or mailed to DNR, Attn: CAC, 1990 U.S. 41 South, Marquette, MI 49855.