Each year the Sporting Clays and Trap & Skeet sections of the Island

                                                          Lake Shooting Range were responsible for depositing approximately

                                                          4 tons of lead shot onto the ground. This number was obtained from

Corroded Lead Pellet                  the National Sporting Clays Association where they ranked Island Lake

                                                          as the nation's 27th highest volume range of clay targets in 2005. It is estimated that 100,000 clay targets are thrown each year. With typically 1 1/8 ounces of lead shot fired at each target, the total lead from shotgun activity through the end of 2005 calculates to more than 20 tons! This figure does not include lead from the Rifle & Pistol ranges.

 

The lead deposited in the Sporting Clay course can not be easily recovered because it is widely dispersed in hilly, wooded and brush covered areas. Recovery with machinery is virtually impossible. And even when recovery is attempted, it creates additional environmental hazard because minute particles become airborne and are dispersed further by wind to neighboring property around the range. Lead in even small amounts is a considerable hazard; just 100 pounds at an industrial location is considered a hazardous waste site.

 

Lead on the ground, especially in these emormous amounts, leaches into the ground water and then into our  lakes, rivers, and streams. The Island Lake Shooting Range is situated just a few hundred feet from the Huron River and Kent Lake and just a mile from the Fonda Lake Well Protection Area. All of us get our water from either our own wells or community wells and we need to protect this precious resource. Under Green Oak township is the most "prolific aquifer ever discovered in the state" according to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. To see lead hazard photos of the shooting range click here.

 

Michigan DNR report " Lead Poisoning " says the switch to non-toxic shot significantly reduces the number of bird deaths from lead poisoning. However, Island Lake Shooting Range does not require the use of non-toxic shot! In a newspaper article " Group fed up with lead ", Pat Lieske, who operates the shotgun portion of the range said there are no plans to recapture the lead because there is not enough and it would be too expensive.