Several sound studies have been made of the gunshot noise from Island Lake Shooting Range. All show noticeable evidence of gunshots. Excerpts of some certified sound studies are listed below. The DNR sound expert testified that a noise level of 60 dB one mile away would be approximately 80 dB at the perimeter of the range.
The sounds you will hear in the background of this page are shotgun blasts from the Sporting Clay Course of Island Lake Shooting Range recorded at a home 1.3 miles north of the range. We hope you enjoy what we listen to nearly every day!
As part of the Green Oak Township lawsuit against
the DNR, the Livingston County Circuit Court ordered new sound
studies for an evidentiary hearing. The DNR commissioned Kolano &
Saha Sound Engineers for this study. This document contains graphs
of 6 five-minute readings from the report . The graphs with
locations deleted are at various private residences between 1 and
1.5 miles away from the range. Again, considerable gunshot noise was
recorded above ambient noise levels and above the agreed upon
65 dB noise limit at the range perimeter. Court records include
the complete sound report presented as evidence. This study was
done with the Memtech study below.
Green Oak Township Study
by Memtech (October 23, 2004) Click
here to view
As part of the Green Oak Township lawsuit against the DNR,
the Livingston County Circuit Court ordered new sound studies
for an evidentiary hearing. Green Oak Twp. commissioned Memtech, Inc. for
this study. This document contains data for 12 readings from the report.
The data with locations deleted are at various private residences
between 1 and 1.5 miles away from the range. Again, considerable gunshot
noise was recorded above ambient noise levels and above the agreed
upon 65 dB noise limit at the range perimeter. Court records include
the complete sound report presented as evidence. This study was
done with the Kolano & Saha study above.
This chart is a graph of informal sound
readings that illustrates the type of noise intrusion at homes in
the area. It was recorded in October 2004 more than a mile north of
the Island Lake Shooting Range. The peaks are gunshots (83 in a four
minute period) which exceed the ambient noise level by at least 5dB
to 15dB.
Informal study
by Brighton Township resident (October 3, 2004)
Click here to view
Gun noise in
our
neighborhoods
Persistant sounds of gunfire dominate this backyard
play area at a home 1.3 miles north of the shooting range. Although
heavily wooded, the gun noise permeates our neighborhoods,
disturbing even
normal conversation outside. The sound of gunshots can be heard inside
our homes as well. For 7 to 8 hours a day normally, and longer
during special events, we are bombarded with this gunshot noise. Both
DNR and Township sound studies (see below) had excessive
readings in the neighborhood pictured. You can listen to 60 seconds
of a recording taken mid-afternoon on June 11, 2005.
This document describes the
measurement of sound and how sound travels. It
is adapted from a Memtech presentation to the Green Oak Township Planning
Commission. Topics covered are: Characteristics of sound ....
Human hearing .... How we describe and measure what we hear .... Types
of noise .... Factors that affect sound propogation .... Identifying
noise sources .... Measuring noise sources .... Factors
that influence people's reaction.
After citizens had been complaining for many months about
the excessive noise from the Island Lake Shooting Range, The DNR commissioned
Hanson Consulting of Woburn, MA to make sound measurements at Island
Lake Park, Kensington Metropark, and several residences as much as
1.5 miles away. The DNR had used this consultant before and praised
his capabilities; indeed, Mr. Hanson has been with the NRA Range Department.
This document contains graphs of 9 ten-minute readings from the report
. The graphs with locations deleted are at various private residences
between 1 and 1.5 miles away from the range.
