Conservancy reflects on 2022 progress, projects

Jillian Fellows, Cheboygan Daily Tribune
·3 min read
The Black Hole Nature Preserve is a byway between Crooked and Pickerel lakes.
The Black Hole Nature Preserve is a byway between Crooked and Pickerel lakes.

NORTHERN MICHIGAN — In 2022, the Little Traverse Conservancy celebrated its 50th anniversary.

The conservancy marked the occasion with events in July, but the organization's efforts to protect, appreciate and learn about the environment and natural habitats across its five-county region continued throughout the year.

More:Kathy Bricker’s environmental legacy lives on in new preserve

The Little Traverse Conservancy conducted more than 40 community field trips in 2022.
The Little Traverse Conservancy conducted more than 40 community field trips in 2022.

In the conservancy's end of year summary, they highlighted seven projects and programs that were accomplished in 2022:

  • Twenty-five land protection projects were completed, protecting a total of 1,359 acres throughout the five-county service area. These lands include 2.7 miles along various lakes, rivers or streams, more than 5 miles of road frontage, and over half a mile of frontage along the Northwestern State Trail.

  • Six new trails totaling 2.58 miles were established in 2022.

  • One of these new trails is a 2,100 foot long trail that leads to a labyrinth at the Offield Family Viewlands Preserve near Harbor Springs. Both the trail and labyrinth were designed for those with mobility challenges and design and fundraising was done in partnership with volunteers from Bay View.

  • Trail camera counting data at conservancy-owned lands indicates at least 86,000 visits to a conservancy land in 2022.

  • More than 26 work bees were held in 2022 to remove invasive species. A total of 16,995 trees, shrubs and wildflowers were planted at five different properties. Two prescribed burns totaling 28 acres occurred in the spring of 2022. A total of 145 acres of working forest reserve land was sustainably logged to create habitat or improve forest stand health.

  • More than 200 environmental education programs were conducted at schools throughout the service area.

  • More than 40 community field trips were held throughout the seasons.

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According to the conservancy, the primary mission of the organization is to provide land protection opportunities to landowners who are interested in protecting their land for perpetuity, as well as providing outdoor learning opportunities. Providing and improving safe and appropriate access to the outdoors remains a high priority for the organization going into 2023.“We are so grateful that the founders of this organization had a vision 50 years ago that continues today, clearly showing how much our communities want to care for the wonderful land and natural resources that this region provides,” said Kieran Fleming, the conservancy's executive director.

Highlights from around Little Traverse Conservancy’s service area include:

Emmet County:

  • Protected 93 acres at the John Siegel Nature Preserve near Carp Lake

  • Added 3 acres to the Woollam Nature Preserve with 300 feet on Lake Michigan

  • Added 6 acres to Black Hole Nature Preserve with 870 feet along the Pickerel/Crooked lakes channel

  • A total of 125 acres of private land was protected in conservation easements

Cheboygan County:

  • Protected 150-acre Melvin Family hiking and biking trails Working Forest Reserve

  • Added 195 acres to Reed’s Alverno

  • An additional 94 acres were protected on private land

Charlevoix County:

  • Protected 107-acre Richard and Sadie Bartosik Preserve

  • Added 3 acres to Dressel Nature Preserve in East Jordan

  • Added 26 acres to Conn’s Cove Preserve on Beaver Island with 660 feet on Lake Michigan

  • Added 900 feet of boardwalk to the Susan Creek Nature Preserve

Mackinac County:

  • Created the 130-acre Kathy Bricker Nature Lover Preserve, with 2,600 feet on Duck Bay along Lake Huron

  • Protected 22 acres in a yet unnamed preserve at Poupard Bay, with 980 feet on Lake Michigan

  • Added 9 acres to Wilderness Bay Preserve with 772 feet of Lake Huron frontage

  • Added the 77-acre Margo and Kerri Mertaugh addition to the Mertaugh Family Nature Preserve with 1,500 feet on Search Bay along Lake Huron

  • An 80-acre conservation easement protected private land near Cedarville

Chippewa County:

  • Protected a 43-acre preserve on the southern end of Sault Ste. Marie

  • Vermilion Point is now off limits to dogs during the piping plover season of May-July

This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Little Traverse Conservancy reflects on 2022 progress, projects