Largest Remaining Private Tract
on Pigeon River Becomes Preserve

A year after launching a fundraising campaign, the largest undeveloped tract of private land along the north end of the Pigeon River has been purchased as a nature preserve, protecting 200 acres and 1.25 miles on both sides of this blue-ribbon trout stream.

“We’re fortunate that funders recognized the ecological importance of this property's protection and made the purchase possible,” said Tom Lagerstrom, associate director for the Conservancy.

The 42-mile-long river originates northeast of Gaylord and drains into Mullett Lake, draining 88,000 acres within its watershed, which includes the beautiful Pigeon River State Forest. Because the river becomes very wide through this property, the stretch was well-loved by anglers. “Those of us who fish for trout in this part of Michigan know about the Pigeon and it is dear to our hearts,” said Al Rockwood, member of the Little Sturgeon Trout Club and contributor toward the project.

Jack Harris, Burt Lake summer resident, has also enjoyed fishing at this property for years and helped make its protection possible. “This part of the Pigeon has brought me great fishing and birding pleasure for close to fifty summers. That it’s going to be here for my grandchildren delights me.”

In the past few years, the Conservancy has been able to secure the protection of other significant riverfront parcels (see box inset above left). “This property is the largest missing link in an ecological puzzle being pieced together between state forest land and other Conservancy-protected properties,” said Kieran Fleming, Conservancy land protection specialist.