Susan Creek Acquisition

A spectacular gain for the scenic preservation of the US-31 corridor was recently made with the protection of a total of 222 acres of land along more than one mile of highway frontage and a mile of frontage on Susan Creek.

"This area has been one of the top priorities of our US-31 program for many years," said Tom Bailey, executive director of the Conservancy. "Several key partners including the Conservancy, the sellers, several funders, and the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians came together to make its protection a reality. This is truly a win for everyone involved."

The property encompasses all of the US-31 frontage across from the Lexalite and Big Rock Point properties, with the exception of an intervening quarter-mile stretch retained by Consumers Energy as a utility corridor. The land drains to Susan Creek which flows into Lake Michigan.

The opportunity to purchase the tract, which encompassed two separate ownership parcels, was facilitated by Richard Lobenherz of Vacation Properties Network in Charlevoix. Lobenherz, a longtime supporter of the Conservancy and its US-31 initiative, was the first to donate a conservation easement along US-31 in 1995 and he donated another in 2000.

"I've enjoyed working closely with Tom Bailey and his staff over the years to help create opportunities to protect this strategically important corridor," Lobenherz said. "The window of opportunity only exists while the parcels are still in relatively large tracts. I intend to continue to do what I can to further the conservancy's goal in this worthwhile initiative!" In fact, Lobenherz is currently working with the Little Traverse Conservancy to protect an additional 1,800 feet of US-31 frontage across the road and south of the new preserve with a conservation easement.

Another facet of this story came together when Rachel Schwarz and the late Taimi Hoag of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Environmental Services Department approached the Conservancy about working together to protect the Susan Creek property. A tributary to Lake Michigan, Susan Creek is a high priority for watershed protection. The tribe is currently monitoring water quality at this site. As a local unit of government, the tribe was also able to apply for funding earmarked for shoreline and watershed protection through the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The result has been a $250,000 grant from the DEQ's Michigan Coastal Management Program toward the land's acquisition. The tribe will hold 55 acres of the land in ownership as a nature preserve protected with a Conservancy-held conservation easement. They will work with the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council to conduct a wetland delineation and wetland assessment of the Susan Creek property. The Conservancy will hold the remaining 168 acres as a nature preserve.

"This project has been a unique opportunity for us to develop a working relationship with the Conservancy and Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council," said Rachel Schwarz. "The group has focused on conserving high-risk areas near the Lake Michigan shoreline, and this has resulted in the establishment of the first designated nature preserve for the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. The Tribal government strives to protect Mother Earth with respect and honor, keeping the next seven generations in mind."

"The complementary parcel brought wonderful, leveraging local match," Bailey said. "It also elevated the stature of the project, protecting a significant portion of this watershed which lies within a highly developing region."

The Conservancy gratefully acknowledges funding from the following foundations who are contributing toward the property's acquisition in support of the US-31 Protection Program: Frey Foundation, Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, Offield Family Foundation, and the Americana Foundation.

The Conservancy is seeking additional funds to complete the purchase. For more information, please call their office at (231) 347-0991.

Giant Stride Made for US-31 Scenic Protection
A spectacular gain for the scenic preservation of the US-31 corridor was recently made with the protection of a total of 222 acres of land along more than one mile of highway frontage and a mile of frontage on Susan Creek. "This area has been one of the top priorities of our US-31 program for many years," said Tom Bailey, executive director of the Conservancy. "Several key partners including the Conservancy, the sellers, several funders, and the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians came together to make its protection a reality. This is truly a win for everyone involved." The property encompasses all of the US-31 frontage across from the Lexalite and Big Rock Point properties, with the exception of an intervening quarter-mile stretch retained by Consumers Energy as a utility corridor. The land drains to Susan Creek which flows into Lake Michigan. The opportunity to purchase the tract, which encompassed two separate ownership parcels, was facilitated by Richard Lobenherz of Vacation Properties Network in Charlevoix. Lobenherz, a longtime supporter of the Conservancy and its US-31 initiative, was the first to donate a conservation easement along US-31 in 1995 and he donated another in 2000. "I've enjoyed working closely with Tom Bailey and his staff over the years to help create opportunities to protect this strategically important corridor," Lobenherz said. "The window of opportunity only exists while the parcels are still in relatively large tracts. I intend to continue to do what I can to further the conservancy's goal in this worthwhile initiative!" In fact, Lobenherz is currently working with the Little Traverse Conservancy to protect an additional 1,800 feet of US-31 frontage across the road and south of the new preserve with a conservation easement. Another facet of this story came together when Rachel Schwarz and the late Taimi Hoag of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Environmental Services Department approached the Conservancy about working together to protect the Susan Creek property. A tributary to Lake Michigan, Susan Creek is a high priority for watershed protection. The tribe is currently monitoring water quality at this site. As a local unit of government, the tribe was also able to apply for funding earmarked for shoreline and watershed protection through the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The result has been a $250,000 grant from the DEQ's Michigan Coastal Management Program toward the land's acquisition. The tribe will hold 55 acres of the land in ownership as a nature preserve protected with a Conservancy-held conservation easement. They will work with the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council to conduct a wetland delineation and wetland assessment of the Susan Creek property. The Conservancy will hold the remaining 168 acres as a nature preserve. "This project has been a unique opportunity for us to develop a working relationship with the Conservancy and Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council," said Rachel Schwarz. "The group has focused on conserving high-risk areas near the Lake Michigan shoreline, and this has resulted in the establishment of the first designated nature preserve for the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. The Tribal government strives to protect Mother Earth with respect and honor, keeping the next seven generations in mind." "The complementary parcel brought wonderful, leveraging local match," Bailey said. "It also elevated the stature of the project, protecting a significant portion of this watershed which lies within a highly developing region." The Conservancy gratefully acknowledges funding from the following foundations who are contributing toward the property's acquisition in support of the US-31 Protection Program: Frey Foundation, Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, Offield Family Foundation, and the Americana Foundation. The Conservancy is seeking additional funds to complete the purchase. For more information, please call their office at (231) 347-0991.