Horton
Creek Preserve Established
Residents and visitors to the Horton Bay region have a new opportunity to enjoy nature first-hand. Thanks to donations totaling nearly $300,000 toward the property’s purchase, the Rufus Teesdale Nature Preserve becomes the most recent property protected for public use through the Little Traverse Conservancy.
"The establishment of this preserve is a wonderful asset for the community," said Tom Bailey, Executive Director of the Little Traverse Conservancy. "In addition to new recreation opportunities, the preserve is very important for the protection of Horton Creek, one of the largest tributaries to Lake Charlevoix." Horton Creek drains roughly 11.5 square miles of land, emptying into Lake Charlevoix at Horton Bay.
Located just west of the small community of Horton Bay, the 10-acre preserve includes more than 660 feet of frontage along Horton Creek. A rustic bridge crosses the creek.
In addition to its significance in protecting water quality, the Teesdale Preserve is part of a locally important winter deer range. Evidence of snowshoe hare, mink, weasel, and a variety of waterfowl has also been found among the cedar, white pine, and aspen growing on the property.
Doug Fuller of the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council noted that Horton Creek harbors an excellent robust population of native brook trout. "In fact, the creek was fished by Ernest Hemingway and is mentioned in several of his books," Fuller said. Other fish living in the creek include brook stickleback, white sucker, mottled sculpin, creek chub, and central mudminnow.
"Credit for the protection of this property goes to the donors who recognized the importance of protecting such highly desirable land," commented Tom Lagerstrom, Associate Director for the Little Traverse Conservancy. "Of the $307,000 purchase price, donations totaling more than $300,000 have been pledged."
Last fall, the Conservancy secured an option on the property’s purchase. Several interested donors were contacted, and the Conservancy received leadership donations from an anonymous donor and Rufus Teesdale. Because of Mr. Teesdale’s gift, the preserve is being named in his honor.
"Hemingway called this ‘the last great country,’" commented Teesdale. "Not much of it is left the way he saw it. All we have are bits and pieces, and his wonderful descriptions of what it used to be. When we can save some of it without expropriating it, everybody gains."
Lagerstrom added that donations are still being sought to cover the remainder of the purchase price. For more information, please call Tom at (231) 347-0991.