Over 900 Acres Protected Last Year by Little Traverse Conservancy

The Little Traverse Conservancy announced that over 900 acres of land were permanently protected in their five-county service area during the year 2000. The protected land includes more than five miles of lake and river frontage and a mile of scenic road frontage. All told, the dollar value of the land is estimated at over $5 million.

Some of the most significant land protection accomplishments include the following:

• Oden Island (Emmet County, Littlefield Township) Community members generously supported a fundraising campaign which brought in the needed $950,000 for the purchase of 50 acres of fragile wetlands and related ecosystems that were slated for a 34-unit subdivision. The property includes nearly a mile of frontage on Crooked Lake. Now, this portion of Oden Island will forever remain protected as a public nature preserve managed by the Conservancy.
• Stony Point (Emmet County, Carp Lake Township) Fifty acres of land with 3,000 feet of shoreline on Paradise Lake were purchased, creating the Stony Point Nature Preserve. Again, local fundraising efforts made this project possible.
• Cudlip Conservation Easement (Cheboygan County, Ellis Township) A 480-acre parcel with a mile of frontage on the Pigeon River was protected thanks to the foresight of the owners who donated a conservation easement on it to protect the property's conservation values in perpetuity. The Cudlip family has enjoyed their property for years, and family members realized how significant its protection is to the Pigeon River ecosystem. When protecting land through a conservation easement, the property remains in the family's private ownership, but the easement ensures it will never be subdivided and will always remain wild and natural.
• Agnes Andreae Nature Preserve Addition (Cheboygan County, Tuscarora Township) The Conservancy purchased 33 acres and one-half mile frontage on the Pigeon River, adding to the Agnes Andreae Nature Preserve. The addition provides much desired hiking space at this beautiful preserve;
• US 31 Corridor Protection Project (Charlevoix and Emmet Counties) The Conservancy's effort to protect the scenic character of US 31 from southern Charlevoix County to Petoskey received tremendous boosts during 2000 when grants were received from the Frey Foundation and the state transportation department's TEA-21 granting program. In addition, a 14-acre conservation easement with 1,222 feet of frontage along US 31 was donated by Summerhill Investments.
• Rufus Teesdale Nature Preserve (Charlevoix County, Hayes Township) Located just outside of the small village of Horton Bay, the new nature preserve will provide visitors and residents in the Horton Bay region with an opportunity to experience nature first-hand. The ten-acre preserve also includes 660 feet of frontage along Horton Creek, helping to protect one of the largest tributaries to Lake Charlevoix.

The Little Traverse Conservancy was established in 1972 as a non-profit land conservation organization. Its mission is to protect the natural diversity and beauty of northern Michigan by preserving significant land and scenic areas, and fostering appreciation and understanding of the environment. With the support of more than 4,000 members, LTC has worked with landowners to protect nearly 14,000 acres of land with over 47 miles of shoreline along northern Michigan's streams, rivers, and lakes in Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Emmet, and Mackinac Counties.

In addition, more than 7,000 students participated in year-round programs held at nature preserves and led by Conservancy staff, interns, and volunteers throughout the past year. The organization sponsors a Young Naturalist Club, which engages students in outdoor activities through quarterly newsletters and internet activities.

The public is also invited to participate in stewardship activities at Conservancy-owned nature preserves. Many local scouting troops and other volunteers have already provided countless hours of work at local preserves, improving their accessibility in a way that protects their natural resources.

For more information, call (231) 347-0991.