A Letter from Glen Chown
Dear Friends,
At the Conservancy, we have always believed that conservation is more than just protecting land; it’s about enhancing the lives of those who live, work and play here. Today, that belief is guiding us as we take on new projects that use conservation as a catalyst to address some of our community's most pressing needs— from attainable housing to sustainable economic development.
As you read through this issue, you’ll learn about two exciting examples: The Ridge (see pages 12-14) and the Elberta Waterfront Community Conservation project (pages 4-10).
These two projects, if successful, could provide a roadmap for communities in our region to put conservation in the driver's seat when making land use and policy decisions.
In both instances, we also have had to respond with incredible speed, which is becoming the norm as northern Michigan continues to grow. We have never needed to respond more quickly than in 2024.
The word is out—we live in one of the most beautiful and resilient places on earth. Predictions for population trends show us in the bullseye. Who wouldn’t want to live here?
It’s a climate-safe haven. We have 21% of the entire world's surface fresh water; we can grow a veritable cornucopia of specialty crops like
no other region; we have globally unique sand dunes and beaches second to none. And so far, we’ve been able to keep this area beautiful and healthy from an environmental standpoint.
More people are moving here or seeing development opportunities, and more can pay in cash, which means they need no time to make deals happen. They can and do move fast, and therefore, so must we—in all five counties we serve.
I feel deeply fortunate to lead this organization during such an exciting time. The projects we’re taking on are big, complex and challenging, but they are exactly the kind that inspire me—and I hope inspire you as well.
Be sure to note the wonderful successes you’ve made possible this year in our Project Round Up on pages 18-25. I invite you to celebrate our shared achievements and to imagine what comes next. Our work is far from over, and in fact, it is more critical now than ever. In the face of rapid development pressure, we will continue to dream boldly and act courageously, confident in the knowledge that each step forward brings us closer to a brighter, healthier and more sustainable future for everyone who calls this region home.
These accomplishments and efforts are only possible because of people like you who share our vision of a region where conservation is the foundation for thriving communities. Together and with your continued generosity, we can leave a legacy that will make future generations proud of our foresight.
With heartfelt thanks,
Glen Chown, GTRLC Executive Director
In preparation for their southern migration, a small group of Sandhill cranes has made regular visits to Mitchell Creek Meadows this autumn, often walking right up to the windows and voicing apparent clangorous approval of our ongoing restoration efforts here. We are grateful for their visits and will look forward to their ancient calls when they return in the spring.
A New Vision for Elberta
BALANCING PRESERVATION, RECREATION AND GROWTH ON ELBERTA’S WATERFRONT
Elberta, long cherished for its breathtaking shoreline and close-knit community, recently faced a familiar dilemma: a massive luxury resort development was proposed promising jobs and tax revenue but at the cost of losing the village's small-town charm and access to its beloved waterfront.
Just down the coast, Arcadia met a similar crossroads two decades ago, when a large development threatened “Old Baldy,” a beautiful and rare dune treasured by generations of locals and visitors. The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy (GTRLC), still in its adolescence, was challenged to raise over $35 million through the Coastal Campaign in a short time to secure three parcels now known as Green Point Dunes, Arcadia Dunes: The C.S. Mott Nature Preserve, and the Betsie Dunes Nature Sanctuary on the west side of Crystal Lake.
That “David vs. Goliath” effort marked a defining chapter in the Conservancy’s history. Never before or since has GTRLC tackled a project of such scope—until now.
Perched on the shores of Lake Michigan and Betsie Bay, the subject land is a stunning, 35-acre property stretching from Elberta Beach to the Elberta Historic Waterfront Park, and from the park to the village’s northern edge. It features 578 feet of Lake Michigan shoreline, 3,120 feet on Betsie Bay, and a prominent 10 acres of steep, forested dunes.
In terms of cost, it is GTRLC’s most ambitious undertaking yet for a single acquisition. And this deal also has a looming deadline: we must raise $19.5 million by December 15 to secure the land.
“This is one of the most exciting projects in our history,” said GTRLC’s executive director, Glen Chown, his enthusiasm unflagging despite the approaching fundraising target—which covers the purchase price alone. “We see what a huge and transformational place-making opportunity this truly is. It’s a project that will yield significant benefits not just for Elberta but for the entire region.”
PHOTO: STONE HUT STUDIOS
An Industrial Past
For decades, the waterfront property, owned by the Elberta Land Holding Company, stood as a relic of the village’s maritime and industrial past.
In the late 19th century, Elberta was a bustling hub, its bay and harbor channels facilitating the transport of iron and wood products. A rail line was established to Frankfort Iron Works, which during its existence, gave Elberta the distinction of hosting the largest manufacturing operation in Benzie County. The Ann Arbor Railroad Company eventually took over the foundry site and repurposed it into a bustling railway hub, complete with a roundhouse, tracks and a depot.
The waterfront also became home to a coaling plant, coal storage facilities, and the first cross-lake car ferry service. However, the shift to diesel ferryboat engines in the late 1950s marked the end of the coal dock. An asphalt storage facility was established on the property in the 1970s, and by
1982, the railroad and ferry system were shuttered as the Michigan Department of Transportation ceased all operations in Elberta.
In the years since its industrial heyday, Elberta has struggled to revitalize its economy, while development efforts have clashed with the community’s desire to preserve its unique character. A recent survey informing Elberta's newly updated master plan revealed a strong preference among residents for high-quality, well-maintained beaches and parks. While they acknowledged development is needed to boost the local economy, villagers expressed an equally strong desire to ensure growth aligns with their community’s values and small-town charm.
The former railroad property includes the Waterfront Park and the Elberta Land Holding Company property, with the latter locally recognized as the most desirable and sole substantial site left for Elberta to expand. Although much of this land is still classified as a Brownfield site, it has undergone significant
Two car ferries of the Ann Arbor Railroad at the east slip. Ann Arbor No.6 on the left and Ann Arbor No.5 on the right.
PHOTO: BENZIE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The car ferries Wabash, Ann Arbor No.5 and Ann Arbor No.3 from left to right. The railroad and car ferries employed many union workers from Benzie County.
PHOTO: BENZIE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Plans for the proposed development by Richard Knorr International included a multi-story luxury resort on Elberta's waterfront.
remediation, including the removal of the asphalt storage tanks, paving the way for a potential development that could redefine Elberta’s future.
Hanging in the Balance
GTRLC’s director of land protection, Chris Sullivan, first learned of the proposed resort development while working with the Village to enhance their beachfront park. “Everyone I spoke to was saying that Elberta needs development,” Sullivan recounted, noting that even if there had been a desire to preserve the land, its $25 million price tag was beyond the Conservancy’s reach.
Yet the community’s concerns mounted as the Chicago-based developer began circulating investment packets for a luxury resort complete with condominiums, a hotel, a spa and other amenities. The proposal, which required a zoning modification, called for a towering seven-story building sprawling across 400,000 square feet—a structure that would have dwarfed
Elberta and forever altered the views from Frankfort across Betsie Bay.
By the summer of 2022, as the developer’s plans progressed, a group of concerned citizens gathered to discuss the property’s future. The meeting was organized by Jim Barnes, a local entrepreneur with deep roots in the area, who was joined by a coalition of residents united in their opposition to the development.
“Elberta holds a special place in my heart, not just for its breathtaking dunes and serene lakeshore, but for the lasting friendships I've built with so many of its residents over the decades,” Barnes explained. “[We] have been fortunate to witness the ever-changing beauty of Elberta, a place that consistently reminds us how lucky we are to experience one of Mother Nature's finest creations.”
Their efforts paid off; the developer withdrew the proposal, allegedly doubting his rezoning request would be approved amid such strong opposition. Still, many feared it was only a matter of time before another similar offer emerged.
Map
Proposed Use Map
Michigan
Existing Village of Elberta Parks and Natural Areas
Proposed Village of Elberta Parkland (16 acres with 578’ Lake Michigan Shoreline and 2,000’ Betsie Bay Shoreline)
Proposed GTRLC Nature Sanctuary (10 acres)
Proposed Project Area
Existing Village of Elberta Parks and Natural Areas LEGEND Lake Michigan
Proposed Village of Elberta Economic Development Land (9 acres collectively with 1,120’ Betsie Bay Shoreline)
Existing Betsie Valley Trail
Proposed Betsie Valley Trail Extension (approximate location subject to change)
Existing Betsie Valley Trail
Elberta Dunes South Natural Area
Sand Products
Betsie Bay Marina
Army Corps of
Waterfront Park & Life Saving Station
Elberta Beach
Lake Michigan Overlook
A New Path Forward
Meanwhile, Glen Chown and Helen Taylor, state director of the Michigan Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, were in discussions with an anonymous Frankfort donor who shared the community’s concerns.
“It was this supporter’s incredible generosity that really got the ball rolling,” Chown reflected. “Without this $9 million leadership pledge, we wouldn’t have had a shot at a project of this magnitude at this time.”
With a substantial commitment in hand, a new vision for Elberta’s waterfront began to take shape.
“We are in a unique position to use conservation as the driving force to balance development and protection, which is exactly what we were founded to do—to balance the inevitable growth of our region with the protection of what matters the most,” Chown described the collaborative effort.
At the heart of the project is preserving the property’s most valuable natural features. Ten acres of steep, forested dunes will be protected as a nature sanctuary under GTRLC’s stewardship. Sixteen acres adjacent to the Elberta Pier at the mouth of Betsie Bay will be transferred to the Village of Elberta as a public park, with restrictions ensuring it remains parkland in perpetuity.
Jennifer Wilkins, president of the Village of Elberta, expressed her excitement about opening the land to the public. “The fencing will come down, fishermen will be able to reach the deepwater channel where the migratory fish tend to congregate, and the beach between the pier heads will finally be open to everyone,” she said.
The plan includes extending the Betsie Valley Trail along the Elberta waterfront, completing the long-awaited Beach-toBeach segment that connects the City of Frankfort and the Village of Elberta’s Lake Michigan beaches. This extension, a top priority for Elberta and Benzie County, would also link the property to 22 miles of trails through some of the county’s most scenic landscapes.
“More and more families are discovering this place,” said Wilkins, recognizing that Elberta’s natural features and recreational opportunities are key drivers of the area’s growing tourism economy. “People come here to experience nature, but it’s been a struggle to connect that spot. The trail connection is going to open up our beautiful beach.”
Meanwhile, the remaining nine acres will be reserved for a mixed-use development that aligns with the community’s character and vision for economic revitalization.
“From a community perspective, Elberta has an opportunity to set itself apart from any of the other small coastal communities on Lake Michigan,” Sullivan said. “For many similar communities, the chance to save such a large swath of natural land and parkland along the waterfront has long been lost to private development. Here, the development of both the waterfront parkland and the mixed-use area will be a community-driven process.”
Once the land is acquired, Elberta will lead a community-based economic development planning process in partnership with expert designers and planners. Already, the Village has been in talks with the State Land Bank Authority (SLBA), a state agency dedicated to creating positive economic impacts by facilitating the productive reuse of land.
Using a model emphasizing early community involvement, the SLBA works closely with developers to ensure that projects align with local values and master plans. The agency has completed thousands of projects across the state, often transforming blighted, industrial-polluted sites into valuable community assets.
“They are very informative about the reality of everything,” Wilkins said. “The process will happen in stages. We’ll agree to do one thing, and then move forward with the next phase.”
In addition to offering funding for blight removal and access to tax incentives, the SLBA provides expertise, resources, and tools specifically tailored to projects like Elberta’s, while acting as a holding entity as the Village pursues suitable redevelopment opportunities.
Jim Barnes feels optimistic about the project. “This remarkable gift to Elberta ensures that its unique character is preserved, safeguarding it from potential outside developers who might prioritize profit over the community's well-being,” he said. “This thoughtful development will create a special place that not only enhances our village but also serves as a muchneeded source of property tax revenue—a benefit the village has patiently awaited for years.”
Wilkins agreed that a more balanced approach is the right fit for Elberta. “It’s just the perfect balance. We’re a small town on a beautiful peninsula, and this is just the right amount of development,” she said. “The possibilities are endless. But whatever happens there, we want it to thrive.”
Making a Legacy
After reaching a milestone in requisite gift pledges, GTRLC entered into negotiations with the Elberta Land Holding Company in the fall of 2022, culminating in a purchase agreement in the summer of 2024.
Since then, the Conservancy’s fund development team has been racing to raise the necessary funds, holding daily discussions with potential supporters. “One of the things that sets this project apart is the remarkable coalition that’s formed around it,” said Senior Charitable Giving Specialist Erin Anderson Whiting. “We’re seeing support from Elberta and Frankfort, as well as from across Benzie County and throughout the region. There is something for everyone in this project, and people are responding with amazing generosity.”
Among the early supporters is local couple, Amy King Schindler and her husband Ed. For five generations Amy’s family has cherished summers at Crystal Lake, while Ed, an alum of Frankfort-Elberta High School, shares her deep connection to the area.
"There is a reason people choose to live here year-round or return every summer,” Amy explained. “You don't drive through here to get to another place—this is the destination. People come here for the community, the sense of belonging,
the natural beauty of the area, and the ability for everyone to enjoy it. It’s what makes Frankfort and Elberta so special.”
For the Schindlers, the project isn’t just about protecting the land’s natural beauty—it’s about safeguarding a way of life. “If the waterfront and dunes of Elberta could speak,” Amy said, “they’d repeat stories told around bonfires, of children squealing with laughter while playing on the beach and plunging in frigid water, or strangers helping free vehicles stuck in the sand. They’d share memories of love and romantic engagements. [This project] is about continuing the stories of a community strengthened by experiences, generation after generation."
So far, the fundraising effort has brought in over $15.5 million of the $27.5 million needed (the purchase price of $19.5 million must be secured by December 15th of this year). “We still have a high mountain to climb with millions of private dollars yet to raise,” Chown acknowledged, “but we’ve seen what this community can achieve when they believe in something. We have done it before and are ready to do it again.”
To join this effort and share your support for the Elberta Waterfront Community Conservation Project, contact Erin Anderson Whiting at ewhiting@gtrlc.org or donate online by visiting our active projects page at GTRLC.ORG.
PHOTO: RICK KANE
iNaturalist Connects Community and Conservation
Looking for more ways to get involved with the Conservancy? With the identification app iNaturalist (and its partner app, Seek), you can support GTRLC’s stewardship efforts right from your phone! Simply snap a photo or record a birdsong, upload it to the app or website and share it with our team in real time.
iNaturalist works like social media for plants and wildlife, allowing you to compare your findings with other users’ observations from our preserves (called projects in the app). If you're unsure about a species, simply upload your observation, and experts within the iNaturalist community will help identify it.
GTRLC Ambassador Paula Dreeszen is one of our top contributors, with over 1,000 observations—689 from GTRLC properties alone, which have significantly contributed to our efforts to care for the land we protect. Describing iNaturalist as a “little competition and setting goals for yourself,” Dreeszen explained that she enjoys the app’s accessibility to experts from around the world. “Sometimes I’ll look at my email, and all my observations of a certain plant got identified by somebody, and so I’ll click on their name, and they're the world’s expert on this particular plant,” said Dreeszen.
Regardless of expertise, every user’s observations provide valuable insight into GTRLC’s preserves. “iNaturalist allows us to glean information about species’ presence on our preserves and sanctuaries, including species of special concern like the Red-shouldered Hawk, Blanding's turtle, or the massasauga snake, to name a few,” explained Conservation Easement Steward Jenna Scheub. “This information helps us inform management decisions or may even be featured in publications.”
Some observations may even prove valuable to professionals in the field. Emphasizing the potential value of seemingly simple observations, Dreezen shared her experience of researchers contacting her through the app. “They reached out because they saw this thing, and that's valuable to their research. All I did was run across this turtle and take a picture of it,” she said.
So next time you’re out exploring one of GTRLC’s preserves and spot something interesting—whether it’s a colorful butterfly or an intriguing plant— snap a photo and share it through iNaturalist. Your observations are making a difference for the lands we love!
caption
Introducing The Ridge
PROPOSED PROTECTION OF CRITICAL RIDGE TO BENEFIT REGION’S WATER QUALITY, WILDLIFE AND RECREATION
In East Bay Township, a striking, forested ridge rises prominently above the surrounding landscape, its elevation of roughly 300 feet above East Bay making it one of the highest points in Grand Traverse County. Affectionately referred to as “The Ridge,” it is the centerpiece of a property that could soon become a crown jewel in the area's outdoor recreation network.
GTRLC has long identified the 220-acre parcel as a key target for protection, not only for its stunning vistas, but for the vital role it plays in protecting water quality, wildlife habitat, and providing prime recreational opportunities, including key connections to nearby trails.
“It’s a combination of elements—the views, the water, the
land size, and its location in a fast-developing area—that makes it a top priority for us,” said GTRLC land protection specialist, Charlie MacDonald.
Spanning the East Bay Shoreline and Mitchell Creek watersheds, the property encompasses over 2,000 feet of shoreline on Bakers Creek and 26 acres of wetlands that naturally filter water before it reaches East Grand Traverse Bay, the drinking water source for more than 40,000 residents.
Among the wetlands are areas of high-quality, rich conifer swamp habitat. Notably, this includes a perched rich conifer swamp, listed as vulnerable by the State of Michigan due to its restricted range, relatively rare occurrence, and recent and widespread decline.
The property is also home to diverse woodlands, including mesic beech-maple and dry oak-pine forests, as well as drysand hillside prairie habitats. These native forests provide essential nesting habitat for bird species such as the blackthroated blue-warbler, scarlet tanager and ovenbird. While ecological assessments are ongoing, early surveys have already identified botanical species of high conservation value, including blue toadflax, bear corn, sheathed sedge and northern bog sedge.
In addition to its biodiversity, the property serves as a crucial ecological corridor. It is situated near other protected lands such as the Holiday Woodlands Natural Area, the Mnaadendan Shkaakimiikwe Nature Sanctuary, Mitchell Creek Meadows: The Don and Jerry Oleson Nature Preserve and the George and Ada Reffitt Nature Preserve.
The most striking feature of the property, however, is the sweeping panoramic views from the top of The Ridge—
arguably some of the most breathtaking in the region. "Standing on that ridge, you can't help but feel a deep connection to the land and the water that surrounds it," remarked Executive Director Glen Chown. “On a clear day, you can see views stretching from Grand Traverse Bay all the way to Charlevoix and Sugarloaf Mountain in Leelanau County. Standing from the center of the property, you can see panoramas of East and West Bays and downtown Traverse City.”
If protected, The Ridge’s beautiful scenery and mixed terrain provide the potential for a high-quality trail system near the region’s population center, which could become part of a significant recreational corridor stretching from Traverse City to the Vasa Trail.
However, the property’s future wasn’t always guaranteed. A large-scale housing complex was recently planned for this site, which could have resulted in the construction of
Scenic views of Grand Traverse Bay and both Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas can be seen from the northern section of The Ridge property.
PHOTO: RICK KANE
over 1,700 housing units, eliminating the opportunity to protect this key ecological corridor and create a beloved recreational destination.
Fortunately, within just a 48-hour window, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation stepped in with a short-term loan to protect the property. The loan gives the Conservancy three years to raise the necessary funds, with donations currently being matched up to $20,000 thanks to a generous supporter.
The loan has also given the Conservancy time to identify the areas of the property with significant conservation and recreational value and protect them from development.
Meanwhile, recognizing the area’s pressing need for housing, GTRLC has formed an ad hoc committee to explore whether portions of the property with less significant conservation value could be set aside for housing. The committee is carefully considering how to balance two of our community’s most important needs: conservation of our most important natural resources and attainable housing.
For more information or to support this project, please contact Senior Charitable Giving Specialist Kate Pearson at kpearson@gtrlc.org, or visit our website at gtrlc.org/activeprojects/the-ridge/.
This is a complex project with details continuing to unfold. Stay connected with GTRLC by signing up to receive emails from us at gtrlc.org and following us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates. Also, be sure to look for the next chapter of this evolving story in our spring Landscript.
The Ridge (Proposed) - Watershed Planning Map
Striking a Balance
The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy (GTRLC) categorizes the diverse array of lands it protects with a variety of terms. Each serves a unique role in our conservation efforts, but what, exactly, is the difference between them?
Nature preserves, such as Arcadia Dunes: The C.S. Mott Nature Preserve and Lower Woodcock Lake Nature Preserve, have infrastructure designed to provide the public with passive recreational opportunities and access to nature. They often feature trails, signs, interpretive maps and kiosks to enhance visitors’ experiences, supporting passive recreation without harming sensitive ecosystems. They offer visitors a chance to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of northern Michigan any day of the year, free of charge.
Because they are designed to accommodate more visitors, nature preserves require a higher degree of hands-on management. GTRLC’s staff and volunteers regularly monitor and steward these lands, maintaining the health of their ecosystems while ensuring their habitats are healthy places for flora and fauna to thrive. Stewardship activities on our nature preserves include the upkeep of trails and infrastructure, controlling invasive species, planting native species, providing informative signage, and more.
Sanctuaries, however, are largely left alone and protected from human disturbance and intervention. These are important, healthy and rich places where natural processes are functioning well. They are also often home to exceptionally rare or rich natural features, such as endangered plant and animal species, or species under threat of becoming endangered. Properties like Betsie Dunes Nature Sanctuary and Golden Days Loon Nature Sanctuary do not have trails or infrastructure like nature preserves. While technically open to the public, access is not encouraged in order to safeguard these sensitive species and the habitats they rely on from disturbance.
GTRLC’s approach to managing protected lands by investing, learning about, and responding to the unique qualities of each property we protect before determining what kind of management is most appropriate. In doing so, we are providing outstanding recreational opportunities and access to nature while safeguarding our region’s most vulnerable habitats. We invite you to explore our beautiful nature preserves and keep up-to-date about the rare and ecologically rich sanctuaries we protect together! To learn more or find a nature preserve to explore, visit GTRLC.ORG.
Forever Camp Greilick
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
ENDOWMENT SUPPORTS REINVENTION OF FORMER BOY SCOUT CAMP’S LEGACY
For nearly a century, the former Camp Greilick provided an amazing setting for young people to enjoy the woods and waters of our beautiful area. Located in the Boardman/ Ottaway River watershed, where GTRLC has protected numerous properties critical for the health of the watershed, the 196-acre property has 4,310 feet of frontage on Rennie, Spider and Bass Lakes. For many, it has served as a gateway to the natural world, situated near thousands of acres of protected land and providing connections to numerous trail systems.
In 2002, the Conservancy worked with the Boy Scouts and Rotary Camps and Services, the property owners, to craft a conservation easement. The easement accounted for well over 60 existing buildings and other structures, allowing for
low-impact camp activities, and for the camp's further growth, while still protecting much of the properties’ extensive conservation values.
When Rotary Camps and Services decided to sell the property in early 2024, Grand Traverse County wished to purchase the land and open it to the public once again for passive outdoor recreation, renewing its use as a place for young people and families to experience and learn about our natural world.
But the wheels of government move more slowly than the pocketbooks of developers. Realizing that the County needed more time than Rotary Camps and Services could offer as part of the transaction timeline, the Conservancy sought to secure the $3,250,000 needed to purchase and hold the property on the County’s behalf within a 12-hour deadline.
Trails (BBQA, Proposed BBQA Addition, East Creek, Muncie Lakes)
Fortunately, generous “conservation angels” stepped in to provide the necessary funding, ensuring the property would remain a place to inspire and grow healthy young minds. Their support allowed GTRLC to purchase the property while giving the County time to complete its due diligence and public funding approval process before acquiring the land. Meanwhile, GTRLC is working with the County to strengthen the terms of the conservation easement, further limiting the number of buildings and impervious areas and expanding water protection by increasing the riparian buffer.
This special property is not only important for its obvious conservation values, but also for its value to the community. A recent survey of more than 500 high school students conducted by the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation has helped us to better understand the deep connection between providing young people with access and experience in the outdoors and alleviating the stress and anxiety so many of them are facing today.
“The future park will be an incredible asset to our community as it will not only support the protection of our local land, air and water but it will also promote health and wellness through outdoor recreation opportunities for area youth and families,” explained the Community Foundation’s President and CEO David Mengebier.
For more than three decades, the Community Foundation and the Conservancy have worked closely together to protect
our region’s land and water resources, helping ensure our local governments and non-profit partners have the resources they need to preserve and protect public lands, and providing access to recreational opportunities for local residents and visitors. We’re now working to bolster the existing Forever Camp Greilick Endowment of $150,000 to a minimum of $1.5 million. The Endowment will enhance the community by providing the County with annual funding that would be used for the upkeep of the property.
“The Endowment will provide sustainable and predictable funding year after year to the County to support its stewardship of the Greilick property,” said Mengebier. “This can include restoring and improving habitats for wildlife and water quality and building and maintaining recreation-related infrastructure such as the existing buildings, trails, signage and parking areas.”
Emphasizing the collaborative nature of the project, GTRLC’s Executive Director Glen Chown said, “This public-private partnership showcases the power of working together to protect our natural resources for the benefit of our region now and for future generations.”
Gifts for this project should be made to the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation. To support this project, contact Mercedes Bowyer at mbowyer@gtrcf.org, or GTRLC’s Senior Charitable Giving Specialist Erin Whiting at ewhiting@gtrlc.org or contribute online atgtrcf.org/greilick.
The former Camp Greilick property includes 4,310 feet of scenic frontage on Rennie, Bass and Spider Lakes.
PHOTO: RICK KANE
Project Round-Up
Since 1991, your support has allowed GTRLC to protect an astonishing 47,375 acres of land (and counting!) across five counties. That encompasses 155 miles of protected shorelines across lakes, rivers and streams, and 126 miles of trails that allow you to enjoy the beautiful landscapes of northern Michigan.
Your enduring support continues to enable the ongoing stewardship of newly protected lands and those preserved long ago. Read on for updates about our ongoing projects, and be sure to check out the project map on page 22 to grasp the full scale of the work made possible by your incredible support.
In addition to the projects highlighted here, there’s also activity behind the scenes, so stay tuned for more developments on the horizon!
Wilcox-Palmer-Shah-Addition II
Situated just north of Elk Rapids, the preserve already protects over 1,000 feet of Lake Michigan shoreline and roughly 58 acres of coastal dunes and forests, including a globally rare dune and swale complex. It is home to numerous plant and animal species, including the threatened pitcher’s thistle and Lake Huron tansy, a species of special concern.
The proposed addition is located east of US-31, across from the existing preserve and next to another potential 10-acre addition. It boasts exceptional ecological quality, featuring healthy mesic northern forest and northern hardwood swamp habitats. Protection of this property also plays a vital role in safeguarding Lake Michigan’s water quality. By preventing future impervious surfaces and other development, the land’s healthy wetlands can continue to serve as important filtering systems, purifying water by removing sediment, nutrients and pollutants before they reach the lake.
Remaining Need: $48,568
PHOTO:
Birch Point Nature Preserve
Construction of a new trail system at the Birch Point Nature Preserve is expected to be completed this fall when the preserve officially opens to the public! This 114-acre property extends the protection of a globally rare, 2,600-acre dune and swale complex found near Lake Michigan’s Platte Bay and connects a critical migratory corridor within the Platte River watershed.
The roughly one-mile-long trail runs through the preserve, offering a peaceful, wooded hike and views of the unique dune and swale habitat. A small parking area is also being established holding roughly four cars, and signage is expected to be installed this fall.
Betsie Dunes Nature Sanctuary Addition
Between Crystal Lake and Lake Michigan, the Betsie Dunes Nature Sanctuary boasts an impressive 1,600 feet of undeveloped Lake Michigan shoreline and 80 acres of wooded dunes, which includes part of a wooded dune and swale complex, an ecologically unique habitat that can only be found near the Great Lakes.
We currently have raised close to 80% of our funding goal to expand this sanctuary by nearly 2.5 acres, connecting two separate parcels of land and protecting this area from potential development. This proposed addition also safeguards upwards of 100 feet of Lake Michigan shoreline and permanently preserves important habitats like northern mesic forest, open dunes, and the globally rare wooded dune and swale complex.
The protection of these habitats also helps species maintain their populations. Habitat fragmentation and destruction harm critical migration corridors, which are necessary for species movement, shelter and breeding. By incorporating this property into the sanctuary, we can preserve this critical dune community, prevent habitat fragmentation, and enhance the permanent ecological protection of this special place.
Remaining Need: $30,675
Golden Days Loon Sanctuary Addition
We are thrilled to announce that a 28-acre addition to Golden Days Loon Nature Sanctuary has been protected! This addition connects the sanctuary to a large swath of private protected land, creating a total of 350 acres of preserved, high-quality habitat and nearly 1.75 miles of protected shoreline.
This addition includes over 13 acres of undeveloped wetlands and 650 feet of shoreline, preserving ecologically rich habitat
for waterfowl and other species while contributing to the protection of water quality in Lake Bellaire. Notably, this addition enhances the protection of habitat for the lake’s nesting loons, which are particularly sensitive to disturbances.
We are deeply grateful for the generosity of donors like you, who made the protection of this special place possible. Thank you to all who contributed!
Pelizzari Natural Area Addition
Great news! Fundraising is complete for a 15-acre addition to the Pelizzari Natural Area! Featuring rolling topography and mature trees, this addition helps protect wildlife habitat, particularly for species that need these types of mature, contiguous forests like the state-threatened Red-shouldered Hawk and Northern Goshawk.
While the addition is not currently accessible from the Pelizzari Natural Area, it could connect to the trail system in the future should adjacent properties also be protected. Together, the acquisitions could double the acreage of protected land at one of the Peninsula’s most beloved open spaces and expand upon the well-loved, three-mile network of trails.
The nearly $750,000 funding target was met thanks to the incredible generosity of donors like you. The landowner generously made the first gift to the project by agreeing to sell the property for less than its market value, while the fund reserved for the Natural Area from the 2008 millage, which can only be spent at Pelizzari Natural Area, provided another $200,000 towards the project.
Farmland Protection
In a major win for our region's agricultural heritage and water quality, an 81-acre fruit farm in Grand Traverse County has been permanently preserved! Nestled in the small community of Yuba, the Yuba Orchard Company is a multigenerational, family-owned and operated cherry and apple orchard containing productive agricultural soils. It is adjacent to other protected farms, creating a large block of continuous farmland and preserving scenic, open views along Yuba Road. The property also contains five acres of wetlands in the Tobeco Creek watershed, which are part of a larger wetland complex that provides home to a thriving wildlife population.
The preservation of this farm was made possible through a combination of public and private funding, including the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program, Acme Township’s Purchase of Development Rights program, and the landowner’s generous contribution through a bargain sale.
Pyatt Lake: The Bill Carls Nature Preserve
Fundraising is ongoing for an exciting effort to enhance experiences at Pyatt Lake and make the preserve more accessible to everyone. Thanks to our incredible supporters, including a generous dollar-for-dollar matching gift from The Carls Foundation, we’ve raised nearly 70% of our goal and are pushing ahead as fast as we can.
Home to the first universally accessible (UA) trail on Old Mission Peninsula, Pyatt Lake is a place where people of all ages and abilities can enjoy our region’s natural beauty and wonder. Recent upgrades include a new parking area, trailhead and UA trail through the northern section of the preserve, enhancing the trail users’ experience and accessibility.
Taking this effort a step further, we are now working to add a UA trail that connects both trailheads, which would eliminate the need to cross a section of Pyatt Road to traverse the entire trail system. Anticipating increased trail usage, we also plan to upgrade the Peninsula Drive parking area with UA parking pads while establishing a more natural-looking trailhead.
In addition, we have an opportunity to formalize a social trail from the southernmost observation platform to Peninsula
Drive, ensuring safe, walk-in access to this area while protecting the preserve’s sensitive wetland habitats.
Remaining Need: $106,450
Platte River Park
This summer marked the much-anticipated opening of Platte River Park. The park features over 1,500 feet of undeveloped frontage on the Platte River and provides easy access to a wide, high-quality stretch of the stream. It also encompasses a diverse mix of upland and wetland habitats as well as a fallow field that still holds blueberry bushes from past farming activities.
The park, owned and managed by Homestead Township, is located in the Village of Honor and serves as a prime example of true community conservation. Spearheaded by the Honor Area Restoration Project (HARP), a grassroots organization committed to rejuvenating the village, its creation was fueled by a shared vision of safeguarding the property's natural treasures and showcasing the breathtaking Platte River. Today, visitors can enjoy the park’s picturesque, natural setting while remaining close to the village’s restaurants, shops and businesses.
A view of Pyatt Lake from the northern section of Pyatt Lake: The Bill Carls Nature Preserve.
PHOTO: NATE RICHARDSON
Upper Manistee Headwaters: The Milock Family Preserve–"Excelsior" the Perch Lake Addition
A proposed 342-acre addition aims to enhance the protection of the North Branch of the Manistee River and significantly augment the conservation values of the Upper Manistee Headwaters Preserve. If included, this piece would bring the property’s total size to an impressive 1,700 acres.
The property encompasses all of Perch Lake and several ecologically rich bogs. It also contains a mix of mesic northern hardwood forest, earlysuccessional forest, various other wetlands and a well-managed, mature pine plantation, which could potentially be converted into a natural forest over time.
Additionally, preventing future development here will provide a wider buffer of natural habitat for the hundreds of species that call the preserve home. Our stewardship team is also enthusiastic about the possibility of creating a significant number of new, high-quality trails within the proposed addition.
A generous, dollar-for-dollar, $300,000 matching gift from two longtime supporters recently boosted the fundraising effort for this substantial addition. Still, there is much work to be done!
Remaining Need: $691,921
Upper Manistee Headwaters:
The Milock Family Preserve Proposed Perch Lake Addition
This score indicates a rare and extremely significant property from a statewide perspective as the state average is 20.
The proposed 342-acre addition to the Upper Manistee Headwaters encompasses all of Perch Lake.
PHOTO: RICK KANE
AS OF SEPTEMBER 9th
PLEASE NOTE
• The projects indicated with red circles are “in progress”, so the numbers, while always based on the latest and most accurate information, are subject to change as negotiations, surveys and other official documents are completed.
• All “easement” properties are privately owned and not open to the public.
• “Total Project Cost” may not represent GTRLC’s total fundraising need for a variety of reasons, including public funding, property bargain sales, etc. Funding status for each project with a private fundraising need is updated on our website at www.gtrlc. org
• symbol indicates projects where some public funding is involved.
Project Cost
By incorporating a nearly 2.5-acre inholding into the preserve, the property’s protection would safeguard over 100 feet of undeveloped Lake Michigan shoreline, permanently preserve important habitats, protect a significant migratory route for birds, and protect sensitive plants like Pitcher’s thistle.
BIRCH POINT NATURE PRESERVE
The property shares a half-mile boundary with Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and provides a link to two isolated parcels of state-owned land and the Rush Lake Conservation Easement, all of which improve wildlife corridors. Property includes rare dune-swale complex habitats.
This City of Traverse City assist protects nearly all of 43-acre Spring Lake and expands contiguous protected land by connecting the Brown Bridge Quiet Area to the Camp Arbutus conservation easement, and further connects the Brown Bridge Quiet Area to the adjacent Camp Greilick CE.
This property has significant conservation value Deer Creek in Macomb County (PROJECT DOES NOT DISPLAY ON THIS MAP). A conservation easement will be placed on the property (and held by Six Rivers Land
landowner with proceeds going to GTRLC.
GTRLC is working with the Village of Elberta to ensure their shoreline remains one of Michigan’s most beautiful stretches of globally unique coast while achieving other recreational and economic goals. Protection of this land will contribute to a thriving future and preserve quality of life for this community.
Replace stairs to the beach that were removed for user safety when Lake Michigan levels were high in order to prevent damage to the dunes from preserve users now that lake levels have receded. The trail system also needs significant reroutes for better user experience and sustainability.
BENZIE
Natural & Forest Land Protection
We have identified properties that simply must be protected. Much is under immediate threat of development.
Farmland Protection
Our goal is that the region maintains a large land base of protected farmland and provides opportunities for viable farms and the next generation of farmers. Community Conservation and Universal Access Municipalities in all five counties have requested our support and expertise to leverage natural resources and provide access to nature to enhance the economic viability of, and draw to, their community.
Discussions with community partners and an inventory of our own preserves has established a vision of placing universally accessible infrastructure in several locations so that people of all abilities may enjoy nature.
7
8
KIESSEL RIDGE FARM EASEMENT
380.3 acres 0.00 mi shoreline
$1,458,505
$
At 385 acres, it’s one of the largest unprotected parcels near Torch Lake. While significant due to size alone, it also contains prime agricultural soils and critical viewsheds of both Torch Lake and Grand Traverse Bay, all of which make it a top priority for land protection.
MAPLE BAY HABITAT ENHANCEMENT
0 acres 0.00 mi shoreline
9
10
11
12
13
$147,000
The habitat enhancement project will convert 90 acres of agricultural land to native habitat in key areas to improve the balance of agriculture and other uses on the property. The overall design of the new habitat areas will both support agriculture and enhance the natural area and its inhabitants.
MITCHELL CREEK MEADOWS - ADDITION III
1.58 acres 0.00 mi shoreline
$12,729
This entirely wetland property provides a necessary link to connect the existing portion of the TART trail system that ends just south of Three Mile Rd. through the preserve to the Hammond/Three Mile intersection, and several schools located around that intersection.
MITCHELL CREEK MEADOWS - RESTORATION & UA ACCESS
0 acres 0.00 mi shoreline
$1,162,342
This project will add approximately 0.60 miles of Universally Accessible trail to the preserve and resources for ongoing restoration efforts, including autumn olive removal, native plant and seed mixes, greenhouse materials, and a new goat herd.
1.02 acres .06 mi shoreline
$2,520,000
By protecting Torch Lake’s shoreline this project will safeguard water quality in a historically beautiful and healthy lake with increasing water quality concerns.
PYATT LAKE NATURE PRESERVE - PHASE III TRAIL EXPANSION
0 acres 0.00 mi shoreline
$ 514,251
Using Universally Accessible components, this project will connect the Peninsula Dr. trailhead to the existing trailhead on Pyatt Rd. It will also formalize a trail extending south from the southern observation platform to give neighbors access to the trail system from Peninsula Dr.
$ THE BARONY EASEMENT
$214,314
68.28 acres 0.57 mi shoreline
The Barony property is one of the largest remaining private properties on the lower Rapid River. The property has over one half mile of undeveloped frontage on the Rapid River with the riparian area entirely comprised of high-quality rich-conifer swamp.
THE RIDGE
$ TBD
$ 14 acres (tbd) .38 mi shoreline
This property plays a significant role in maintaining water quality in East Grand Traverse Bay, the primary source of drinking water for residents in the Traverse City area. This largely forested property contains 26 acres of rich wetlands and breathtaking views along the ridge.
TORCH LAKE NATURE PRESERVE - CONNER ADDITION
9 acres 0.00 mi shoreline
$TBD
This proposed nine-acre addition contains mixed hardwood forests with high conservation value, further enhancing the preserve’s natural upland corridor. Given that the preserve’s trail system closely follows the existing property line, the addition will also safeguard scenic views from the trail. 15
16
UPPER MANISTEE HEADWATERS - PERCH LAKE ADDITION
340.21 acres 1.44 mi shoreline
$1,362,045
This acreage includes the only practical access to the NW portion of existing preserve and includes the entirety of Perch Lake. The property is a mix of mesic northern hardwood forest, early-successional forest, and mature pine plantation to be converted to more natural forest over time.
17
WILCOX-PALMER-SHAH - ADDITION
11 acres 0.00 mi shoreline
$96,775
This addition has exceptional ecological quality, with healthy mesic northern forest and northern hardwood swamp. Protecting it will help safeguard water quality, scenic views and wildlife habitat. A preliminarily Floristic Quality Index (FQI) taken of this parcel scored a 43.5 (state average is 20).
WILCOX-PALMER-SHAH - WILCOX ADDITION
$59,576.50
This ten-acre addition to a beloved and storied preserve along Lake Michigan is the site of the former Elk Rapids Sportsman’s Club. The property’s lead contamination issues from prior land use are completely cleaned up and the property is now ready to be restored to full ecological health. 18
19
WILD BERRY HAVEN EASEMENT
40 acres 0.00 mi shoreline
$127,510
If managed properly, these mesic northern forestlands will provide a natural buffer for the adjacent farmland, and a connection to the larger forestland landscape that provides ecological connectivity and resilience.
acres
29.6 acres 0.12 mi shoreline
$39,287,639.50
This critical piece will connect large areas of protected land, creating a contiguous 350-acre tract of high quality habitat. It also boasts 650 feet of frontage, which would bring the total protected shoreline in the North Arm of Lake Bellaire to just over two miles.
15 acres 0.00 mi shoreline
This property, situated amongst concentrated development, consists entirely of northern hardwood forest that provides excellent wildlife habitat. Should adjacent properties to the south be protected in the future, they could connect this parcel to the beloved Pelizzari Natural Area.
10 acres 0.00 mi shoreline ST. CLAIR LAKE - SIX MILE LAKE ADDITION $62,681
Located directly adjacent to the existing preserve’s western border, this property adds 416 feet of protected shoreline along St. Clair Lake while safeguarding a significant area of high-quality riparian wetlands, which provide crucial habitat for aquatic invertebrates, fish, waterfowl and mammals. 3 7 acres 0.08
This 81-acre cherry and apple farm was protected by the Acme Township Purchase of Development Rights Program. It is adjacent to other protected farmland, helping protect farming viability in the area, and contains 5 acres of wetland that is important for water quality in the Yuba Creek watershed.
PLEASE NOTE
Not shown on this map are more than 20 high-priority projects encompassing nearly 1,000 acres and over 2 miles of shoreline in various stages of our process leading up to board approval. New opportunities continue to arise, and we carefully evaluate and prioritize each potential project.
The New Priority Landscape Atlas
ENHANCED LAND PRIORITIZATION TOOL SHARPENS FOCUS OF GTRLC’S LAND PRESERVATION EFFORTS
GTRLC has long relied on its Priority Land Atlas (PLA) to guide its natural land protection efforts. Parcel-by-parcel, this tool has analyzed all the lands within our service area to identify properties with the highest conservation value. Examining a parcel’s natural features, habitat rarity, size of wetlands, length of shoreline, adjacency to previously protected land and more, the PLA has offered us a clear and concise map of the best remaining unprotected jewels in our area.
While the PLA has been vital in protecting critical lands like Upper Manistee Headwaters: The Milock Family Preserve and Finch Creek Nature Sanctuary, it has its limitations. A recent, significant update to the tool has further improved our ability to prioritize and protect critical natural lands—and now, it’s even better.
The most obvious change is the atlas’s new name: the Priority Landscape Atlas signifies a paradigm shift towards a more comprehensive, landscape-level analysis. Instead of evaluating individual parcels, the PLA considers properties as part of a broader landscape. Representing our entire service area (and surrounding buffers managed by other land trusts), the updated PLA helps us more precisely identify the natural landscapes that most effectively achieve our conservation goals.
"We have a good head start here with large blocks of protected lands," explained Director of Land Protection Chris Sullivan, describing the progress made with the PLA. "We have always focused on the best of the best, and we’re getting better."
It also simplifies the integration of natural land, forest and farmland priorities. Layers for forests and farmlands, which use different prioritization tools, can be overlaid within the atlas, providing a comprehensive view of GTRLC’s land protection goals.
A major impetus for this change resulted from a grant awarded by the Land Trust Alliance to integrate climate science data into GTRLC’s land protection efforts. Using data from The Nature Conservancy’s Resilient Land Mapping Tool, the updated PLA includes data on climate flow, which measures the landscape's ability to facilitate species movement, and climate resilience, which gauges the diversity of microclimates in an area.
The update also revamps how water quality and hydrology elements are considered, shifting focus from shoreline footage to quality habitats like wetlands, and setting different buffers for each unique body of water. For instance, the buffer surrounding Lake Michigan is larger than that of a small stream.
“As an organization committed to continuous improvement, we recognized the need to adapt and optimize our limited resources,” said Executive Director Glen Chown, explaining how the updated PLA will help GTRLC maximize the impact of its limited resources. Combined with our goal to secure unrestricted support for a new Rapid Response Revolving Fund—a $15 million funding goal to support time-sensitive land acquisitions—this tool enables the Conservancy to swiftly protect the most ecologically important lands across
our service area, including those that are difficult to fundraise for due to their locations.
“We are laser-focused on the lands that need our help the most,” said Chown. “Now, when high-priority opportunities arise, we can focus our energy to secure them before they slip through our fingers and are gone forever.”
Here is how the PLA works:
Some of the changes in this new system are subtle. Rather than starting with individual parcels, we surveyed and scored every corner of our service area for its conservation potential. This approach allowed us to analyze individual parcels in the context of the larger landscape. We also included a two-mile buffer around our service area to ensure edges were included.
Using digital tools, the revised PLA laid a grid of 30 x 30-meter squares across GTRLC’s entire service area. Within each square, five priorities or “drivers” were stacked to calculate a composite “conservation potential score.” These drivers include landscape resilience, climate flow, habitat quality, proximity and connectivity to wetlands, waterbodies and Lake Michigan’s shoreline, and proximity and connectivity to previously protected lands. This score was then associated with a color representing very high to very low conservation potential.
Once the conservation potential score for each square was established, we analyzed and scored parcels. Each unprotected property of 20 acres or more in our service area was analyzed (that’s 11,397 parcels!) and received a mean “conservation
potential score,” comprising all the squares within a parcel. The parcels were then assigned a multiplier based on their acreage and ranked within a four-tier system according to their percentile. While some properties shifted between tiers, priorities of the past remain priorities today.
By using automated tools and the most up-to-date data set available, the revised PLA is less subjective and uses higherquality data. And because we reduced subjectivity and added automated tools, updating the PLA will be much easier in the future. It’s also worth noting that the PLA is just one tool in our decision-making process. Our staff conducts groundtruthing to ensure no critical factors, such as undiscovered rare species, are overlooked. Additionally, when evaluating a property as a potential project, the Conservancy considers not only ecological impacts but also community needs for green space, recreational opportunities, and adjacency to highpriority lands targeted for protection. (A visual explanation of how the new PLA works is on the next two pages.)
You can advocate for natural landscapes
Your voice matters! By actively participating in your local master planning processes, you can impact the future of our natural landscapes. Within your community, you can help ensure ecological considerations are at the forefront of the planning process, zoning decisions, development plans and more, leading to healthier and more resilient communities.
Using digital tools, a 30 meter by 30 meter grid was laid across our entire service area. Each square on the grid was layered with five drivers that were individually scored. The driver scores were totaled to give each 30 m x 30 m square a conservation potential score. That score was then associated with a color representing very high to very low conservation potential/value. The aggregate result of this work can be seen on the Conservation Potential Map.
PRIORITY LANDSCAPE ATLAS NATURAL LAND PRIORITIZATION AND SCORING PROCESS
CREATING THE CONSERVATION POTENTIAL MAP
1. Landscape Resilience
4. Proximity & Connectivity to Wetlands, Waterbodies and Lake Michigan shoreline
5. Proximity and Connectivity to Protected lands
GTRLC prioritizes the capacity of a landscape to maintain species diversity and ecological function (through characteristics like landscape diveristy and connectedness) as climate changes.
GTRLC prioritizes landscapes with the ability to facilitate the gradual movement of species populations to more suitable conditions in response to changes in the climate.
In our region of Michigan large areas of forest cover are generally considered quality habitat and receive a high score. More fragemented forestest receive a lower scores.
GTRLC prioritizes high quality natural lands adjacent to water sources for their integral importance for water quality and overall ecosystem health.
Contiguous natural lands generally have healthier habitats and ecosystems so GTRLC prioritizes high quality lands adjacent to protected land.
ANALYZING AND TIERING PARCELS
Once the conservation potential score for each 30 m x 30 m square was established for the entire service area, we were able to analyze and score parcels. All unprotected parcels 20 acres and greater in the service area were analyzed–that’s 11,397 parcels!
Each parcel is comprised of many 30 m x 30 m squares with unique conservation potential scores. By taking the mean conservation potential score of all the squares within the parcel and assigning a multiplier based on the overall size of the parcel, we were able to score and tier each parcel.
Parcel colors represent Tiers 1-4 and refelct a score determined by taking the mean conservation potential score of all the 30 m x 30 m squares within and applying a multiplier for parcel size.
Boundary
30 m x 30 m Squares. Each square has a unique conservation potential score. (scale increased for legibility)
IN TOTAL 11,397 PARCELS WERE ANALYZED AND PUT INTO TIERS
Properties in tiers 1-3 represent the top 20% of all the properties analyzed from a natural lands perspective.
These lands are critically important to ensure our region has clean air and water, healthy habitats for plants and animals and thriving communities for all future generations.
The top 1% of all parcels (117 properties). These are the best of the best.e Tier 1
2
The next 5% (587 parcels)
3
The next 14% (1,674 parcels)
While these parcels were all scored and could be protected given the right circumstance, we aren’t actively targeting properties in this tier.
PHOTO: ERIN SCHUG
Exciting Progress at Mitchell Creek Meadows
LARGE-SCALE RESTORATION PROJECT MAKES HEADWAY
If you have been following our work over the last several years, you may already know the story behind Mitchell Creek Meadows: The Don and Jerry Oleson Nature Preserve. This 243-acre preserve was originally protected from extensive development through GTRLC's Campaign for Generations in 2019. Surrounded by growing commercial and residential areas within the Mitchell Creek watershed—an essential sub-watershed feeding Grand Traverse Bay, the property helps safeguard water quality while providing habitat for various species across its grasslands, forest complexes and critical wetlands.
While native plants are found in the mixed conifer swamps and other wetlands, a history of agricultural use and over twenty years as a golf course drastically altered the property’s hydrology and habitats. When the golf course shut down, monocultures with little benefit to wildlife formed as coolseason turf grasses grew amok within the once heavily maintained fairways and the seed bank became filled with invasive shrubs.
Yet, today, as the home of GTRLC’s Conservation Center, Mitchell Creek Meadows has emerged as a thriving regional hub for conservation. Thanks to the generosity of many supporters, we are making exciting progress on a major, ongoing initiative to improve the land’s ecological health and provide incredible recreational opportunities just outside Traverse City. This comprehensive project will, over time, transform the preserve’s impaired habitats into diverse ecosystems where our native food web can thrive.
Removing Invasive Plants with New Allies
Since its protection, the preserve’s restoration has made significant strides thanks to the help of GTRLC’s volunteers, staff and partners. A key effort has been removing invasive species such as autumn olive, glossy buckthorn, and other prioritized invasive plants, which threaten to outcompete native flora. In 2023, the Conservancy introduced an unexpected ally: a small herd of invasive-plant-eating goats.
Visitors might catch glimpses of these hardworking goats nibbling on invasive shrubs along the trail. Working in prioritized, fenced areas, the goats diligently graze on invasive species, reducing their biomass and making them easier for humans to remove. “By reducing the plant material, our goats are helping to free up nutrients and sunlight for native plants, which helps promote greater plant diversity,” explained GTRLC’s farm operations and sustainability coordinator, Sam Griffin. “Plus, they love the work! Goats actually prefer eating some of the tougher, more aggressive plants.”
In less impacted regions, simply removing invasive species may be the only intervention needed as we encourage habitats’ natural succession into forests. Yet in more severely impacted zones, particularly near the Conservation Center, more targeted stewardship efforts are underway.
Planting Native Species:
Revitalizing a Landscape
Native plants are the foundation of healthy and balanced ecosystems, having evolved over hundreds or thousands of years alongside local wildlife and climate conditions. Now in its second year, GTRLC’s native plant greenhouse is thriving with activity. Volunteers and staff have been nurturing a variety of carefully selected species that will enhance biodiversity and provide essential food and habitat for pollinators and other sensitive wildlife.
Angie Bouma, GTRLC’s senior conservation ecologist, highlighted the greenhouse’s role in providing self-sustaining seed sources for the Conservancy’s restoration projects. “By enriching the landscape around the Conservation Center with native species, which were intentionally collected from our nature preserves to ensure they are endemic, we’re establishing a cycle of seed collection, growing and planting,” she explained. “These plants will help kickstart and sustain restoration efforts at Mitchell Creek Meadows and other GTRLC preserves throughout the region.”
Once a dense thicket of autumn olive, this area was cleared by GTRLC's goats, making way for native species to thrive.
In
early 2024, a controlled burn was conducted at the preserve to remove invasive species and prepare the ground for restoring native plants.
PHOTO: NATE RICHARDSON
PHOTO: RICK KANE
Additionally, two native dune demonstration gardens were installed, which serve as a propagation site for difficult-togrow and declining dune species and a hands-on learning opportunity. Many of the species selected are critical nectar and host plants for various declining pollinators. GTRLC is engaging students, college interns, and volunteers with the installation, care and seed collection of these dune species, which are used for restoration projects on protected lands.
Ongoing restoration plans also include planting native trees and shrubs throughout the preserve’s wetland and meadow habitats. Over time, the former fairways will turn into healthy, forested habitats as young native saplings such as basswood and poplar mature. The impact of deer browse is significant in many areas of the preserve, as deer tend not to eat introduced species, which gives plants like autumn olive an advantage. To address this issue, GTRLC permits bow-hunting in certain areas of the preserve and has installed fencing to protect sensitive seedlings. If you visit the preserve this fall, you will notice a deer exclosure installed between the trail and the driveway to safeguard these delicate seedlings from deer browse. These plants need time to establish and thrive, so make sure to visit often and witness the transformation!
Controlled Burn
In the early spring of 2024, before nesting season began, a controlled burn was conducted to eradicate a thick layer of cool-season grasses and suppress the regrowth of invasive honeysuckle and autumn olive. This fire returned essential nutrients to the soil and created favorable conditions for native wildflower seeds to germinate.
“Many wildlife species benefit from the open landscapes created by prescribed burns, which enhance foraging opportunities, nesting sites and overall habitat quality,” described Land Steward Cody Selewski. Over time, GTRLC envisions the area south of the solar array transforming into a beautiful, thriving meadow with features of mesic sand prairie and dry sand prairie habitats.
As you explore the preserve, keep in mind that ecological restoration is a long process. While meadow habitats may begin to show progress within 5-10 years, forested wetland habitats, such as rich conifer swamps, can take decades or even centuries to completely recover from disturbances. Stay tuned for more updates on our progress at Mitchell Creek Meadows and be sure to visit to see the transformation for yourself!
New Field Guide Release!
We are thrilled to announce the release of a new field guide for Mitchell Creek Meadows, packed with detailed information about the property’s restoration, flora and fauna. Download a free digital version on our website at GTRLC.ORG, or purchase your beautiful hard copy from our online store or at the Conservation Center on your next visit!
Mitchell Creek Meadows: The Don and Jerry Oleson Nature Preserve Field Guide
Ecological Restoration, Flora and Fauna
MITCHELL CREEK MEADOWS:
MITCHELL CREEK MEADOWS:
LEGEND
Shrub Wetlands Restoration Area
A Legacy of Adventure
LONGTIME SUPPORTERS SHAPE CONSERVATION LEGACY ROOTED IN THEIR LOVE FOR THE OUTDOORS
When Sherri DeCamp moved from Ohio to the Grand Traverse region, she set an ambitious goal: to hike or ski every trail within the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Alongside her husband Graydon, a fellow outdoor enthusiast, this goal quickly expanded when the GTRLC began protecting nature preserves and creating more trails. “To this day, I have a list,” Sherri said, “but they’re happening so fast, we can hardly keep up!”
Their shared love for the outdoors has taken them on countless adventures—hiking, cross-country skiing, sailing, fishing and savoring the quieter moments only nature can provide. “We have found so much joy in the trails and the outdoors and the beauty,” Sherri said, “that's what we want to leave behind.”
The DeCamps have a deep-rooted history with GTRLC, contributing regularly since its very first year. Graydon even
Sherri and Graydon DeCamp at their home in Elk Rapids.
PHOTO: THE DeCAMPS
recalls meeting GTRLC’s longtime executive director, Glen Chown, while writing a profile of him during Chown’s early tenure with the Little Traverse Conservancy. “It's been an absolute joy to see it from the beginning,” Sherri said.
Now retired, both Sherri and Graydon enjoyed distinguished careers. Graydon, an experienced journalist and editor, worked with various newspapers and magazines in Ohio and Michigan. As a senior editor, he wrote restaurant reviews, eventually leading him and Sherri to co-authoring the successful publication Connoisseur Up North: A Food-Lover's Guide to Northern Michigan. After transitioning from 14 years in education, Sherri joined an outdoor education center in Ohio, where she successfully marketed a leadership program for executives. Later, in Traverse City, she became director of sales with the Grand Traverse Resort before starting her own hotel management consulting business.
Today, the DeCamps are actively involved in their local community through their passions for nature and the arts, with both having served on the board of directors for the Traverse Symphony Orchestra. Merging her interests, Sherri also helped establish Art Rapids and launched the Walk of Art Sculpture Park in Elk Rapids.
In their spare time, they frequently visit the Wilcox-PalmerShah Nature Preserve and Maplehurst Natural Area near their Elk Rapids home, enjoying Maplehurst’s varied hiking options that allow them to explore different trails at their own pace and swap stories afterward. “Maplehurst is the kind of place that makes it possible to do this—it has it all,” Graydon explained.
Additionally, the Conservancy’s growing collection of Universally Accessible (UA) trails has made their summer visits with their athletic, paraplegic niece and her two young boys even more special. “It was just thrilling to us,” Sherri said, recounting the family’s first trip to the UA boardwalk trail at Arcadia Dunes: The C.S. Mott Nature Preserve. “To this day, my niece says, ‘I love Michigan because there are so many UA trails.’”
Inspired by their experiences in nature, the DeCamps made a profound commitment to preserving the region’s natural and farm lands. In 2018, they chose to include GTRLC in their estate plans with a generous legacy gift, ensuring that their love for the natural world will be passed on to future generations.
“It's what will be our legacy. I can't think of anything more important to leave, not just for our family, but for our friends and people we don't know, than these protected areas,” Sherri
described. “It’s where we go for solitude, it’s where we go for discovery, it’s where we go just to renew.”
Graydon concurred, adding that as a person of faith, he feels closest to God in nature. He also voiced concern over the threats posed by unbridled development. “There is no such thing as permanence unless you have a determined effort to keep something permanent,” he stated, noting the numerous developments occurring throughout the Grand Traverse region. “But the Conservancy promises that won’t be everywhere—some of the best possible places will remain wild.”
As members of the Vanguard Society, the DeCamps are part of a dedicated and forward-thinking group committed to preserving the places they love for future generations. They acknowledge that legacy giving and estate planning can be sensitive topics, but have found camaraderie and openness in the Vanguard Society, especially during GTRLC’s annual member gatherings.
“I have found those events very uplifting,” Sherri said, explaining that being made aware of new projects, interacting with the staff, and witnessing their dedication and enthusiasm have helped to reinforce their decision. “It helps keep the legacy of what we’re doing—it keeps it alive.”
Graydon added that the events have helped them gain a better sense of GTRLC’s work. “Every time we go, it ratifies our judgment,” he said.
Charitable Giving Specialist Barb Heflin underscored the crucial role Vanguard Society members play in shaping the Conservancy’s future. “Legacy gifts from supporters like Sherri and Graydon are the bedrock of our long-term conservation efforts,” she explained. “While we navigate the immediate demands of our projects, these contributions provide us with the stability to plan ambitiously for the future. Their foresight and dedication allow us to think beyond the present challenges, and to shape a better future.”
Through their continued support, rooted in experiences that have enhanced their lives and sense of adventure, Sherri and Graydon hope to help preserve the places they love for future generations to enjoy just as they have. “I can't think of a better use of our legacy. You gotta wait a while, but it guarantees a future for all this good work,” Graydon said. “Keep doing it.”
Ready to make a lasting impact? Reach out to Barb Heflin, our Charitable Giving Specialist, at bheflin@gtrlc.org to learn more and become part of the Vanguard Society, where you can join other land lovers in creating a legacy.
Dani Knoph Davis's artwork captures the intricate relationships between northern Michigan's habitats and wildlife, including the diverse "herpetofauna" depicted here.
Capturing Northern Michigan’s Beauty in Watercolor
GTRLC LAUNCHES ARTIST COLLABORATION SERIES WITH LOCAL PAINTER, DANI
KNOPH DAVIS
Northern Michigan’s landscapes, from its expansive waters to its verdant forests, have always been breathtaking, and have long captivated the imaginations of those who experience them. Dani Knoph Davis, the inaugural artist for GTRLC's new Artist Collaboration Series, has found a way to preserve those precious moments we often wish we could keep.
Specializing in the natural world, Dani’s artwork beautifully illustrates the region’s natural communities, featuring native fish, butterflies, birds, turtles and other wildlife. Her connection to the land and wildlife began in childhood, specifically, the waters surrounding her grandparents’ cabin in Gaylord. Her fascination with nature led her to study art at the University of Michigan, after which she moved to Seattle and
PHOTO: ALAN NEWTON
learned about the life cycle of the Pacific Northwest salmon. Reflecting on this time, she said “You know how they’re born in a river, and then they go far away, and at some point they turn back around and regenerate? I kind of felt like a salmon at that time in my life, so I painted them, and that's where I sold my first collection of paintings.” She later came back to Michigan, much like a salmon returning to its first riverbed, and continued her career as a professional artist.
Dani’s passion for the land and the life it supports made her a natural fit for GTRLC’s first artist collaboration in this series. To inspire her artwork, the Conservancy invited her to explore Mitchell Creek Meadows: The Don and Jerry Oleson Nature Preserve. During her visit, she also spoke with our stewardship team to learn about the organisms that live on the land. “I loved sitting down with the stewardship team,” she said, describing her interview-like process. “I asked the first question and everyone was just stunned. It took us a little while to get going because it's overwhelming to think of all the options we have in the world of nature and wildlife and what kind of art we’re going to put in conjunction with this project.”
After breaking the ice, the stewardship team dove into the conversation and shared their passion for their work. Based on these discussions, Dani created three original watercolor illustrations, each showcasing the raw beauty of the land against the simplicity of a white background.
Dani’s work includes a stunning representation of the ecologically and culturally significant northern white cedar, paying homage to GTRLC’s cedar leaf logo. She also illustrates the symbiotic relationships between native wildflowers and pollinator species, and the importance of protected habitats for our sensitive herpetofauna. Through these paintings, Dani not only shares her love of the land but also shines a bright light on the collective dedication of those working to preserve it.
Prints and merchandise are available to purchase at the McMullen Family Conservation Center or our online store at GTRLC.ORG Proceeds support land protection and stewardship.
Dani's artwork is available in prints, cards, t-shirts and more at the McMullen Family Conservation Center and our online store at gtrlc.org.
PHOTO: ERIN SCHUG
Board of Directors
GRAND TRAVERSE REGIONAL LAND CONSERVANCY
Dear Friends,
“Dream no little dreams,” the saying goes, and I am proud that we have embraced this idea with passion and purpose at the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy. As you’ve read in this issue of Landscript, we have undertaken some of the most ambitious and significant projects in our history.
Our vision is bold because the challenges our region faces demand nothing less. We are committed to preserving the places that define our region's beauty, vitality, and character by protecting our most cherished and critical lands for future generations. We are committed to helping communities use conservation as the driving force for economic development and placemaking.
These are not small undertakings, but we are driven by a shared belief that we can achieve extraordinary things when we work together. Our supporters—people like you—have enabled us to reach higher and dream bigger than ever before.
From the rolling dunes along Lake Michigan’s coast to pristine rivers and streams that feed our Great Lakes, from expansive forests that provide habitat for countless species to fertile agricultural lands that nourish our communities, our land protection and restoration efforts will make a meaningful and lasting impact towards thriving communities and a healthier planet.
The Conservancy’s dreams are big, and they require us all to lean in. But with your help, they are becoming a reality.
On behalf of the Board of Directors and everyone at the Conservancy, please accept our deepest gratitude.. Your unwavering support, your vision, and your commitment to this vital work inspire us.. Together, we are proving that no dream is too big when we dream it together.
With deepest gratitude, Kathleen Guy, Board Chair
The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy has protected and cared for the region's natural, scenic, farm and forest lands since 1991. With the help of our supporters, volunteers and friends, nearly 47,000 acres of land and 153 miles of shoreline have been protected along the region's exceptional rivers, lakes and streams.
Fully accredited by the Land Trust Alliance, the Conservancy is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with by-laws, policies, board, budget and staff.
GTRLC's Directors support our mission through giving hundreds of hours of their time, sharing their considerable talents, and generously dedicating their contributions.
Learn more at gtrlc.org/about/board/
Kathleen Guy, Chair
Koffi Kpachavi, Vice-Chair
Linda Cline, Treasurer
John Bercini, Secretary
Perry Adams
Alena Bowman
Don Coe
John Collins
JoAnne Cook
Rebecca Ewing
Clifford G. Fox
Jim Huckle
Ray Kendra
Chip May
Paul Moyer
Barbara Nelson-Jameson
Annie Olds
Susan Palmer
Kevin Russell
Maureen Smyth
Terrie Taylor
The Vanguard Society
Many people support the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy because they know the best way to ensure our region remains vibrant, healthy, and beautiful is to protect the critical places we love—forever.
Planning for a conservation legacy can further your financial goals and maximize your giving with a planned gift. Whatever phase of life you are in, planned giving can benefit you and those you love while protecting and enhancing the precious land and water of northern Michigan for future generations.
Are you interested in joining this group of philanthropic conservationists? Contact Barb Heflin, Charitable Giving Specialist: Major Gifts and Planned Giving, to learn more about becoming a member of our Vanguard Society: bheflin@gtrlc.org
Members of our Vanguard Society enjoy an annual celebration together designed especially for them.
Wilcox-Palmer-Shah Nature Preserve as captured by Erin Schug.
Thank you.
The work of the Conservancy simply could not happen without passionate advocates for our natural world. Your generous support is what makes this work possible. Your 2024 contributions will be gratefully acknowledged with a listing in our annual report which will be published in early 2025.
Opportunities to give:
• Support the Conservancy Fund
• Support land protection and stewardship projects
• Gifts in memorial or honorarium
• Become a Land Champion with a monthly gift
• Join the Vanguard Society by making an estate gift
• Donate stocks and securities
• Make a gift of land
• Unlock a matching gift from your employer
• Donate from your retirement accounts
• Create a Charitable Gift Annuity; right now you can take up to $50,000 from your IRA as a qualified charitable distribution to start a CGA with the Conservancy
• Volunteer your time and talents
A MARK OF DISTINCTION
The accreditation seal AFFIRMS national quality standards are met.
Sound Finances
Strong Transactions
Excellent Land and Easement Stewardship
Effective Governance
Your donations to the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy help protect significant scenic, natural, and farm lands from development, ensuring that the most critical lands will continue to provide local food, open space, clean water, and healthy habitat, now and for future generations. You can donate with confidence, knowing that you are contributing to an accredited, effective, and fiscally responsible organization.
Our annual Preservation Celebration is one of the most popular events of the year. Friends, supporters and partners joined GTRLC’s staff and board members at Mitchell Creek Meadows: The Don and Jerry Oleson Nature Preserve on August 3 to celebrate all that we’ve accomplished together and get energized for the work ahead. To those who came out—thank you!
To those who missed it, we hope to see you next year on July 12 at the Life Saving Station in Elberta!
PHOTO: MADELINE NORTH