Huron Pines 2023 Annual Report

Board of Directors Staff

Greg Bator Chair

Jennifer Hill Vice Chair

Meaghan Gass Secretary

Chip Erwin Treasurer

Ned Caveney

Alex Code

Rich Castle

Joe Jarecki

Kim Margherio

Dan O’Connor

Tony Pitts

Jerry Rucker

Donette Spiekerman

Brad Jensen Executive Director

Lisha Ramsdell Associate Director

Shelby Bauer Stewardship Program Coordinator

Julia Butch Land Protection Coordinator

Bryant Eddy Habitat Project Manager

Chris Engle Communications Associate

Abigail Ertel Community Program Director

Logan Hawley Coastal Restoration Team Lead

Amber Hubbard Coastal Stewardship Coordinator

Heather Huffstutler Development Director

Daniel Judd Heartland Restoration Team Lead

Maddie Khuri Community Education Project Manager

Paige Lackey Communications Manager

Josh Leisen Senior Project Manager

Abby Macek Heartland Stewardship Technician

Samantha Nellis Water Program Director

Amy Nowakowski Coastal Project Manager

Tonya Ouillette Office & Data Manager

Nick Theisen Watershed Technician

Amanda Vanaman AmeriCorps Program Manager

Steve Woods Conservation Stewardship Director

Jennie Zoll Director of Finance & Administration

Our Mission Our Vision

The

Dear friends,

As we entered the milestone year of 2023, marking 50 years of incredible support and contribution, we took a moment to celebrate the successes that have shaped Northern Michigan’s landscape. As we embark on our 51st year of service in 2024, the journey to protect and enhance the region’s land and water continues and we are deeply grateful to have you as a vital partner.

Together, we’ve sparked a growing interest in the region, capturing the attention of local communities, civic groups, schools and homeowner associations. This increasing engagement bodes well for the future. At Huron Pines, we’ve leveraged your support to attract and hire talented, skilled staff, expand our funding network and diversify our offerings to address the pressing needs of the communities we serve.

Our approach is rooted in a strategic vision. Huron Pines looks ahead to the next decade, prioritizing projects and places that require our focus. We employ science-based analysis to identify critical needs and foster collaboration. We have meaningful conversations with community leaders and passionate citizens, cultivating enthusiasm and commitment for conservation stewardship. We achieve more and have a greater impact as those relationships continue to grow.

While we’ve made significant strides, our work is far from complete. Future challenges such as water pollution, failing dams, a changing climate and uncontrolled development loom on the horizon. With your unwavering support, Huron Pines will continue to guide responsible efforts to preserve Northern Michigan’s rich natural resource heritage. Whether advising and collaborating with local leaders, advancing evidence-based solutions, conducting field studies, eradicating invasive species, securing funding for conservation or inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards, Huron Pines remains committed to looking ahead—for you and with you.

Reflecting on the past 50 years, we marvel at the miles of rivers running free, the acres of land restored, the shorelines unspoiled from development and the preserves now accessible to the public. In the next 50 years, future generations will reap the benefits of your support as they walk pristine shorelines, catch and release fish once blocked by a failing dam, witness the resurgence of migratory birds and learn from impassioned leaders who carry the torch of environmental stewardship.

Thank you for joining us in this meaningful work today, work that holds profound significance for the tomorrows that will shape the region. We take pride in partnering with you to ensure that Northern Michigan remains the special place we know it to be.

With gratitude,

Brad Jensen Executive Director

Bator Board Chair

Gregory

Celebrating 50 Years of Huron Pines

On a late September evening the air was thick with nostalgia as friends, supporters, colleagues and former staff gathered to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Huron Pines.

The event served as a testament to a half-century of dedicated conservation efforts and our commitment to preserving the natural beauty of Northern Michigan.

As the summer sun set, the celebration shifted indoors where photo displays and a handmade quilt of stitched-together “project shirts” chronicled our organization’s rich history. Shared memories and stories echoed through the crowd, painting a vivid picture of challenges overcome and triumphs achieved in the name of environmental stewardship. We enjoyed live music, local cuisine and a heartfelt program recognizing key individuals who have contributed to our success.

The event encapsulated the spirit of community, commitment and passion which has fueled our conservation efforts over the past five decades and inspired us to continue our mission: to preserve and protect the natural wonders that define Michigan’s landscape.

The celebration served not only as a reflection on our remarkable journey but also as the public launch for our Community-Driven Conservation Campaign which will play a vital role in fueling our continued growth and sustainability. We have learned much in the last 50 years but our greatest realization is that our work is most impactful through connections, community and collaboration. As we look to the future, our efforts will be focused on expanding our work in these three areas (learn more about the Community-Driven Conservation Campaign at huronpines.org/donate).

As we embark on the next 50 years, we extend our gratitude to everyone who attended the celebration and expressed their support. Your presence and enthusiasm energizes our mission.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Blue Sky Barn, Tony Pitts with Cheboygan Brewing Company, Michigan Brew Grayling, Moondance Flower Farm, Henry Gretzinger and musician Todd Aldrich for helping make this evening special.

Huron Pines staff Heather Huffstutler, Jennie Zoll, Nick Theisen and Josh Leisen (l-r) greet guests as they arrive.

Supporter Kathy Duffy (r) accepts an award of appreciation on behalf of her family from Board Chair Greg Bator and Executive Director Brad Jensen (l-m).

Top: Celebration attendees pose for a commemorative photo.

A two-spotted bumble bee explores a blue vervain flower at KR Poljan Tract, one of our two preserves on Birdsong Bay in Alpena.

625

2,069

217 volunteer work hours miles of trail built or restored acres of land enhanced through volunteer workdays volunteers engaged

200,000

gallons of stormwater captured from new green stormwater infrastructure installed in 2023

1,000,000

gallons of stormwater captured from green stormwater infrastructure since 2019

12

50.2 upstream miles of coldwater habitat reconnected by 5 road/stream crossing replacements

Huron Pines staff and partners with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service visit the restored crossing of the Black River at Sparr Road, Otsego County.

Lake Huron cobblestones

18.5 miles of shoreline monitored for piping plovers

different species of native plant seeds collected

194

sites managed for native and non-native species

16

72 communities directly served

54 miles of shoreline or streambanks restored

1,042 hours of service completed by 23 AmeriCorps members volunteers engaged

37,800

1,050 acres of public land restored

Huron Pines AmeriCorps members Ashton Bieri, Mar Dunstone and Victor Ma (l-r, foreground) install a sand fence to restore dunes in Alpena.

Seeds erupt from a milkweed pod at Emily Min Hunt Preserve. Our Native Seed Program uses locally sourced seed to restore natural landscapes across Northern Michigan.

Protected Forever in Oscoda

We marked another win for the Lake Huron coast in December by securing the permanent protection of 42 acres and 3,300 feet of riverfront with a land acquisition on historic Hull Island.

Our latest victory preserves space for wildlife and public recreation at the place where the famed Au Sable River meets Lake Huron. It’s as much a symbolic achievement for our organization as it is a practical one, marrying our ongoing work to build a sustainable future for the Great Lakes with a locally-driven effort in a community which shares our values in land and water conservation.

“The permanent protection of Hull Island is a direct result of our vision for conservation driven by engaged and empowered communities,” said Heather Huffstutler, Development Director for Huron Pines. “Community leaders who understand the value of protected places and are motivated to achieve this goal are vital to our long-term success and impact as an organization. This latest acquisition gives us the momentum we need to secure a healthy future for land and water across more of Northern Michigan.”

Recognizing the urgency to protect and ensure public access to undeveloped lands near Lake Huron and the Au Sable River, Oscoda Township initially reached out to our organization early in 2023 for assistance in acquiring the western portion of Hull Island. By purchasing it with donations to our Land Protection Fund, Community-Driven Conservation Campaign and help from The Carls Foundation, we were able to take it off the real estate market and will hold it in our care until the township is ready to receive the property later this year.

Thanks to the support of a grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) board, we will be able to achieve our goal of transferring ownership of this important piece of land to the community of Oscoda. In 2024, the property will officially become the AuSable River Scenic Preserve, owned and managed by Charter Township of Oscoda, with management support from Huron Pines.

This recent success comes less than a year after Huron Pines assisted Alabaster Township with the acquisition of the Lake Huron Coastal Preserve in Iosco County. That effort not only permanently protected

145 acres of mature hardwood forests and 4,000 feet of cobblestone shoreline but also helped us refine the process by which the protection of Hull Island was realized.

Huron Pines will continue working with Oscoda Township after the transfer, assisting with invasive species management, erosion control and the development of light-use recreation infrastructure that balances public access with the needs for ecosystem protection.

“Oscoda Township is very excited about the Hull Island project,” said Township Superintendent Tammy Kline. “We are looking forward to partnering with Huron Pines to preserve this as a natural space for the community to enjoy for years to come.”

Top: The protected forests and shorelines of Hull Island lie just west of Oscoda.

Land Protection Coordinator Julia Butch stands at an overlook of the AuSable River on Hull Island during a November rain shower.

Situated a stone’s throw from downtown, the preserve holds significant recreational value for the community of Oscoda with existing trails winding through oak forests, diverse landscapes and sudden elevation changes, all topped off with panoramic views of the Au Sable River.

Hull Island is also home to local logging history, having gotten its name from Hull Ely Mill which operated nearby and warehoused lumber on the island during Oscoda’s logging boom of the late 19th century. The mill closed and the building became a cannery before the great fire of July 1911 destroyed the structure along with most of Oscoda, according to the AuSable-Oscoda Historical Society.

While hiking there on a damp day in November, two of our staff members found a sandy opening where the ground was littered with earthstar puffballs, a native fungus with the unusual behavior of opening like a flower in the rain to spread their spores. It’s these kinds of discoveries that we hope visitors have as they make their own connections to nature at this unique protected place.

“

The permanent protection of Hull Island is a direct result of our vision for conservation driven by engaged and empowered communities. “

- Heather Huffstutler Development Director, Huron Pines

“The variety of landscapes in a relatively small area paired with elevated views of the Au Sable River really enhance the visitor experience, and it’s all right in the heart of Oscoda,” said Land Protection Coordinator Julia Butch. “This has been a great opportunity to work with a community who shares our priorities in conservation and we’re opening new possibilities with Oscoda Township.”

We continue to connect with local leaders who believe in our mission, therefore making us stronger as an organization. The momentum we have with our Lake Huron Forever initiative and our land protection efforts is growing, particularly along the stretch from Oscoda to Au Gres where there is great potential for shared efforts in land protection, ecosystem restoration and community engagement in conservation.

“Building these deep relationships is highly rewarding because we can complete meaningful projects that are sustainable when we have local support,” said Executive Director Brad Jensen. “This is evident here in the community of Oscoda and we look forward to more good work ahead.”

You can support our ongoing land protection efforts by donating to our Community-Driven Conservation campaign at huronpines.org.

A network of existing trails wind through the oak-dominant forests of Hull Island.

Remnants of an oxbow of the AuSable River provides habitat for turtles, frogs, macroinvertebrates and ducks.

A barometer earthstar (Astraeus hygrometricus), found at Hull Island in November.

Coming Together for Lake Huron

The Township, City and County of Alpena each adopted the Lake Huron Forever Pledge in 2023 as a sign of their individual and shared commitments to water quality protection and community sustainability.

As the largest shoreline community in Northeast Michigan by population and land area, Alpena’s adoption of the pledge marks a major milestone in this binational effort to curb stormwater runoff, protect sensitive natural areas, promote water quality and inspire residents to action.

Developed in 2019 by shoreline community foundations and conservation partners in the U.S. and Canada, the Lake Huron Forever initiative supports the design and implementation of onthe-ground projects which promote community health and climate resilience along the shores of our shared Great Lake. By taking the pledge, Alpena joins two other Michigan communities—Au Gres and Bay City—in this collective and growing effort facilitated by Huron Pines.

THE PLEDGE IN ACTION | RESTORING NATURAL SHORELINES

To support the City’s pledge, Huron Pines is restoring sand dunes at Mich-e-ke-wis Park in Alpena to build a more resilient shoreline, filter stormwater runoff and restore natural plant diversity to this popular park. The dune restoration project was identified as a priority for residents during a public visioning session Huron Pines hosted in 2022 and directly addresses Alpena’s pledge goals for green infrastructure and coastal resilience.

Huron Pines AmeriCorps members erected temporary sand fencing in August which will catch windblown sand and rebuild the dunes. Native plants were installed in October—including dune grasses transplanted from nearby North Point Nature Preserve—to further establish a natural shoreline that is more resilient to erosion and fluctuations in lake levels.

The planning phase of this project was supported by the City of Alpena, Michigan Department of the Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and an anonymous local donor.

THE PLEDGE IN ACTION | PLANTING RAIN GARDENS

Also in the City, volunteers joined staff of Huron Pines and Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in October to install 1,600 native plants in two rain gardens at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center. The gardens will capture and filter an estimated 50,000 gallons of stormwater annually and serve as a showpiece for the community as plans for similar projects take shape. Students of Posen Consolidated Schools followed up with more planting as part of their field exploration trip studying marine debris and its impacts on Lake Huron.

This project was supported by the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation’s Sustain Our Great Lakes program.

“

It’s rewarding to see the City, Township and County coming together in their commitment to Lake Huron. The pledge is a big step in the coordinated protection of the health of our communities and our shared natural resources. “

- Samantha Nellis Water Program Director, Huron Pines

Top: Huron Pines staff survey Thunder Bay Island off the coast of Alpena for invasive plants and rare species. This island is an important stopover and nesting site for migratory birds.

THE PLEDGE IN ACTION | PROTECTING RARE ECOSYSTEMS

Huron Pines

Our team completed a Natural Features Overlay for Alpena Township, identifying rare landscapes found only in the Great Lakes region and mapping their locations throughout the township. Designed to protect critical wetland, riparian and lakeshore ecosystems and the species which define Northern Michigan, this map tool will be referenced by Alpena Township to supplement existing zoning rules and further protect sensitive habitats from development as it updates its Master Plan in 2024. Funding is provided by the Michigan Coastal Management Program, Water Resources Division, Michigan EGLE and NOAA.

We also completed extensive road surveys throughout Alpena County —783 road miles in total—to locate and record invasive plants like autumn olive, phragmites and purple loosestrife. These reports raise public awareness of invasive species, provide a decision support tool for landowners and land managers, and empower local leaders to become more involved with invasive species management. Alpena County has prioritized managing invasive species and expanding outdoor recreation opportunities, like trails, as part of its Lake Huron Forever pledge. This effort is supported by the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation’s Sustain Our Great Lakes program.

THE PLEDGE IN ACTION | ENSURING CLEAN DRINKING WATER

H uron Pines continues to support a statewide effort to promote clean sources of municipal drinking water by improving the overall health of Michigan watersheds.

The City of Alpena draws its water from Lake Huron which is directly influenced by the Thunder Bay River. In support of the City’s pledge goals, we are working with Alpena’s water utility to implement their Source Water Protection Plan, identifying areas in the watershed where on-the-ground projects can have the greatest impact on improving water quality. We’re also working to raise public awareness of how healthy forests and watersheds help ensure safe, clean drinking water.

Through a statewide program called Forests to MI Faucets, Huron Pines is leading an effort to bolster the tree canopy by planting a diverse mix of 5,000 trees on public and private lands across the Thunder Bay River Watershed in 2024. Trees can considerably improve water quality by reducing runoff of polluted stormwater into streams and rivers which flow into Lake Huron. Forests to MI Faucets is a Michigan DNR program funded by the USDA Forest Service.

Huron Pines staff Amber Hubbard and Nick Theisen (l-r) install native plant plugs in a rain garden at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center.

Zachary Roznowski, a student of Posen High School, smiles with dirt on his face while planting a rain garden in Alpena.

is working to advance the protection of rare and sensitive ecosystems in support of the pledge goals of Alpena Township.

A sunset view from Crooked Island off the Alpena coast, where our Stewardship Team treated invasive plants to restore native ecosystems for migratory birds and other wildlife.

Heartland to Coast

Our roots run deep in the sandy soils of the Au Sable River Watershed. It’s where we planted ourselves as a budding conservation organization in 1973 and, a half century later, it remains at the core of our efforts to protect and restore Northern Michigan’s landscapes and help communities connect to nature.

In 2023 we engaged volunteers in the ongoing control of invasive purple loosestrife on the North Branch, restored floodplain habitat of the untamed Mason Tract on the South Branch and employed 2,000 beetles to eat invasive plants on the shores of Mio Pond. Through these efforts and more, Huron Pines is protecting native ecosystems of Northern Michigan’s interior counties and expanding our toolkit to restore more habitats across the broader region.

Barberry Removal Restores ‘Mason Tract’ Floodplains

A wild stretch of the Au Sable’s South Branch renowned for its hiking, fishing and old-growth forests is regaining some of its natural feel once lost to a noxious invasive plant.

Our Stewardship Team ventured deep into the Mason Tract to eliminate Japanese barberry, a highly disruptive invasive species, from this protected forest. Specially managed by the DNR’s Grayling Forest Management Unit, the 4,500-acre Mason Tract is home to the Midwest’s premier trout waters. Hiking and skiing trails here pass through some of Michigan’s oldest forests and attract recreational visitors year round.

Its lowlands also have a substantial barberry problem which reveals itself in small clearings where sunlight can reach the forest floor. These shrubs grow fast, crowding out native growth and creating an environment where rodents and ticks thrive. Like other invasive species, no natural control measures exist here to keep barberry in check, making control essential.

Our Stewardship Team managed 75 acres of the Mason Tract for barberry in 2023. Removing it from the upper watershed keeps the infestation from spreading to the Main Branch Au Sable where barberry hasn’t yet gained footing. Ongoing management in 2024 and beyond will be made more effective with the help of community volunteers. Opportunities to lend

a hand and help protect the Mason Tract will be posted on our website throughout the year.

This project is funded in part by the USDA Forest Service’s Cooperative Weed Management Area grant program and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Sustain Our Great Lakes program.

Top: The Au Sable River

Coastal Stewardship Coordinator Amber Hubbard holds a stem of Japanese barberry cut in the Mason Tract.

Loosestrife on the Decline Along North Branch

Volunteers with the Au Sable North Branch Area Foundation continue to play an essential role in ongoing efforts to control the purple loosestrife population on this waterway near Lovells.

A handful of volunteers joined us this summer for two days of floating and wading a total of 17 miles of the North Branch Au Sable River, clipping and bagging the flowering heads of purple loosestrife to prevent it from going to seed. These long and labor-intensive workdays have proven highly effective at reducing the amount of purple loosestrife growing on this stretch of the river and limiting the dispersal of seeds to downstream habitats.

“We’ve noted a difference since 2020 when we began this annual management,” said Stewardship Program Coordinator Shebly Bauer. “With the help of volunteers, we managed more sites than ever in 2023 and the overall amount of loosestrife is dropping, so we know this work is making a real impact.”

This project is funded in part by the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program and a contribution from the Au Sable North Branch Area Foundation.

Going Off Book for Stewardship & Parenting

Stewardship Program Coordinator Shelby Bauer and Huron Pines AmeriCorps member Victor Ma trekked to Mio Pond in July with a cargo of 2,000 live beetles. Nestled among them in her carseat was Bauer’s young daughter, tagging along for an unconventional attempt to control one of Northern Michigan’s most noxious invasive plants. The following is Bauer’s personal account of that day.

Looking in the backseat and seeing my two-year-old asleep, surrounded by purple loosestrife plants crawling with Galerucella beetles, two thoughts struck me: My career at Huron Pines is really important, and I am a great mom. While immersing my child in a bug-filled bouquet might seem like unorthodox parenting, it is exactly this kind of unique approach we should take to be better land stewards—and it’s the one I choose in raising the next generation of conservationists.

“ “

These projects show the power of our efforts in early detection and rapid response to invasive species and highlight the essential role volunteers play in maintaining the wild places they love.

- Steve Woods Conservation Stewardship Director, Huron Pines

Adaptive management means learning by doing. We have tried proven but labor-intensive methods, like hand-pulling plants, to manage purple loosestrife at Mio Pond with mixed results. Advancing the conservation of this waterbody means adapting to challenges and adding new strategies to our invasive species management toolbox.

Galerucella larvae and adult beetles feed only on purple loosestrife, a perennial plant. Feeding en masse, they can kill individual plants and have been used with some success in ecosystems where natural controls are absent. We strategically placed seven potted loosestrife plants—each teeming with 300 beetles—around Mio Pond that day and mapped their locations to monitor the beetles’ impact on the loosestrife population as they disperse and feed.

While controlling purple loosestrife in this watershed is one goal of this project, another is expanding our toolkit for broader invasive species management. I hope all involved—including my own child— learn from this experience and feel empowered to build a more sustainable future for Northern Michigan.

This effort is supported by the U.S. Forest Service and Michigan DNR through the Good Neighbor Authority program.

Volunteer Lee Bender, Heartland crew members Abby Macek and Christina Andrews, and volunteer Lyle Kearns (l-r) remove invasive purple loosestrife from the North Branch Au Sable River.

Stewardship Program Coordinator Shelby Bauer with her young daughter, Ember (l-r), at North Point Nature Preserve in June.

Project Updates

Rose City Revitalization Project Focused on Dam Removal & City Park

Huron Pines is leading a major dam removal project in Rose City and the community will determine what features a new park at the site will have.

“Sanback Dam is well past its life expectancy and needs to come out,” said Senior Project Manager Josh Leisen. “It is right to do the removal in a controlled way and give the community a say in what the site will become.”

At different times in its history, Sanback Dam powered a sawmill and a gristmill. For the last half century though, the crumbling concrete structure has served no use and its deteriorating condition poses a hazard for Houghton Creek, a tributary of the Rifle River which is one of Michigan’s 16 designated Natural Rivers. It also poses a high risk to human safety. The dam and surrounding property is owned by Rose City.

A grant awarded to Huron Pines in 2023 by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy (EGLE) is funding our permitting and design phase in 2024. As part of that process, we’re gathering input from Rose City community members regarding the planned removal of the dam, and potential renovations and features to be incorporated in the adjacent city park. Residents will have several public opportunities to provide input and weigh in on design options and future use at the site.

Dam removal and site restoration is planned for 2025 and is estimated to cost $4 million.

Survey Nets 200 Trout at Restored Crossing of the Black River

In August, biologists with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) conducted an electrofishing survey at our newly restored Sparr Road crossing on the Black River. Assisted by our Coastal Project Manager Amy Nowakowski, the survey netted more than 200 brook trout in the vicinity of the crossing, showing the heavily-wooded stream to be in good health. The successful survey demonstrates the importance of access to cold-water upstream habitats for this native fish.

Two undersized culverts were pulled from the river at Sparr Road in late spring and replaced with a single bottomless arch span. By removing this barrier, we restored fish passage to 9.2 miles of stream at the southern edge of the Pigeon River Country State Forest while virtually eliminating the risk of road washouts.

“Fish of any size and age class can now pass through the crossing as if the road isn’t even there,” Nowakowski said. “This is so important for the river’s wild brook trout population and for maintaining a healthy watershed overall.”

It’s the latest in a series of projects we’ve led on the Black River over the last three decades. In total, we’ve reconnected 62.6 miles of this watershed, restoring access to important upstream habitats for its famed brook trout fishery while making the region more resilient to the impacts of climate change.

This project was funded by the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation’s Sustain Our Great Lakes program, USFWS’ National Fish Passage Program and the Michigan DNR’s Fisheries Habitat Grant Program. Additional partners include Huron Engineering & Surveying, J.E. Tiffany & Sons, and Otsego County Road Commission.

The concrete ruins of Sanback Dam stand at the headwaters of Houghton Creek in Rose City.

Coastal Project Manager Amy Nowakowski holds a Black River brook trout.

Volunteers Monitor Nesting Plovers Along Lake Huron

Huron Pines is working to conserve piping plover nesting habitats along the northern Lake Huron coast while volunteers keep an eye on breeding pairs of this endangered shorebird.

Piping plovers require specific shoreline habitats which are increasingly rare due to encroaching development and invasive species—only 80 breeding pairs nested in the Great Lakes region in 2023, a record high but far from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recovery goal of 150 pairs. With the support of a Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act grant through the USFWS, our staff evaluated sites along the coast and on several islands to identify potential nesting sites and to prioritize historic breeding sites for restoration and management.

Marge Pestka, of East Lansing and Tawas, was our leading piping plover monitor in 2023. With help from the AuSable Valley Audubon Society and the Great Lakes Piping Plover Conservation Team, Pestka kept watch over a nested pair and their chicks at Tawas Point State Park. Their dedication helped the pair fledge two chicks and facilitated the release of four more captive-reared chicks at Tawas Point.

“It’s quiet and peaceful, and gives me time to think and focus on one thing: learning about these birds,” Pestka said about her time spent on the dunes of Tawas Point.

Our efforts in 2024 will involve managing invasive plants in the areas identified in our habitat assessments along with ongoing monitoring, native dune plantings and stewardship of potential nesting sites on public and private lands.

‘Nautical City’ Takes on Stormwater

New rain gardens installed along Michigan Avenue in Rogers City will capture and filter an estimated 150,000 gallons of stormwater annually, effectively removing harmful pollutants before they can reach Lake Huron.

These gardens are the first in a series of green stormwater infrastructure installations the Nautical City has planned alongside Huron Pines to build a more sustainable future for Lake Huron and reduce the load on the city’s aging underground storm sewer system.

In October, city staff, volunteers and the school robotics team planted a native mix of wildflowers and grasses along both sides of Michigan Avenue between Fifth and Fourth streets. Cutouts in the curb will allow stormwater to flow off the street into the gardens where deep-rooted native plants and sandy soil will filter it, keeping pollutants like road salt and motor oils out of the harbor at the end of Michigan Avenue.

“Water quality is a priority for Rogers City,” said Samantha Nellis, Water Program Director for Huron Pines. “This is their first major green infrastructure project and the community is building momentum for more to come.”

City partners are looking to add more green space and stormwater capture to Michigan Avenue, from Third to Lake streets, as early as 2024.

This project is supported through Huron Pines by the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation’s Sustain Our Great Lakes program and is part of the multinational Lake Huron Forever initiative.

Marge Pestka at Tawas Point

Freya and Derek Nellis install native plants in a Rogers City rain garden.

Organizational Sustainability

Huron Pines thanks its many supporters, agency project funders, foundations and business partners for contributing to the success of our work. Throughout 2023, we not only reinforced a robust foundation for sustaining future efforts but also expanded our portfolio of community conservation projects. The established financial strength empowers Huron Pines to address emerging resource challenges, harness local support for larger initiatives and increase investments in the communities we serve.

The Five Year Revenue Trends graph displays the steady growth of our revenue and program expenses in the past five years. With nearly 200 project grants and contracts each year, and with programs reaching communities across Northeast Michigan, we anticipate continued growth in revenue and program expenses. The value of land acquired in any year is also depicted in Total Revenue, accounting for a higher than normal year in 2022.

Program Expenses for 2023 graph shows our expenses related to implementing on-the-ground projects. Major projects, like removing a dam or acquiring a new preserve, create differences each year. Shifts in staff resources can also create slight changes year over year in these program areas.

Five Year Net Assets Trends graph shows that Huron Pines asset growth continues to be driven by permanent land protection assets and the growth of our endowments. Both speak to our commitment to sustainability long term.

Through sound financial management practices, the generosity of our supporters and the work of our volunteers, staff and board members, we’re ensuring that Huron Pines will be here for generations to come. Thank you for your support!

*Huron Pines is independently audited each year. More detailed information is available upon request.

Five-Year Trend

2023 Program Expenses

2023 Net Assets

Support a Sustainable Future for Northern Michigan

Help us secure the region’s conservation future and Huron Pines’ sustainability by making a planned gift or supporting one of our endowment funds. These types of contributions make a meaningful impact on the future of the Great Lakes region by ensuring the financial security required to continue our work for generations to come.

Huron Pines Endowment Funds

You can support our organization with a gift to one of our established endowment funds.

The Huron Pines Endowment Fund is designed to support operations of the organization. This endowment helps to ensure our long-term sustainability and programs.

The Huron Coastal Stewardship and Conservation Fund was established in 2022 to support the growing need for stewardship and permanent protection of special areas in our Lake Huron Coastal Priority Area. This fund, developed with help from The Nature Conservancy, will support the long-term stewardship of protected lands in this priority area as well as assist with future land protection needs.

We encourage supporters to call our Executive Director, Brad Jensen at (989) 448-2293 x 18 to discuss a gift to one of these endowment funds. Both funds are held and managed by the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan.

Planned Giving Options

To make a gift of any kind to Huron Pines is an act of generosity. To make a planned gift – one that helps us thrive long-term – is a powerful way to give once, forever.

Bequest, Living Trust or Charitable Trust:

Ensure that Huron Pines receives a valuable interest through your estate plans, either during life or after the passing of a donor. These valuable interests may include full title to land, partial interests in land, stocks, or cash.

Required Minimum Distribution or Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD):

For anyone 70 1/2 and older, you are required to make an annual minimum distribution from your retirement plan. Minimum distributions can easily become donations to Huron Pines and provide you with significant tax advantages.

Life Insurance Beneficiary:

You can name Huron Pines as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy, just as you can name people beneficiaries. Because you can name more than one beneficiary, you can divide the benefit among your loved ones and a charity.

“

I believe wholeheartedly in endowment funds and the work of community foundations. Supporting the Huron Pines Endowment Fund allows me to give gifts that guarantee the future of Huron Pines as well as the community impact. “

- Beach Hall

Campaign Highlights

Our Community-Driven Conservation Campaign is about impact and longevity. By empowering the communities at the heart of the region’s most special places to take action, we can create a conservation legacy that is bigger than any single project. Whether you’re a resident, visitor, public official or volunteer, your connections to these special places are what truly inspire meaningful, lasting change. We have learned so much in the last 50 years but our greatest insight has been understanding that positive change happens through connections, community and collaboration.

Since publicly launching our Community-Driven Conservation Campaign in the fall of 2023, we have advanced this vision through the following:

Preserving Biodiversity on Lake Huron Islands

Huron Pines is leading the way in restoring Lake Huron islands, which make up only 1% of land area in Michigan but account for 9% of all recorded instances of rare species and species of conservation need. The islands support biodiversity, maintain ecological balance and contribute to the overall health of the region’s ecosystems. We have begun restoration work and have more planned on Scarecrow Island, Thunder Bay Island, Grass Island, Crooked Island, Bois Blanc Island, Bird Island and Big Charity Island. This work is done in collaboration with local volunteers and community members, agency partners and local leadership. This project is funded by the Great Lakes Fish & Wildlife Restoration Act.

Connecting Communities and Ecosystems Through Science

Coast Watchers, a community science monitoring program focused on the health of Lake Huron, ran for its second year at Huron Pines. In partnership with the Lake Huron Coastal Centre in Ontario, Canada, participants were trained to record air and water temperature, seasonal changes in water levels, and occurrences of sensitive or invasive plants, fish die-offs, storm damage or pollution. We had 22 volunteers participate in 2023, gathering data to improve our understanding of the health of our shared Great Lake. This information guides restoration efforts on both coasts while engaging local volunteers in direct science. New this year, we added an opportunity to conduct frequent monitoring at potential piping plover nesting sites (see pg. 13) during their migration from the first week of May to the last week of June. It is through experiences like these that volunteers become local leaders and advocates for restoration, protection and recreation along Lake Huron. Our engagement efforts are supported in part by a Consumers Energy Foundation Planet Award.

Enhancing Access to Nature in Coastal Communities

Huron Pines is leading the protection and management of five nature preserves totaling nearly 2,400 acres across the region. In partnership with coastal communities, we are increasing access to nature through planning for innovative access to special wild areas including Hull Island, Lake Huron Coastal Preserve and our own North Point Nature Preserve and the KR Poljan Tract at Birdsong Bay. This work in coastal communities paired with Lake Huron Forever action creates a full spectrum of community conservation.

Huron Pines staff identified and protected a previously undocumented population of Pitcher’s thistle on a 6.5-acre dune system on Crooked Island.

A piping plover seen through a spotting scope at Tawas Point.

Visitors cross a boardwalk leading to the shoreline of North Point Nature Preserve.

2023 Donor List

Thank you to all of our 2023 supporters

Acorn Family Retreats

Guy and Angela Adamec

The Adamo Family

Ruth Addis and Marj Schloff

Albanese Family Fund at Fidelity Charitable Donor-Advised Fund

Regina Amidon/Richard Bryan Charitable Fund at Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund

Bill and Debi Anderson

Robert Andrus

Ann Arbor Trout Unlimited

Ann Arbor T-Shirt Company

Anonymous (31)

The Cathy and Bob Anthony Fund at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan as suggested by Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Anthony IV

Caryl and Russ Anton

Scott Appleton

Au Sable North Branch Area Foundation

Au Sable Valley Audubon

Richard L. and Marilyn K. Augustine Foundation at Renaissance Charitable Foundation

Richard and Marilyn Bachelor

Barb Baity-Van Haren

Martin and Michelle Baker

Eric Bankhead

Karen Barton

Al Bartow

Gregory and Cecilia Bator

Don and Liz Bauman

Bay Area Community Foundation

Jonathon Beard

Susan Beede & Jay Copeland Fund at Renaissance Charitable

Bennethum’s Northern Inn Restaurant

Jan and Alan Bersted

David and Elaine Billmire

The Frank W. Lynch and Roberta Jane Lynch Endowed Family Fund at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan as suggested by Ms. Sally L. Binard

Sally Binard

Cathy Boatin

Kathleen and David Boyd

Carolyn Jean and Dan Braden

Carol Brand

Paul and Mary Bray

Norm and Valerie Brecheisen

Sarah Brennan-Peeters

Christopher Brierley

Ernest Brumbaugh and Carole Mueller-Brumbaugh

Carl Buchner

Jim and Gina Burke

Don Burkley

Al, Pat and Doug Cambridge

The Carls Foundation

Don Carpenter

Richard Castle

Ned and Mary Caveney

Cedars for the Au Sable

Center for Large Landscape Conservation

Cheboygan Brewing Company

Colby and Tim Chilcote

Bill Chown

Citizens National Bank

The Glory to God Giving Fund at National Christian Foundation Michigan, as recommended by Mr. and Mrs. Larry Clark

Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan

Mr. & Mrs. O.B. Eustis Memorial Fund

Gina Concezzi

Pam and Tom Conquest

Emma Conrad

The Conservation Fund

Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network

Conservation Partners LLP

Consumers Energy

Consumers Energy Foundation

Planet Award

The Anna Owens and Tom Cook Charitable Fund of the Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund

Jill Cooper

Michelle and Eric Cornish

Robert and Judy Cosgriff

Richard and Rebecca Counsellor

Mitchell Courier

County of Alcona

County of Oscoda

Ann and Richard Craig

Richard and Penelope Crawford

Deirdre Curran and Roger Anderson

Michael and Terri Cwik

Anne and Daniel Danosky

Dart Foundation

Gary and Judy Dawley

Janet Deline

Dan and Kandy Dennis

Diane Dennis

William R. and Mary Elizabeth Derwin

Janiene DeVinney

Patrice DeVinney

Nancy Dextrom

Cynthia Dodick

Patricia Donath

Antonio and Teresa Dorta

Rosemary Downer

DTE Energy

Katherine Duffy

Susan Duncan and Larry Van Wagoner

Rick and Sharon Engstrom

The Chip and Betsy Erwin Family

Dale and Norma Ewart

Marsha Fales and Doug Wright

Larry and Pat Farris

Ruth Favro

Roger and Mary Fechner

Larry and Vickie Fields

Michael and Cathryn Fields

Fischer Insurance Agency

David Fisher and Esther Cavendish-Fisher

Jed Fisher

Robert Flickinger

Christopher and Laura Fluke

Mike and Maureen Foresman

Jim and Sue Francis

Belinda Friis

John and Wendy Frye

Terry Gallagher

Paul Gambka

Jeff and Kristin Gandy

Carol and James Garlo

Meaghan Gass

George “Sandy” Duffy Charitable Trust

Robert Gillenwater

William Glass

Leo Goddeyne

Rusty and Elizabeth Gowland

Michael Goyne

Chris and Elaine Graham

Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians

Mike and Christine Grant

Jim and Shirley Graves

Great Lakes Fishery Commission

Great Lakes Fishery Trust

Tom and Joann Green

Jeff Greene

Jim and Linda Gregart

Ken and Elizabeth Gribble

Mark and Susan Griffin

Pamela and Thomas Griffin

Kim and David Gildner

Grinsdesign, LLC

Peter and Virginia Gustafson

Beverly and James Haas

Hack Family Foundation, Jan and Talbot Hack, within the Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund

Rick and Robin Hagopian

Beach Hall

Mary Haws

Blair and Sandra Marie Headrick

Michael Heath

Anne Marie Heckman

James and Rebecca Heindl

Jerry Heinrich

Matthew and Katherine Heller

Arnot and Erin Heller

Dick and Judy Henry

Lynde Herzbach

Don and Joann Hester

Keithetta Hicks

Russ Hicks

Hill Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable

Margaret Hoerner

Mark Holmen Family Fund at The New York Community Trust

National Philanthropic Trust as recommended by Anne Honhart

Hougen Foundation

William Houston

Todd Howser and Nickie Palumbo

Carl and Vicki Hueter

Heather Huffstutler and Shaun Ulrich

Steve and Jacquelyn Huffstutler

Huron Engineering and Surveying, Inc.

Timothy and Kristine Ianitelli

Elizabeth Jacob

Kristen Jacobsen-Harm

Curt and Susan Jansen

Jansen Family

Joe and Judi Jarecki

Marty and Ellen Jones

Gail Juppenlatz

Elizabeth Juziuk

Robert and Connie Kabbe

Judy Kalmanek

Jessica Kane and Alexander Code

Sue and Barry Keller

Luliana Keyes

Ramzi Khuri

George and Linda Killat

Mark and Nancy Kinney

Stephanie Knight

Kohnert Family Fund at Otsego Community Foundation

Jennifer and Michael Koralewski

Gary Kovelle

James Kure

William Kusey

George Kusku

John and Jessica Kusku

Peggy Kusnerz

Julie LaFleche

Andrea LaFontaine

Lake Horicon Corp.

Bernie and Nancy Lamp

Allan Larsen

Jerry and Susan LaVanture

David and Joanne Lawless

Kathleen and Duncan Lawrence

Susan Learman and Mark Krysinski

Lawrence Lee and Nick Pavelich

Joshua Leisen

The Lewis Family Charitable Fund at National Christian Foundation Michigan

Kirsten Lietz

John R. Lindsay

Jenny and Anton Llakmani

David and Julianne Lockwood

Jack Long

Wanda Lord

Bill and Teresa Lossing

Robin-Marie and Terence Loucks

The Robert E. and Karen Martin Luetje

Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable

Donna and Michael Maddin

Jan Manzella

Kim Margherio

Michelle and Craig Markowski

Laura and Bruce Maxwell

William McClay

Vicki McCoy

Michael McDowell

Timothy McKay

Suzanne and Thomas McLinden

Tim McMannis

Quentin McNichols

Paul and Deborah Megge

Noreen Mehlhose

Deb and Mark Merrill

Mershon-Neuman Heritage Chapter of Trout Unlimited

Laura Meyer

Michigan Community Service Commission

Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)

Coastal Management Program & National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association

Nonpoint Source Managmement Program

Water Resources Division - Dam Risk Reduction

Watershed Council Support

Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Dam Management Program

Fisheries Division & National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Fisheries Division & U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes Program

Fisheries Habitat Grant Program

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

MI Invasive Species Grant Program

Wildlife Division

Wildlife Habitat Grant

Michigan Natural Features Inventory

Michigan Overboard

Michigan Prescribed Fire Council

William D. Middleton

Allen and Jean Moberly

Mike Monroe and Candace Henig-Monroe

Montmorency County Road Commission

Moondance Flower Farm

Sharon Myers

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Sustain Our Great Lakes Program

The Nature Conservancy

David and Nancy Neal

Gary and Tess Nelkie

Patty and Jed Neuman

News Corp

Leslie Nixon

Mary Jo Oke

Opal Lake Association

Oscoda Canoe Rental, Mark and Adam Hume

Otsego Community Foundation

Otsego County

Otsego County Road Commission

Mr. and Mrs. William D. Palmer

Michael and Donna Parr

Donald and Dorothy Peacor

James and Marge Pestka

Keith Petherick

Robert and Mary Lou Petrach

Don and Sis Pierce

John and Ruth Pilon

Ben and Kristine Pinti Giving Fund at Fidelity Charitable

Tony and Melanie Pitts

William Pitts

Joseph and Carole Plunkey

John and Martha Pregler

Floyd Prospero and Nancy Krompotich

Tami Pullen

Robert and Jean Radin

Lisha and Mark Ramsdell

Kurt Ranka

Ty Ratliff

Recreation Fishing Club

Vikki Reddy

Mark and Debra Redinger

Diane and Robert Reeve

Mark Rice

Theresa Richter

Susan Rieth, Tom Rieth, and Traci Rieth

Richard Ritter Jr.

Robertson Family Charitable Gift Fund at Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund

George and Jeanette Roe

Paul and Carol Rose

Richard Rose

Denise Rousseau

Jerry and Fran Rucker

Rick Sampier

Mary Sanders

Neil and Joan Satovsky

Tony and Jill Scarzo

Roland Schaedig

The Gregory Seaman and Heather McNamara Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable

Robert and Marcia Seaman

Bill and Denise Semion

Pete and Kimberly Sermo

Jim and Pat Shaffer

George Shaw and Bonnie Marsh

Elizabeth, Allan & Warren Shelden Fund

Jacob and Darby Shinners

Louise and Ronald Shoksnyder

Peter Simpson

Edward Skarbek

David and Susan Skibbe

Pamela and Stephen Skillman

Stewart and Carol Smith

Shaun and Jessica Sorenson

Ronald H. and Kristin A. Sorgenfrei

Renee Soultanian

Robert and Jane Sparks

Bob and Jane Spence

Donette Spiekerman

Walter Stansbury

Bill and Charity Steere

Joe Stevens

Morrison and Julie Stevens

Daniel and Jeanne Stock

Philip and Janet Straley

Straley Lamp & Kraenzlein PC

Bob and Debi Stuber

Sunrise Gardening Club

Colleen and Norman Tabaka

Robert and Mary Louise Tarkowski

Tawas Beach Club

Chuck and Karen Tetzlaff

Michael Thome

Peter and Suzanne Thomson

Thunder Bay Audubon Society

Total Quality Logistics

Tom Trevillian

Jay and Bev Trucks

Ryan Tucker

Kathryn Tumbarella

Kathi Turner Ross

United Parcel Service Oasis Supply Corporation

Ants crawl on milkweed blossoms at Emily Min Hunt Preserve

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Coastal Program

Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

National Fish Passage Program

Natural Resources Damage Assessment

Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program

U.S. Forest Service - Huron-Manistee

National Forest

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Cooperative Weed Management Area

Good Neighbor Authority

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

Landscape Scale Restoration Program

In Honor Of

Gifts made in honor of the names in bold

50 years of conservation

From Chris and Chelsea Engle

The Adamo Family

From John Adamo

Shelby Bauer

From Floyd Prospero and Nancy Krompotich

Carroll Family

From Michael Carroll

Ciara and Skyler

From Anonymous

My deceased brothers

From Mark and Lori Carter

Our grandchildren, Eliana & Everett

From Gary and Ruth Barnes

Helga Lentner

From Yvonne Lentner

In Memory Of

Gifts made in memory of the names in bold

Charlotte Adams

From William R. Adams

Dr. Ronald Beatty & Paul Beatty

From Valerie Beatty

Ed Bender

From Leanora Bender

Gary Boushelle

From Glen and Diane Matthews

Ed & Delores Bozynski

From George and Janet Bozynski

Robert B. Cameron, MD

From Christine Cameron

Violet and William Clements

From Fred and Diane Alati

Aaron Eliot Cohen

From Dr. Lynn S. Cohen and Stephen B. Cohen

Helen Roy Connors

From Jill Cooper

Bob and Linda Cooper

From Anonymous

Peggy Cowdin

From Marsha Fales and Doug Wright

Phyllis Dale

From Tom Dale

Michael Dombrowski

From Darcy Dombrowski

Sandy Duffy

From Martha and Kurt Neumann

Eleanor

From George Barker

Douglas and Deborah Vandenberg

Andre and Elizabeth Vasher

Verizon Foundation

The Walters Family Fund

Kenneth and Sue Ward

Larry and Marjorie Warner

Matthew Watkins

Judd and Mary Ann Wellard

Scott and Ann Wellard

Michael Wells

Dave and Stephanie Wentworth

Paige Wentworth

Lori Werda

The Wible Family Fund at Fidelity Charitable

Peter and Lynn Wilson

Amber Hubbard

From Janet and Jerry Stange

Huron Pines and the work at the Tawas Beach Club

From The Love Family Cottage

Huron Pines Spirit

From Mary M. Cox

Huron Pines Staff, to the whole HP team, thank you for sharing your talents with the mission. We appreciate you!!

From Dana Bensinger

The dedication of the staff at Huron Pines

From Mary M. Cox

James & Kathe Kirchner

From Jeffrey A. and Christine P. Baker Donor

Advised Fund at Schwab Charitable

Jon & Sara Mohier

From Leslie Hardy

Dr. David A. Feighan

From Mrs. Pat Feighan

Carlos Fetterolf

From Mark Delaney

Al Fetz

From Elaine and James Hoglund

Joe Filka

From Mary Anne Filka

Tina Foster

From Scott Foster

James and Joan Graw

From Dave and Donna Tinsley

From GM Giving

Frank, Martha, & Rick Grzesiak

From Robert and Ruth Sawyers

Arnot B. Heller II

From Cathy Heller

From Christine and Jim Preston

Ray Hobbler

From Stewart and Carol Smith

Dr. Bruce L. Hull

From Dr. Margaret Mitchell

Celeste Jensen

From Jerry Jensen

John Korth

From John and Nancy Marshall

Norbert & Caroline Koschmann

From Donald and Gail Block

From Jeff and Tina Precup

Mary Ann, Edward and Kevin Wojahn

Richard Wolff

Tom Wolshon

Steven and Brenda Woods

Stanley and Linda Yolkiewicz

Ron and Gail Young

Drew YoungeDyke

Tim Zagacki

Don Zelazny

Carol and John Zinser

Keith Prouse

From Tara Vader

Lisha Ramsdell

From Bob and Gay Courtois

Lisha Ramsdell’s 20 years at Huron Pines

From Brad Jensen and Rebecca Benson

Bill and Lenora Richards

From Nanci Richards Tayler

Alan Sprinkle

From Anonymous

Stephanie and Dave Wentworth

From Betsy and Sandy Wagenberg

Bud Woods and Family

From Anonymous

Scot & Teresa & Liam & Nolan Woods

From Glen Adams

Mary Lynn Kraft

From Mary and Timothy Blackwood

John and Patricia Learman, summer residents of Sanctuary Bay on Lake Huron for over 65 years.

From The Krysinski Learman Family Fund, a donor advised fund at Fidelity Charitable

Vic and Alice Maddox

From Thoralf and Victoria Hoelzer-Maddox

James Mahoney

From Roscommon Auto Recyclers, Inc.

Donald McMannis

From Tim McMannis

Rick Moreau

From Richard Moreau

William Piper

From Nellie M. Sabin

JoAnn Smith

From Roger and Mary Fechner

Doug Tyran

From Steve Pollack

Dick Walle

From Judy Walle

Everett “Bud” Woods

From Patricia Woods

Thomas and Jeanette Worley

From Pat and Judy Benson

Upcoming Events - Spring 2024

We’re finalizing our spring events so be sure to check out huronpines.org/events soon for a full schedule and more details about the events listed below.

Apr-Aug | 50 Miles for 50 Years Trail Challenge

We’re still riding the high of celebrating 50 years as an organization in 2023!

Join us in 2024 as we commemorate five decades of our commitment to conservation through an exciting do-ityourself trail challenge.

Explore the region’s public lands, preserves, parks and trail systems. Log a portion of your miles by visiting one (or all!) of Huron Pines’ nature preserves. Whether you prefer walking, cycling, canoeing, paddleboarding or skiing, we are inviting everyone to step outdoors and engage with the beautiful natural areas of Northeast Michigan.

It’s free to join the challenge, and each challenger will receive a commemorative vinyl decal upon completion of 50 miles.

The challenge will run from April 1 to August 31. Keep an eye out, registration will open on our website soon!

May 11 |

Birding Big Sit at North Point Nature Preserve

Join us May 11 for our Birding Big Sit at North Point Nature Preserve.

Located just east of Alpena, this preserve is home to almost 1,400 acres of forested wetlands, four miles of undeveloped shoreline and rare ecosystems found only along the Great Lakes. With Thunder Bay to the south and Misery Bay to the north, this rugged peninsula is an optimal location for spotting birds during spring migration.

This event is open to people of all levels of birding and outdoor experience, and experts will be on site to help fledgling birders build their skill. Attendees will be in groups and spread out to different locations around the preserve to document the birds they see and hear.

Biking at sunset at Norway Ridge Pathway, Alpena County.

Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria, photographed by Alex Hamilton at North Point in 2023.

June 1 | Spring Wildflower Walk

Join us for a Wildflower Walk at Hull Island in Oscoda Township this spring, when nature unfolds its colorful treasures at this newly protected place.

Stroll with our staff through scenic trails and learn about the unique world of wildflowers, from their ecological roles to cultural significance. Whether you’re a seasoned botanist or newly discovering nature’s beauty, this walk offers a chance to connect with the enchanting world of spring blooms.

May-Oct | Michigan Naturalist North Country

Huron Pines and the Pigeon River Discovery Center are excited to help bring the MSU Extension Michigan Naturalist North Country program back to Northern Michigan in 2024. This program aims to foster an appreciation for the natural world by providing hands-on experiences in local habitats. Participants will learn about Michigan’s unique habitats, and the plants and animals that inhabit this region. The program also covers environmental challenges and the strategies employed to mitigate them. Certification in essential natural resource conservation topics is offered upon completion as part of the Michigan Naturalist program.

This program is six monthly sessions, May through October, with classroom and field components.

May-Oct | Coast Watchers

Coast Watchers, a community science monitoring program focused on the health of Lake Huron, will run for its third year at Huron Pines. Coast Watchers volunteers are part of a dedicated group that monitors sections of the Lake Huron shoreline on a weekly basis from May to October to gather data. Volunteers are trained to record air and water temperature, seasonal changes in water levels, occurrences of sensitive or invasive plants, fish die-offs, storm damage and pollution. This information guides restoration efforts, while engaging local volunteers in direct science.

Michigan Naturalist participants in the field at the Pigeon River Country State Forest.

White baneberry, Actaea pachypoda

Volunteer Coast Watchers being trained by Watershed Technician Nick Theisen (r) to identify invasive plants.