Little Traverse Conservancy Winter 2023 Newsletter

Better T ogeth er O utdoors Conservancy Partnerships Bring People Together

Ruth Fite and Barb Spencer at a Petoskey Friendship Center outing at the Allan and Virginia McCune Nature Preserve See p. 8 & back page

PROTECTING THE NORTH COUNTRY WE ALL LOVE

Winter 2023-24 | Vol. 44 No. 4 Protecting the North Country We All Love l 1 www.landtrust.org | 231.347.0991

TEAM LTC O ur m em b ers and vol unteers BOARD OF TRUSTEES Cedric A. (Rick) Richner, III, Chair Phil Porter, Vice Chair Jon Lyons, Treasurer Karie Slavik, Secretary Josh Baker Tom Litzner Lisa Blanchard Glen Matthews Richard M. Bolton Harriet McGraw George M. Covington John Merrill Mary Faculak Emerson Meyer Jeffrey S. Ford Maureen Nicholson Gregg K. Garver Consie Pierrepont John Griffin Bill Roney Eric Hemenway Tom Rowland Dave Kring R. Ham Schirmer Darrell Lawson Susan I. Stewart STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIRS Mary Faculak, Land Protection Gregg K. Garver, Stewardship John Merrill, Education Phil Porter, Nominating Jon Lyons, Investment STEWARDSHIP Derek Shiels, Director Melissa Hansen, Director of Conservation Easements Cacia Lesh, Volunteer Coordinator Charles Dawley, Technology and Stewardship Mike Lynch, Preserve Stewardship Amy Lipson, Conservation Specialist Blake Sexton, Conservation Easement Technician Brad Von Blon, Ecology Technician Keegan Butler, Stewardship Technician LAND PROTECTION Caitlin Donnelly, Director Joe Graham, Land Protection Specialist ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION Sarah Mayhew, Director Sarah Koetje, Education Specialist Taylor Sobczak, Education Specialist COMMUNICATIONS & COMMUNITY OUTREACH Anne Fleming, Director ADMINISTRATION Kieran Fleming, Executive Director Thomas Lagerstom, hie inancial cer Emily Hughes, hie e elopment cer Lindsay Hall, Development Associate Sarah Gurney, Administrative Coordinator AND IN TRIBUTE TO OUR FOUNDERS: John Fischer Dave Irish Ed Koza Earl Larson

Seberon “Boo” Litzenburger Frank Pierce John Tanton

T h e m issio n o f th e L ittl e T ra verse C o nserva nc y is to p ro tec t th e na tu ra l d iversity a nd b ea u ty o f no rth ern M ic h ig a n b y p reserving si i c t d d sce ic re s a nd f o stering a p p rec ia tio n a nd u nd ersta nd ing o f th e enviro nm ent.

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G ra titu d e

by Kieran Fleming, Executive Director

As we get closer to completing our next 5-year strategic plan (we will report on that in the next newsletter) we have learned a lot through the intensive process. An initial survey of our stakeholders emphasized that we are a strong, mission-driven organization that produces tangible, visible, co unity benefits. A a ority of respondents expressed how lucky we all are that LTC serves the north country. At this time of year, such gratitude is particularly appropriate.

We are grateful to you for being with us to serve our shared communities in so many ways.

We have always had a deep emphasis on conserving land and hold a agnificent portfolio of properties, along with the opportunities they bring. And we are making the most of some of those opportunities!

Recently, through working with our partners, we have helped dozens of veterans get out for the Liberty and Independence hunts and many others have en oyed access to our lands during the regular hunting seasons (read more about hunting on page 12). In one of the more creative pro ects, we worked with the Blueste Meadow group to create an accessible trail to a new labyrinth at the O eld Fa ily Viewlands. In the next 8 months, you will see two new mountain bike trails open, a half mile of universally accessible trail in East Jordan, and the beginnings of another on Little Traverse Bay. Our stewardship team is advancing habitat and ecological management in new and exciting ways. Very few land trusts have an environ ental education progra , but ours has ourished for decades providing outdoor opportunities and connections to thousands of kids (and adults), free of charge — thanks to you and your e bership and our Andreae-Brown Fa ily Environ ental Education Endow ent Fund. Our record proves we do incredible work to protect our landscape while enhancing access to the outdoors to the benefit of the people who live and visit here.

Thus I agree with the opinion that we are lucky to have LTC serving our co unities and I a grateful to be part of the tea . Our Board, volunteers, and you our supporters make up an incredible cast of characters working toward the common goal of protecting this amazing region while we still can.

But the tea that deserves special ention is your sta . The survey mentioned above had a few things to say about them and I quote: “top-notch, dedicated, focused, friendly, ambitious, diligent, and honest.” I can vouch for these descriptors and add many more.

This is a rare assemblage of colleagues who are advancing our mission. I am deeply grateful for them.

EXPANDING P ro tec tio n o n S u g a r I sl a nd

Koren Nature Preserve

SUGAR ISLAND Working Forest Lands (orange) with 40-acre addition shown in green

S t.

M a ry ’ s R iver

Koren Nature Preserve with the St. Mary’s River in background.

LTC’S SUGAR ISLAND PRESERVES & RESERVES Cook Island Preserve Koren Preserve Pickering-Hay Point Preserve Bailey-Lagerstrom Preserve Chippewa County WFR’s* 1-6 Bill Marks WFR* Preserve & Reserve additions

18 acres, 1993 20 acres, 1996 85 acres, 2003 422 acres, 2004 814 acres, 2015 10 acres, 2015 45 acres, 2023

TOTAL ACRES PROTECTED: 1,414 acres and 2.4 miles frontage along the St. Mary’s River *WFR = working forest reserve (See page 5 for an explanation of a working forest reserve.)

A 5-acre addition to the Koren Nature Preserve and a 40-acre addition to a working forest reserve are two recent land protection pro ects co pleted on Sugar Island.

Located within the St. Mary s River southeast of the City of Sault Ste. Marie, this island has a rich Native A erican history. According to the website of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians The roots of today’s Sault Tribe go back to the 1940s, when a group of Sugar Island residents gathered to talk about their common history. Discussions turned into action plans and meetings grew larger and more formal. These Sugar Island residents were descendants of Anishinaabeg who greeted the French from Montreal to the Sault to obtain beaver pelts for the emerging fur trade.

Protecting the North Country We All Love l 3

About the Promise

The Greenburg Family

BRINGING DREAM TO REALITY WITH PROTECTED LAND e ree ur i e i er d t eir t ree c i dre t r tected it c serv ti e se e t it i ed er ect it t eir rece t urc si cres e r r dise et t s rt re t is r r ci e Jennifer grew up in Cadillac for the better half of her youth, spending su ers ca ping in Manistique.

Northern Michigan and the U.P. in particular have always been important to her. Tony visited less frequently when he was young, growing more attached to it as a young man. He hunted in Copemish and Lewiston while in college, and lived in Traverse City early in his professional career. hile there he hunted, fished, hiked, and traveled throughout the area, fro Manistee to Sault Ste. Marie.

In their early married life and as young parents, Jennifer and Tony would travel north to camp or to visit because of ennifer s work with rural telephone co panies in northern Michigan and throughout the Upper Peninsula.

The family has fond memories of picking wild blueberries, splashing in Michigan lakes, and exploring the woods.

And Tony would take each of their children — two sons and a daughter north for their cere onial first trip (and multiple subsequent) to angle for trout and salmon on rivers like the Manistee, the Platte, the Board an, the Betsie, and the Au Sable.

It was always a goal to have their own place up north. ith their two oldest now in the U.P., one working in Marquette and one studying at Lake Superior State University, Levering was a perfect choice. And the

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i ed t e ide i d t t d ee i v ues ere t e s re t eir st r s serv ti vest e t r r see

co pany ennifer works for is headquartered in Marquette, MI so she co es through the area once every onth at least.

The particular piece of property was especially attractive because of the diversity of ora and fauna. Evidence of ink, snowshoe, woodcock, grouse, whitetail — the list goes on!

This was enough to lure them in when they saw the listing.

Tamarack, aspen, birch, oak, cedar, maple — again, so much variety as it wet Sure, in so e spots. A few osquitoes in une Maybe. But when we decided to purchase It was all about the beauty of this space, a solid cabin, the location, and the pro ise.

What promise? The shared promise of the Conservancy and us. We would agree to keep the land as we wanted it: natural. LTC agrees to support that promise, and to help us see it through. Are there do s and don ts Certainly, but none that made us uncomfortable. And if we have questions, we call the wonderful people at the Conservancy for guidance.

Plus there s a portion of the property that s set aside for us to use more freely. That allows us to build, manipulate the driveway, create a space that works for us. It s a great arrangement, and we could not be happier.

From Tony: “We really feel like the Conservancy is a partner with us in this. And we re excited to ove forward, and we re confident that they will continue to be a wonderful resource to us and to our land.

What Is A Working Forest Reserve?

GREEN SIGNS DIFFERENTIATE hile the a ority of LTC s owned lands are traditional nature preserves with a hands o anage ent philosophy, some of our lands are designated for sustainable forest management in order to preserve the quality of the forest. We describe these lands as working forest reserves, and on site they are di erentiated from traditional nature preserves by the use of green signs instead of the tan/brown signs used on preserves.

As part of each reserve s forest management plan, selective logging might periodically occur on each reserve land. Any logging will occur following closely managed guidelines outlined by a professional forester with input from a wildlife biologist.

While the initial appearance of the reserve may seem unsightly after a harvest, proper forest management will eventually enhance the biodiversity and health of the property by mimicking natural disturbance, suppressing

forest diseases, and allowing native vegetation to thrive.

Nationwide and statewide, the practice of forest management on conservancyowned lands is not uncommon. And for many years, LTC has harvested pine plantations on nature preserves that are unnatural and often co posed of Scotch pine or other exotic species.

For the Conservancy, this is about balance,” said LTC Executive Director Kieran Fle ing. e have thousands of acres on which we simply let nature take its course. But we also feel it is appropriate to manage our working forest reserves in ways that diversify our northern Michigan forest habitats for the benefit of a wider variety of plants and wildlife.

All told, working forest reserves current compose roughly 21% of the lands LTC owns.

EASEMENT PROTECTED LAND FOR SALE One of the creative tools LTC uses to protect land is the Conservation Investment Program (CIP). This involves purchasing lands specifically for resale sub ect to a conservation ease ent. By doing this we are able to protect land at a fraction of the cost of purchasing and owning it as a preserve. Over the last three years, LTC has protected nearly 900 acres through this program.

LTC recently acquired a 60-acre parcel in northern Emmet County for resale through the CIP. The property has an equal mix of upland hardwoods and open agricultural land, with a spectacular view of the Mackinac Straits. Several natural springs e erge fro the steep slopes at the north end of the property. If you are interested in learning more about this land or other CIP properties for sale, please email Joe Graham at oe landtrust.org or call 1. 47.0991.

LTC is looking for a conservationminded buyer of this northern Emmet County land. Together, LTC and the future buyer will craft a conservation easement to ensure the ecological features of the land are permanently protected. This is the essence of LTC’s Conservation Investment Program.

Protecting the North Country We All Love l 5

NEW LAND PROTECTION ON BEAVER ISLAND A Place to Start

Protecting with Purpose

136 ACRES PROTECTED WITH DONATED CONSERVATION EASEMENT

ZANELLA WHITTEMORE ADDITION TO CONN’S COVE NATURE PRESERVE

Scott halen was raised to love the outdoors, hunting and fishing at his fa ily cabin near Gladwin.

Thanks to Rose hitte ore s foresight, the Conn s Cove Nature Preserve on the east side of Beaver Island has now grown by another 40 acres, bringing the preserve size to 266 acres.

Yet when his career took him to Georgia for 30 years, he witnessed what he described as “unabated development.”

He told himself there had to be a better way.

Fast forward to his retire ent when Scott sold his ho e in Georgia and was looking for opportunities to reinvest in land. Our fa ily had seen the signs for the Beaver Island ferry over the years and eventually stayed at a bed and breakfast on the island. While riding our bikes we saw a sign for a foreclosure auction, Scott said.

Scott had been learning about conservation ease ents by talking with sta fro the Little Forks Conservancy in Midland where he protected other land that he owned in that part of the state. He then decided he needed to do something to protect his island land.

The land had been in Rose s fa ily for any years and she wanted to ensure it would remain protected, so she o ered it to the Conservancy at a bargain sale.

“This is such a wonderful example of what an expanded team the Little Traverse Conservancy truly is,” said Caitlin Donnelly, LTC s Director of Land Protection. The work we are able to do through our organization is a result of those in our community who believe in it and make it possible!”

The Conn s Cove Preserve includes 0 feet of Lake Michigan frontage and provides biologically rich plant and wildlife habitat. There are no designated trails at the preserve.

Little Sand Bay Nature Preserve

Ea

“This land was bought with the future in mind, and the history of the island and the old growth trees are all part of the total package,” he said. “Admittedly, while I am not fond of some of the restrictions that an easement places upon the land, it is a necessary tool. Michigan has a long history of slash and burn when it co es to our Mother, the Chippewa ter for our Earth. So eone has to start protecting. For e, it was now.

st S id eD e

riv

The easement-protected land lies in close proximity to the Sarah A. Martin Nature Preserve, a plifying the agnitude of permanently protected land in that part of the island.

BEAVER ISLAND

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Conn’s Cove Nature Preserve

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Zanella Whittemore Addition

Land i t Re ects Generations of

Love f or th e Land A five-acre land gift near the hitefish Point peninsula in Chippewa County was recently donated to LTC, helping expand permanent land protection in that region and protecting important migratory bird habitat.

In uly of 194 , Mary and Don Begnoche toured the Upper Peninsula for their honey oon, discovering a place that would soon become an integral part of their fa ily s heritage. A few years later, using oney fro the GI Bill, the young couple purchased land on hitefish Bay. Every year, the fa ily would vacation at the property, first camping and eventually at a cabin they built. “Late night ca pfires on the beach neath a sky tee ing with stars and occasional sightings of the aurora borealis taught us to cherish the clean, clear air and also understand the e ects of light pollution, said daughter Maureen (Begnoche Scherphorn.

Fall beauty at the new Mary and Don Begnoche Nature Preserve

hen Maureen and her sister Cathy and their husbands i and Bruce had the opportunity to purchase the ad acent land fro an auction, they took it. ith Bruce s career working for The Nature Conservancy, he understood that it would make most sense for the local Conservancy to own it. The preserve will be known as the Mary and Don Begnoche Nature Preserve.

Mary and Don Begnoche, 1946

From Program Participant to Program Leader This fall our Education Department received a burst of youthful energy and enthusiasm with the seasonal hirin of ilah anin a. rst met ilah when she was in kinder arten, my rst year workin for T , said Sarah Mayhew, LTC Director of Education. A student at Petoskey Montessori, Lilah attended many LTC programs over the years. Fast forward and Lilah is now a vibrant recent high school graduate considering a career in land conservation or outdoor education. We asked Lilah if her experiences participating in our education programs contributed to her love for nature and/or inspired a career path:

Lilah during an LTC winter snowshoe program in 2016 with Petoskey Montessori

“Being able to go on LTC programs as a kid 100% led to me having a greater appreciation for the outdoors. This past fall at LTC, I was able to experience what it was like t r in a in the en ir nmental eld E en th h had already een lannin a areer in that eld had Lilah as a program leader this past fall not thought of working in environmental education.

Working with LTC completely changed my thoughts on environmental education. Not only is that something I am strongly interested in now, but it is also something I guarantee will be a part of my future.”

Protecting the North Country We All Love l 7

G ra titu d e for Time Together Outdoors LOVE NOTES FOR LTC’S SENIOR PROGRAMS Sarah Mayhew and Sarah Koetje (pictured top right) have been teaching LTC education programs together since 2018. in 2021, they began offering regular programming in partnership with the Petoskey Friendship Center. We asked some of the participants to share what the programs have meant to them.

Anne Srigley Many thanks to Sarah and Sarah They have o ered healthy, educational, entertaining outdoor and indoor activities which have enriched my life! Each activity is well planned, adding their en oyable sense of hu or. I have learned so much about the beautiful area in which we live. I appreciate you both.

Ruth Ann Fite I a so blessed to have the two Sarahs in y life. I look forward to and love all the adventures they plan for us. I ve et lots of new people through the hikes, snowshoeing, and kayaking and two have become lasting friendships. Thank you for all you do e are the Big ids Bruce Skaggs My first ti e in a kayak and you ade e feel so at ease. I ll always re e ber and can never thank you girls enough. We sure had a fun day on the water that day, and even saw a Bald Eagle, re e ber It s nice to see two young ladies who love the outdoors go out of your way to shine a light on all the little things that most people miss.

Barb Spencer McGuire I so appreciate the activities that the Conservancy has o ered to our Friendship Center seniors. ou have given us reasons to get outdoors and en oy nature — a balm especially in the year after my husband passed away. You introduce us to new activities and new trails that I never knew existed. You have taught us so much about what and how to look for things in nature from using photography, to using our eyes and ears in di erent ways.

Ginny LeGore I love the hikes and activities that my friends and I go on with the Little Traverse Conservancy. Sarah and Sarah are so uch fun to go with. e learn about sala anders, birds, owers and so uch ore. e breathe the fresh air and get exercise. I look forward to y adventures with Sarah and Sarah.

They are always coming up with new fun things to do. Thank you so much for partnering with the Friendship Center.

Mary Peterman Little Traverse Conservancy is such a great organization. As senior citizens we are o ered a variety of fun outdoor events. Our usual guides are Sarah . and Sarah M. They are both incredibly kind, fun and very knowledgeable about the environ ent and all things forest. Fro ushroo s, trees, wild plants, insects, they have taught us a lot about the forest ora. Thank you for o ering this wonderful opportunity for senior citizens.

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E.C.A.R.

ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS & RESPONSE

e are nearing the end o our rst o cial year o E.C.A.R. as LTC and our partner, the Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI), work to inventory all of Little Traverse Conservancy’s preserves and reserves. The staff rapped up their or or the year, reaching their 2023 goal of 5,000 acres. More than 3,000 acres ha e also no been in entoried by staff.

Cataloging all Life, Large and S all, on Little Traverse Conservancy Lands The E.C.A.R. program examines all LTC lands to identify, quantify, and evaluate their habitat types, health, and status. Equipped with that information, staff ill ormulate response actions and then implement them to maintain high quality sites and improve degraded areas. .

From Brad Von Blon, LTC’s Ecology Technician: After ore than two decades, Spotted Coralroot (Corallorhiza maculata) has been relocated at the Allan Virginia McCune Nature Preserve, which now akes four known LTC preserves where this species can be found. The best way for us to protect this beautiful orchid is to stay on the trails as much as possible as the plant requires high soil integrity free from compaction or careless boot treads. e have our first discovery of the state-threatened Lake Huron Locust (Trimerotropis huroniana) on LTC property in the Lower Peninsula. It has been well-documented at our Ver ilion Point Nature Preserve in the Upper Peninsula. The pristine dune habitat at the Woollam Fa ily Nature Preserve is the perfect spot for this Great Lakes endemic grasshopper.

A su er of working in the field a ords so e wonderful opportunities such as finding woodcock nests full of chicks! The birds are gone for the winter by now, but they ll be back by next March Spotted Coralroot (Corallorhiza maculata)

American Woodcock chick (Scolopax minor)

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Lake Huron Locust (Trimerotropis huroniana)

PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

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rt Artist Reside c

Artists with the Good Hart Artist Residency have partnered with LTC over the years through co unity field trips and workshops. The progra o ers 10- 1 day residency stays to visual artists, writers, and composers at any stage of their career. The natural connection between art and nature makes for beautiful partnerships. The program is currently accepting applications for their 2024 programming through January 8.To learn more, visit www.goodhartartistresidency.org n rin , T education sta worked with oodhart rtist resident Joumana Altallal. LTC led a nature walk with Pellston high school students who then traveled to the University of Michigan Biological Station on Douglas Lake for an Eco-Poetry Workshop with Joumana.

THE RIPPLE EFFECT

Welcome New Members!

Membership gifts given between August 8 - November 8, 2023 Pam Belanger Alan and Michelle Bouschor Jena Brandt Michelle Brunner Zach Champion Mr. and Mrs. Depeel Matthew Duvel Kelli and Chuck Gaputis Stephen M. George Eric and Heather McDonald Gold Ms. Robin Hawley Gorsline Gary and Deborah Green Scott Henderson Joshua S. and Andrea Hudson Matt and Nicole King Steven and Diane Klein Bill Krause Anneke Leennen-Pickering Nicolas Lloyd Edmund Robert Ludwiczak Ann Malenfant Molly and Geof Meyers Charles M. Mohlman Josh Mosher Dave and Pam Moyer James and Jill Nielsen Daryl O’Keefe Walter and Diane Owen Nehemiah Proehl ohn and atrina ro tt Thomas and Jan Purther Dustin Puryear Jackie Rowe Polly Ryan Robert and Heidi Salter e ar ent Anne Sears Bruce Skaggs Mr. and Mrs. Gerald L. Spray Anne Srigley Brian Tallant Cody Thayer Roger Vereeke Amy Waller and David Anderson Gerry and Lindy Wilson

For nearly 10 years, the Harbor Springs Outdoor Adventure Club has been eeting twice a onth to take a group of kids who may not have a sport or extracurricular activity — but who love the outdoors — on an outdoor adventure where they can learn so ething new. This past year, they learned y fishing with the help of LTC s Director of Education Sarah Mayhew (above right). The experience took the to Beaver Island, and was turned into a movie called Ripple: Casting for Change. The ovie was recently accepted for the Thunder Bay Fil Festival and applications are sub itted for other fil festivals. udos to Harbor Springs principal Nathan Fairbanks and Intervention Specialist Maggie loss for helping kids learn and grow in our beautiful outdoors

Protecting the North Country We All Love l 11

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STEWARDSHIP UPDATES

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S o f ar in 2 0 2 3 , LT C h as h el d 5 0 vol unteer w ork events at ul tip l e p reserves and reserves!

ohn and Mary Merrill helped build new stairs at the oolla Fa ily Nature Preserve north of Good Hart.

The stairs will help prevent erosion at this beloved Lake Michigan preserve.

Several volunteers oined LTC s Conservation Specialist A y Lipson for a seed collection workday at the Stuts anville Bog Nature Preserve. There they collected Canada goldenrod and common milkweed seeds which will be planted at other preserve and reserve restoration pro ects.

Five students fro the University of Olivet (located in Olivet Michigan co pleted pro ects in Mackinac County this summer. This service group has completed several LTC pro ects over the past five years, and we greatly appreciate their volunteer service. This year they helped with habitat restoration at the illia B. Derby Nature Preserve removing invasive honeysuckle along the trails and cleared trails at the Oliver and Edna Birge Nature Preserve.

W

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e th ank al l our vol unteers f or th eir h el p and ex p ertise!

THANK YOU! ild owers of Michigan ( AM for a 1, 0 grant to purchase wild owers for the Hathaway Fa ily s Regina Caeli Nature Preserve.

Pro ect ingspan for donating native forbs and seeds that were planted at the O eld Fa ily Viewlands orking Forest Reserve.

LTC Staff and volunteers s ent two days planting thousands of native forbs at the O eld Fa ily Viewlands Reserve this fall.

What are forbs?

A forb is a herbaceous owering plant that is not a gra inoid (grass, sedge, or rush . Forbs are broadleaf plants with no woody stem. They are typically dicots.

Forbs can be annual, biennial, or perennial. Many fa iliar plants are forbs, such as sun owers, clovers, and elons.

Some of the forbs planted at the Offield Family Viewlands this fall included: S ooth blue aster (Symphyotrichum laevis) Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia) Northern blazing star (Liatris scariosa) Common milkweed sclepias syriaca Berga ont onarda stulosa Showy goldenrod (Solidago speciosa) New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) - a small native shrub

Updates on LTC’s Bike Trails!

Melvin Family Hiking & Biking Trails Tobinabee, Cheboygan Co.

Seven miles of professionally-constructed trails and jump features will be yours to ride next spring! Rock Solid Trail Contracting built this beautiful trail system and it is setting in (compacting) over the winter. Hikers and bikers of all skill levels and abilities will be able to enjoy the trails. A grand opening is planned for the spring of 2024.

Tanton Family Working Forest Reserve SE of Petoskey, Emmet Co.

Volunteers from the Top of Michigan Mountain Bike Association (TOMMBA) and Flowtrack Mountain Bike Trails Inc. have donated time and hard work to complete over a mile of new beginner trails at this reserve! This is a great addition to the existing trail system and welcoming for beginners of all ages.

O eld Family Viewlands Wor in Forest Reserve Harbor Springs, Emmet Co. Trail building by Flowtrack and in partnership with TOMMBA is underway at the Offield Family Viewlands. The mountain bike trail system, which will feature opportunities for all skill levels, will be complete by next summer when we will hold a grand opening!

Protecting the North Country We All Love l 13

CONSERVATION LAND MANAGEMENT

Why Does LTC Allow Hunting?

Ste Deer eat plants. That may seem obvious, but the impact is not as clear. If you have seen a deer excluded area — an area fenced to keep deer out, often for research purposes — then the impact becomes uch ore visible. So e studies show deer eat between 60 and 90 percent of red oak seedlings.

But of course, deer eating plants is not a problem; the problem is that there are too many deer. A number of factors have contributed to this situation, and the size of the deer herd in the northern Lower Peninsula creates all sorts of issues from human health to econo ic factors. But for LTC s purposes, the ecological impacts have our attention. Hunting is not for everyone, but we contend it is a vital part of conservation land management.

rds i St With urban deer having very high survival rates and an average of 1.8 fawns a year, deer populations continue to remain high.

The impact to Little Traverse Conservancy preserves and reserves from unchecked deer populations is that our forests will lose biodiversity in their understories, and young trees will not be able to grow up and take the place of older trees as they die o . Oaks are essential for insect diversity and for birds and mammals that rely on acorns for food. Deer eat oak tops and young leaves, and saplings are often destroyed by bucks rubbing their antlers on the . Many of northern Michigan s iconic wild owers (such as Trilliums) are also favored snacks among Whitetailed deer. ith so any deer biting the owering tops o of wild owers, seed production is li ited. The herbaceous plants on the forest oor will lack diversity, with aple seedlings often the most abundant ground cover.

Deer haven t always been so abundant. Prior to the logging boo in Michigan in the 19th century, the northern Deer also carry invasive species seeds from disturbed areas Lower Peninsula was comprised of dense forest that onto our preserves, and they spread disease-carrying ticks was not ideal for white-tailed deer. from place to place. Reductions Once large-scale logging began, in deer density can reduce tick that started to change. Logged In the year 2000, Michigan had populations and human cases of regions allowed more light to reach 800,000 deer hunters. That Lyme disease. the ground, creating edge habitats number is expected to drop to between forests and fields. Deer Because large predators do thrived in the newly-fragmented 450,000 by 2030. not play an ecological role habitats that no longer served in northern lower Michigan, large predators such as wolves, deer populations will either be or competing ungulates such as moose. Today, human managed by hunting or through vehicle collisions, disease, development has split the landscape into many more and hunger.

Hunting may be the most humane alternative small parcels, again increasing edge habitat. White-tailed among these. deer thrive in these human-created edge habitats because it provides shelter, diverse foraging options, and low Hopefully, you ve noticed that LTC seeks balance. As a part predator pressure. of the northern Michigan co unities that we serve, we In the year 000, Michigan had 00,000 deer hunters. That number is expected to drop to 450,000 by 2030. This fall, the Michigan DNR s Deer, Elk, and Moose Manage ent Specialist Chad Stewart published An open letter to Michigan s deer hunters ca oling the to shoot ore antlerless deer in an e ort to foster a healthier ratio of does to bucks and better manage the number of deer.

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are proud to be able to provide land for area residents to hunt and fish. Fa ilies have long-standing traditions and values around hunting, and hunting has also been a a or economic driver.

et, LTC does not allow hunting on all of its lands. For a list of trails on preserves that are closed to hunting, visit www. landtrust.org and download the up-to-date list from the Preserves and Reserves page under the Explore tab.

HONORARIUM & MEMORIAL GIFTS The following gifts were received between August 8 - November 8, 2023.

IN HONOR OF

Kirby and Jacqueline Dipert Mrs. Sue Mabee

Diane and Michael Marston Matthews Fa ily Ashley Pensinger-Sok, David Sok, Mia and Leo Pensinger-Sok Matt Pensinger, endy Day Hank and Alex Pensinger Dr. Ray J. Pensinger To and Mary Rogers Mrs. Barbara illett

Delia Fritz Anne and Mark Ca pbell

Dennis Clare Mr. and Mrs. David H. Hoster, II

Shelly reen VanWart and Janeille reen Sisserson a es A. Sisserson

William Connett Mr. and Mrs. Richard Bogart

Nadine Cain Mrs. Anne S. Vanoy Maureen Conklin Matthew and Charity Conklin

Chuc Kalb eisch uliet and E erson Meyer

Mina Jones Cox The Glenview Trust Company C. Howard Crane II Crane Fa ily

Nicholas Karay, Sr. Michaleen and Nick aray Tom Lagerstrom Martha Lancaster and Doug Fuller

Horace Ford Mr. and Mrs. Richard Bogart Mr. and Mrs. ohnson Hightower

James and Lorraine Peck Anonymous

Daniel French Mr. and Mrs. David H. Hoster, II

Stephen and Patti Pond James and Lorraine Peck

Carolyn Grin Mr. and Mrs. Byron L.

Phil Porter Mr. Scott R. Rausch

Robert Greene Mr. and Mrs. ohnson Hightower

Joe and Barb Traub David and Marianne Besel a es Bubser and Mary Ann

Dan Jarzabkowski Robert Frei uth Bob and Mary Anne Gale Elizabeth Gale Derek and Julie Hogland Patty Jarzabkowski Chris and Tracy Lindsay

est ark

Dave and Wyn Handwerker Cathy and David Fra ee

IN MEMORY OF Kimberly Sue Ackerson Catherine and Ralph Cerretani Bill Blodgett Mr. and Mrs. Michael . Fit Si ons Fay Buhl Crane Fa ily Maureen Burke David and Robyn Barrie Steven and Barbara Bartley Ligita Lapins Michael Cameron Mr. and Mrs. Tho as H. e s, II Fredrick and Lisa oetting Harry and Mary urrie

est

Everett Louis King, II Paul Kanan Judie Koza ate McVicker and Eric Ras ussen Francois Meyer vonne Meyer aters Richard Moore Robert and Rosita White Roger Moore Dan and ulie Brady Ann and Larry Brown Sherry and Mark Bruni D. Buschur Jason Cave Shirley Chico

The Conway Fa ily aren Cu Raymond Donnelly The Eldridge Fa ily Mary and Steve Gwi dala Kara Hocking Nancy and Mark Isken Frank and Patricia ushner John Little Mackeys, Reedys, Lope and Vanhille Fa ilies The Main Fa ily uliet and E erson Meyer Mr. and Mrs. Richard E. Moore Nancy, Ed and Maggie Thie ann, ris and Sophie Stevenson and Dale Rundlett George Ovenshine Virginia Scheuring C. Sills The Sponseller Fa ily Steve and Adele Swann John and Joan Witzerman Bob Nickodemus Toni Baird and Ghislaine Baird Richard Norton Birchwood Association of Mullett Lake Sandy Orr Edward and Jane Terrill Audrey Wallace Otto ate McVicker and Eric Ras ussen Charles and Evelyn Searles The Searles Fa ily David Searles The Searles Fa ily Joan Seaton Winston Mr. and Mrs. ohnson Hightower Edward Katz Susan Stanley Alan and Linda Gershel Bill and oan Richards Larry J. Swingle Rebecca Swingle Betty Trippe Meredith S ith Sally VanAllen Birchwood Association of Mullett Lake Jan Werner Leslie and Kevin Lloyd

Protecting the North Country We All Love l 15

OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE Your gifts go directly towards making incredible work, such as the projects featured below, happen. Your generosity has already contributed to the success of many projects this year!

If you would like to direct your gift to bring another one of the active campaigns below to completion by the end of the year, please visit www.landtrust.org/current-land-protection-projects.

. 10!

see pg

leted To be comp 023!

2 December

FUNDRAISING COMPLETED!

FUNDRAISING COMPLETED!

PROTECTED!

PROTECTED!

COMPLETED!

How can we care for places like these forever?

Your membership gifts are the biggest part of ensuring our day-to-day work is possible. Thank you! Another key to LTC s longevity is the funding provided by our endow ent funds each year. The following list includes our current named endowment funds that help ensure our mission sustains...and thrives.

• Andreae-Brown Fa ily Environ ental Education Endow ent Fund • oan R. and Charles M. Taylor II Me orial Endow ent Fund • Les Cheneaux Endow ent Fund • Patricia and Tho as e s Fa ily Fund • Ver ilion Endow ent Fund 16 l Little Traverse Conservancy

Brian Leonard Granger Nature Preserve In last summer’s newsletter, you read about Brian Granger, a lifelong conservationist who loved northern Michigan. After Brian’s unexpected death in 2021, our community rallied around a project to forever remember Brian and his love of the land. The individuals and families listed below made the protection of the 31-acre Brian Leonard Granger Nature Preserve possible.

Steve and Flora Arbaugh Baiardi Fa ily Foundation, Inc. ack and Susie Baker Mr. and Mrs. Steven L. Boeck an A y and Scott Carbeck Steve and Teri Cha ee Mr. and Mrs. a es . Dobbs, III Down East Yachting ieran and Anne Fle ing David and Vicki Fuger Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner . Garrard, r.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Glass Bonnie and Beeb Graha Jacob Granger Will Howard Dr. and Mars. ohn en ie, r.

Ronald and Barbara urt Mr. and Mrs. illia David Lyle Lyle and Diane May Dr. and Mrs. Mark R. McMurray Mr. and Mrs. David T. Miller Ms. Lisa Nicol

Mrs. Ellen None an To and Margie Ogden Paul and Susan Opfer ann Charles and Denny Pethtel e and i Ridings Mark and Nancy Rondel Bill Roney and oanne elley Ru ed Grouse Society Bill Seguin Mrs. Patricia Sehr Mr. and Mrs. Carlin S ith Gale and Anne Stephens Andi and Ben Tol dorf e and ulie Towner Mr. and Mrs. Michael VanLokeren Corinne Ranger Vita Mr. Stephen E. eit el Carolyn Workman and Kurt Wacker John and Deborah Zahnow

“Brian was a great friend and it was a pleasure to have known him and worked with him. It is an honor to help the Conservancy in his name,” said ohn ahnow, pictured above with Brian s boat that he purchased, restored, and sold, donating a portion to the preserve pro ect.

A Tax-Saving Way to Give to LTC If you are 70½ years of age or older and have an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), you can take advantage of a si ple way to benefit the Little Traverse Conservancy and potentially receive tax benefits in return. ou can distribute up to 100,000 each year fro your IRA to LTC in the for of a ualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). Also known as IRA Charitable Rollovers, QCDs allow you to give generously without having to pay inco e taxes on the oney. If you re sub ect to required ini u distributions (RMDs CDs can also count toward your RMD. Si ply contact your financial professional and direct your IRA account manager to make a QCD to Little Traverse Conservancy.

If you have questions about QCDs or other ways to give, please contact E ily Hughes, Chief Develop ent O cer, at e ily landtrust.org or by calling 1. 47.0991.

Protecting the North Country We All Love l 17

GRATEFUL FOR Steve Hardesty for donating three donation tubes for the mountain bike trailheads.

Jennifer Reynolds, and Stan Royalty for clearing blow downs on several trails.

Scout Troop 55 from Harbor Springs for filling our woodshed at the Agnes S. Andreae Nature Preserve cabin for the winter.

Matt Buza and other volunteers from TOMMBA for building the new trail at Tanton Fa ily orking Forest Reserve.

Swanson K&D for discounted plowing at Susan Creek Nature Preserve.

Kelly Kitchen, Bill Krause, and Diane Morand for planting wild owers at Hathaway Fa ily s Regina Caeli Nature Preserve.

Matt Belic from Flowtrack Trail Building Inc. for assisting TOMMBA in building the new Tanton Fa ily Reserve mountain bike trail loop with his heavy machinery.

Melvin Fa ily Hiking Biking Reserve volunteers Pat Alguire, John Baker, Spencer Bednar, Chris Ford, Richard Jenkins, Bill Kunst, Larry Liebler, Peri McGuiness, Tim Morley, Mike Schwedt, Denny Sczechowski, and Tom Rowland.

Pat Alguire, Bill Krause, Peri McGuiness, and Ed Newcomb for helping repair and replace boardwalks at Susan Creek Nature Preserve.

Greenwood Foundation for hosting a field trip for our members at their property.

Sally Bales, Barb Bechhold, Sandy Bollinger, Michaleen and Nick Karay, Karen Knapp, Rye Muir, and Ellen Waller for helping with our fall membership mailing.

University of Olivet students for helping clear invasive shrubs at the illia B. Derby Nature Preserve and clearing trails at the Oliver and Edna Birge Nature Preserve.

Joe Li ens Jay Vander Wall and Lynn Wol for their expertise and consultation on our biking trails.

Bill Hodges for habitat restoration work at the Charles S. Winston Nature Preserve.

John Baker and Richard Jenkins for adding a toe rail to the Duncan Bay boardwalk trail, and Bill Tho pson for repairing the overlook platform there.

Pat Alguire, Spencer Bednar, Mary Merrill, Ken Neihsl, and Kathy Wassmann for planting forbs as part of the meadow restoration pro ect at O eld Fa ily Viewlands.

Consie and Seth Pierrepont for donating deck boards for repairing our many miles of boardwalks.

Karie Slavik and Aimeé Classen at the University of Michigan Biological Station for hosting our board and sta strategic planning retreat.

Larry Liebler for building and donating six Aldo Leopold style benches for Melvin Fa ily Hiking and Biking Trails.

Gurneys in Harbor Springs for a discounted sandwich bu et for our strategic planning retreat.

Jeff Moyer and Todd Petersen for donated photography.

Pam Grassmick and Jacque LaFreniere for going above the call of duty at Barney s Lake Nature Preserve.

Marty Amlin and Dianne Litzenburger for editorial support.

John Baker and Richard Jenkins for being an extension of the stewardship sta and co pleting any, any tasks.

Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians for a ,000 grant supporting boardwalk develop ent at the Susan Creek Nature Preserve and Taimi Hoag Natural Area.

Pat Alguire, Spencer Bednar, Julie and Pat Dougherty, Bill Krause and Peri McGuiness for removing invasive species at Goodhart Far s Nature Preserve.

Glen Matthews, Peri McGuiness, Diane Morand, and Dale and Connie Rieger for removing invasive species at the Charles and Alice LaHaie Nature Preserve.

Kelly Kitchen, Bill Krause, Diane LaPointe, Peri McGuiness, Amy Waller Ellen Waller and Paul Van Klaveren for collecting native wild ower seeds at Stuts anville Bog Nature Preserve.

Dan Dueweke and Jennifer Reynolds for view clearing at Raven Ridge Nature Preserve.

John Baker, Bill Courtois, Pat and Julie Dougherty, Dan Dueweke, Bill Garlinghouse, Richard Jenkins, Emily Johnson,

18 l Little Traverse Conservancy

Glen and Diane Matthews for installing non-slip tread to the boardwalk at the Harris-Mevin Fa ily Preserve.

Legacy Members SPOTLIGHT Oliver and Ana Schwab joined LTC in 2021 to help protect a great addition to the Black Hole Nature Preserve. Since then, they have committed to conservation in northern Michigan in abnormal and extraordinary ways including a 20-year pledge to annual giving and becoming a legacy member by committing to a planned gift. We are grateful to share Oliver and Ana’s insights with you.

What connects you to northern Michigan?

OLIVER: Northern Michigan has given e roots since y earliest childhood e ories. Growing up spending su ers on the Inland Waterway, I gained an appreciation for boating that eventually earned e a U.S. Coast Guard captain s license and took me sailing to some of the most interesting waters around the world. However, no atter how far I have traveled, by sea or by air, Michigan has always been where I returned for peace and perspective. I have spent all 40 years of y life finding oy in the experience of the seasons of northern Michigan and gaining strength fro the spirit of the natural beauty around us.

ANA: I have the greatest fortune to have married a man who has grown up with fa ily ties bringing us to northern Michigan and specifically su ers on the Inland aterway. Thinking back to y first Thanksgiving up north, I re e ber being awe struck at how beautiful and special northern Michigan is. Fro that o ent of y first snowy visit, northern Michigan has captured my heart and soul.

Oliver and I have traveled to many places around the world, and I can say with absolute certainty, there is no place like northern Michigan. The waterways, the ani als, the entire ecosyste enco passes this very special and a estic place.

That is why we have decided to make protecting northern Michigan such an i portant priority in our fa ily.

You joined the Conservancy in a big way in 2021.

Why then? What was your thinking behind that first gift?

Oliver: The highlands between Pickerel and Crooked Lakes, reaching down to the shores of both lakes and the Black Hole are an extre ely special place. In both su er and winter, sunrise and sunset, these settings feature some of the most beautiful light, wildlife, and landscape.

So e years ago, I began to think about what it would take to expand the Conservancy s protected land in this area. That led e to eet with so e of the leaders at Eagle Beach and the Pickerel-Crooked Lakes Association to see where we could partner. e are extre ely lucky to have such a talented and civic inded group of co unity leaders as we do. My wife, Ana, and I feel very blessed to be able to spend so uch of our ti e in northern Michigan both en oying and protecting so e of the ost pristine habitats.

c

Ana: As you ourney through the waters between Crooked Lake and Pickerel Lake, you are surrounded by the beauty of a pristine environment: etlands, beautiful trees, u ping

LTC Legacy members, Oliver and Ana Schwab. fish, soaring eagles, and any other natural wonders capture this extraordinary northern Michigan setting. The Black Hole is a treasured, beautiful, and serene place. Any time of year, that particular stretch of waterway is so peaceful — and it is why we wanted to help protect it for our co unity to always en oy.

I so proud of the way Oliver pursues caring for the lakes and has created a way that our family can make an impact.

Conservation is incredibly dear to my heart and being able to work with LTC on so any wonderful pro ects has been a true delight. I want to thank the LTC team and their incredible supporters for the way they go about such important work caring for the environment we all treasure!

If you could wave a magic wand, what would be your vision for northern Michigan? What role does LTC play in that?

Oliver: My hope is that we can continue to protect enough public land that northern Michigan can continue to be wild and a estic. I want to thank the tea and patrons of LTC for the way they pursue such important work caring for the North Country we all love.

s it s ute cert i t t ere is ce i e no rth ern M ic h ig a n.

- Ana Schwab

Ana: Northern Michigan truly is like no other place on earth. Together with LTC, we can protect its splendor and ensure the environment, ecosystems, and people can live in harmony and beauty.

Protecting the North Country We All Love l 19

Non-profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Petoskey, MI Permit No. 110 Little Traverse Conservancy 3264 Powell Road Harbor Springs, MI 49740 www.landtrust.org Address Service Requested

Winter 2023-24 Events

PLEASE NOTE: Registration information varies (see below).

For more complete descriptions, visit www.landtrust.org/events.

WINTER SOLSTICE WALK Seberon “Boo” Litzenburger Nature Preserve Thursday, December 21 4-6pm Partner Host: Five Mile Creek Schoolhouse Meet at the Five Mile Creek Schoolhouse along M-119 Registration required at www.landtrust.org or call 231.347.0991.

PARTNER EVENT SPOTLIGHT

SNOWSHOE & BREW Elizabeth B. Hoffmann Nature Preserve/Bier’s Inwood Brewery Friday, January 12 3-5pm A wonderful way to break that cabin fever! Registration required at www.landtrust.org or call 231.347.0991.

SELF-CARE IN THE WINTER Seven Springs Nature Preserve Wednesday, January 17 10:30am-Noon Partner Host: Indian River Library Call the Indian River Library to register at 231.238.8581.

HIKE THE ELMER JOHNSTON PRESERVE Friday, January 19 1pm Partners: Friendship Center of Petoskey & Local Eats A program for seniors! Registration required at www.landtrust.org or call 231.347.0991.

GREENWOOD WINTER OUTING Saturday, January 27 10am-Noon Partner Host: Greenwood Foundation Registration required at www.landtrust.org or call 231.347.0991.

SNOWY OWL FEST (see right) Hessel Schoolhouse/Avery Arts & Nature Center February 2-4 multiple events LES CHENEAUX SNOWSFEST SNOWSHOE LANTERN HIKE William B. Derby Nature Preserve Saturday, February 10 6:30-8:30pm Partner Host: Woods & Waters No registration required. Meet at the preserve.

Paul Rossi SNOWY OWL FESTIVAL Hessel Schoolhouse Avery Arts & Learning Center Friday-Sunday, February 2-4 multiple events A wonderful opportunity to learn about and likely see these gorgeous creatures in their winter habitat north Les Cheneaux in the eastern Upper Peninsula (Hessel/ Cedarville). Little Traverse Conservancy was a founding partner of the North Huron Birding Trail which features a winter birding trail map.

To learn more about the festival or to register, visit www.hesselschoolhouse.org or call 906.484.1333!