ISSUE 3, 2019
YOUR INVESTMENT
in Northeast Michigan BY LAURA JUSTIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
N
o two years are the same and some years are just more memorable than others. 2019 has been record setting in many ways for northern Michigan and for HeadWaters. Last winter was a fury, and just wouldn’t let spring get a foot hold. The temperature stayed low and the trees wouldn’t leaf out but it made for some phenomenal bird watching. I was fortunate to see indigo buntings, scarlet tanagers and Baltimore orioles galore! It was a gift and the silver lining we all look for when things are tough. Water levels are at record highs and there is no sign of that changing. Lots of folks have experienced severe erosion, lost docks, flooded basements and failed farm crops. With precipitation increases of 30% expected for the Great Lakes region by midcentury, this is probably our new
normal. Fortunately, the wetlands we work hard to protect can mitigate all the extra water. The boardwalk at the Sturgeon River Preserve was built for wet conditions and offers a beautiful opportunity to walk into the heart of a cedar swamp without getting your feet wet! Our trail cameras continue to pick up loads of wildlife and so many people enjoying the peaceful trails. As our very first boardwalk, it seems to be bringing a lot of joy to those who love the natural world. We held our very first mushroom hike this fall and could not be more amazed by the sheer variety and abundance of fungi, not to mention the level of enthusiasm of our amateur mycologists. Another first was the “log drive” fundraiser at the Lovells annual bridge walk celebration. People were so generous, the crowd was cheering and our volunteers did an outstanding job catching all the logs as they floated by.
But maybe our biggest achievement this year, or any year, has been the addition of a conservation easement that spans 1,200 acres and includes 3 miles of waterfront in the form of two lakes. Seeps and springs that make up the headwaters of a major river system bubble up from the ground and make their way south. This is our largest CE to date, and we are so grateful to the owners for making this incredibly impactful decision. The time it took staff to finish the baseline and conservation easement documents was a significant investment. Every moment we spent conserving this special property will pay dividends for decades to come, keeping the land intact and undeveloped. And finally, thank you. None of this is possible without you. There would be no HeadWaters Land Conservancy if there were no supporters and volunteers. You are working beside us each and every day to make great things happen in northeast Michigan! I hope you are as proud of yourself as we are of you!
HEADWATERS LAND CONSERVANCY
ACCESSIBLE BOARDWALK Completed at Sturgeon River Preserve!
T
he 440’ accessible boardwalk spanning from the parking area along Whitmarsh Rd. to a platform next to the river has been years in the works. It takes a long time for a project like this to become a reality for a small nonprofit like HeadWaters. It takes time to not only plan a project of that magnitude but also to find funding. But, it is done! We had our grand opening for the Sturgeon River Preserve boardwalk on Thursday, September 26th and couldn’t be happier with it. We are ecstatic that we can now offer an accessible site, just outside of Gaylord, for all who wish to enjoy the calming sounds of the Sturgeon River and the associated wetlands. Whether you are in a wheelchair, using a walker or cane, or pushing a stroller you can get out and enjoy this beautiful nature preserve. We could not have done it without the amazing community support from our donors and volunteers. So we want to say thank you once again to the Otsego County Community Foundation, Treetops Charity Fund, The Brenden Gorney Fund, The Rotary Club of Gaylord, Home Depot, and Youthwork.
You all helped make our dream of bringing everyone closer to nature a reality. Please go out and enjoy the 440' of boardwalk through the wetland at the Sturgeon River Preserve at 3749 Whitmarsh Rd, Vanderbilt, MI.
From left to right: Mike Mang, Laura Justin, Lucas Thoms, Libby Gunderson, Lisa Anneberg, and Karin Beyer
ISSUE 3, 2019
Treetops TRIFECTA
F
or the fourth year in a row, HeadWaters Land Conservancy joined Great Lakes Endurance and Treetops Resort to host the Treetops Trifecta trail run. There were over 100 runners signed up for the 5k, Hill Climb, and Half Marathon, or all three – the trifecta! This event draws trail runners from all over Michigan, and is a great way for HWLC to share our work protecting land in northeast Michigan with a wider audience. Even with wintery weather, volunteers and runners had a great time—the Sturgeon River valley is especially beautiful with a fresh blanket of snow. Great Lakes Endurance puts on ecologically mindful races all year throughout the Upper Great Lakes region, supporting land conservancies and environmental education along the way. Visit www.greatlakesendurance. com to learn more about their races and stewardship ethic.
Coming Soon! Our Largest Conservation Easement Yet!
This property has it all: a fascinating history, owners with a deep connection to the land, wetlands, ponds, forests, and two lakes that make up the headwaters of a major river system. Look for more details on this amazing property and the landowners that protected it in early 2020!
HEADWATERS LAND CONSERVANCY
7th Annual
Hotshots for HeadWaters
LOG DRIVE
Sporting Clays Fundraiser
W
e were very lucky this year to have such perfect weather for the event. It was a beautiful day for our nearly 40 shooters to enjoy the Lewiston Sportsmen’s League course, steaks provided by Al Lavigne, and different raffle opportunities. Thank you to all of the shooters, sponsors, and volunteers who support our mission of “protecting the natural diversity and beauty of northeast Michigan.”
O
n August 17th, 2019 we had our first log drive fundraiser. The log drive fundraiser is essentially a large scale raffle where people purchase a numbered log that coincides with a raffle ticket. HeadWaters dumps these very small logs into the North Branch of the Au Sable River behind the Lovells Riverside Tavern and the logs then float down to a line of people waiting to pull them out just south of the 612 bridge in front of North Branch Outing Club. The fundraiser was given to us by the Lovell’s Historical Society and Glen Eberly who came up with the idea. We were grateful for the opportunity to continue such a wonderful fundraiser. We were able to sell just over 520 logs! We look forward to hosting the event once again in 2020!
Laura Justin and Libby Gunderson pose with Class 2 winner Ed Kulnis
ISSUE 3, 2019
Walmart Red foxes at Big Lake Preserve
TRAIL CAM GRANT I
Bobcat at Sturgeon River Preserve
Black bear at Sturgeon River Preserve
n 2017 we applied for a grant through Walmart to purchase trail cams in order to better track nature preserve usage as well as capture any animals that may be utilizing the preserves. We were very grateful when we received word that our request was approved and we received funds to purchase a few trail cams. Over the past couple years we have captured many cool shots of different animals such as deer, turkey, bear, bobcat and more using our preserves. Our old trail cams had gone through the ringer being out when it’s blistering hot, when it’s pouring rain, and even when we are seeing negative temperatures for weeks at a time while being buried in snow. Between the harsh elements and theft of one of our cameras, we were starting to worry that we would no longer be able to monitor our preserves with trail cams and get those awesome pictures of wildlife. So we reached back out to Walmart and applied for another grant this fall. We were blown away when we received word that our request was not only approved but approved for more than the requested amount! With these additional funds we were able to purchase four additional trail cameras to place around our preserves.
HEADWATERS LAND CONSERVANCY
Witch’s butter
S
aturday morning brought perfect weather to the Sturgeon River Preserve for HWLC’s first Fungus and Mushroom Hike. Some Conservation Easement owners will be familiar with our guide for the morning, Forester Ivan Witt, having worked with him to manage their forest. Ivan is also a Certified Mushroom Identification Expert, which is required by the state of Michigan to sell wild mushrooms. His work as a forester is what got him interested in mushrooms; after spending hours walking in the woods marking trees for harvest, he couldn’t help but notice the mushrooms too. Fungus is an important piece in the ecology of forests; mycorrhizal fungi is associated with tree roots, and converts nutrients found in soil into a form that can be used by the tree. There are plenty of edible mushrooms that can be found in the northwoods as well, and some are downright delicious! Ivan grows shitake mushrooms on logs at home, so he had brought one to show the group as well as a few different mushrooms he had recently found in the woods. Ivan pointed out the structures on the mushroom (cap, veil, gills, stipe) and explained how they aid in identification. Just as different forest types have a unique suite of plants and animals, the same is true of mushrooms. We slowly made our way along the edge of the cedar swamp, stopping to point out mushrooms we saw, such as bright orange witch’s butter. With over ten pairs of eyes looking, we were surprised at the variety of shapes and colors we found in a small area. Ivan shared tips and tricks he’s learned for identifying mushrooms in the field.
Fungus & Mushroom
HIKE
Lion’s mane
Puffballs
Once we were in the upland, we spread out, wandering off trail and we spotted different mushrooms. We saw puffballs, turkey tail, lion’s mane, bear tooth, and more. At HWLC, our work protects more than the land itself—it protects the plants,
animals, fungus, bacteria, nutrients, and minerals in and on the land, and the relationships between these components—and humans. Thank you to Ivan Witt for leading the hike, and to everyone that joined us. It was a fun and educational morning spent in the woods!
ISSUE 3, 2019
I
t was a damp and chilly morning, but we still had a great group for our annual Fall Color Walk at the Louis M. Groen Preserve. Both area residents and visitors joined HWLC staff for the hike. One of our favorite parts of hosting these hikes is the opportunity to introduce new people to the wonderful places around Gaylord where you can go for outdoor recreation and to simply appreciate nature. We had an active group this year, and everyone walked the full 2.4 mile yellow trail so we could see Johannesburg Lake. The trail down to the lake is always lovely, particularly this time of year, with red, yellow, and orange leaves covering the forest floor. Johannesburg Lake is contained entirely within the Groen Preserve property, and except for a home on the southeast side, is entirely undeveloped. Looking across the water, eyes moving from the evergreens and yellow tamaracks and aspens up the hillside to the oranges and reds of the northern hardwoods is truly a breathtaking sight. It’s definitely worth the mostly uphill walk back to the trailhead, especially when there are cider and donuts waiting for you!
FALL COLOR
Walk
HEADWATERS LAND CONSERVANCY
With your help, we can fulfill BOTH of our Match Grants to fund current operations AND build a sustainable future!
FOUNDATION
will match it two-to-one! If you give $100 it will become a total donation of $300. If you give $2,000 it will become a total donation of $6,000!
o
Righ Time is tn ow running .. . ...y ou do r out to na tio make the most of your donation!
.. n.
We WERE only $7,000 away from our (increased) $80,000 Match Grant goal. That is until the J. A. Woollam Foundation ONCE AGAIN increased the match to a new total of $90,000! This decision was made just days before the newsletter went to print and is SO EXCITING! This funding is vital for programs that enrich our northeast Michigan community through educational programs, connecting children and adults to the natural world and fulfilling our obligation to steward, defend and conserve each of our 86 conservation easements and 6 nature preserves! Each qualifying dollar that you donate will be matched one-toone! As always, YOU, our supporters, inspire John Woollam to rise higher and higher! Thank you!
The Endowment Match Grant is just as vital and has an even bigger incentive for success! For every dollar you donate specifically for the Endowment for HeadWaters, The JA Woollam Foundation will match it two-to-one! If you give $100 it will become a total donation of $300. If you give $2,000 it will become a total donation of $6,000! This is such an AMAZING opportunity! We are only $96,000 away from our goal of raising $500,000 by December 31, 2019. Please help us with this huge stepping stone that will get us one step closer to being a self-sustaining organization for decades to come! The promise of land protection in perpetuity has to be backed-up by the promise of an endowment in perpetuity so that we can continue conserving and serving northeast Michigan for decades to come.
J.A. Woollam
Questions? Feel free to call the office at 989-731-0573 or email land@headwatersconservancy.org
... an d
As we have shared throughout the year, the J. A. Woollam Foundation gave us two big opportunities in 2019. As the year is quickly drawing to a close we are almost running out of time to claim this funding!
The
Can g r this ow in .. . t
Two Match Grants to Complete in December
is! h t
ISSUE 3, 2019
The
Wild Things
BY LAURA JUSTIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
I
was SO lucky to stumble across a video called “The Log 2” by Robert Bush Sr., while visiting the Michigan Bird Watching page. We shared a link on HeadWaters Facebook, and I highly recommend you watch it. The video is a montage of animal visitors to a fallen log across a creek in Pennsylvania, filmed over the course of a year. I felt completely entranced, enthralled and so lucky to see a world I know exists but don’t often have the chance to sink down into long enough for such detailed observation. For the sake of the animals, it’s best we live along parallel tracks, occasionally interacting, and then moving along. The balance between keeping wild places and animals safe from us while providing for our needs is a challenge that will never end. The difference today is our “distance” from animals because we don’t have the intimacy with the land that our ancestors did. We have taken so much habitat away from wildlife, and we did it with machines
that kept us from seeing and feeling the up close impacts of those actions. And as the space was further and further depleted, we spent less time going to the woods, watching animals. But humans need animals. We roamed this earth together for thousands of lifetimes. I think we have a very simplistic vision of our ancient selves, a more primal view. But as John Berger notes in his essay Why We Look at Animals, he makes a compelling statement. ”To suppose that animals first entered the human imagination as meat or leather or horn is to project a 19th century attitude backwards across the millennia. Animals first entered the imagination as messengers and promises.” The awe that Mr. Berger is trying to relate is the feeling we experience almost exclusively when we see animals, especially wild animals. It is a feeling of deep pleasure that is tinged with fear and anticipation of what the animal might do in our presence. The thrill of a wild animal encounter is unrivaled in my mind. From spotting
a bird you’ve never seen before to the lumbering bear who visited with me one morning as I sipped coffee on the banks of the Au Sable River. Those are the definition of indelible memories for me and most folks. My deepest wish and ongoing gratitude for all of you is that our work continues to provide a space for encounters with “the wild”. This isn’t a frivolous or unnecessary thing! I believe the author who best summarizes our connection (or lack thereof) to the natural world is Richard Louv. Years ago, Louv coined the phrase nature-deficit disorder to describe how human health suffers without a regular and real connection to the wild world. He also wrote Vitamin N, and a new book, Our Wild Calling: How Connecting With Animals Can Transform Our Lives-And Save Theirs. As the earth takes another trip around the sun and we enter the year 2020, please help those around you reconnect to the wild places and the wild things that make this planet worth conserving in the first place. Thank you.
HEADWATERS LAND CONSERVANCY
7TH ANNUAL HOTSHOTS FOR HEADWATERS SPORTING CLAYS FUNDRAISER Al and Judy Lavigne, Dave and Gloria Walker, Jeff Twyman, Martha and Glen Eberly, Curtis Justin, Brooks Gunderson SCOTT WARSEN, US Forest Service Wildlife Biologist, for leading the snowshoe hike at Wakeley Lake and Celeste LaFleur, AmeriCorps Member, Outreach Coordinator, for leading the spring bird hike at Wakeley Lake (in the rain!)
One of the greatest gifts you can give is your time!
MARTHA EBERLY, JO GALLICO AND DIANA CRAIG for hand-painting wine glasses for the Appreciation Gathering, as well as Chris Supina and many others who help to serve and clean-up! GLEN AND MARTHA EBERLY for gifting us a fundraiser as great as the Log Drive and for helping us out along the way
THANK YOU to our wonderful volunteers! Volunteer Land Stewards
Bill Anderson, Dave Nadolsky, Elaine Carlson, Gary Neumann, Glen Eberly, Jerry Smith, Jim and Barbara Kurbel, Jim Supina, Joe Jarecki, John Dallas, Mike and Annette Holbrook, Mike Mang, Scot Egleston
Treetops Trifecta
Curtis Justin, Josh Clark, Jessica Kane and Emily Vogelgesang
Land and Stewardship Committee
John Arevalo, Elaine Carlson, Joe Jarecki, Keith Martell, Jerry Smith, Jim Supina
Board of Trustees
Virginia Pierce, Jim Supina, Robb Smith, Martha Eberly, John Dallas, Keith Martell, Mike Mang, Keith Martell, Jeff Twyman, Bill Anderson
LEWISTON SPORTSMEN’S LEAGUE for hosting the 7th Annual Hotshots for HeadWaters Sporting Clays Fundraiser SAM CORNELIUS & KIDS OUTDOORS OTSEGO for helping with outreach events and photography JIM KURBEL for his work on the Ogemaw County and Presque Isle County priority parcel analyses OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS: Otsego Conservation District, Otsego County Parks & Recreation, Great Lakes Endurance, Otsego County Library, Pigeon River Country Association, Kids Outdoors Otsego THE STAFF OF THE LOUIS M. GROEN PRESERVE for hosting our Fall Color Walk JUSTIN GROSINSKY for painting the office as well as clearing trails at the Luneack Nature Preserve CHEMICAL BANK for helping clean up our garden this fall
ISSUE 3, 2019
2019 LEADERSHIP Circle Watershed Guardians ($10,000 and up)
J.A.Woollam Foundation Roseann Comstock
River Guardians ($5,000-$9,999)
AuSable Clean Foundation Don Inman and Virginia Pierce James and Christine Supina JoAnne Baron John and Jane Dallas
Stream Guardians ($1,000-$4,999)
Anthony and Margaret Feldhus AuSable North Branch Area Foundation Carol Latsch Christine Ambrose David and Elaine Billmire David Fivenson and Mara Miles Doug and Sandra Elser Home Depot Glen and Martha Eberly Great Lakes Endurance Harold and Alinda Wasner James and Carolyn Schenden Paul and Carol Rose Keith and Cathy Martell Big Lake Preservation Assc. LLC Michael and Lucy Mang Moritz and Barbara Ziegler Nancy Parmenter Richard and Cookie Wimmer Robb and Christine Smith Stephen and Charlotte Qua
Spring Guardians ($500-$999)
Al and Judy Lavigne Barbara Armento
The following gifts were received between November 1, 2018 and November 4, 2019. Thank you for supporting HeadWaters Land Conservancy.
Beach and Marianne Hall Bill and Debi Anderson Community Foundation of NE Michigan Daniel and Mazie Havens David and Carol Bricker David Starkey Feeny Chryler Jeep Dodge of Gaylord Feeny Ford of Grayling Gregg and Jane Stecker Herbert Bensinger James and Barbara Kurbel Margaret Ward Muriel Straight Neil and Mary Hodges Peter Amar and Mary Fox Rev. Brian and Elizabeth Chace Rev. Roland Schaedig Scott Morrison Terry and Phyllis Anderson Walmart
Guardians ($250-$499)
Bennethum’s Northern Inn Bill and Robin Thoms Chemical Bank Dave and Gloria Walker Dicran Haidostian Donald and Diane Morgridge Frederick Miller and Grace Hedemann Hane Fredrick Heine Jay’s Sporting Goods Jerry and Linda Smith Joseph and Judith Jarecki Kenneth and Pamela Werth Kenneth Ide Land Trust Alliance Lois Jones LPL Financial Mary and Peter Wellman Pete and Ginny Gustafson Robert and Clarice Williams Simon Yoder Tom Lancaster William and Linda Demmer William and Linda Stevens and Theone Secord Woodrow Anderson
Margaret Holland James and Jan Fitzpatrick Supporters James and Jennifer Russell Active Network LLC James and Rhonda Alan Maag Rasmussen Amazon Smile James Claus Andrew Jazdzyk Jan Chapman Anna Weiser Janet McBride Anonymous Janice Porter Arthur and Marion Gold Jann Lardo Avery Lake Property Jay and Peggy Heilman Owners Association Jean Leonard Barbara Ro Jeff and Carol Twyman Barry Hill Jennifer Meagher Beverly Benjamin Jerry and Francine Rucker Bill and Charity Steere Jerry Boron Bob and Ann Eastman Jessica Geiger Bob Carlson JoAnne Simson Brady Borycki John and Susan Walters Carol Roose John Arevalo and Carol Stramaglio Gloria Torello Charles and Linda Mires John Petosky Claudia Fischer and John Walker Roger Holliday Karen Roy Connie Conn Kathleen and James Leh Dan and Cheryl McCormick Kathleen Fay Daniel Barrett Kathlyn Maldegen Darlene Higgins Keith and Wendy Petherick Dave Cowper Keith Krause David Nadolsky Ken and Elizabeth Gribble David Smith Kenneth Payette Debra Stieneker Kevin and Cathy O’Neil Denise Drach Kevin and Sue Townsend Dick and Marilyn Bachelor Larry Kassuba Donald and Adair Calder Larry Younglove Donald and Dorothy Laura Austin Peacor Lee Hubbard Donald and JoAnn Lisa Anneberg VanderMolen Lisa Schleicher Donald Baty Loraine Becker Douglas and Julie Begick Lori and Yale Miller Dr. Eduardo and Lori Beale Maria Garcia Dr. George and Ursula Hess Mark Foucher and Carol Marston-Foucher Ed and Claudia Kulnis Mary and James Porter Edward Killam Michael and Annette Emmett’s Energy Holbrook Frank Proulx Michael and Sandra Clark Gary Neumann Mike and Darcy George Wilson Dombrowski Gerald and Rose Burke Milton Nighswander Gordon and Vernie Montmorency County Nethercut Conservation Club Helen Theisen Muriel Cleary Herman Miller Nancy Lemmen Hudson Holland Jr. and
Ned Caveney Nolan’s Tobacco and Cigar Bar Patrick Dwyer Paul and Eileen Schaedig Paul Bush Phil Truscott Ray Thomas Rebecca Morley and Sam Morley Richard and Nancy Almy Rick and Anne Meeks Rick Wilde Robert and Dale Burnett Robert and June Hill Robert and Margaret Boshoven Robert Andrus Robert Eliassen Roger and Mary Fechner Roland and Carol Bernbeck Ron Smith Russell Hehir Sam Serra Scot and Jilanne Egleston Stan Galehouse Tad Randolph Timothy Graham Tom and Carol Young Tom and Elaine Carlson Tracy Bosworth c/o Gahagan Nature Preserve Wes and Debra Hills William and Marietta Kusey William Nash
The following individuals chose to support HeadWaters to honor or rembember a loved one: Bill Anderson in memory of Michael Malbin
We try hard to thank everyone, if we missed you please tell us so we can make a correction.
HEADWATERS LAND CONSERVANCY
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Petoskey, MI Permit No. 110
HeadWaters Land Conservancy 110 South Elm Avenue Gaylord, MI 49735 989-731-0573 www.headwatersconservancy.org land@headwatersconservancy.org
Recycle your newsletter ~ Pass it on! Printed on Recycled Paper with Vegetable-Based Inks
S TA F F Laura Justin Executive Director Libby Gunderson Land Protection Specialist Lucas Thoms Stewardship & Program Coordinator
B OA R D
of Trustees Virginia Pierce, Chairwoman Jim Supina, Vice Chairman Robb Smith, Treasurer Martha Eberly, Secretary John Dallas, Mike Mang Keith Martell, Jeff Twyman Bill Anderson Dr. Don Inman, Director Emeritus Stephen Qua, Director Emeritus
I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual. – HENRY DAVID THOREAU
Fall colors at Big Lake Preserve
Want to support HWLC but are unable to make a financial contribution? We are looking for the following new or gently used items to help with preserve and conservation easement stewardship: •G PS enabled tablets (Apple iPad or iPad mini, Google Nexus, etc.) • Battery-powered string trimmer/weed whip
• Youth snowshoes (14” and 18”) • Laptop or Desktop PC • Flagging tape