Headwaters Land Conservancy Winter 2023 Newsletter

HEADWATERS 2023

Staff & Board Staff

Julie Rubsam

Executive Director

Dianne Farner Deputy Director

Joy Mittig Stewardship Manager

Susanna Glass Land Protection Specialist

AmeriCorps Member

Ivy Obuchowski

Outreach and Stewardship Ambassador

Board of

Directors

Frank Ruswick Chairperson

Virginia Pierce Vice Chairperson

Robb Smith Treasurer

Martha Eberly Secretary

John Dallas

Thomas Schupbach

Jim Supina

Jeffrey Twyman

Brittany VanderWall

Letter from the EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

I find the stillness of winter lends itself to being a perfect time for reflection and planning. As I reflect on the work of HeadWaters, I find myself thinking about why I was drawn to conservation work. It began with a fascination to understand how ecosystems function. The beauty of how all the components exist in balance with each other, thereby allowing the system to thrive. Even altering something which seems small and insignificant can have a huge, sometimes disastrous, impact. To me, ecosystems with their possibility of millions of living organisms within them feel huge and powerful.

We all have monumental power. Each one of us has the ability to cultivate life. Planting a single tree, something that can seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things, can provide a home for thousands of living species, including bacteria, algae, fungi, lichens, invertebrates, wildlife, and plant life. If a single tree can create habitat for thousands of organisms, think about the vast number of living species impacted across 1 acre of land. Like years past, HeadWaters will have many opportunities to expand our work this year. In preparation, we have increased our staff so we will be able to make the most of these opportunities. In the months ahead, we will

be installing new trails, increasing our habitat management efforts, and utilizing our preserves to meet the needs of our community. Our focus on land preservation through CEs will be guided by creating habitat corridors, protecting fragile ecosystems, and educating landowners about the importance of private land management while also helping them connect to resources to implement management plans.

The work we do, protecting our natural areas one acre at a time, is important and meaningful. Each acre conserved is a success story. Together we are leaving our mark across the landscape and creating a legacy. How spectacular!

Cover photo: Hess Nature Preserve, Presque Isle County courtesy of Dianne Farner

Camp Grayling Expansion

The HeadWaters Land Conservancy does not usually take positions on policy issues faced by our governmental leaders.  However, at its December, 2022 meeting, the Board of Directors considered the current proposal to expand Camp Grayling.  The Board determined that such expansion could have significant implications for the environment, economy, and way of life in northern Michigan.  As a result, the Board unanimously voted to oppose the proposed expansion until a comprehensive review of its potential impacts, as well as the underlying need for the project, is completed and made available to the public for review and comment.  We expressed that position in the following letter to Department of Natural Resources Director Shannon Lott.

-FRANK RUSWICK, CHAIRPERSON

From a Particular Place

BY FRANK RUSWICK

INHERENT IN THE SPACE GIVEN TO ME IN THIS COLUMN IS THE OPPORTUNITY, AND PERHAPS EVEN RESPONSIBILITY, TO PROVIDE A PERSPECTIVE FROM A PARTICULAR PLACE IN OUR ORGANIZATION.

And that is why I want to tell you about an unglamorous, but nonetheless crucial action the Board took at its December, 2022 meeting, an action that will foster the long-term success of our organization. We adopted comprehensive amendments to our bylaws.

Bylaws are the principles underlying how an organization operates. They are a foundation. And like most building foundations, they are largely unseen and thus unappreciated. Yet we all know that any edifice requires a firm footing.

I am confident that our new bylaws provide that footing for HeadWaters by, among other things:

Dear Director Lott,

The HeadWaters Land Conservancy opposes the expansion of Camp Grayling before and until after consideration of a full and comprehensive review of all relevant factors including, but not limited to: 1) The need for, and 2) the environmental, social and economic impacts of, the proposed expansion.

The proposed action cannot be adequately considered in the context of site-specific environmental impacts as is currently described as the next step in the decision-making process. The proposed expansion of Camp Grayling would likely have significant impact on the overall nature of northern Michigan. It is this level of impact that must be described and considered by the people of northern Michigan (and Michigan as a whole) before further steps are taken to proceed with this project.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources should deny any further action on the proposed action unless:

1 The Michigan National Guard prepares a comprehensive review of the social, economic, and environmental impacts of the proposed expansion with reference to a detailed justification for the project, including the underlying need therefore.

2 That review is subject to a lengthy public review process including public hearings throughout the impacted area and the opportunity for the written submission of comments.

3 The Michigan National Guard should publish and respond to all such comments.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources should take no further steps to facilitate or proceed with decision-making on the proposed expansion until the comprehensive review and public comment thereon is available and considered.

• Clearly specifying the Board’s responsibilities for managing HeadWaters’ affairs, including doing “all things necessary for the successful, proper, and continuous operation of [HeadWaters] consistent with its purposes”

• Selecting Board members that provide “balanced representation of the Corporation’s geographical service area and its population”

• Outlining specific responsibilities for Board Chair, ViceChair, Treasurer and Secretary

• Providing detailed roles for the Executive, Finance, Development, Lands, and Governance Committees

• Detailing procedures for decision-making, transparency, and member involvement in HeadWaters programs While these issues were addressed in our previous bylaws, they were somewhat general and reflected the early organizational age at which they were drafted.

But the Board recognized that HeadWaters has matured and that strengthening the principles upon which we operate would foster further growth and success. Together with the additions to staff and increased funding outlined elsewhere in this newsletter, I think there are multiple reasons we can all be excited about the future of the HeadWaters Land Conservancy.

If you are interested in reading the revised bylaws, they can be found on our website.

Photo courtesy of Rob Hansen, Sagasser & Associates, Inc.

STAFFING Updates

SUSANNA GLASS Land Protection Specialist

HeadWaters has a new Land Protection Specialist! Susanna has experience in many facets of conservation including habitat restoration, prescribed fire, and wildlife research and management. She is very excited to take on the new role of protecting land through conservation easements. Susanna hopes to not only connect with conservation easement landowners, but also help them connect with the wildlife, plants, and natural features on their property. One great way to do that is to participate in citizen science! Citizen science is when everyday people help scientists collect scientific data that would otherwise be hard to find or document. Citizen science done on private property is especially valuable because researchers rarely have access to private lands. There are many opportunities to help researchers get a better understanding of the range and distribution of the species and features that can be found throughout beautiful Michigan. Some examples of mobile apps for citizen science include eBird, iNaturalist, HerpMapper, MIHerpAtlas, and Seek. The data submitted to these apps can aid conservation organizations in protecting rare and endangered species, as well as identify the most important habitats to preserve. Susanna hopes to use citizen science data to help our CE landowners know what species may be found on or around their property. So get outside and do some exploring!

JOY MITTIG Stewardship Manager

Joy Mittig joined HeadWaters Land Conservancy in January 2023 in the new position of Stewardship Manager, where she will be overseeing the planning and management of HeadWaters' nature preserves. Joy is passionate about sustainable, holistic land management with a focus on bird and insect population recovery and landowner education around forestry.

Joy graduated from Michigan Technological University with a B.S. in forestry in 2018, and was promptly hired by the Michigan DNR as a forest technician, where she worked for three years. During her time with the DNR, she recorded forest inventory and conducted timber sales over thousands of acres of state land, performed initial attack on wildfires, operated and maintained heavy machinery, and performed reforestation activities after harvests. In 2021, Joy was hired by American Bird Conservancy as a private lands forester in northern Michigan, providing site visits, technical assistance, and enrollment in federal cost-share programs to landowners looking to manage their land.

In addition to those duties, Joy gave numerous presentations on sustainable forestry with a focus on birds, and had an active role on the steering committee that produced the new guidebook, “Forestry for Michigan Birds”. Joy served on HeadWaters' board and lands committee during this time as well.

Joy remains on the Kirtland Warbler Conservation Team's human dimensions subcommittee and continues as a member of the Northern Pine Plaines Partnership.

DIANNE FARNER Deputy Director

Dianne has been with HeadWaters going on three years. Recently, Dianne has accepted a promotion to Deputy Director. She oversees all outreach programming, grant writing, project management, communications and more.

“I look forward to the ongoing growth of the organization as a whole. We love the work we do and enjoy sharing our wins with the communities we serve. A win for us is a win for northeast Michigan regardless how big or small.”

-Dianne Farner

The Return of AmeriCorps!

HeadWaters is happy to welcome Ivy Obuchowski, our 2023 Huron Pines AmeriCorps member!

Ivy is a Huron Pines AmeriCorps member serving a second term with HeadWaters Land Conservancy for the next ten months. Their first service term was spent with the Conservation Corps of Minnesota and Iowa where they served on a crew that focused on habitat restoration in the Minnesota Valley region. They are excited to be reacquainted with Michigan and how to best serve the communities in northern Michigan through their position as Stewardship and Outreach Ambassador.

Originally from metro Detroit, Ivy has spent time in northern Michigan visiting their grandparents’ cottage in Roscommon County two to three times a year. They’ve also spent a summer at the University of Michigan Biological Station studying the ecology of northern Michigan and field mammalogy in Emmet County.

In 2020, Ivy became interested in birds as they recorded wildlife observations for one of their classes and is now an avid birder. Their favorite bird thus far is the white-breasted nuthatch though the trumpeter swan is a close second after seeing the spring migration in Minnesota last year.

Ivy will be working on our Youth Summer Outreach Program, designing a Junior Ranger activity booklet as well as a Forest School session. They will be representing HeadWaters at community events and collaborations with other community partners.

Blackbird Marsh

Seven miles north of Alpena lies our newest land acquisition. Sitting at 7.4 acres, the Blackbird Marsh Nature Preserve consists of a dense conifer ridge which gives way to Long Lake Creek surrounded by a large marsh. Long Lake Creek flows into Long Lake to the east of the property. The creek bed is rich with cattails, duck weed, and lily pads. The perfect place for a Red-winged Blackbird to call home.

In the summer of 2022, the Thunder Bay Audubon Society approached HeadWaters about this property. They were looking to rehome the land to another conservation organization in the area. When deciding whether to accept a piece of land, HeadWaters looks at many factors which include size, natural features, and watersheds. Due to Long Lake Creek running directly through this parcel, it was not a hard decision to make. Thunder Bay Audubon Society donated the land to HeadWaters in December of 2022, making it our eighth nature preserve overall, and our first preserve in Alpena County.

Future plans for Blackbird

Marsh consists of low-impact structures due to the extensive wetland area. Keeping the Thunder Bay Audubon Society in mind, this preserve will be a place for bird watching and relaxation. We plan to build an ADA accessible boardwalk and viewing platform for everyone to enjoy, as well as a few benches to take in the sounds of the marsh.

Gahagan Nature Preserve EXPANSION

HeadWaters Land Conservancy and the Marguerite Gahagan Nature Preserve have a wonderful conservation relationship that goes back to 2004.

While Gahagan is not a HeadWaters nature preserve, HeadWaters does have a conservation easement on the property. Albeit one of the most entertaining easements to monitor annually, the Gahagan Nature Preserve boasts a robust trail system and some of the best birding in the area. Last year they had the opportunity to grow their holdings.

“When the sale sign went up on the parcel, Gahagan was immediately interested in protecting the piece, as it is nearly all forested wetland and an integral part of

the Tank Creek watershed. Tank Creek is a prominent feature on Gahagan’s property.  The creek flows north through the preserve, into the surrounding wetland area, threads through the Village of Roscommon where it then joins the South Branch of the AuSable. This acquisition is a real gem and made possible through the generosity of six independent conservation minded donors. It was their commitment that made this a reality. This purchase has convinced Gahagan to dream big and look for other pieces to conserve near the preserve. We are proud to be part of a community that values our natural resources and strives to provide accessible access for all.”

-Tracy Bosworth, Executive Director Gahagan Nature Preserve

After adding 2 acres which adjoin a nearby neighborhood in 2021, this new larger piece is an important addition to the preserve. We are excited to see our partner properties grow and continue to protect land and important watersheds.

Stewardship UPDATES

BY JOY MITTIG

In my current role as Stewardship Manager, I’m able to be a responsible, hands-on steward of the land; enacting holistic land management, and fostering our community’s connection to nature.

HeadWaters has 8 nature preserves and I am honored to step into the role of Stewardship Manager for the organization to oversee their care and management. The work being done now ensures that we have diverse forests, healthy wildlife populations, and sustainable, resilient ecosystems for the future.

I have many activities and projects planned for 2023, but one overarching endeavor between all preserves is the installation of routine ecological inventories. This will enable us to track how the natural ecosystems change over time, measure the effects of stewardship activities, catch forest health problems in a timely manner, and capture the presence of rare or endangered species.

For these inventories, I will be collecting stand-level data,

such as vegetation composition, soil data, tree density, presence of invasive species and more. This stand-level information will be paired with preserve-level data, specifically, previous stewardship activities and historic management. The information gained from these inventories will be used to steer future activities for long-term management on each of the preserves.

Specific stewardship projects for 2023 include expanding our trail systems across preserves old and new, habitat restoration, installation of property signs at Avalon, Porcupine Run, and Blackbird Marsh, invasive species control, and rubbish pile removal.

I look forward to a bright future with HeadWaters, our partners, and community here in northern Michigan.

While I am grateful for the education and experience my past positions have given me, I feel I have found my niche at HeadWaters Land Conservancy.

UPCOMING EVENTS

MARCH 16, 2023 | 5-7PM

Sips with Staff

HeadWaters Office

We are opening the office for this Sip! We have been doing a lot of renovations at the office and want to share them with the public. Come in and stay awhile. The staff will be there to talk about summer projects and answer questions about what a land conservancy does! We will have tea, coffee and snacks. Please bring your favorite beverage and take the tour of improved 110 S Elm!

APRIL 22, 2023 | 10AM-12PM

Herpetology Hike Vernal

Pools-PRC

HWLC is hosting an educational session on vernal pools and the role they play in northern Michigan ecosystems. The event will be held in the Pigeon River State Forest. Also learn about best practices for decontaminating your boots and waders between waterways.

APRIL 27, 2023 | 4:30-6:30PM

Sips with Staff

Staff does Bob Ross Virtual 5K at Luneack

Join the HeadWaters staff and complete the Boss Ross Happy Little Trees 5K Fun Run. The Luneack Preserve is the perfect place, with a wide track and various terrain and features that will make for the perfect 5K. We will have water and snacks to share. Be sure to register for the 5K beforehand at https:// runsignup.com/Race/MI/Lansing/ RunForTheTreesHappyLittle5K

MAY 4, 2023 | 5-7PM

Sips with Staff

Big Lake Ephemerals

Identification Hike

It’s spring and there is no better place to see the Spring Ephemerals than the Big Lake Preserve! Join the staff as we identify and log all the spring flowers and plants. The staff will show attendees how to use plant ID apps and field guides.

MAY 5, 2023 | 9AM-12PM

Sturgeon River Preserve Annual Trail Clean Up

MAY 6, 2023 | 8-11AM

Educational Bird Hike

Au Gres

HWLC will be hosting a bird hike led by Joy Mittig along the northern Saginaw Bay. A wide variety of birds migrate through the Saginaw Bay area during the spring months. Joy will teach best practices of birding and how to sight in your binoculars for the best experience.

MAY 18, 2023 | 5-7PM

Sips with Staff

Blackbird Marsh

Bird Identification

Join HWLC at our newest preserve for another after work open house. We will be installing our preserve sign and talking about birds at the Blackbird Marsh Preserve located just north of Alpena. Come meet the staff and see what we have planned for this little slice of paradise.

MAY 20, 2023 | 8-11AM

Educational Bird Hike

Tawas Point

HWLC will be hosting a bird hike led by Joy Mittig along the Tawas Point area. Joy will teach best practices of birding and how to sight in your binoculars for the best experience.

JUNE 15, 2023 | 5-7PM

Sips with Staff

Hess, Knapweed Pull and Geology Hike

Join HWLC staff for another after work session of discovery. We will be at the Hess Nature Preserve in Presque Isle County pulling invasive knapweed and looking at rocks. Meet the staff and bring your favorite beverage!

JUNE 17, 2023 | 10AM-12PM

Annual Meeting at HeadWaters Meeting Room, Jay’s in Gaylord Visit

HeadWaters Land Conservancy

110 South Elm Avenue

Gaylord, MI 49735

989-731-0573

www.headwatersconservancy.org

land@headwatersconservancy.org

We are dreaming of warmer days and the return of Forest School! This year we will run Forest School on Wednesdays instead of Fridays, from 1pm-3pm. This year will proceed in six sessions, two in June, July, and August. Each session will cover a new subject for kids to explore in our nature preserves. We are excited to bring this program back for a second year. As all of our outreach, Forest School is free to attend for kids of all ages, a guardian must be present to enjoy the lessons too!

Check our events calendar for updates at HeadWatersConservancy.org.