Connecting to the Future

The Ottaway Crossing

The Conservation District is committed to connection and is continually working to enhance how the community engages with the natural world. After years of careful study to understand the impacts of dam removal, the Conservation District is eager to reconnect the community with the natural beauty and exceptional recreational opportunities of the NER and beyond.

A 200-foot pedestrian bridge will span the Boardman-Ottaway River at the location of the former Sabin Dam, providing access from the Grand Traverse Conservation District’s Boardman River Nature Center on the river’s west side to the 3 miles of recreational trails on the east, including the TC Bay Soccer Complex and the Great Lakes Incubator Farm. The structure will span the entire floodplain at a height of over 30 feet to allow wildlife, anglers, and paddlers unfettered access beneath.

Named the Ottaway Crossing, in honor of the river’s original name and the indigenous community, this impressive feat of engineering will encourage walkers, bikers, anglers, and adventurers to explore nearly 10 miles of trails and the natural beauty of the NER.

We will continue the thoughtful and thorough restoration of the surrounding riparian lands. Our work to stabilize riverbanks, seed bottomlands with native plants, and control invasive species will be more important than ever in order to make the NER a spectacular destination for the community.

Great Lakes Incubator Farm

Along with creating miles of trail connections, the Ottaway Crossing will provide access to GTCD’s newest program located on the east side of the river at Grand Traverse County’s historic Meyer Farm property. The grant-funded purchase of this 15-acre farmstead was made by Grand Traverse County with the intention that the property maintain its agricultural history and provide benefit to the public.

The Conservation District is honored by the opportunity to host our newest program at this beloved location.

The Great Lakes Incubator Farm program is an active, land-based agricultural program that fosters the growth and development of new and beginning farmers in northwest lower Michigan.

Utilizing the Meyer Farm property, the Incubator Farm will reduce the risk to an agricultural startup by providing business development services and agricultural management, mentoring, and training. This low-risk learning environment will help develop and foster new agriculture producers who will in turn:

• Assist in succession of local farmland

• Create local farming models based on principles of regenerative agriculture

• Build resilience in the local food economy

• Foster a lasting culture of health and wellness

The program will lower common barriers that typically deter individuals from starting a farming operation by giving them the opportunity and flexibility to create an agricultural business and gain expertise as they grow. We will offer access to the resources

Our Promise to the Community

These two projects help fulfill a promise we made to this community over 81 years ago. Since 1941, the Grand Traverse Conservation District has been serving Grand Traverse County by providing gateways to the natural world. We actively connect the community to the land by restoring natural areas; training future generations of conservation leaders; and caring for the BoardmanOttaway River.

and tools needed to foster farmers who will be stewards of our region’s natural resources. Eventually, participants will transition to an independent resilient and successful farm operation.

Mirroring the Boardman River Nature Center on the river’s opposite side, the Incubator Farm will be a welcoming demonstration location where community members and the agriculturally curious can gather to learn about natural resource conservation, agriculture, soil health, food, farming systems, and innovative and regenerative practices that benefit both people and planet.

Together, the Ottaway Crossing and Great Lakes Incubator Farm will bring the potential of the NER and the mission of the Conservation District to fruition, facilitating a more comprehensive experience. These new recreational and educational projects will offer all members of our community the opportunity to experience the connection between working lands, agriculture, environmental stewardship, and natural resource conservation.

Conservation districts were first established by the federal government in 1937 to support farmers around the United States suffering the devastating effects of the soil erosion crisis known as the Dust Bowl. The Grand Traverse Conservation District eventually evolved to become the broader communityserving organization it is today, offering educational programming and providing services to county residents through programs such as the Invasive Species Network, Produce Safety Program, Forestry Assistance Program, and the Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program, as well as providing public natural area management through its Parklands Program and restoring and protecting the Boardman-Ottaway River.