Headwaters Land Conservancy Spring 2015 Newsletter

ISSUE 1, 2015

Currents

HEADWATERS LAND CONSERVANCY

Strength in Numbers W

ouldn’t it be amazing if you could pull a $5 bill out of your pocket and another one instantly appeared?

And just imagine if the bill was a $20, a $50 or a $100! If you were giving that money to someone, picture their excitement at receiving 2X the gift! That is exactly what is possible right now with the J.A. Woollam Match Grant Challenge.

HeadWaters Land Conservancy is grateful to once again be the very fortunate recipient of a $30,000 match-grant which takes YOUR generous donation and doubles it, so YOU can help us do twice as much good! John Woollam favors match grants because it is a way for him to see the direct support of the conservation community. As always, we will

strive to “knock his socks off” by beating our deadline of June 30th. In the past when we have met our match-grant goals well in advance of the deadline, John has been so inspired as to offer a second match grant for the remainder of the year. Let’s show him just how much we care about conservation in northeast Michigan and finish the challenge

by April 30th this year!

AND MOST IMPORTANT… so many donations in 2014 were NOT matched because they did not fit the criteria of the grant.

If you want your donation to be matched in 2015, it has to meet one of these criteria: The gift must be more than you contributed in 2014 OR is greater than $500.00. We can also match donations from

donors who did not contribute anything in 2014. If you are unsure of what you gave last year, PLEASE call the office and we will be happy to assist you!

Spring revs us up, starts the sap flowing and gives us the chance to see new growth at every turn. Let’s make this spring a phenomenal head-start on what may become one of the most important years in our history. We hope to have some very exciting news to share with all of you in the near future. I think they call that a cliffhanger. Stay tuned for a big announcement to come!

Laura Justin Executive Director, HeadWaters Land Conservancy

Photo: Just off of River Road National Scenic Byway, Iargo Springs provides a panoramic view of the Au Sable River. Iosco County Oscoda, MI.

ISSUE 1, 2015

Double

Your

Dollars

Challenge The J.A. Woollam Foundation pledges to match every dollar raised up to a maximum of $30,000!

Matching requirements are:

Your matched donation will have twice the effect on:

• •

•

•

•

Creating opportunities for kids to connect with nature and the outdoors

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Preserving natural areas such as forests, open space, wetlands and of course the rivers, streams and lakes that “Up North” Michigan is known for

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Protecting working farms, orchards, and forests

•

Sustaining the cultural identity of “Up North” Michigan

All new memberships (please ask a friend to join our mission) All memberships that were lapsed in past year or years and renew in 2015 (if you didn’t give in 2014 now is the time to renew your membership) Any increased membership levels (if you increase your $50 donation in 2014 to $60 in 2015 the entire amount of $60 will be matched) The entire amount of any donation to HWLC of $500 or more from a single source will be matched

Mark your calendars!

HeadWaters Land Conservancy 2015 Events: May 23 - Birding Hike @ Wakeley Lake June 11 - Family Fun Day @ the Sturgeon River Preserve July 9 - Family Fun Day @ the Sturgeon River Preserve August 1 - Annual Appreciation Picnic August 6 - Family Fun Day @ the Sturgeon River Preserve August 22 - Hotshots for HeadWaters 3rd Annual Clay Shoot Fundraiser The Family Fun Day at the Sturgeon River Preserve is great for kids of all ages to enjoy a day of outdoor fun. HWLC Naturalists will be available to assist guests in activities such as geocaching, tree identification, and a nature themed scavenger hunt.

HEADWATERS LAND CONSERVANCY

OTSEGO LAKE RESIDENTS

F

Champion Conservation

or years, Keith Krause has dreamed of seeing his shoreline property on Otsego Lake permanently protected from development. In January 2015, HeadWaters recorded its 82nd Conservation Easement and Keith’s dream became a reality. The Krause Conservation Easement protects over 880 feet of undeveloped shoreline and adjacent oak/pine bluff on Otsego Lake, a few miles south of Gaylord.

Otsego Lake is a fun summer destination for tourists, birders, and boaters, and popular with anglers year-round for its populations of sturgeon, pike, musky, perch, bass, and panfish. In fact, Otsego Lake is one of only two lakes in Michigan where fishermen can catch and keep lake sturgeon (one per year). Due to its popularity, the shoreline of Otsego Lake has been intensely developed, and is surrounded with homes, cabins, and docks. Loss of undeveloped shoreline can be a detriment to the ecological balance of any lake, especially if portions of the shoreline are not left wild. Increased inputs of sediment and nutrients from stormwater runoff and leaching from septic systems can negatively affect water quality and the overall health of the lake.

By preserving this undeveloped shoreline, landowners like Keith Krause are helping the lake maintain a healthy balance.

The remaining undeveloped shoreline on Otsego Lake and adjacent forested land is of utmost importance to maintaining the water quality of the lake, so future generations of children can swim and play in its warm, shallow waters, and fish can continue to thrive. Plants and trees near the shore remove nutrients from groundwater and hold sediments in place with their root systems, acting as a giant filter for the lake. Because of the generosity of HeadWaters supporters and Keith Krause, his family’s shoreline property will remain free of docks and buildings—maintaining water quality and providing crucial habitat for fish and wildlife—forever.

Protected Land on Otsego Lake 3 Conservation Easements 2455 feet of waterfront 76 acres of forest

ISSUE 1, 2015

ODE TO THE LOG

by Glen A. Eberly

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

As I sit on the high bank and watch the log, Yesteryear floods my mind’s eye.

A tall broad shouldered oak guards the run, Where the amber clear water of a classic trout stream, Slides over water soaked remnants of the logging era, Of six score years ago.

The brilliant brook trout found cover and food in its shade.

The mink burrowed a home for its little ones in its massive roots.

The wood duck nested in hollows high in its ancient stately trunk.

The white tail deer fattened for winter on its mast.

Songbirds and squirrels darted amongst its many branches.

And the regal bald eagle surveyed its domain from its topmost branches.

We want to hear from you!

What mighty tempest brought this lofty giant to rest in the stream?

Reaching out into the flow, as if to regain its life, From the very waters it guarded for well over a century.

We see no other evidence of that ancient storm, All signs have faded into history and returned to earth.

The log remains as witness to nature’s slow but steady march.

A section of trunk, the length of a birch bark canoe, angles into the river.

Only the bottom is submerged, the top is home to nature’s rebirth.

Small aspen, tag alder, ferns, and streamside grasses dress its topside.

A perfect blind for the duck hunter to become one with the woods.

Many an early fall morning finds the hunters setting their decoys, And dissolving into the cover of this ancient log.

Sometimes there is shooting, with and without success.

The calling, the flurry of wings, and the shifting descent of decoying ducks, Are all etched in the duck hunter’s memory, for recall in the down days of winter, Or, as they later feast upon the succulent trophies of the hunt.

Other mornings offer only the gift to marvel at the beauty of an Up North sunrise, Watch the world wake up and God’s creatures busy themselves with life’s demands.

Do you have an inspiring photo of one of northeast Michigan’s special places? Maybe an essay or poem you wrote about spending time outdoors with your loved ones. If you have an inspiring written piece, or memorable photos taken in northeast Michigan, we invite you to share them with us. We will be accepting submissions on our What Inspires You? section of our website. We need your help showing people why Michigan’s special places are so important and why we are in the business of protecting them. Submissions we receive will be featured on our website and used to communicate the impact and beauty of “Up North” Michigan.

How the hunters enjoy these fading years of the log.

How grand to have a wonderful wild place, to be one with nature.

Will future generations have such magic places?

Where grandfathers, fathers, daughters, sons and all kindred spirits, who love and respect the hunt, Can find their own logs and make memories for a lifetime.

‘Tis this old hunters simple hope for the future.

Photo: Early morning fog on the Au Sable.

HEADWATERS LAND CONSERVANCY

H W LC

Launches New Website Visitors will find extensive resources and an enhanced user experience at the new and improved www.headwatersconservancy.org

T

he new website offers a comprehensive look at the many options available to landowners who are interested in protecting their land. It highlights the benefits of land conservation while offering a step by step timeline of the conservation easement process. Visitors will be kept up to date with HWLC news and events. The responsive design also lets supporters view the site from any mobile device. With this new simplified design we have made it convenient for donors to give online through our safe and secure web portal. Whether it’s a one-time gift or monthly recurring donation, online giving helps us increase our project funds and better support northeast Michigan now and into the future. We invite all who care about the future of “Up North” Michigan to join our efforts. We are your local Land Conservancy, and as a nonprofit organization, your membership, donations, time, energy and ideas will make a difference right here in northeast Michigan, helping to meet the challenges of protecting the rich natural heritage of “Up North” today and for future generations.

ISSUE 1, 2015

HWLC

Welcomes ROBB SMITH to the

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

H

eadWaters Land Conservancy is pleased to announce the addition of Robb Smith to its Board of Directors. Robb comes to HeadWaters with a long history of protecting Michigan’s water resources. As an avid fly fisherman and former Chairman of Michigan’s Trout Unlimited Board, Robb understands the need to protect Michigan’s irreplaceable rivers, lakes and the crucial lands that surround them. “Joining the Headwaters Land Conservancy Board gives me the opportunity to help preserve, protect and educate others about Michigan’s land, waters and special places,” explains Smith.

“There is nothing I love more than to be out of doors in northern Michigan and I look forward to serving with so many wonderful people for such an important cause.”

Robb Smith

Robb has been married to his supportive wife Chrissy for 43 years and together they have two children and five wonderful grandchildren.

Presently Robb and Chrissy have two small log cabins on the banks of Big Creek north of Luzerne where they spend every available moment.

Join Our Team!

B OA R D

of Trustees John Dallas, Chairman

I

f you are interested in playing a unique role in preserving and protecting “Up North” Michigan’s wealth of natural resources, please consider a position on the HeadWaters Land Conservancy Board of Directors. The HeadWaters Land Conservancy Board of Directors is made up of volunteers from northeast Michigan and the surrounding communities who share expertise, commitment, and

Jim Supina, Vice Chairman a mutual interest in preserving the natural beauty of our area. If you or someone you know may be interested, please pass this on.

For more information on becoming a Board Member contact Laura Justin at (989)-731-0575 or ljustin@ headwatersconservancy.org Local action can have a profound impact on our community and the natural world around us.

Virginia Pierce, Treasurer Martha Eberly, Secretary Mike Mang Robb Smith Dr. Don Inman, Director Emeritus Stephen Qua, Director Emeritus Roger Rasmussen, Director Emeritus

HEADWATERS LAND CONSERVANCY

HeadWaters Land Conservancy 110 South Elm Avenue Gaylord, MI 49735 989-731-0573 www.headwatersconservancy.org land@headwatersconservancy.org

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Photo: Male elk have large antlers which are shed each year. This elk shed was found at the Sturgeon River Preserve.