ISSUE 3, 2018
BY LAURA JUSTIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
L
ooking into the water on a cold October evening, my flashlight found the small but already armored body of an immature sturgeon, no more than 7 inches long, and to my eyes, adorable. With its tiny snout turned up and sideways, we stared at each other in amazement. For some reason I was overwhelmed by a desire to hold it in my hand, to catch it for just a few moments but I let the idea go and just enjoyed our distant company. Walking slowly to the other end of the dock, my next encounter prompted a long scream for my husband to join me.
Together, with my shaky hand on the flashlight, we watched two sturgeon, both topping 5 feet, languidly swim around the kayaks…two dinosaurs in our little canal. This was the pinnacle of so many natural wonders we experienced over the last year at this magical little spot on the water. There was the morning I saw four least bittern, wading and weaving on both shores. The afternoon I jumped out of my skin at the sound, and then the sight of a great blue heron battling a red tailed hawk in flight. The bald eagle who came too close for comfort while I was paddling, thinking my puppy was a mid-afternoon snack! Watching painted turtles dance at sunset, the otter who slides down our
hill and the muskrat who never stops her home improvement project. Nothing compares to nature. These are the stories we remember with ease, the recollections that stay clear in our minds when we are old. What could be more valuable? How could we take nature for granted? We live here and love this place for many reasons and when you distill those reasons down, I bet you come back to “nature” in one form or another. Protecting our land and water and air with Conservation Easements and Preserves is a real and tangible way to make a difference. Together, we save land forever.
HEADWATERS LAND CONSERVANCY
Sturgeon River Preserve
Boardwalk
UPDATE
ISSUE 3, 2018 BELOW: Carpenter Brooks Gunderson of North Country Carpentry staging a section of boardwalk.
First day workday crew
A
s you read in our previous newsletter, we received grant funding through the Otsego County Community Foundation from the Brendan Gorney Fund, Treetops Charity Fund, and Rotary Club of Gaylord to build a universally accessible boardwalk at the Sturgeon River Preserve. Since then, we received a grant for materials and volunteer support from Home Depot and construction has begun! We have had two official workdays in addition to the time staff and volunteer carpenter Brooks Gunderson of North Country Carpentry have spent on construction. Our first workday was September 8th and we had about ten people out at the preserve helping us start construction and cut and carry lumber the couple hundred feet down the trail. We started with a 6’x6’ passing space connecting to our existing trail, then built 60’ of boardwalk and the 8’x10’ platform next to the river. We were thrilled to share our progress with the Otsego County Community Foundation grant committee, and are looking forward to having them back next year when it’s complete! On our second workday in mid-October, we had a handful of volunteers help us cut lumber and start the boardwalk section from the platform towards the parking area. We were very lucky to have Home Depot’s Team Depot volunteers at the preserve on both
ABOVE: Gary Malak, Gaylord Home Depot Store Manager, grabs lumber to carry down the trail. workdays in addition to providing lumber and materials. We are so thankful for great volunteers and partners that share our enthusiasm for bringing people of all abilities closer to nature!
ABOVE: Otsego County Community Foundation grant committee and Lucas Thoms on the riverside platform.
Although we have done a lot of work, there is still more to be done next year and
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
We will have a few workdays in spring and summer of 2019 to finish the boardwalk. Please call the office at (989)731-0573 or email Lthoms@headwatersconservancy.org if you are interested in helping next year!
HEADWATERS LAND CONSERVANCY
Luneack
Restoration Begins!
WITH THE GRANT FUNDS WE RECEIVED FROM THE WILDFLOWER ASSOCIATION OF MICHIGAN THIS PAST WINTER WE WERE ABLE TO START RESTORING AN OLD WILDLIFE FOOD PLOT AT OUR LUNEACK PRESERVE NEAR COMINS. We used the funds to treat any invasives or weedy plants in the plot and then to purchase and plant a tallgrass mix that contains native grasses and flowers. Now all we can do is wait to see it come to life in the coming years.
O
n the Island of Naro in the Philippines, there is now less than 5% of the original lowland forest remaining. These forests had supported some of the most amazing creatures and biodiversity on the planet. Now, through a program sponsored by National Geographic called the Photo Ark, Joel Sartore is taking pictures of the last animals remaining in this place and so many others that were once like Eden. The lone animal survivors kept alive in captive breeding programs. Do you think the people of Naro woke up one day and said “hey, let’s destroy 95% of land that supports our amazing wildlife!” Nope - they didn’t do that anymore than we do in northeast Michigan. So how could a tragedy like this happen? And could it ever happen to us? The answer is slowly and yes. If we don’t plan for thoughtful development, keep wetlands and large parcels of land intact, control runoff and pollution into our lakes and rivers, and practice responsible forest stewardship, our fate could be a future that is just as sterile as the island of Naro. There are many examples in our own country as well. Places people look at and say “why did we let this happen?”
ISSUE 3, 2018
Planting Cedars on the NORTH BRANCH
T
he North Branch of the Au Sable River is a special place loved by all who have spent time on its banks or in its waters. Like many Michigan rivers, the North Branch was degraded by the end of the logging era—trees had been cut all the way to the riverbank and floated downstream to the mills. Thanks to generations of responsible stewardship by those who live and play on the river, riparian habitat has been steadily improving over the last century.
The North Branch of the Au Sable River is arguably where HWLC’s land protection efforts have had the biggest impact, with 7 different landowners who donated CEs, protecting over 3 miles of riverfront. Keeping those long stretches of undeveloped shoreline intact helps maintain quality fish habitat and provides the scenic beauty the river is known for. Original CE donor Al Miller didn’t have any children of his own, so Sam Morley was like his honorary grandson. Sam inherited his North Branch property from his father, who got the property from Al. A recent University of Michigan graduate in his 20s, Sam is one of HWLC’s youngest CE owners, and caring for the property has brought both rewards and challenges. During last year’s monitoring visit, Sam pointed out the loss of trees along the river over the years—dead ash from emerald ash borer, poplar and aspen taken down by beavers, and little regeneration due to deer browse.
When HWLC’s Land Protection Specialist Libby Gunderson received an email about grant funding available from the Au Sable River Watershed Committee, she immediately thought of a tree planting on Sam’s property. With Sam’s blessing, HWLC applied for and received funding to plant and protectively cage 30 northern white cedars and 10 each balsam fir, white spruce, and tamarack on the property. At the end of September, Libby and HWLC Preserve Specialist Lucas Thoms joined Sam, his mom Rebecca, and her boyfriend Steve to plant and protect 30 cedars using kits from Cedars for the Au Sable. The cedar saplings will require annual maintenance and need to be protected from deer browse for years to come, but the end result will be worth it. There is a mature cedar on the bank with a big branch that stretches out over the river where Sam loves to sit and read. Sam’s noticed the tree has started to decline over the years, but because of his efforts, there will be cedars on the river for generations to come.
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”
HEADWATERS LAND CONSERVANCY
th 6 Annual
HOTSHOTS for HEADWATERS Sporting Clays FUNDRAISER
The forecast called for rain, but other than a few sprinkles in the morning, it held off until after the shoot! Just under 60 shooters enjoyed the challenging course at Lewiston Sportsmen’s League with lots of laughs and camaraderie. This year, we had a special raffle in the morning, and one lucky shooter (and his squad!) received coaching from Sporting Clays Champion Pat Lieske. Everyone enjoyed food, prizes and raffles after the shoot. Again this year we had filet mignon shish kebabs on the grill as the main course, generously donated by Jeff Twyman. And we always appreciate the help of our smiling volunteers! Thank you to all of the sportsmen and women who attended our annual fundraiser and supported our mission of “protecting the natural diversity and beauty of northeast Michigan.”
Thank you
Horsing h around wit supporters and volunteers Robb & Chrissy Smith
winner of The lucky s ham! this year’
It just wouldn’t be right if Rich Wimmer did n’t win a rifle!
to our great sponsors… • Lewiston
Sportsmen’s League
• Render
Construction
• Treetops Resort • Feeny of Gaylord • North Star
& Grayling
• Jay’s Sporting
Goods
Natural Resources Services LLC
• Monarch Welding • Martell’s
& Engineering
• Jeffress-Dyer, Inc.
Northwoods Tree Farm
• Future Benefits
• Deep Woods
• Nolan’s Cigars
• Bennethum’s
Corporation
• Bensinger,
Cotant, & Menkes, P.C.
Lodge
Northern Inn
• Sheridan Valley
Homes
• Kelsey Lake
Laura with Jerry Boron – alw ays a top shooter!
ISSUE 3, 2018
Appreciation
PICNIC 2018
In July we hosted our annual Appreciation Picnic at Michi-Lu-Ca to say thank you to all of our wonderful partners, volunteers, landowners and contributors. We had a wonderful turn out with great food and even better people. Thank you to everyone who was able to attend and thank you to ALL of our wonderful supporters— we appreciate you!
Libby Gunderson shows hikers a milkweed seed pod
Color
HIKE
Stunning fall colors surround Johannesburg Lake
A
bout 30 people joined HWLC staff on a crisp October morning at the Louis M. Groen Nature Preserve for a hike through the stunning northern hardwood forest. One of our most popular events, both kids and adults explored the preserve, learned why and how leaves change color, and enjoyed cider and donuts after the hike.
HEADWATERS LAND CONSERVANCY
BY LAURA JUSTIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
A
s you have read many times over the last few months, HeadWaters has the opportunity to complete a $250,000 endowment match-grant from the J.A. Woollam Foundation. Raising that kind of money is a very challenging task as well as a huge benefit to any organization, but why is an endowment so important? I think the model of a land conservancy is a perfect match for an endowment because it mirrors the kind of work we do. Whereas many nonprofits raise funds to complete a specific project, once completed, it is left in the past for the next endeavor. Our work barely begins when we complete a conservation easement. This is just the start of a journey we take with a landowner, a journey that will involve successive generations, new property owners, neighbors and much more.
A conservation easement (CE) lasts forever. There is a beginning but no end which makes the relationship with a CE donor exceptionally meaningful. An endowment will last forever as well, the principal sum remaining untouched, generating interest to sustain the dayto-day operations of HeadWaters. As the endowment grows, ultimately intended to fully support our professional staff and infrastructure, the need to fundraise
lessens. This allows us to focus even more of our time on the protection and conservation of northeast Michigan’s land and water resources. Thank you for your generosity. To date, we have raised $50,500 for the endowment, which has been matched to $101,000! We have 18 months to complete this challenge, and with your support, I know we will be successful!
Donate to the endowment
by December 31st and your gift will be matched 2-to-1! If you give $500 the J.A. Woollam Foundation will give $1,000 more!
ISSUE 3, 2018
Being a
GOOD
STEWARD BY LAURA JUSTIN , EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
H
eadWaters is grateful for the outpouring of support we’ve received from each of you in 2018. But saying “thank you” is really not enough. I want to share with you how your generosity impacts our present and our future, and I also need you to understand how we steward your gifts. The word “steward” has several meanings at HeadWaters Land Conservancy. A land steward visits a conservation easement each year to complete annual monitoring of the property. These visits can take an entire day on a large conservation easement, and involve verification of photo points, evaluating permitted uses of the property and documenting many things from invasive species to timber harvests. Land stewards ideally spend time with the property owner during the visit. This is the partnership that makes exceptional land conservation possible! Donor stewardship is another term we use at HeadWaters. A big part of my job is caring for our donors just as they care for the wellbeing of HeadWaters and northeast Michigan. I love discovering what motivates people to support conservation, to hear the stories of the land and the people who care for it. To me, donor stewardship is the best part of my job because I leave every visit feeling grateful and driven to do more land protection! I hope to spend time with more of our donors in
This year I had the pleasure of visiting conservation easement donor Ray Hoobler at his property on the Pigeon River. Ray is pictured here with one of the 100+ year old white pines on his land and his dog, Julie. 2019, preferably on the water or in the woods – not in my office! And finally, there is the matter of financial stewardship. Stewarding your financial gifts to HeadWaters is a huge responsibility that we take very seriously. We try to be “experts” at what we do so we don’t waste time or resources. We choose projects carefully, making sure they fit within our mission of land protection because mistakes can be costly. And although it can be frustrating at times, we require
that every land protection project be fully funded before we commit to the work. We aren’t willing to risk your financial generosity through poor planning or failed projects. Thank you for making our work possible. Without YOU, there is no HeadWaters Land Conservancy or Conservation Easements or Public Preserves. YOU do these things as our partner, just as though you were helping us write a conservation easement or monitor a property.
HEADWATERS LAND CONSERVANCY
6TH ANNUAL HOTSHOTS FOR HEADWATERS SPORTING CLAYS FUNDRAISER Robb and Chrissy Smith, Jeff Twyman, Martha Eberly, Curtis Justin, Jane Dallas SCOTT WARSEN US Forest Service Wildlife Biologist, for leading the spring bird hike at Wakeley Lake in the rain.
Libby Gunderson and Khara Curtiss at Treetops Trifecta
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 helped to serve and clean-up! Our Community Partners: Otsego Conservation District, Otsego County Parks & Recreation, Pigeon River Country Association, Kids Outdoors Otsego
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
LAND AND STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE John Arevalo, Elaine Carlson, Joe Jarecki, Keith Martell, Mike Mang, Jerry Smith, Jim Supina TREETOPS TRIFECTA Jeff Twyman, Khara Curtiss, Elaine Carlson, Curtis Justin
TRACY BOSWORTH AND ELIZABETH ZUKER for being a great Earth Day Partner at the Gahagan Nature Preserve THE STAFF OF THE LOUIS M. GROEN PRESERVE for hosting our Fall Color Hike STURGEON RIVER BOARDWALK VOLUNTEERS Team Depot Gary Malak, Michelle Madden, Gabe Ferguson Jeff Twyman, Robb Smith, Jerry Smith, John Arevalo, Mike Mang, Kathy Fay, Brooks Gunderson & North Country Carpentry, April Honrath LEWISTON SPORTSMEN’S LEAGUE for hosting the 6th Annual Hotshots for HeadWaters Sporting Clays Fundraiser SAM CORNELIUS for helping with events and sharing his wonderful photos JIM KURBEL for his work on the Ogemaw County Priority Parcel Analysis
ISSUE 3, 2018
2018 LEADERSHIP Circle Watershed Guardians ($10,000 and up)
J.A.Woollam Foundation The Nature Conservancy Twyman Family Fund
River Guardians ($5,000-$9,999)
Au Sable Clean Foundation James and Christine Supina John and Jane Dallas Lowe’s Foundation The Carls Foundation
Stream Guardians ($1,000-$4,999)
Anglers of the Au Sable Anthony and Margaret Feldhus Barbara Armento Community Foundation of Northeast Michigan David and Mary Billmire Don Inman and Virginia Pierce Doug and Sandra Elser James and Linda Gregart James Peterson Keith and Cathy Martell Martha and Glen Eberly Michael and Lucy Mang Nancy Parmenter Otsego County Community Foundation Richard Wimmer Robb and Chrissy Smith Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Ron Bender Stephen and Charlotte Qua Thomas Buhr
Spring Guardians ($500-$999)
Au Sable River Watershed Committee Beach and Marianne Hall Carol Latsch David Starkey Feeny Ford-Gaylord Feeny GMC Crysler-Grayling
The following gifts were received between November 2, 2017 and October 31, 2018. Thank you for supporting HeadWaters Land Conservancy.
Great Lakes Endurance Gregg and Jane Stecker Harold and Alinda Wasner Herbert Bensinger James and Barbara Kurbel James Shinners Jay’s Sporting Goods Jeffress-Dyer, Inc. John and Wendy Frye Kevin and Sue Townsend Lois Jones Moritz and Barbara Ziegler Muriel Straight Neil and Mary Hodges Paul and Carol Rose Peter and Mary Wellman Raymond Hoobler and Frances Kuehn Rev. Brian and Elizabeth Chace Rev. Roland Schaedig Rotary Club of Gaylord Wildflower Association of Michigan
Guardians ($250-$499)
Bensinger, Cotant & Menkes, PC Claudia Fischer and Roger Holiday Daniel and Mazie Havens Dicran Haidostian Eric Render Fred and Chip Heine James Knox and Jo Gallico Jerry and Linda Smith John and Dave Walker Joseph and Judith Jarecki LPL Financial Margaret Ward Nolan’s Tobacco and Cigar Bar Richard and Nancy Almy Tom and Elaine Carlson William and Linda Demmer William Kusey
Supporters
Active Network LLC Alan Lavigne Alan Maag Allan and Linda Bentz Amazon Smile
Andrea Locke Andrew Jazdzyk Anna Weiser Anthony Barnard April Honrath Aric Donajkowski Barry and Robert Hill Bennethum’s Northern Inn Bill and Charity Steere Bill and Debi Anderson Bill and Pat Duncanson Bob Paul Bob Theiner Bourke and Shirley Lodewyk Brady Borycki Carma Shather Carol Roose Charles and Linda Mires Charles Borders Connie Schrieber Dan and Cheryl McCormick Daniel and Susan Schnee Daniel Barrett Darlene Higgins Dave Cowper Dave McCracken David and Carol Bricker David Pottinger and Faye Peterson Pottinger Debra Stieneker Denise Drach Dick and Marilyn Bachelor Dolores Drath Don Rombach Donald and Adair Calder Donald and Dorthy Peacor Donald Batty Doug and Deb Neumann Doug and Julie Begick Ed and Claudia Kulnis Eduardo Garcia Elizabeth Milnes Emmett’s Energy Frank and Diane Ruswick Frank and Elsa Corral Fred Guyor Frederick Miller and Grace Hedemann Hane Gary Malak Gaylord Eye Care Center George and Ursula Hess Giving Assistant, Inc. Gordan and Vernie Nethercut Helen Theisen
Herman Miller Hudson Holland Jr. and Margaret Holland Ivan Witt James Claus Jan Chapman Janice Porter Jason Laine Jay and Peggy Heilman Jeffery Turpin Jerry and Francine Rucker Jerry Boron Jessica Geiger Joel Suszek John Arevalo and Gloria Torello John Petosky Karen Roy Kathleen Fay Kathlyn Maldegen Keith and Wendy Petherick Keith Yockey Kelly Korson Ken and Elizabeth Gribble Kenneth and Bernadette Glowski Kenneth Payette Kevin and Cathy O’Neil Kevin and Teresa Grunzweig Kimberly Price Larry Kassuba Larry Younglove Laura and Curtis Justin Laura Austin Lee Hubbard Leigh Konwinski Lisa Schleicher Loraine Becker Lori Beale Lorne and Shirley Greenwood Mark Foucher and Carol Marston-Foucher Mark Taylor Mary Porter Michael and Sandra Clark Mike and Annette Holbrook Mike and Darcy Dombrowski Nancy Lemmen Ned Caveney Neil Wilkinson Patrick Dwyer Paul Bush Pete and Ginny Gustafson Peter Stephens Phil Truscott
Rachel Pryor Raietta Ott Rebecca Morley Render Construction, Inc. Rick and Anne Meeks Rick Wilde Robert and Dale Burnett Robert and Margaret Boshoven Robert Andrus Robert Eliassen Robert Kruch Robert Lieber Roger and Mary Fechner Roland and Carol Bernbeck Ron Bell Russell Hehir Sandra and Timothy Graham Scot Egleston Sheridan Valley Homes Stan Galehouse Steve Saylor Sue and John Walters Tad Randolph Terry Lyons Thomas Baird Thomas Gilbert and Marsha Smith Tom and Nicole Watson Tom Lancaster Wes and Debra Hills William Nash William Stevens Yale Miller
The following individuals chose to support HeadWaters to honor or rembember a loved one: William Kusey in memory of Marietta Ann Kusey
We try hard to thank everyone, if we missed you please tell us and know that we appreciate you.
HEADWATERS LAND CONSERVANCY
HeadWaters Land Conservancy
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Petoskey, MI Permit No. 110
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 Preserve Specialist
Winter READING LIST Keep that “Up North” feeling alive this winter! The Pigeon River Country: A Michigan Forest by Dale Clark Franz Sibley Hoobler, father of Camp O’Pines CE donor Raymond Hoobler, is a contributor.
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 Dr. Don Inman, Director Emeritus Stephen Qua, Director Emeritus
* Northwoods News, sent to CE owners earlier this month, mistakenly referred to Sibley Hoobler as Sidney. We regret our error.
The Adventures of Gray Wolf by Don Butcher Don and Edythe Butcher donated a CE with their daughter Donna and her husband Robert King.
Pine Whispers: Biography and Writing of Marguerite Gahagan Marguerite Gahagan left her land to Michigan DNR, who acquired adjacent parcels and donated the land to the Roscommon Recreation Authority, who subsequently donated a CE. The Marguerite Gahagan Nature Preserve is visited regularly by local school groups.
Another Way to Live: How and why it works. A Study in Human Ecology by Maggie Clay, PhD. Maggie Clay donated a CE.