The Oceana Echo - Oceana Conservation District Annual Report, March 1, 2024

2023 Annual Report

Conservationist of the Year - John Williams

Letter from the Leadership

Thanks to The Oceana Echo and each of the advertisers in this publication for allowing us to share our Annual Report, inform residents about Oceana Conservation District’s activities and performance over the last year, and share future goals and initiatives.

The year 2023 was a year to build capacity to take on more work to protect and restore land and water in Oceana County. Community residents helped us identify the greatest conservation needs, and incorporating their feedback, last year, we developed a Five-Year Strategic Plan. We set two operational goals to ensure that the necessary financial and human resources are in place to focus on the five priorities listed below:

Operational Goals:

1. Increase Funding: Develop new sources of revenue to support educational programming, stewardship activities, and land preservation.

2. Retain and Grow Staffing: Retain existing positions, hire additional staff to coordinate invasive species management and habitat restoration activities.

Natural Resource Priorities:

1. Enhance water quality

2. Manage invasive species

3. Protect and improve wildlife and habitat

4. Improve forest health and management

5.Protect greenspace and farmland

With a call to ramp up our efforts and a strategic plan in place, we didn’t waste any time charging ahead with our Operational Goals. We launched a $50K for 50 years fund-raising campaign to coincide with the District’s 50th Anniversary. We exceeded our goal, and with matching funds from generous donors, we raised a total of $115,000! We also hired a Stewardship Coordinator to coordinate invasive species management, apply for grants to conduct restoration activities, and manage our two nature preserves.

We built the capacity, and now we roll up our sleeves and get ready to do the hard work. With the priorities identified in our five-year plan, here is what we will be working on in the coming years.

We will continue to deliver quality services and programs to farm and forest landowners to implement practices that enhance water quality. Collaborating with watershed partners in West Michigan, we will increase our capacity to help reduce nonpoint source pollution, sedimentation and other contaminants, and we will pursue habitat enhancement and stream restoration projects in the White River, Pentwater, and Stony Creek Watersheds.

Working closely with the Muskegon and Ottawa Conservation Districts, we will direct more grant funds to Oceana County to manage invasive species. We aim to address the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid crisis that is wreaking havoc on our local hemlock trees, and will develop ways to create resilience and stabilization along our lakeshore. We’re currently developing a plan to create an Oceana County Coastal Conservation Corridor to reforest areas heavily impacted by hemlock loss and are actively applying for grants to fund the project.

With an unprecedented amount of funds available to landowners through USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service, we’re gearing up to create hundreds of acres of critical wildlife habitat for pollinators and birds, increasing biodiversity on farms and fields in Oceana County.

And lastly, with a Land Preservation Fund established, we are setting ourselves up to preserve more land, ideally adjacent to one of our existing preserves or on the White or Pentwater Rivers. In the meantime, we’re forging ahead at Stony Creek Nature Preserve, our newest preserve in Benona Township. With a Master Plan developed, we will clear trails in 2024, improve access and install parking in 2025, and plan to open the preserve next summer.

Amidst all of this work, what we really love to do is offer programs that foster an appreciation for what Oceana County has to offer and connect people of all ages to the natural world. I’m thrilled to be a part of this work, creating lasting impact so that future generations can enjoy healthy forests, clean water and abundant wildlife. Thanks to our numerous partners and countless friends and supporters, I’m looking forward to using the momentum we’ve created to embark on new initiatives and possibilities.

Cover photos: Top, an old bridge from 1902 will soon be removed as part of a stream restoration project on Stony Creek. Bottom, John Williams with his dog, Archie.

Mary

Suzie Knoll Executive Director Adam Chandler Conservation Technician

Rod Denning Forester

Sky

Oceana Conservation District’s 2023 Accomplishments at a Glance

31 MAEAP verifications (new or re-verified in 2023)

171 Forest landowners assisted

3,794 Acres enrolled into Qualified Forest Program

$1,255,773 USDA funds farmers received for conservation/restoration

26,037 Tree and shrub seedlings sold

43 Acres of pollinator habitat planted

478 Acres planted with no-till grain drill

70 Acres of terrestrial invasive species treated

9,110 Number of hemlock trees treated for Hemlock Woolly Adelgid

26,588 Pounds of hazardous waste collected

7,000 Plastic ag containers collected and recycled

1,000 Number of people attended educational events

$50K for 50 Years Campaign Success!

Last year, to mark the significance of the conservation district’s 50th anniversary and to respond to the community’s call to expand our efforts to protect and restore forests, fields and waterways in Oceana County, we launched a $50K for

50 Years Fund Campaign. We were thrilled to have exceeded our goal, and with matching funds, the campaign generated a total of $115,000! The Oceana Community Foundation will continue to manage Oceana Conservation District’s Land

Preservation Fund and will continue to accept donations to support land preservation efforts.

You’re Invited: Agricultural and Natural Resources Banquet scheduled for March 18

Oceana Conservation District, MSU Extension and the Oceana County Farm Bureau cordially invite you to this year’s Agricultural and Natural Resources Banquet! We will enjoy drinks, hors d'oeuvres and conversation during the social hour starting at 5 p.m., followed by dinner, brief reports, awards and a featured presentation on fisheries!

Michigan DNR Fisheries Biologist Mark Tonello will discuss stream ecology and fisheries management highlighting the work currently being done in Oceana County to manage the White River, Stony Creek and Pentwater River Watersheds. We hope you take advantage of the opportunity to celebrate Oceana County’s agricultural and natural assets while staying up-to-date on current initiatives.

Tickets are $25 and must be purchased in advance online at www.OceanaConservation.org or in person at Oceana Conservation District’s office in Shelby or at MSU Extension in Hart. The deadline to register is March 13.

Bobiers selected as Tree Farmers of the Year

Bill and Patrice Bobier of Ferry Township have been named Michigan’s 2024 Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year! The Bobiers are being recognized as exemplary stewards of the land. Bobiers’ Earthscape Farm spans 415 acres, including their homestead, cattle pasture, and 200 acres of mixed hardwoods and lowland conifers. Generously sharing their love of the land with the community, they are always happy to host tours and field days showcasing pasture management, regenerative agriculture, and sustainable forestry practices. Earthscape Farm was the first farm in Oceana County to get four different systems verified in the Michigan Agricultural and Environmental Assurance Program (farmstead, cropping, livestock and forest).

The Michigan Tree Farm Committee is pleased to award Bill and Patrice Bobier as Michigan’s Outstanding Tree Farmers of 2024 for their decades of great work in the woods, advocating for good forestry policy at all levels of government, and inspiring neighbors by sharing their love of the land with their community.

Election set for April 20 to fill one seat on the board

Residents in Oceana County have the responsibility to elect board members who will guide and oversee the District’s programs that promote the conservation of local natural resources. An election will take place during the District’s Tree Sale on April 20 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Oceana County Fairgrounds located at 1025 S. State St., Hart, MI 49420.

Customers picking up their tree/shrub seedlings will have an opportunity to fill out a ballot while in line. Voters who are not picking up trees will be directed to a voting line.

Larry Byl is running for re-election. It was unclear at the time of this writing if/how many other candidates would be also running for a board position. Stay tuned for a public notice.

Absentee ballots will be available at the District’s office located at 1064 Industrial Park Drive, Shelby, MI 49455.

Primary Roles and Responsibilities of Board Members:

• Attend monthly meetings and District functions.

• Direct the Oceana Conservation District’s strategic aims ensuring that the necessary financial and human resources are in place to meet its objectives.

• Collaborate with fellow Board members in establishing sound business practices and policies required for adequate accounting and financial management of the District’s fiscal affairs in accordance with State Law.

• Advocate for the Oceana Conservation District, its mission, programs and services within the community.

Volunteer Frank Doll installs new bat box with campers at Gales Pond.

Byl’s Lakeview Orchards receives the 2023 MAEAP Award

The Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) is a voluntary, proactive program that helps farms identify and prevent agricultural pollution risks. Each year, the Oceana Conservation District recognizes one farm that not only has achieved MAEAP Verification, but also embraced the program and made a concerted effort to make improvements to their operations, primarily focused on protecting surface and groundwater. Byl’s Lakeview Orchards has been selected as the recipient of the MAEAP Award for 2023.

Paul Byl, and his wife Anne, own and operate over 200 acres in Benona Township near Lake Michigan. Paul and Anne live on the family farm that was established by Paul’s father Peter Byl in the 1960’s when Paul was 10 years old. Paul purchased half the farm from his father after returning from college in the 1970’s and by the early 1990’s purchased the entire farm. They raise a variety of crops including apples, asparagus, tart and sweet cherries, blueberries and peaches. Anne ran the farm’s fresh market for many years, offering fresh produce from the farmstead and at the Pentwater and Muskegon Farm Markets.

Paul has a long history of working with USDA and the Oceana Conservation District on conservation practices.

In the 1980’s he planted windbreaks, reforested other areas of his farm, and adopted a new (at the time) practice of planting cover crops in asparagus fields to prevent soil erosion. In 2007, he worked with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to build an Agri-chemical Handling Facility (AHF) providing secondary containment for storing, mixing and loading chemicals which is important for protecting groundwater. Paul incorporated other practices in the 2000’s including the construction of a fueling facility and protection of a heavy use area, a steep driveway that leads to the beautiful farm on top of a hill that was prone to erosion. These two practices were highlighted in the 2018 MAEAP Farm Tour.

In more recent years, Byl introduced multi-species cover crop plantings and a 15-acre pollinator planting, improving soil health and creating more biodiversity. A seasonal high tunnel, otherwise known as a hoop house, was a nice addition during the later farm market years, extending the growing season of produce and flowers for their farm market.

Although most of the hard work Byl completed to protect soil and water was completed over many years, it was in 2023 when the Oceana MAEAP Technician Lynda Herremans worked with Byl

MAEAP REPoRt

The Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) is a proactive and voluntary program designed to help farms minimize risks to the environment through a three-phase process: 1) Education 2) Farm Assessment and Practice Implementation and 3) On-farm Verification by a third party. Farms may be verified in one or more of the following systems: Farmstead, Cropping, Livestock and Forest, Wetland & Habitat. A total of 180 systems on 93 farms have been verified over the past 19 years.

Primary goals for the MAEAP Technician each year are to work with growers to implement environmental stewardship practices that protect soil and water and meet MAEAP verification standards. Cost-share funds are available to implement practices such as emergency farm planning, water use reporting, no-till drill use, secondary containment, anti-backflow prevention, nutrient and pest management and more. The Technician also provides educational opportunities for growers on topics relevant to their current needs and challenges and shares ways they can conserve our local natural resources.

In addition to working one-on-one with growers throughout the year, your local MAEAP Technician reached many more farmers in the community at the following programs:

• MSU Research Field Day

• Great Lakes Expo

• Asparagus Day

• MSUE West Central Spring Horticulture Meeting

• Ag & Natural Resources Banquet

• MSU Tree Fruit Educator Breakfast Meeting

• Agroforestry Field Day at Earthscape Farm

• Farming for the Future Field Day

• District-held programming for youth in Oceana County - 3rd grade seedling distribution, 6th grade field trip, summer day camps

• Pesticide Container Recycling

• Pesticide Disposal at the Household Hazardous Waste Collection/Clean Sweep Event

• Ag Scrap Tire Event with Oceana Co. Farm Bureau

to go through the MAEAP verification process. Byl’s Lakeview Orchards was verified in both Farmstead and Cropping by a third-party verifier within just a few months.

Although farming and family keep the Byl’s very busy throughout the year, they find time to be actively engaged in their community. Paul is a passionate, dedicated member of the Great Lakes Energy Board of Directors, a position he has now held for 40 years! The Byl’s attend Evangelical Covenant Church in

Whitehall and are actively involved at The Ladder in Shelby, an intergenerational community center dedicated to knowing and serving neighbors in the community.

The MAEAP Award will be presented to Paul and Anne Byl of Byl’s Lakeview Orchards at the Agricultural & Natural Resources Banquet on March 18th. Please join us in celebrating Oceana County Agricultural producers and their dedication to protecting our natural resources!

NEW VERIFICATIONS – 4

• Byl’s Lakeview Orchard (Farmstead & Cropping)

Benona Township

• Herrygers Farm (Forests, Wetlands & Habitat)

Elbridge Township

• American Youth Foundation (Forests, Wetlands & Habitat)

Benona Township

RE-VERIFICATIONS – 27

• Airport View Turkeys

• Castle Hill Farm

• Chris Crosby Farm

• Earthscape Farm

• Herrygers Farm- Hart

• Herrygers Farm- Shelby

• Holladay Farms

• Jancek Farm

• Kacynski Farms

• LK VanSickle Farms

• Malburg Malac

• VanAgtmael & Sons

• VanAgtmael Orchards

• VanDerZanden Farms

sustainable

• Wm Burmeister & Sons

MAEAP Technician Lynda Herremans shares information about MAEAP at an event organized by the West Michigan Agroforestry Partnership at Earthscape Farm in August where participants learned about agroforestry systems and

pasture management.

Castle Hill Farm of Elbridge Township was re-verified in 2023 for both Farmstead & Cropping Systems. Farms go through the re-verification process every 5 years.

Oceana Conservation District’s MAEAP Technician co-hosted a well-attended 2023 Farming For the Future Field Day with partners at MSU Extension, Oceana County Farm Bureau and the West MI Research Station. Attendees learned about sprayer optimization in specialty crops and observed demonstrations of drones and a Global Unmanned Spray System (GUSS).

Anne and Paul Byl, Byl’s Lakeview Orchards, Shelby, Mich.

Michigan’s Forestry Assistance Program is designed to help private forest landowners understand the value of actively managing their forest. Whether landowners use their forested property for hunting, fishing, timber production, outdoor recreation, or simply want to sustain a healthy forest, your local District Forester is available to help landowners better understand, manage, and utilize their forest resources.

The role of the District Forester is to provide technical assistance to private landowners, helping them realize the ecological and economic value of their forest and promoting sustainable forest management. Your local District Forester, Rod Denning, provides site visits, helps landowners apply for state and federal assistance programs, and provides referrals to professionals in the forest industry who can develop a comprehensive forest management plan and administer timber harvests. As a certified arborist, Denning can also help identify and evaluate tree health issues.

Last year, 171 landowners contacted Denning for forestry-related questions and services, resulting in 117 site visits on 5,477 acres in the tri-county service area. Over the course of five years that he has

Forestry Assistance Program Report

worked for Oceana Conservation District, Denning has assisted 903 landowners and visited 581 sites across the region!

As one of the District Forester’s priorities, Denning encourages eligible landowners to enroll in the Qualified Forest Program, and last year he helped 25 landowners enroll 3,794 acres into the program. The Qualified Forest Program incentivizes landowners to actively manage private forestland for commercial harvest, wildlife habitat, and general improvement of natural resources. Enrolled landowners receive a 16 mil exemption from the local school operating millage. In order to qualify, non-homesteaded parcels must be greater than 20 acres and a forest man-

agement plan must be written by a qualified forester.

The Forestry Assistance Program also serves as a referral service to help landowners connect with professionals in the private sector to write a forest management plan and/or administer a timber sale. In 2023, 30 referrals were made, resulting in 12 forest management plans generating an estimated value of $21,000 in economic activity, and 17 timber harvests generating approximately $197,600 worth of forest products in Michigan.

Providing outreach and education to members in the community, Denning offered nine educational events in 2023 including presentations on the health of our local forests and forest management. Denning also shared his forestry skills and knowledge to a wide audience of curious minds including 5-11 year olds at Nature Day Camp as well as grownups at the Forest Forensics Guided Hike.

One of the highlights of the year for Denning occurred during a site visit in Newaygo County when he stumbled on vegetation that signaled he and the landowner were standing on a rare ecosystem. His article titled “A Rare Oak Ecosystem or Remnant Prairie?” was published in Michigan Forests, a quarterly magazine published by the Michigan Forest Association and is included in this Annual Report.

If you’re a forest landowner interested in services that the Forestry Assistance Program offers, please contact District Forester Rod Denning at (616) 920-9775 or rod.denning@macd.org.

Do you have a rare oak ecosystem or remnant prairie on your property?

By Rod Denning District Forester

Ever wonder if there is anything unique or special about your property? I’m always looking for something special or unique to point out when I do a site visit with a private forest landowner as part of the Michigan Forestry Assistance Program (FAP). Oftentimes it is a unique forb, shrub, or tree, or maybe a species of songbird. But on some property, it can be an entire ecosystem that is unique or rare. This doesn’t happen very often, but when it does, I find it very exciting to point out.

I’m fortunate to have the opportunity within my three-county service area (Newaygo, Oceana and Muskegon) to identify unique ecosystems for the landowner. Typically, before I conduct a site visit, I’ll review pre-settlement vegetation maps.

The rich ecological history of our state’s landscape has drastically changed due to the change in land use over the last 200 years. About 20 years ago, ecologists and geographic information system (GIS) specialists decided to utilize the General Land Office land surveys to create a dataset that shows how our state’s landscape used to look. This mapped information allows you to go back and explore the landscape and identify the natural features that once existed anywhere in the State.

In Michigan the original land surveyors’ notes that were used were recorded between the years 1816 and 1856. This was just prior to widespread European settlement, agricultural development, and the logging era that extensively changed our landscape. As the surveyors were laying out the township, range, and sections across the state they made notes of the vegetation, soils, wetlands and water resources. They also identified areas disturbed by fire and windthrow. As they set markers at each section corner, they identified and marked “witness” trees by species and size. All of the information was collected and interpreted by ecologists and transferred to maps so that the information can be used today.

Just how rare are the rare oak ecosystems? About 6% of the state’s landscape was considered some type of barren or savanna. The rarest of the rare are the oakpine barrens that covered 0.3% of the landscape. Oak-pine barrens is a fire-dependent, savanna community dominated by oaks and pines, having between 5 and 60% canopy cover, and a ground layer of grasses and other plant species that are associated with both prairie and forest. State and federal land, as well as nature preserves contain much of the remnant habitats. Private lands can also provide opportunities for remnants.

What is fascinating is that Newaygo County had about 27% of the state’s oakpine barren ecosystems! I’m always on the lookout for potential remnants and this summer I’ve had the opportunity to work with a landowner in Newaygo County that had oak-pine barrens on their 40 acres as suggested by the pre-settlement vegetation map. It can be difficult to identify in its current condition but if you know the plants associated with barrens or prairie communities, you can start to see the evidence.

Another tool to help locate potential remnant ecosystems is historical aerial photography. USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) has some of the oldest available imagery dating back to 1938. Going back 85 years gives you an idea of just how much disturbance there was at that time. Often, I see evidence of agriculture like row crops, pasture, or orchards, but sometimes the disturbance seems limited. In the case of the landowner I’m currently working with, the imagery was telling. It was still forested for the most part, but a portion of the image showed large openings and scattered trees, with light areas indicating sandy soils. Seeing this I thought, “Wow! This seems to show some proof of open canopy!”

The next step was to explore the site. Could we find some remnant plants that would suggest open canopy conditions in the past? I’m not a botanist, but we did find some very interesting species including flowering spurge, wild bergamot, and a species of blazingstar, all of which can be found on sandy dry plains, savannah, fields, and prairies. An interesting shrub called downy arrowwood common to dry sandy forests with oak was also identified. Another common feature—ant

An

mounds—these little creatures like dry, sunny places like openings. Finding these few species gave me hope that we have come across something special. What a great opportunity for restoration! One important factor to mention is that the landowner is very interested in doing a restoration and is excited for the opportunity. That is a game changer.

For restoration, a decrease in tree canopy will be necessary, and most importantly a reintroduction of fire to the ecosystem. This is going to be challenging as there is a lot of woody vegetation that will need to be reduced. I’m hoping we can find experts that have experience in this type of restoration and I’m working closely with the NRCS District Conservationist to potentially bring programming that could assist in the restoration effort. We created some interest in the site as the NRCS State Forester came for a site visit and also saw the potential for the restoration of a rare oak ecosystem.

Savannahs, barrens, prairies—oh how I wish I could have seen them before they were modified and developed over time. I can’t help but think of “Little House on the Prairie”, a favorite show of mine when I was younger, or the books written by Laura Ingalls Wilder. We visited her historic home in Missouri when on vacation years ago. My daughters read her books when they were younger, and we still have the whole series on our bookshelf.

I encourage you to reach out to your local Conservation District and schedule a site visit with the District Forester. It’s possible they will notice something unique that you were unaware of!

District Forester Rod Denning is available to help landowners assess and manage their forest for sustainable timber production, wildlife habitat, and/ or optimal ecological health.

Steward Ship report

As one of seven counties in the West Michigan Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA), Oceana County benefits from state and federal grant funds to treat invasive species in forest and wetland areas. Oceana Conservation District works closely with the Ottawa and Muskegon Conservation Districts to implement invasive species treatments in Oceana County. Prioritization is currently going to species that are present in our county in relatively small or isolated populations but pose a high risk of further spread. An “early detection, rapid response” approach enables land managers to act quickly, before the species population grows to the point where it cannot be locally eradicated.

During the 2023 field season, CISMA crews treated 70 acres of terrestrial invasive species on U.S. Forest Service land and private forestland in Oceana County. Target species in 2023 included Japanese Knotweed, Japanese Barberry, Phragmites, Garlic Mustard, Lily of the Valley, Autumn Olive, Multiflora Rose, Amur Honeysuckle, Spotted Knapweed, and Black Locust.

The West Michigan CISMA is also closely monitoring and actively involved in managing Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) that is prevalent in West Michigan (see map). Unfortunately, 2023 marked another tough year for Eastern hemlocks in Oceana County. Infestations are spreading however, more grant funds were available for Oceana County last year and HWA strike teams based out of the Ottawa, Muskegon and Mason-Lake Conservation Districts were able to treat 9,110 trees in 2023. Recognizing the need for awareness and outreach, we hosted two educational events on HWA in 2023; a third self-treatment training workshop is scheduled in April.

As treatment needs continue to increase, Oceana Conservation District is working with local and state partners to strategize and bring more resources to the county. We’re in the process of developing an approach to protecting what hemlocks we can while developing ways to mitigate the impacts of hemlock loss. More specifically, last year, we developed a plan to create an “Oceana Coastal Conservation Corridor” which aims to enhance resilience

and connectivity of vulnerable forestland through a combination of invasive species management, reforestation, and K12 place-based stewardship learning. This project will start in summer of 2024, pending funding.

Garlic Mustard, a herbaceous flowering plant, is a widespread invasive found throughout the county. It grows in wooded areas in deep shade, spreading quickly and outcompeting understory plants including tree seedlings. Garlic mustard also produces allelopathic compounds that can limit seed germination in other species. Hand-pulling is easy and effective if landowners commit to two or three years of management. Pro-tip: use garlic mustard to make a tasty pesto!

Watershed Updates

The West Michigan Watershed Partners (WMWP) is a coalition of local watershed groups in a five-county region in West Michigan. WMWP convenes quarterly to pool resources and share information on watershed planning and management. Notable projects that local partners have completed in Oceana County are highlighted below.

White River Watershed

With funds provided from the community foundations in Oceana, Muskegon and Newaygo Counties, the West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission (WMSRDC) contracted Grand Valley State University to conduct an economic impact study of the White River in 2023. Results showed that the White River generates $20 million annually, drawing over 35,000 visitors from outside the region each year. The study will serve as justification for future investments in the watershed.

Initiated in 2019 by Trout Unlimited and the White River Watershed Partnership, the White River Watershed Collaborative (WRWC) consists of local communities and governments, state and federal agencies, non-profits, local business owners and White River enthusiasts. The WRWC is working to facilitate collaborative data-driven restoration and protection of the White River Watershed.

In recent years, the White River Watershed Collaborative has invested a lot of time and effort to collect data and identify priorities for enhancing the watershed and fisheries. In 2023, more temperature gauges and monitoring stations were installed in the White River Watershed, offering real-time data and useful information that will advance stewardship activities. Two culverts were replaced on Robinson and Swinton Creeks that will support fish passage and increase resilience to flood damage. Two additional culvert replacements are planned for 2024 on Swinton and Cushman Creeks as well as restoration of 1,000 feet of instream habitat. Several other culverts that block fish from accessing upstream habitats were identified and prioritized for future replacement.

Pentwater Watershed

The Friends of the Pentwater River Watershed, a group that formed in 2021, completed an inventory of road stream crossings in 2023 to assess culverts and identify issues such as fish passage, sedimentation, and erosion. The Friends group also worked with Grand Valley State University last year to create and distribute a survey to 800 residents within the watershed to seek feedback from landowners in the Pentwater River Watershed regarding local water quality and conservation efforts. The data collected will help guide future improvement projects in the watershed, helping the Friends of the Pentwater River Watershed the Oceana Conservation District target their future efforts.

Stony Creek Watershed

A large project is planned and underway at Marshville Dam including the removal of dam remnants, two old bridges and three culverts, and the restoration of 2,500 feet of instream habitat. The project is being coordinated and managed through a collaborative partnership between the Oceana County Parks and Recreation Commission, Oceana County Road Commission, West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission and the Conservation Resource Alliance. Construction is expected to begin in spring of 2024. As a coldwater trout stream, special attention has been given to the protection and restoration of hemlock-shaded areas along the creek.

Silver Creek Watershed

Restorative Lake Sciences have reported promising results from the first year of their Silver Lake biochar filter project. These specially-engineered charcoal filters were installed on docks and drains in 2023 to extract excess nutrients from the water. The filters collected approximately 1.4 tons of phosphorus, improving the clarity of water and density of aquatic plant biomass in the lake. This will help keep algae levels in check, increase desirable fish populations, maintain cool water temperatures, and increase oxygen levels in the water. This project is ongoing.

The porous structure of the Biochar has excellent adsorption and absorption properties, allowing the filters to extract nutrients from the water as it passes through drains.

Become a Steward:

If you’re looking for new ways to connect with like-minded locals and participate in meaningful conservation activities, look no further. We are in the process of creating a circle of friends that will be our go-to Land and Water Stewards for participation in regular Stewardship Days. Stewards will have the opportunity to get involved with restoration work as well as roadside and beach beautification while building relationships with participants and staff. Join today to help foster the health of Oceana County’s forests, fields, lakes and streams. Email Stewardship Coordinator Sky Harsch at sky.harsch@macd.org to get involved.

Stewardship Coordinator Sky Harsch surveys local forest for Hemlock Woolly Adelgid

Before and after treatment of Japanese Knotweed, an aggressive species with hollow stems that grows 3-12 feet and can damage infrastructure.

By Sharon Hallack

The

Oceana Echo Community

Contributor

The Oceana Conservation District (OCD) is pleased to name John Williams of John Williams Farm in Mears as their Conservationist of the Year. He will be formally recognized at the organization’s annual Agricultural and Natural Resources Banquet on Monday, March 18.

OCD MAEAP (Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program) Technician Lynda Herremans explained the selection process: “The selection of each year’s nominee starts with a list, generated by the board and staff of the OCD, of farm and/or forest owners that have been actively applying conservation practices with assistance of the Oceana Conservation District and USDA Natural Resources Conservation District over the past year or number of years. Each individual’s history of participation and implementation of environmental stewardship practices are considered. The award can be received more than once; however, they prefer to honor someone new or at least a new generation of owners/operators from a farm that had received the honor previously. Sometimes the award recipient has finished an extensive project during the award year or has participated in something unique or ex ceptional during the past year.”

“John has participat ed in both the Environ mental Quality Incentives Program and the Conser vation Stewardship Program. He protects areas of heavy farm use to prevent

“Life is full of challenges. You’re not going to get everything right. Keep things in perspective.”

- John Williams, Conservationist of the Year

Williams’ Wisdom

erosion, he regularly practices safe storage of fuel and chemicals to ensure clean water, implements responsible nutrient and pest management, utilizes cover crops to promote healthy soils; and has incorporated a diversity of native vegetation, including trees, shrubs and 12 acres of pollinator habitat,” OCD Executive Director Suzie Knoll said.

Similar to past nominees, Williams was humbly appreciative of the honor and, after some gentle prodding, opened up about the history of his family operation and his involvement with the OCD.

He began working on the family farm shortly after high school. The farm mainly raised cherries, and over the years it added more cherries, then asparagus, peaches, plums and apples.

Williams says he started working with the conservation district when Jack Lake was the District Conservationist. “Jack was instrumental in getting two or three (unused) wells plugged here on the farm. He also got me started with rye in asparagus,” Williams said. “Since then, we’ve added erosion control on our high-traffic roadways and don’t have near the erosion we used to.”

Over the years, Williams has seen plenty of

changes in agriculture production, thankfully many for the better. “Back in the day, I remember mixing chemicals in the front yard, and as a teen, I sprayed with an open-station tractor.” Then, with a wry smile he said, “ And I’m still living!”

He continues, “I judge the changes on the farm, not year by year, but by decades. A lot of OCD assistance is long-term, too. A lot of what they do is unseen, like plugging water wells or putting less fertilizer on the ground, but it’s important. They’ve been good partners for me over the past 40 years.”

“John has never been one to wait to be approached to do conservation practices. Through the years, he was proactive and pursued assistance and information from all our technical staff, and then went on to implement a variety of environmental stewardship practices,” Herremans said.

When asked what some of the greatest challenges have been in his decades as a producer, he said without hesitating, “I have experienced two devastating weather events in my life; both were thunderstorms, and both came during cherry harvest. They only lasted 15 minutes each, but they did a lot of damage. In both instances, the storms ended

the cherry harvest for that year. We lost the rest of the crop and a good amount of trees. That’s why we work hard to get the fruit off as quickly as possible (during cherry season); every hour matters.”

If he could give young people any advice, he said, “Life is full of challenges. You’re not going to get everything right. Keep things in perspective. What you think is such a disaster today, down the road, you don’t even remember.”

Not only has Williams operated a successful fruit and asparagus farm for nearly four decades, he simultaneously carried mail full-time for Mears for over 25 of those years. He officially retired from the post office in 2017. “I was able to run the farm with good help. My farm manager, Bartolo Salazar, has been with me for 40 years. I couldn’t have done it without him. Now I’m in transition, I consider myself ‘three-fourths retired,” he said with a smile.  “It won’t be hard. I have other

interests and hobbies I’m looking forward to pursuing.”

Williams has also shared his time, knowledge and experience serving on various boards and committees over the years, such as the Asparagus Advisory Board and the Golden Township Board of Review. He currently serves as the City of Hart’s representative on the Hart

Area Fire Department Board.

He may be stepping back from full-time farming, but because of the conservation practices put in place with the assistance of the Oceana Conservation District, his farm is healthier and in a better position environmentally for whatever the future may hold.

John Williams and Archie

• Brendan Samuels/Echo”

Education Report

Oceana County residents and visitors heard the call! Perhaps it was the silent-winged, barred owl hooting through the winter forest with its dinner invitation - who cooks for you, who cooks for you aaa-all? Or the evening chorus of spring peepers floating on warm breezes through recently opened windows. Certainly, along the summer lakeshore, waves beckoned with their timeless pull. Or perhaps the call came from within: unplug, go outside, drink in the honey scent of autumn. From our stunning forests, fields, and waterways we heard the call and outside we went - to linger, to learn, to explore, to restore! In 2023, numerous opportunities for outdoor exploration and education were made possible through the generous gifts of time, treasure, and talent from community members, organizations, and local businesses.

We are so grateful for financial donations which enable us to make outdoor learning opportunities available for all interested children and families. In 2023, we were able to offer needs-based scholarships for both our Forest School Program for Knee-high Naturalists and our summer Nature Day Camps. Over twenty families and 25 children participated in Knee-high Naturalists. Through gently guided experiences and forest school foundational practices, our youngest nature lovers built a solid foundation for educational as well as social/emotional growth and development. As children age out of Knee-high Naturalists we

welcome them to our summer Nature Day Camps. Over 50 children attended our summer camps: At the Pond, In the Forest, and On the Farm, with many children attending multiple weeks. An essential component of our camps is our counselor program. At age twelve, aged-out campers are eligible to serve as junior counselor volunteers until age 14 when they may apply to serve as a senior counselor. In 2023, we were pleased to be able to provide our hard-working senior counselors with an increased stipend to support this great learning opportunity.

Over the past few years, as we’ve developed our Forest School programs, we have heard time and again that grownups want the same opportunity to learn and grow through nature exploration that we strive to provide for children. In 2023, we launched the Forest School for Grown-ups program, a six-week series of weekly classes held in natural areas throughout the county. The first group filled quickly with adults eager to explore and willing to try new things, from carving walking sticks to foraging for nuts and berries. Oceana Conservation District staff led interpretive hikes on areas of specific interest and expertise as well as stewardship activities in preparation to open our new Stony Creek Nature Preserve to the public. By all accounts the inaugural session of Forest School for Grown-ups was a big success!

While staff lead many well-attended education events such as our winter solstice hike and owl prowls, spring birding trips and wildflower

walks, many of our offerings rely on the willingness of community members to share their knowledge and passions. Among the highlights of 2023, was a Pond Camp visit from reptile expert, Scott Yonkers, with a variety of the many turtles he rehabilitates. Lisa Fleury, MSU Extension nutritionist, joined us at Farm Camp in August with a presentation on ‘Eating the Rainbow,’ along with Luke Snider of Snider’s Turkey Farm who brought several young ‘ambassador’ birds to provide campers with a hands-on learning opportunity. Many others contributed by leading hikes, foraging experiences, and sharing art and wood working skills. Pond Camp attendees built and installed new bat boxes with materials donated by community members and assistance from local woodworker, Frank Doll. We are fortunate in Oceana County that so many businesses, organizations, and individuals hear the call to preserve and protect, to reach out and to go out.

The buzz about native plants

As many of us know all too well, there was a time (until 25 years ago) when conservation districts and other agencies across the state promoted trees and plants that provided great soil erosion protection and habitat for wildlife, but ended up invading and devastating natural areas. Autumn olive – which has taken over many woodland edges, roadsides and fields – is one such story of good intentions gone bad. Land managers and conservation districts have been battling and eradicating non-native, invasive vegetation ever since, and in recent decades have been advocating for the use of native species.

Native plants are those that occur naturally in a region, are adapted to local climates and habitats, and co-existed with local wildlife for thousands of years. They are the ecological basis upon which life depends. Without native plants, insects and local birds cannot survive. For example, research by the entomologist Doug Tallamy has shown that native oak trees support over 500 species of caterpillars where-

as ginkgos, a commonly planted landscape tree from Asia, host only five species of caterpillars. Considering it takes 6,000 caterpillars to raise one brood of chickadees, that is a significant difference. Think about the Monarch butterfly, populations of which have declined 85% in 20 years. Monarchs lay their eggs on milkweed plants because caterpillars feed exclusively on milkweed leaves for two weeks after they emerge. The milky sap in the leaves is poisonous to most animals but the monarch butterfly has developed resistance to this toxin, giving monarch caterpillars a strong chemical defense against predators.

Providing more than just wildlife habitat, native species offer other environmental benefits including stormwater management and carbon sequestration. Oceana Conservation District is pleased to provide native trees, shrubs, and plants–in seedling, plug and seed form–and is available to help plan your next project, whether it’s a small butterfly garden, or a 40acre pollinator planting.

The deep, extensive root systems of native plants help reduce runoff, stabilize soils, and filter contaminants from water.

Project site 3 years after planting, providing habitat for pollinators and birds.

Four-acre site in Claybanks township after site preparation and before planting.

Board Chair Eric Herrygers installs a mixture of native wildflowers and grasses to attract pollinators.

Project site one year after planting.

Natural Resources Conservation District Report

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) working with private landowners to install or implement conservation practices on their land. NRCS partners with, and works directly through, local conservation districts to educate and assist farmers, ranchers, and rural landowners to protect the natural resources with funds available through federal farm-bill programs.

In 2023, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provided $509,234 to three landowners in Oceana County to address natural resource concerns. EQIP provided funding for agrichemical storage buildings, tree/shrub plantings, windbreak establishment, cover crops, critical area plantings, nutrient and pest management, irrigation water management, prescribed grazing, livestock pipeline and watering facilities, pasture planting, stream crossing, grassed waterways, and more. The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) provided $746,539 to 21 landowners looking for additional opportunities to expand on existing conservation efforts. CSP provided funding for cover crops, conservation cover, pollinator and monarch habitat plantings, tree and shrub establishment, forest management, and more.

The Shelby USDA Service Center office looks for-

ward to continuing to work with landowners on their agricultural and conservation goals. Call (231) 8615600 for more information.

Increased Funding Expected in 2024

The Inflation Reduction Act, signed in August 2022, represents the single largest investment in climate and clean energy solutions in American history. It is a historic, once-in-a-generation investment and opportunity for the agricultural communities that USDA serves. The Inflation Reduction Act will help producers stay on the farm, prevent producers from becoming ineligible for future assistance, and promote climate-smart agriculture by increasing access to conservation assistance.

The law provides $20 billion to support USDA’s conservation programs that yield climate-related benefits while building resilience in agricultural operations. These investments mean that more producers will have access to conservation assistance.

Farm Bill Programs

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits such as improved water and air quality, conserved ground and surface water, increased soil health and reduced soil erosion and sedimentation, improved or created wildlife habitat, and mitigation against increasing weather volatility.

Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) helps build on existing conservation efforts while strengthening agricultural operations. Whether producers are looking to improve grazing conditions, increase crop resiliency, or develop wildlife habitat, NRCS can custom design a CSP plan to help meet those goals. By identifying natural resource problems and providing technical and financial assistance to solve those problems, higher stewardship levels can be obtained in an environmentally beneficial and cost-effective manner.

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) reduces soil erosion, protects the Nation’s ability to produce food and fiber, reduces sedimentation in streams and lakes, improves water quality, establishes wildlife habitat, and enhances forest and wetland resources. It encourages farmers to convert highly erodible cropland or other environmentally sensitive acreage to vegetative cover, such as tame or native grasses, wildlife plantings, trees, filter strips, or riparian buffers. Farmers receive an annual rental payment for the term of the multi-year contract. Cost sharing is provided to establish the vegetative cover practices.

Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) helps landowners, land trusts, and other entities protect, restore, and enhance wetlands, grasslands, and working farms and ranches through conservation easements. Under the Agricultural Land Easements component, NRCS helps American Indian tribes, state and local governments and non-governmental organizations protect working agricultural lands and limit non-agricultural uses of the land. Under the Wetlands Reserve Easements component, NRCS helps to restore, protect and enhance enrolled wetlands.

• $8.45 billion for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program

• $4.95 billion for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program

• $3.25 billion for the Conservation Stewardship Program

• $1.4 billion for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program

• $1 billion for conservation technical assistance

• $300 million to measure, evaluate, quantify carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emission reductions from conservation investments

Of note, the Conservation Stewardship Program saw a significant increase in its minimum annual payment to benefit small-scale producers, moving up from $1,500 to 4,000 annually. Starting in 2024 landowners with CSP contracts will earn a minimum of $4,000 annually during the five-year contract.

These additional funds will help farmers implement expanded conservation practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase storage of carbon in their soil and trees. The conservation funding is on top of otherwise available program funds, and the voluntary, incentive-based approach is targeted to support climate-smart agriculture mitigation and help producers build resilience in their operations.

Land Preservation

Oceana Conservation District is taking an active role in permanently protecting natural and scenic lands that provide opportunities for education, research and recreation. To date, the District has established two nature preserves, both in Benona Township, thanks to generous families who gifted the land.

Our local community continues to enjoy the beauty and solace of the trails at Otto Nature Preserve, an 80-acre oldgrowth forest that was gifted by Dick and Lorayne Otto in 2019. Last year, numerous participants joined Conservation District staff and guest speakers at the preserve for educational events, volunteer activities, and guided group hikes. A new entrance sign and two additional benches will be installed along the trails this spring. The benches were donated by the Otto family in memory of Richard Sr, Richard Jr, and Paul Otto, and by Julie Westerfield in honor of Bob and Stephanie Westerfield.

Since the donation of the 40-acre parcel to Oceana Conservation District by the Hunter and Hedlund families in 2022, staff have been getting familiar with the cedar swamp and upland habitats along Stony Creek and are working hard to get it ready for public use. Plant and bird surveys have been conducted, unique natural features have been mapped, and partners have visited to see the unique beauty of this soon-to-be nature preserve.

We are currently working with Landscape Architect Pam Blough to develop a master plan for the nature preserve. The plan will lay out parking, fishing access points, and looped trails that showcase the natural and historical features while retaining the delicate ecosystem. Once the master plan is completed, we will forge ahead to clear trails, improve access and install a parking area. A tentative opening day is planned for summer of 2025.

Otto Nature Preserve

Otto Nature Preserve is a local gem in Benona Township providing 1.5 miles of trails.

Stony Creek Nature Preserve

Stony Creek Nature Preserve offers unique topographical features and when it opens in 2025, will offer trails for hiking and access to fishing.

2024 Programs & Events

Feb 8 Be the Light! Winter Night Hike

6:30 – 7:30 pm Gales Pond County Park ∙ Hart

Feb 15 Planting for Wildlife Workshop

6:30 – 8 pm Oceana Conservation District ∙ Shelby

Feb 24 Full Moon Owl Prowl

6:30 – 8 pm Otto Nature Preserve ∙ Shelby

Mar 18 Ag & Natural Resources Banquet

5 – 9 pm West Michigan Research Station ∙ Hart

March 20 Tree Sale Orders Due

5 pm Mail in order form or place order online

March 25 Full Moon Owl Prowl

7:30 – 9 pm Otto Nature Preserve ∙ Shelby

April 10 HWA Self-Treatment Workshop

9 am – 1 pm Camp Miniwanca ∙ Shelby

April 20 Tree Sale Pickup Date!

9 am – 1 pm Oceana County Fairgrounds ∙ Hart

April 27 Stewardship Day: On the Roadside

9 – 11 am US 31/Polk Rd ∙ Hart

May 3 Wildflower Walk

2 – 3:30 pm Nicholas residence ∙ Mears

May 13 Birding Field Trip

8 – 11 am Camp Miniwanca ∙ Shelby

May 18 Stewardship Day: In the Forest

9 am – 12 pm Stony Creek Nature Preserve ∙ Shelby

May 24 Native Plant Sale

10 am – 3 pm Oceana Conservation District ∙ Shelby

June 1 Permaculture Food Forest Design

10 am – 12pm Oceana Conservation District ∙ Shelby

June 17-20

Nature Day Camp (At the Pond)

9 am – 1 pm Gales Pond County Park ∙ Hart

June 29 Scrap Tire Collection

9 am – 12 pm Oceana County Road Commission ∙ Hart

July 8-11 Nature Day Camp (In the Forest)

9 am – 1 pm Doolittle County Park ∙ Hart

July 20 Stewardship Day: On the Roadside

8 – 10 am US 31/Polk Rd ∙ Hart

July 20 Agroforestry Skill-Building Festival

12 – 6 pm Earthscape Farm ∙ Hesperia

July 25 Guided Kayak Trip

4:30 – 6:30 pm White River ∙ Happy Mohawk Livery

Jul 29-Aug 1 Nature Day Camp (On the Farm)

9 am – 1 pm Earthscape Farm ∙ Hesperia

Aug 13 Regenerative Ag Field Day

12 – 5 pm West Michigan Research Station ∙ Hart

Aug 17 Hazardous Waste Collection

9 am – 1 pm Hart Dept. of Public Works ∙ Hart

Aug 22 Conservation Celebration

5 – 7 pm Farm to Table Dinner ∙ Location TBD

Sept 20

Dune Grass Sale (pre-orders required)

8 am – 4 pm Oceana Conservation District ∙ Shelby

Sept 21 Stewardship Day: At the Beach

9 am – 12 pm Various Locations ∙ Oceana County

Sept 28 Stewardship Day: On the Roadside

9 – 11 am US 31/Polk Rd ∙ Hart

Oct 18 Fall Colors Forest Foray

1 – 3 pm Otto Nature Preserve ∙ Shelby

Nov 7 Solar Energy Workshop

6:30 – 8 pm Oceana Conservation District ∙ Shelby

Dec 17 Christmas Bird Count

8 am – 3 pm Pentwater, Hart, Mears, Shelby

Office Use Only

Order #

Date Rec'd

CK#

ORDERS DUE: March 20, 2024

PICK UP DATE: Complete this form and mail with payment to:

Received by: Processed in QB: April 20, 2024

PICK UP LOCATION: Oceana Co Fairgrounds Oceana Conservation District 1064 Industrial Park Dr. Shelby, MI 49455

Orders will be filled on a first-come/first serve basis. We will not be responsible for trees not picked up on the assigned date and are not liable for survival after pick up, All sales are final. Thank you for your order! Call (231) 861-5600 for more information.

Or, order online by visiting our website: www.OceanaConservation.org