Conservation Planning. for Proactive Conservation. Nate Fuller Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy

Transcription

1 Conservation Planning for Proactive Conservation Nate Fuller Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy

2 Conserving the scenic and ecologically important landscapes of southwest Michigan.

3 Presettlement Vegetation Northern Deciduous Forest Map Presettlement Vegetation Southern Floodplain Forests

4 Modern Land Cover

5 SWMLC Land Protection : Establishing an Organization Creating an institution Developing an identity 9 Preserves & 3 CEs

6 SWMLC Land Protection : Early Development Opportunistic in strategy Building a portfolio & membership +10 Preserves & 15 CEs Total: 19 Preserves & 18 CEs

7 SWMLC Land Protection : Transitional Years Shifting from working board to board of governance Building professional experience and relationships Initial conservation planning efforts +12 preserves & 22 CEs Total: 31 preserves & 40 CEs

8 SWMLC Land Protection : Era of Conservation Planning Establishing land protection criteria Prioritizing on watershed scale Building partnerships to achieve specific goals +9 preserves & 24 CEs Total: 40 preserves & 64 CEs

9 # Acquisitions SWMLC Land Protection : Implementing the plans Grant funded Conservation Easements Preserve acquisitions guided by planning +3 preserves & 15 CEs Total: 43 preserves & 79 CEs SWMLC Acquisitions Preserves Cons. Easements 1991_ _ _ _ _ , acres protected to date acres in assists (8.5 Casco Twp., 300 Warren Woods, 250 Warren Dunes). Grand Total: 11,731.93

10 Dowagiac River Watershed Project ( ) Mitchell s satyr plan, protect & manage ( ) Michigan Dune Alliance plan & protect ( ) Glenn Bluffs, Van Buren Dunes, Warren Dunes/Grand Mere, Lower Paw Paw, Lower Galien

11 2006 Begin the Era of Conservation Planning Board retreat led by Conservation Impact Project Selection Criteria & Key Conservation Values Ecological and biological diversity (health of the community) Dune complexes, large floodplain forests, headwater wetlands Rare species & habitats (protect the individuals) Mitchell s satyrs, oak savanna remnants, prairie fens Accessible & meaningful areas (appeal to the human experience) Northpoint natural area, Cary forest adjacent to Hastings Regionally representative human landscapes (sustain the rural culture) Vineyards, orchards, prime soils for agriculture

12 LAKE MICHIGAN SHORE Glen Bluffs Van Buren Dunes Lower Paw Paw River Grand Mere Warren Dunes Lower Galien Ecological and biological diversity Rare species & habitats Accessible & meaningful areas Regionally representative human landscapes 68 Miles of shoreline, ~12% is public

13 WATERSHEDS Paw Paw River watershed (early 2006) Black River watershed (late 2006) Ecological and biological diversity Rare species & habitats Accessible & meaningful areas Regionally representative human landscapes

14 Ecological and biological diversity Large floodplain forests Headwater fens Rare species & habitats Mitchells satyrs, Massasuaga rattlesnakes, dozens of State-listed plants & animals

15 Conservation Planning SWMLC formed Land Protection Committees to prioritize natural resource conservation values with focus on water quality

16 Grant Support Prioritized areas demonstrate a site s importance and worthiness of support. Sustain Our Great Lakes Joint Venture Grant Habitat & Restoration Grant $250,000 ($180K acquisition + $70K management)

17 Black River Preserve Creation Date: November, Bargain sale. Acres Protected: 121 acres Location: Geneva Twp., Van Buren Co. Protects: 1 mile of Black River, Beech-Maple-Hemlock forest, extensive and diverse wetlands, passive recreation

18 WETLAND FUNCTIONALITY

19 WETLAND FUNCTIONALITY

20 WETLAND FUNCTIONALITY $160,000 for riparian habitat management The five largest properties in the project are all in the top 99% for floodwater storage, streamflow maintenance, nutrient transformation, sediment retention, shoreline stabilization, fish habitat, waterfowl habitat, shorebird habitat, forestbird habitat, and amphibian habitat.

21 WETLAND FUNCTIONALITY Van Buren Conservation District identified the top 200 existing wetlands and top 200 sites for wetland restoration in the Black & Paw Paw River Watersheds. Overlapping ownership resulted in 300 priority landowners (out of 10,000). Those 300 landowners own 96% of existing wetland area and 83% of potential wetland restoration acres.

22 WATERSHEDS Rocky River watershed

23 WATERSHEDS Rocky River watershed Ecological and biological diversity Highly glaciated headwater region, extensive wetland complexes Rare species & habitats Mitchell s satyrs, Massasauga rattlesnakes, dozens of rare plants and animals Accessible & meaningful areas Corey Lake, spiritual retreat centers Regionally representative human landscapes Most productive soils in the region Prioritized Landowner Meetings (open to public)

24 Spirit Springs Sanctuary 120 acres Bargain sale paid for with North American Wetland Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant funding

25 WATERSHEDS Four Townships Water Resource Council (Prairieville Creek & Augusta Creek watersheds)

26 Four Townships Ecological and biological diversity One of largest lakes in service area Rare species & habitats Fen, cold water streams Accessible & meaningful areas Gull Lake Regionally representative human landscapes Farmland threatened by development Priority lands identified by Michigan Natural Features Inventory Targeted mailings to mail carrier routes instead of entire zip code.

27 Gull Lake Watershed 310 acres conserved 6,000 feet of frontage Protected Grant: $548,700 Match: $619,800 Total: $1,168,500

28 ADJACENT LANDS Barry State Game Area

29 ADJACENT LANDS Barry State Game Area Ecological and biological diversity Largest region of wildness, prime examples of various forests, savannas and wetlands, including northern types Rare species & habitats Mitchell s satyrs, Massasauga rattlesnakes, cerulean warblers, numerous rare plants and animals Accessible & meaningful areas Yankee Springs Rec. Area, Barry SGA, Audubon Sanctuaries, church camps, Pierce Cedar Creek Env. Institute, Gun Lake

30 PARTNERSHIPS Private Landowners Community leaders, Major donors Conservation Organizations Land Trust Alliance, Pierce Cedar Creek, Michigan Audubon, Barry County Cons. District Local Government and Foundations City, Townships & County officials, Barry County Community Foundation State MNFI, DNR, DEQ Federal US Fish & Wildlife, Natural Resources Conservation Service Outreach and Education The Conservation Roadshow Created a monthly informational column in the Barry County Reminder Pierce Cedar Creek Institute held the Land Management Planning Workshop:Encouraging Healthy Natural Resources

31 In Progress: St. Joseph River (Rocky completed, Portage done for water quality not conservation, comprehensive plan underway) Kalamazoo River (subwatersheds Augusta 319 implementation. U of M School of Natural Resources developed conservation plan) Thornapple River (sub of the Grand River) Area Of Concern Oil Impact Area

32 Develop organizational priorities Be engaged in the decision making processes Solicit local stakeholder involvement Use your information and share it Project descriptions and executive summaries:

33 Conserving the scenic and ecologically important landscapes of southwest Michigan THANK YOU Nate Fuller, Conservation & Stewardship Director SWMLC, 6851 S. Sprinkle Rd., Portage, MI (269)