NEWS a community partner protecting land, water and quality of life through conservation, stewardship and education Volume 17 Number 4 December 2014 Land Slam conservation success within reach -- help us meet the challenge!! We recently announced the Land Slam conservation challenge to expand the Paavola Wetlands Nature Area and to protect shorelands at Point Abbaye and Princess Point. We are now excited to report that achieving the Land Slam fundraising goal for 2014 is within reach. This is thanks to a major boost from two new conservation partners and from the many supporters that sent in gifts in response to news of our conservation goals and the J.A. Woollam Foundation challenge to help us achieve them. Joining our team in a big way are The Carls Foundation with a grant to KLT (see related story page 3) and Doug and Lisa McKenzie who made a very substantial stock donation. Here are a few highlights about the Land Slam conservation goals. An adjoining property east of the Paavola Wetlands Nature Area had been a conservation goal for many years and recently came on the market. (See map on page 3.) With the help of loans from individual lenders that stepped up to help us succeed, KLT acted quickly to buy the property to build on the investment in the Paavola and Boston Pond Nature Areas and the National Byways Program enhancements at those sites. The deal required that KLT purchase some property that does not contribute to the project s conservation plan, and those portions will be sold as trade lands (see box on page 3) to help pay back the loans. We will reach out to neighboring landowners and would like to hear of any interest in buying acreage near Paavola Wetlands. The Abbaye Peninsula is a unique, ecologically important feature of Lake Superior and a destination for those seeking the wild and rugged solitude found where the narrow dirt road ends at Point Abbaye. KLT s immediate goal related to the Land Slam is to purchase a 30-acre parcel with ¼ mile of undeveloped shoreline on Finlander Bay. The property has continued on page 2... From the rugged shoreline of Point Abbaye can be seen the 30-acre parcel of tall trees on the other side of Finlander Bay. Canoers put in to the marshy shores of Princess Point with the opposite shore of the Keweenaw Waterway behind them Snowshoers enjoying the winter wonderland that is Paavola Wetlands
PAGE 2!!!!!!! KLT NEWS!!!! VOLUME 17 NUMBER 4 Land Slam continued from page 1 beautiful woods with tall trees, a cobble beach, and a superb view of the Huron Mountains. This land acquisition goal is also part of a larger conservation initiative. The KLT is working in phases with willing landowners to connect public lands and protect much of the Abbaye Peninsula, which would basically create an ecoreserve for wildlife and for low impact nature recreation and study. In partnership with the MDNR, we have submitted an application to the coastal wetland conservation program that funded most of the Lightfoot Bay land purchase. Meeting the Woollam challenge will ensure that the Point Abbaye parcel on Finlander Bay is protected and available to the public forever. If we are awarded a coastal conservation grant, the Woollam Challenge amount and every dollar raised to buy the Point Abbaye parcel can serve as match to leverage additional grant dollars to purchase more of the priority conservation parcels on the Abbaye Peninsula and along Huron Bay. The KLT is always looking for ways to multiply the impact of our donors to benefit conservation. The Princess Point property included in the Land Slam campaign had been a family camp enjoyed by many that fell into disrepair as recent generations dispersed and found it more difficult to connect with the property. The extended Uitti family offered the property to KLT for the cost of back taxes owed, hoping that we might realize its intrinsic value for public benefit. With some volunteer elbow grease and creative care, the KLT can make this site on the Portage Waterway across from the Sturgeon Sloughs a pleasant and welcoming respite. Both Princess Point and Point Abbaye are rich with biodiversity conservation targets identified in a recent assessment for the binational Superior Lakewide Action and Management Plan, and both will offer overnight sites for paddlers on the Western U.P. Water Trail (www.paddlelakesuperior.org). We are grateful to The Carls Foundation, the McKenzie Family, and many others that stepped up to help achieve the Land Slam. We are close now and EVERY gift, big or small, makes a difference!! Please give what you can to help us meet the challenge. Watch for emails or visit the KLT website and Facebook page for Land Slam updates. This remarkable aerial shot shows the inlet of Lightfoot Bay in the middle of the photo, with the tip of Point Abbaye in the distance. Photo by Neil Harri KLT Supporters Speak Patricia (Uitti) and Chris Mericle: How wonderful that the KLT exists to make land and water available to the public! Recently retired, my husband Chris and I enjoy walking the trails of nature preserves in our area (Traverse City). We're so appreciative of these opportunities, and being able to contribute to a similar endeavor gives us immense pleasure. Our Princess Point property was on my father's side of the family and was of utmost importance to him. As our extended family spread throughout the country, it became increasingly infeasible for them to visit the property. People don't want to contribute to realty they don't use, and maintenance extended expenses far beyond property taxes. I know my father would be pleased to open the grounds to the public, which would allow his progeny to continue to enjoy the land as well. In fact, as you describe the ecological value of the location and the KLT's plans for it, I can't wait to visit! Dennis Uitti: I am excited about going ahead with this contribution. It would be great if my grandchildren someday could canoe down the Sturgeon River Sloughs and cross over to what used to be the Uitti Camp. Ethel (Uitti) Larsen: Pat, without you, this land would just have been lost to me. Now I get to keep visiting it, honoring my father s memory, and share it with like minded folks. Win - win - win. That makes you my heroine! Calvin and Gail Koski, supporters of the Abbaye Peninsula Conservation Initiative: We like the way that KLT balances protection of that special place (Lightfoot Bay) on Huron Bay with reaching out to the community to use it in an appropriate manner, educating our youth in particular about how to use such a place. We are pleased that you are working with us and others to conserve more land, finding a way to keep much of Point Abbaye both wild and open for use by the public. We prefer that our land, which is so special to us, our family and friends, will remain intact as a legacy for the people of Michigan and others to remind them of wild places on the shores of this great fresh water sea.
VOLUME 17 NUMBER 4!!!!! KLT NEWS!!!!!! PAGE 3 The forests of the parcel on Point Abbaye have an unusual abundance of tall, overstory trees and the distinctive white pine hosts an active eagle nest. Support the Land Slam to help acquire this parcel. One of the Land Slam conservation goals is the acquisition of an expansion of the Paavola Wetlands, also adding to the Copper Country Trail Scenic Byway. Trade lands can benefit KLT What are trade lands and how can they help? Property that would not provide resource conservation value or public benefit may still be donated to benefit KLT. Gifting a home, camp, lot or acreage as trade lands releases the donor from the responsibilities of land ownership and may provide income tax or other financial benefits. KLT can use its real estate experience to sell the trade land and generate funds that the land donors can direct to a mission related program, project or fund of the land trust. You ll hear more about this and other giving options soon. The cobble shoreline of Finlander Bay on Point Abbaye extends to make a large reef that provides important spawning habitat, another Land Slam conservation goal. New Foundation Support: The Carls Foundation Awards KLT $75,000! We are grateful, excited and humbled to have the direct support of a new conservation partner. The Carls Foundation is focused on the preservation of natural areas and historic buildings in regions having special natural beauty or significance in maintaining America s heritage, through assistance to land trusts and environmental educational programs. The Foundation recently awarded KLT a grant for $75,000, providing match to three other ongoing projects and initiatives. Of the total award, $50,000 is applied toward the J.A. Woollam Foundation Challenge to help KLT acquire the Point Abbaye property. The second portion of $15,000 is applied to completion of the remaining tasks associated with thecopper Country Trail National Byway enhancements project and matching the National Byways grant investment. This aspect includes stabilizing the historic farmstead of the Paavola Wetlands Nature Area for cultural and interpretive value. Finally, $10,000 will provide match to KLT's current Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program grant to repair the crib dock at the Manitou Island Light Station Preserve and maintain safe public access to the island. The Carls Foundation staff has followed KLT's work for many years. KLT's Evan McDonald kept the Foundation informed about our efforts with Hungarian Falls and the development of the Hancock-Calumet Corridor that became KLT's initiative for the Copper Country Trail, while formulating the right request. The Carls Foundation Board recognized that all three goals for this grant would foster public access and connection with special places and would help KLT cultivate new opportunities for public engagement and conservation. We thank the staff and trustees of The Carl's Foundation for their generous support and vote of approval for KLT. We hope this combined set of projects will give The Carls Foundation a big bang for their buck and propel our partnership forward.
PAGE 4!!!!!!! KLT NEWS!!!! VOLUME 17 NUMBER 4 Michigan Coastal Zone Program Grant Awarded for Marsin Nature Retreat Much has been accomplished to realize the vision for the Marsin Nature Retreat since it was given to the KLT in 2002. Once a private residence, Marsin now serves as a venue for a growing number of uses and activities and many have come to know the retreat facility and its setting on the Portage waterway. But the 56-acre Marsin site also has a diversity of intact coastal wetland and remnant dune habitats that are critical for the ecosystem health of Lake Superior. Land use changes in the region have resulted in the loss of these important coastal habitats elsewhere. While not easy to venture into, the large dense cedar stands of the Marsin Nature Area are healthy and host a long-term research site used by Michigan Tech and US Forest Service scientists to better understand the dynamics of these threatened habitats and potential climate change impacts. The property s conservation value, the research program, and the development of the Marsin Nature Retreat have outgrown this project s early guidance documents. Achieving the simultaneous goals of natural resource protection, public education and community use requires a more comprehensive site management and interpretive plan. The research program continues in the Marsin Wetlands The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has recognized our accomplishments to date at Marsin and its potential to further engage and demonstrate effective community-based stewardship by awarding KLT a $25,000 Coastal Zone Program grant to develop a comprehensive Marsin site management and interpretive plan during the coming year. A number of resource professionals have signed on to help us examine the site s hydrology and plant and animal life, including some important and often overlooked groups like insects, herptiles and mosses. A landscape architect and master gardeners will look at ways to blend human use and built elements with natural features and the ecology of the site. Goals include planning for invasive species management, habitat and aesthetic improvements, expanded native plantings and shoreline naturalization, improved access from the water, better trails, sustaining research and study opportunities, and effective sharing of information about coastal resources and Marsin with broad audiences. Marsin is a community resource and we will be asking for your input and involvement in the planning process. We will be coordinating inventory work days with our experts and local schools as well as families and individuals interested in helping. We will be conducting surveys and sharing information and draft plans through community events and social media. With MDEQ support, our work will serve as a model for community based stewardship of Great Lakes coastal resources. KLT Board of Directors 2013-2014 Keren Tischler, President Atlantic Mine Terry Kinzel, Vice-President Hancock Dave Harmon, Treasurer Atlantic Mine Erika Vye, Secretary Copper Harbor Bill Deephouse, Hancock Don Keith, Eagle Harbor Aaron Bickel, Houghton Jared Johnson, Chassell Clay Hixson, Calumet Lucas Westcott, Calumet Bob Stinson, Chassell KLT Staff Evan McDonald - Executive Director Pat Toczydlowski - Project Specialist Nathan Miller - Project Coordinator Curtis Perala - Marsin Property Manager
VOLUME 17 NUMBER 4!!!!! KLT NEWS!!!!!! PAGE 5 Breaking news a special gift multiplied An application by the City of Houghton supported by the Copper Country Audubon (CCA),KLT and the MTU Geoheritage project has been recommended to receive a grant of about $80,000 to purchase about 3.5 acres of rugged, undeveloped land in the heart of the city that will add tremendous value to the adjacent Mason Nature Area. The late Marilyn Mason gave about an acre of land to KLT in her will along with a generous gift of cash to CCA, part of which was to be used in partnership with KLT to benefit this nature area. CCA and KLT are very pleased to leverage the greatest benefit imagined by expanding both the dollar value of Marilyn s gift to CCA AND the amount of permanently protected land by about 5-fold! The site has dense cedar stands along the Scales Creek Flow, an ancient lava flow that bisects the city and extends along the Keweenaw all the way to Isle Royale. It is more than 200 feet thick and makes a barrier where the city streets bend. Project partners will add marked footpaths and geoheritage signs once the land is purchased. Learn About KLT History at the Michigan Tech Archives Have you ever wondered how the KLT came to acquire our Manitou Island Light Station? Or who some of the KLT s founding members were? Maybe you just want to read more of our fantastic newsletters, which date all the way back to 1996. Well, now you can! KLT recently submitted a wealth of information to the Michigan Tech Archives to safely store and be available for people to read or research. The Archives contain all of our newsletters, annual reports, and Board meeting minutes from before the KLT had officially formed. It s a great resource and is available to the public during regular business hours. This project has been a long time in the making and we re glad to have finally gotten a folio established. In February 2009, KLT suffered a devastating building fire which damaged a significant number of documents and equipment (not to mention morale). Fortunately, most of our records were spared and digital copies filled in nearly every gap. Today we rely on redundant offsite backups, both paper and digital, as well as the Michigan Tech Archives to protect our long and storied past. While we don t anticipate disaster striking again, we know that if it ever does we ll be as ready as possible. Meet the Board: Jared Johnson I have always loved the outdoors; my passion began when I was very young. I loved to be outside and spend time looking at the trees and bugs and anything else that moved in the woods. When I was still in high school I began leading canoe, climbing and camping trips for my peers through the scouting program. I came to Houghton in 2006 and was fortunate enough to start the Outdoor Adventure Program at Michigan Tech from just an idea on paper. We have grown to include a high and low ropes course, over 20 canoes, 20 kayaks, and so many pieces of outdoor equipment for rent that it is overwhelming. We offer rentals to both the MTU community as well as the general community with the focus of getting folks outside to take advantage of the great place in which we live. I bring to the KLT a great deal of program planning experience, risk management in the outdoors, and fundraising experience. I have a passion for protecting the Keweenaw and making sure that there is access not only for those of us who live here all year round, but also creating a connection for those who only get to spend their college years here. Students will remember the experiences that they had during their time in the Keweenaw and will feel a connection to conserving those areas for the future. I feel that the students are a great support for the KLT; we have the chance to create a sense of ownership and caretaking for those sites that we manage with those students. I hope to continue to bring awareness to conserving land among the students and cultivate a sense of obligation to work to help keep these lands available for public use.
PAGE 6!!!!!!! KLT NEWS!!!! VOLUME 17 NUMBER 4 Can t Rain on This Parade! Annual Meeting Brings People Out to Boston Pond 2014 was a year of successes, and we were pleased to show off one of our most notable achievements at this year s KLT Annual Membership Meeting. Several dozen people braved the cool, wet weather to celebrate the completion of our Copper Country Trail National Scenic Byways work, which helped fund the accessible trail, boardwalks, and pavilion at Boston Pond. The pavilion came in handy as folks hunkered down for possibly the shortest Executive Director report on record, followed by an equally brief Treasurer s Report from Keren Tischler. A welcome change from the norm! 2015 Green Film Series KLT co-sponsors the annual Green Film Series held at Michigan Tech. Each film will begin at 7:00 PM at the Michigan Tech Forestry Building s Hesterberg Hall. A discussion will follow, led by an expert in the field related to each subject. Light refreshments will be provided; donations are appreciated! January 15: movie TBD February 19: Forks over Knives With the formalities out of the way, everyone was free to mingle with friends and enjoy the October afternoon. KLT Director Bill Deephouse brought out his hand-crank cider press which was a big hit and the perfect way to keep warm. Others took to the trails with Nathan on a guided tour along the new trail volunteers had built earlier in the season. A few brave souls hiked out to the end of the floating dock before quickly retreating to the relative comfort of the pavilion. We ll be sure to offer tours again on a nicer day! We look forward to creating more great news in the year ahead. Make A Difference Day Success! When late-october rolls around, two things are a given: unpredictable weather, and volunteer support on Make a Difference Day! Every year student volunteers from Michigan Tech and beyond mark the day of service by assisting community groups with all sorts of projects. This year we hosted a group of energetic gentlemen from Sigma Phi Epsilon to help us tear down an old boathouse at our new Princess Point Nature Area. The boathouse was beginning to rot at the water line and was no longer salvageable. With their experience in construction (or destruction!), the guys made quick work of the building and cleaned it up in short order. Now the shoreline looks even more pristine, and we even have a landing for paddlers to pull up to! We can t thank them enough for their service and we look forward to continuing to prepare the site for future visitors. Activities at the annual meeting: cider press, hiking with Nathan, enjoying brief reports under the new pavilion. March 19: DamNation. April 16: Symphony of the Soil. May 21: Story of Stuff, Story of Change, Story of Solutions. June 18: A Will for the Woods. Hungarian Falls Management Plan Share Your Vision When we purchased the Hungarian Falls Nature Area in 2013, we knew there would be a lot of work to do. The number of stewardship activities we could pursue at this much-loved location is a little overwhelming, which is why we set out to create a management plan that would help guide our work in the coming years. Because the uppermost Hungarian Falls were protected by the community, we want to know what YOU think we should address at the site. Got an out-of-the-box solution to a problem you ve encountered? We d love to hear it! In early November, we held a public meeting to gather input from local residents and KLT members. Discussion was lively, with concerns raised about the state of the trails, parking, and safety near the falls. Based on these initial themes and issues, we created an online survey for the public to fill out to share your opinions with us. The questions will help us frame a more relevant plan and can be accessed by visiting www.keweenawlandtrust.org, then looking in the News, Notes, & Events box.
VOLUME 17 NUMBER 4!!!!! KLT NEWS!!!!!! PAGE 7 Join the KLT as a new or renewing member. Name Phone # Address please circle: summer - winter - permanent City State Zip Current Email address Current Members: Please Renew or Give a Gift Membership! $35 -New or Gift $50 -Supporter $100 -Guardian $250 -Steward other $ Rachel Carson would ve been a KLT member; how about you? "YES! I want to support the Woollam Challenge and help KLT achieve the Land Slam!" $ KLT respects your privacy and confidentiality. We do not sell our lists and we honor requests for anonymity. THANK YOU! Dues and contributions are tax deductible. Please mail this form and payment to: Keweenaw Land Trust, Inc., 801 N Lincoln Ave Suite 306, Hancock MI 49930 Voices of the Keweenaw: A Sixth Grade Trip to Lightfoot by Jen Martin, L Anse School Teacher Listening to students conversations prior to our field trip to Lightfoot Bay was entertaining. Students were talking about what animals they might see, who would fall in the water, if they would see a bear, and what to pack in their lunch. Needless to say, the L Anse Jr. High 6th graders were full of excitement and curiosity about the trip to come. Thanks to a grant from the Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative (LSSI) we were able to fund the field trip. The goal was to introduce students to the importance of native species and how non-natives can severely disrupt the ecosystem. Students would then take this knowledge back to school, where they would then help decide what species to plant in our school s native plant gardens. After lunch students each chose a leaf and made impressions into clay. We d take those back to school and students would glaze and fire them in art class as a keepsake of their trip. Students enjoyed running through the woods playing a few rounds of Camouflage, a version of hide and seek. However, one of the most memorable moments of the afternoon was the solo sit. Students found their own special spot in the woods, away from everyone else, and were able to take a nap, look up at the clouds, listen to the sounds of the woods, and enjoy a peaceful moment. When we all gathered back together the students had made impressive observations about the forest around them. One student summed it up perfectly, I didn t know the woods sounded like that. When we first arrived, Pat and Nathan gave an introduction to the area and we split into our hiking groups. One group hiked out to the beach and identified tree and plant species along the way. The other group hiked through the dunes and forest out to a wetland and made observations about the different ecosystems. We all met up at the cabin for lunch, and the students were bubbling over with excitement. Did you see the size of that mushroom? Can we spend the night in the cabin? I wonder if Bigfoot lives out here. It was time to pack up and head back on the school bus. We said goodbye to Pat and Nathan, and students talked about the trip the whole ride back. Months later, the students still reflect back on the trip. I am very thankful for special places like Lightfoot Bay and other KLT protected lands. As a teacher, I witnessed the positive impact that learning in the outdoors had on my students. My students didn t just read about science from a book, they spent the day observing science, breathing in science, and experiencing science.
801 N Lincoln Drive, Suite 306 Hancock MI 49930 906.482.0820 info@keweenawlandtrust.org www.facebook.com/keweenawlandtrust Get frequent updates on KLT news and events by liking our Facebook page! www.facebook.com/ KeweenawLandTrust Winter KLT Outings January 10: Guided snowshoe hike at the Pilgrim Community Forest. Plan to meet at 1:00 PM at the trailhead near the Pilgrim and Paradise Roads intersection. Please park on the shoulder of Pilgrim Road and safely away from traffic. January 30: Guided snowshoe hike at the Steve Farm Nature Area. Meet at 1:00 PM at the trailhead on Upper Point Mills Road. Bring your snowshoes and a camera! February 1: Retro Ski at Churning Rapids! Pull out your ol fashioned gear and meet at the Triangle for some good company and fun in the snow. Noon to 3 PM. Contact Jay Green at jbgreen45@charter.net for more details. February 14-15: Cabin Warmer & Free Fishing Weekend at Lightfoot Bay. We ll have a fire going in the cabin so when you re done freezing your tail off on the Bay ice fishing, you can swing inside for a quick warm up. Call us for details. February 28: Snowshoeing with Sasquatch at the L Anse Township Park. Believers, skeptics, and bigfoots are invited for a hike sponsored by Baraga Trails in Motion. Hot cocoa will be provided and there will be a bonfire to keep warm. March 1: Potluck by fireplace at Marsin Nature Retreat. Join us for an indoor social at Marsin starting at 2:00 PM. We ll stoke the fire and provide some refreshments, so bring a friend and a dish to pass as we spend an afternoon watching the snow fall. March 15: Hungarian Falls snowshoe hike. Golf Course Road is plowed from the north (Calumet) side; plan to meet where the plow line ends at 2:00 PM. Mid-April: 3 rd Annual KLT Land Jam at the South Range Hall! Be on the lookout for more updates as we finalize the details. Interested in helping out? Email nathan@keweenawlandtrust.org! A small clearing with fire ring will make a safe water trail camp for paddlers on the Finlander Bay parcel on Point Abbaye, part of the Land Slam campaign, see page one..