Protected Lands

Land Protection Summary
As of April 2023, the Thumb Land Conservancy owns a total of 11 preserves, or
sanctuaries as we call them, following the tradition of the Michigan Nature
Association which acquired its first preserves in our region.
On October 3 of 2020, the TLC and the Blue Water Indigenous Alliance held a
Naming Ceremony at their Ode Zibi land located between Burtch Creek and
Lake Huron in Burtchville Township near the border of Saint Clair and Sanilac
Counties. The Naming Ceremony honored the Native American community and
recognized their former occupation of the region. Each of our sanctuaries as of
2020 was given a Native American name chosen by members of the Blue Water
Indigenous Alliance and representing their varied tribal origins.
The TLC also holds two conservation easements totaling about 87 acres. These
are essentially private nature preserves for which the landowners have legal
agreements with the TLC to protect their property in perpetuity.
Preserve Map
to be inserted later
Thumb Land Conservancy Land Protection Methods
There are several ways that a landowner can protect their land while realizing
certain benefits. The easiest methods for all parties are land donations to a
conservancy and conservation easements. Other more elaborate methods, such
as charitable remainder trusts, charitable gift annuities, and life leases or
reserved life estates require more effort to set up and administer, but could
result in significant benefits to the landowner.
Before making any conclusions, you should contact the land conservancy to
discuss the details. Some protection methods have some up-front costs for legal
agreements, surveying, property closing, and so on. Most land conservancies
request a financial endowment along with a land donation or conservation
easement to pay for monitoring, stewardship, and other potential costs.
However, the TLC is often able to work with landowners who cannot afford these
costs.
Land Donation
The landowner donates their land to a land conservancy during their lifetime
through a standard warranty deed.
Understandably, most landowners are not in a rush to give away their land.
However, it may make sense for some to transfer ownership to a land
conservancy. The immediate benefits to the land donor are that they will stop
paying property taxes and they will also eliminate their liability associated with
the land. They may also claim an income tax deduction based on the appraised
value of the land. In addition, the TLC can grant lifetime access to a the land
donor so that they can still enjoy the property for passive recreation. Land
donors eliminate capital gains taxes and the donor’s heirs avoid estate taxes.
Best of all, a land donor can rest assured that their property is both legally and
physically protected as a natural area by a land conservancy, essentially forever.
If the TLC ever ceases to exist, our bylaws require that all properties be passed
on to another land conservancy or similar organization that will continue to
protect the land. The donor also establishes a legacy that will be passed on
through the preserve name, media coverage, and TLC publications.
Donation by Trust or Will
The landowner donates their land to a land conservancy through a trust or will.
This method results in many of the same benefits to the landowner as an
immediate warranty deed donation. However, disadvantages of donating
through a trust or will are the up-front legal costs of assuring the trust or will
guarantees a trouble-free transfer to a conservancy, and that the landowner
continues to pay property taxes, cannot claim income tax deductions, remains
liable for the property, and the donor’s heirs may still be liable for some estate
taxes. While the landowner continues to own and control the land during their
lifetime, they do not benefit from the stewardship provided by a conservancy.
Regardless, if set-up properly, the landowner can rest assured that their property
will be protected in the future, and they will establish a legacy that will be passed
on through the preserve name, media coverage, and TLC publications.
Reserved Life Estate
The landowner donates a remainder interest in the land to a land conservancy
through a reserved life estate agreement, allowing them to continue owning,
living on, and using the land through their lifetime. Upon death, the life interest
of the owner is released to the conservancy, which then has full ownership.
As with an immediate warranty deed donation or donation by trust or will, the
landowner can realize various financial benefits. But like donating through a
trust or will, disadvantages are the up-front legal costs of assuring the reserved
life estate guarantees a trouble-free transfer to a conservancy, and that the
landowner continues to pay property taxes, cannot claim income tax deductions,
remains liable for the property, and the donor’s heirs may not avoid some estate
taxes. While the landowner continues to own and control the land during their
lifetime, they do not benefit from the stewardship provided by a conservancy.
Regardless, if set-up properly, the landowner can rest assured that their property
will be protected in the future, and they will establish a legacy that will be passed
on through the preserve name, media coverage, and TLC publications.
Conservation Easement
The landowner donates a conservation easement over all or a portion of their
land to a conservancy. A conservation easement is a legal agreement to protect
the land in perpetuity by restricting development rights. Although the agreement
is referred to as an easement, it does not give the public the right to access the
property. Through agreement with a conservancy, conservation easements can
be tailored to the specific preferences of the landowner, allowing for minor
impacts such as hunting, trails, firewood gathering, even small structures, and
farming on agricultural land. The land conservancy enters the easement
property once each year to monitor conditions and adherence to the easement
agreement.
Unlike an immediate warranty deed donation, the conservation easement donor
continues to own the land. The conservation easement does not restrict the
landowner from selling the property or leaving it heirs. However, all future
landowners must abide by the terms of the conservation easement restrictions.
A major benefit of a conservation easement is that, upon sale or transfer, the
property tax on that portion of land under easement remains capped.
Depending on the easement donor’s tax situation, they may be able to claim a
federal tax deduction based on the appraised value of the land, which can be
deducted over a period of 15 years. The donor can also request a property tax
reduction from the local tax assessor, based on the value of the potential
development rights that are restricted by the easement. Potential property tax
reductions depend entirely on the local assessing authority and are quite
variable. Disadvantages of conservation easements are potential up-front costs
of the conservation easement documents, legal review, and land survey,
although there may be ways to avoid some of these costs. Other disadvantages
are that the landowner continues to pay property taxes, cannot normally claim
income tax deductions for the full value of the land, remains liable for the
property, and the landowner’s heirs are still liable for some estate taxes. The
owner also does not receive the full benefit of land stewardship provided by a
conservancy. Regardless, if set-up properly, the landowner can rest assured that
their property will be protected in the future, and they will establish a legacy that
will be passed on through the preserve name, media coverage, and TLC
publications.
Bargain Sale
The landowner sells land to a land conservancy at a significantly reduced price
and may claim an income tax deduction based on the appraised value of the
land. Donation of land subject to mortgage can also considered a bargain sale
for income tax purposes, as though the conservancy paid the amount due.
The benefits of a bargain sale are obviously that the seller receives some
revenue and the land conservancy pays less to preserve a natural area. Like a
warranty deed donation, the seller will stop paying property taxes and they will
also eliminate their liability associated with the land. They may also claim an
income tax deduction based on the difference between the appraised value of
the land and the sale price. In addition, the TLC can grant lifetime access to a
the land donor so that they can still enjoy the property for passive recreation.
Sellers may also reduce their capital gains taxes, and their heirs avoid estate
taxes. Best of all, the seller can rest assured that their property is both legally
and physically protected as a natural area by a land conservancy, essentially
forever. If the TLC ever ceases to exist, our bylaws require that all properties be
passed on to another land conservancy or similar organization that will continue
to protect the land. The donor also establishes a legacy that will be passed on
through the preserve name, media coverage, and TLC publications.
Alternative Land Protection Methods
There are some alternative land protection strategies that could benefit
landowners and even provide income. These methods are not nearly as simple
as donations or conservation easements in protecting land, but might be
considered when a landowner needs income and is not quite ready for full
preservation.
Wetland Mitigation
The landowner is paid by wetland permit holder to place a State conservation
easement on their wetland as mitigation for permitted impacts at another
location.
Wetland mitigation is completely subject to agency approvals, usually involving
the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, United
States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or
United States Army Corps of Engineers. For preservation of existing natural
wetland as mitigation, the wetland must be rare or imperiled, of high quality, or
serve an exceptional ecological function. Restoration of wetland is another
possible type of mitigation, usually what is known as a wetland mitigation bank.
However, a large investment of funding and labor is required up-front before
agencies approve wetland banks for sale of mitigation credits.
Wetland mitigation areas are generating significant revenue for landowners
across Michigan and the United States, typically several thousand dollars per
acre of mitigation credit. However, there are a lot of up-front costs and long-term
management costs that are dictated by regulatory agencies. Because all
wetland mitigation areas are placed under conservation easement, the
landowner could receive all of the same benefits as a donor of a conservation
easement to a land conservancy. The landowner can continue to own the land
through their lifetime and may be able to generate additional income from the
property by leasing it out for hunting or other passive uses. In addition, the land
would be protected under a State of federal conservation easement that could
potentially be better enforced than one held only by a land conservancy. TLC
staff have been involved in several properties preserved as wetland mitigation
and the landowner can benefit from our experience.
Deeded Access
The landowner is paid, usually by adjacent landowners, for limited or full access
to their land. The right of access can be recorded with the register-of-deeds. For
example, adjoining or nearby neighbors could pay the owner of a woodlot or
other natural area to use as a park for passive recreation such as walking,
nature observation, cross-country skiing, and other limited activities. This
method is very similar to deeded access to private lakes. The right to access the
land is fully transferable to new buyers.
This method has many potential variables that could benefit the landowner and
probably works best where there are not similar natural areas or parks within
walking distance. Based on demand, significant revenue could be generated for
the landowner. A portion of that revenue could be used to pay for the costs of a
conservation easement, which would then provide the associated benefits
previously described. The revenue could also be used to fund the purchase of
the land by a conservancy, which would then result in the many benefits of
conservancy ownership. The property values of adjacent or nearby landowners
with deeded access are likely to increase because of their exclusive right to
access what essentially becomes a local private park. Disadvantages to the
landowner include increased liability and having to deal with incompatible uses
of the area. However, the responsibility for these problems would shift upon
transfer of ownership to a land conservancy, neighborhood association, or
similar group. Perhaps the most rewarding benefit of deed access is providing a
place in or near a neighborhood where residents, and especially children, can
easily enjoy passive outdoor recreation in a natural setting.
Access and Use Leases
The landowner receives lease payments on an annual, seasonal, or monthly
basis for access and restricted use of their land. Typically, land is leased for
hunting or farming in Michigan, but could be leased simply for passive recreation
such as walking, nature observation, and cross-country skiing, or heavier uses
such as collection of wild herbs, berries, nuts, and mushrooms, fishing, hunting,
camping, horse riding, mountain biking, and other uses as determined by the
landowner.
As with other protection methods, there are many potential variables that could
benefit the landowner and probably works best where there are not similar
public natural areas nearby.
Access and Use Fees
In the same way that a landowner could receive lease payments for access or
restricted use of their land, they could charge access or use fees on a daily or
per-use basis. This method is more administratively difficult than leasing, but
avoids a long-term commitment by the landowner and may be more attractive to
lower income users. Again, this method could be used for passive recreation
such as walking, nature observation, and cross-country skiing, or heavier uses
such as collection of wild herbs, berries, nuts, and mushrooms, fishing, hunting,
camping, horse riding, mountain biking, and other uses as determined by the
landowner.
As with other protection methods, there are many potential variables that could
benefit the landowner and probably works best where there are not similar
public natural areas nearby.
Preserve Club
The landowner joins with other individuals to form a club or association in which
all members share access and use of the property. Access or use rights can be
sold as annual memberships, shares, or other ways. As with lease or fee
strategies, the organization could allow fishing, hunting, camping, horse riding,
and mountain biking, or more passive recreation such as walking, nature
observation, cross-country skiing, and other uses.
As with other protection methods, there are many potential variables that could
benefit the landowner, and probably works best where there are not similar
public natural areas nearby. If the group establishes itself as a non-profit
organization, there could be significant tax benefits.
Sustainable Resource Extraction
The landowner receives income from sustainable resource extraction or uses
compatible with the natural area. Resource extraction activities could include
collection of medicinal or edible plants, berries, nuts, and mushrooms, collection
of seeds and transplants for restoration of other areas, sustainable cutting of
firewood or harvest of timber, and uses such as nature observation, field trips,
nature-related training, fishing, hunting, camping, and other activities.
Depending on the natural resources available and effort, landowner revenue can
be highly variable. As with other protection methods, there are many potential
variables that could benefit the landowner and probably works best where there
are not similar public natural areas nearby. If the group establishes itself as a
non-profit organization, there could be significant tax benefits.
Drop-Down Menu
TLC Preserves
Dead End Woods Sanctuary or Makadewagmitiggweyainniwak
“Black River Tribal People” in Annishinaabemowin
17.6 Acres, Fort Gratiot Township, Saint Clair County
Acquisition Date: 2008 December 30
The Dead End Woods Sanctuary was the first preserve acquired by the TLC, in December
2008. The woods is known locally as the “dead end woods” because it is located and
accessed at the dead end of Wilson Drive in Fort Gratiot Township. The preserve is located
between Wilson Drive and Blueberry lane to the south, State Road to the east, and Old Farm
subdivision to the north and west.
The 17.6-acre Dead End Woods Sanctuary contains about 11.6 acres of swamp forest
wetland, part of the headwaters of the Gossman Drain which flows east and south to the
Black River. Both the wetland and the upland on the Sanctuary were preserved as partial
mitigation for wetland impacts permitted by the Michigan Department of Environmental
Quality for the 2008 Bunce Creek and Huffman Drain project of the Saint Clair County Drain
Commissioner. The Dead End Woods Sanctuary is protected by a conservation easement
held by the State of Michigan. As mitigation options for the drain project were being
considered, the owner of one of the Dead End Woods parcels offered to sell the land to the
Drain Commissioner at a reasonable price. The MDEQ confirmed the presence of a large
amount of wetland on the property and determined that it is part of a high quality plant
community. The adjacent parcel was then purchased to provide the necessary wetland
mitigation for the drain project. To satisfy MDEQ requirements for long-term monitoring and
stewardship of the wetland, ownership of the two Dead End Woods parcels was transferred to
the TLC, relieving the Drain Commissioner from further responsibility for this land. In
accepting ownership of the property, the TLC agreed to be responsible for submittal of an
approved management plan to the MDEQ, annual monitoring of the conservation easement,
long-term stewardship, and submittal of annual monitoring reports to the MDEQ.
The Dead End Woods Sanctuary is part of a highly diverse forest community of southern
swamp and mesic upland on Wainola-Deford fine sands deposited on the glacial lakeplain.
The swamp is dominated by Silver Maple and Red Maple hybrids, Green Ash (large trees now
dead due to the Emerald Ash Borer), American Hornbeam, Spicebush, Sensitive Fern, Royal
Fern, Jack-in-the-pulpit, and Marsh-marigold. The upland is dominated by Red Maple, Red
Oak, Sassafras, Black Cherry, Witch-hazel, Mayapple, Wild Geranium, and Yellow Trout-lily.
At 44.5, the Floristic Quality Index of the Dead End Woods is very high, indicating a natural
area of statewide significance. Higher quality or interesting species include Maidenhair Fern,
Spikenard, Richweed, American Hazelnut, Black Ash, Butternut, Spicebush, Tuliptree,
Cardinal Flower, Indian Pipe, Black Gum, Sycamore, Christmas Fern, Broad-leaved
Goldenrod, Foamflower, and Eastern Hemlock.
A 1937 aerial photograph shows most of the Dead End Woods forest cover was intact,
probably because the land was simply too wet to farm. As a result, many species are relict
from before Euro-American settlement. In 1997 and 1998, the previous owners selectively cut
large trees throughout the forest, which drew protests from neighbors who thought the site
was being prepared for residential development. Despite this cutting and heavy soil
disturbance, the forest vegetation remained intact. While the opened canopy supported the
invasion of Garlic Mustard, it also favored uncommon species like Tuliptree, American
Hazelnut, and Spikenard.
Uncommon animal species observed on the Dead End Woods Sanctuary include Flying
Squirrels, Barred Owls, Pileated Woodpeckers, Wood Ducks, Spring Peeper frogs, Wood
Frogs, and Red-backed Salamanders. Aquatic macroinvertebrates observed in the wetter
portions of the swamp include caddisfly larvae, fairy shrimp, crayfish, pond snails, clam
shrimp, water striders, and various protozoa, all characteristic of vernal pools and generally
indicating high water quality.
The TLC has worked diligently on removal of invasive Garlic Mustard in the Dead End Woods
Sanctuary. By 2022, Garlic Mustard was largely eliminated across the south side of the
Sanctuary and we shifted our work area to the east and north. In some areas that were mostly
heavily infested with Garlic Mustard, propane weed torches were very effective in killing the
mature plants, most of the seedlings, and apparently much of the seed bank. The TLC is now
focused on removing minor occurrences of invasive vegetation on the Sanctuary such as
Multiflora Rose and Japanese Barberry, and removing old junk dumped by adjacent owners
along the property lines.
Entrance to the Dead End Woods Sanctuary is from at the dead end of Wilson Drive and also
a shared driveway at 3745 State Road, between the fourth and fifth houses north of Blueberry
Lane. Visitors must be careful not to block driveways or the fire hydrant at the end of Wilson
Drive.
Gerrits Sanctuary or Wabisiwisibiwinniwak
“Swan Creek Tribal People” in Annishinaabemowin
38.5 Acres, Ira Township, Saint Clair County
Acquisition Date: 2009 July 16
In July of 2009, the TLC acquired its second nature preserve, the Gerrits Sanctuary, a
donation from Lois Gerrits, wife of the late Dr. James F. Gerrits. The closing was held at the
Law Offices of Timothy J. Lozen, with attorney Anna Kovar http://www.lozenlaw.com/ and TLC
executive board members William Collins and Terry Gill present. Ullenbruch Flowers and Gifts
of Port Huron http://www.ullenbruchsflower.com/ kindly donated a bouquet of flowers to
express our appreciation to Mrs. Gerrits.
Dr. James Gerrits was well known in Saint Clair County. He was co-pilot of a bomber in World
War II, and later a fighter and test pilot. Because of his war experiences, he became an
outspoken critic of war. He and Lois twice voluntarily went to Vietnam in the 1960’s,
sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and Catholic Church, to provide civilian medical
care to the people of both South and North Vietnam. Lois shared several stories about those
times after our closing.
The Gerrits Sanctuary is 38.5 acres located along the east boundary of the City of New
Baltimore, only about ¾ mile north of Anchor Bay and Lake Saint Clair. The southern half of
the sanctuary is a complex of mature mesic and swamp forest. The north half is old-field and
the Crapaud Creek Drain runs through the north end of the preserve. Years ago, the property
was part of the Gerrits family farm.
The forest on the Gerrits Sanctuary is an impressive mix of southern swamp and mesic
upland containing plant populations relict from centuries ago. Dominant vegetation in the
extensive wetlands includes Silver Maple, Green Ash (all large trees dead due to the Emerald
Ash Borer), Eastern Cottonwood, American Elm, Cinnamon Fern, and various sedges. The
upland forest is a mature and species-rich southern forest community of American Beech,
Sugar Maple, Red Oak, White Oak, Black Cherry, American Basswood, Tuliptree, Yellow
Birch, Mayapple, White Trillium, Wild Geranium, Canada Mayflower, Spinulose Woodfern,
Jack-in-the-pulpit, Solomon’s-seal, Yellow Trout-lily, and Spring Beauty among many other
forest herbs. Along the southwestern boundary of the sanctuary, the vegetation on moist sand
tip-up mounds is distinctly northern with clubmosses, Wild Sarsaparilla, Starflower, and
Goldthread. Some areas look surprisingly like habitat for Michigan Endangered Painted
Trillium – Trillium undulatum, currently known only from the Port Huron area.
The Gerrits Sanctuary is part of one of the largest and least fragmented forest tracts
remaining along the Great Lakes coastline from Ohio north through the Algonac area. The
larger forest is nearly 300 acres, of which the Gerrits Sanctuary includes only about 20 acres
of that forest, or about 7% of it. At the southern limit of the forest along M-29, it is within 1,000
feet of Anchor Bay. Near-shore natural areas are critical for migratory birds and insects that
move along the Great Lakes. The Gerrits Sanctuary provides habitat both for migratory
woodland birds and for migratory insects, like butterflies, in the old-field on the north half of
the preserve.
Official entrance to the Gerrits Sanctuary is from near the end of Sienna Oaks Drive near the
north side of the Sanctuary. However, there is a steel fence blocking access and a gate that is
usually kept locked by the City of New Baltimore. It is best to contact the TLC if you want to
access the Sanctuary.
Peltier Sanctuary or Ke’Ya Makoce
“Turtle Land ” in Lakota
11.5 Acres, Fort Gratiot Township, Saint Clair County
Acquisition Date: 2010 June 28
In June of 2010, the TLC received its third nature preserve, the 11.5-acre Peltier Sanctuary in
Fort Gratiot Township, Saint Clair County. The parcel was given to the TLC by Ray and Nancy
Peltier to satisfy State of Michigan requirements for the long-term protection of 6.3 acres of
wetland on the property, preserved as mitigation for 0.63 acre of wetland to be impacted by
an expansion of the Hamzavi Dermatology office in Fort Gratiot:
https://www.hamzaviderm.com/. The Peltier’s negotiated a deal with Dr. Syed Hamzavi to
preserve the wetland and adjoining upland on their property as mitigation for the Hamzavi
Dermatology project. As with our first preserve, the Dead End Woods Sanctuary in Fort
Gratiot, the Peltier Sanctuary is protected by a State of Michigan conservation easement. In
accepting ownership of the mitigation property, the TLC agreed to be responsible for submittal
of an approved management plan, annual monitoring of the conservation easement, longterm
stewardship, and submittal of annual monitoring reports to the State.
The Peltier Sanctuary is located a few hundred feet south of the end of West Montevista
Drive, south of Metcalf Road, and along the east side of the Detroit Water Board property. The
intake pipes from Lake Huron for the Detroit Water facility are very near the north property
line. Also just north is the TLC Bertha’s Haven Sanctuary, previously owned by the Michigan
Nature Association, and four small lots north of the MNA preserve owned by the Saint Clair
County Drain Commissioner to be preserved as wetland mitigation for a future project.
Although some people use the Detroit Water line property to enter the Peltier Sanctuary from
East Montevista Drive, the actual entrance is from North Shoreview Drive, just east of the
intersection with San Juan Drive.
The Peltier Sanctuary is a small part of a much larger and ecologically unique beach ridge or
dune and swale landscape formed thousands of years ago along portions of the early Great
Lakes shoreline as water levels dropped, rose again, and then dropped to modern levels after
the last glacial period. The ridge and swale landscape in this part of the Thumb is a long,
narrow formation within about 1 mile of the Lake Huron shoreline, extending from Port Huron
into Sanilac County. The landscape began forming about 11,500 years ago as the last stages
of the Wisconsinan glacier melted back and early Lake Huron was about 30 feet higher than
today. About 1,500 years later, the melting glacier uncovered a new outlet from the Georgian
Bay and the water dropped over 400 feet. The massive weight of glacial ice depressed the
earth’s crust for thousands of years, but as it melted, the crust slowly rose and continues
today. By 4,500 years ago, the drainage outlet from Georgian Bay raised such that early Lake
Huron filled to the Lake Nipissing stage and back to the old shoreline of 7,000 years previous.
Great Lakes drainage was gradually limited to the Mississippi River through the old Chicago
outlet, and then to the current Saint Clair River outlet, which rapidly down-cut and lowered the
Great Lakes to modern levels, leaving a series of beach ridges as the water dropped.
Most of the Peltier Sanctuary is forested, except a large trail that runs through the western
part of the preserve, and portions of the sand ridges to the east. Like most of the landscape,
the wetland swales are covered by Silver Maple, Green Ash and Black Ash, the larger ash
trees now all dead due to the Emerald Ash Borer, Eastern Cottonwood, and American Elm.
The upland beach ridges are covered largely by Black Cherry, Big-tooth Aspen, and American
Basswood, with scattered Black Oak and a few Arbor Vitae. The lower ridge bases are lined
with Paper Birch and covered by an unusual concentration of Alternate-leaved Dogwood.
Much of the beach ridge and swale landscape in Saint Clair County was impacted years ago
by logging, clearing, draining, livestock grazing, and sand mining. Because the surrounding
forest as a whole has either been degraded or eliminated, subsequent forest species
recruitment has been severely diminished, which has limited the return of many forest plants
and therefore, the recovery of a mature forest community. The dominance of invasive species
like Tartarian Honeysuckle, Common Privet, and Garlic Mustard has further displaced mature
forest species.
Despite so many impacts, the landscape still contains high quality habitat with several unique
species. Like other parts of the landscape, a few sand ridges on the Peltier Sanctuary contain
small patches of Purple-flowering Raspberry, the Lower Peninsula’s equivalent of the Upper
Peninsula’s Thimbleberry, with large flowers and large raspberry fruits that actually fit over a
finger like a thimble. Purple-flowering Raspberry is thought to be native to only seven
shoreline counties in Michigan. The species is so restricted to this habitat in Saint Clair
County that it’s symbolic of it.
Yellow Lady’s-slipper orchid grows in a variety of habitats, but in Saint Clair County is largely
restricted to the moist ridge bases and mucky swales of this landscape. Several Yellow
Lady’s-slipper orchids have been found on the Peltier Sanctuary.
The Eastern Hog-nosed Snake is a special reptilian inhabitant that has been found just a few
hundred feet south of the Peltier Sanctuary. They prefer the more open sand of dunes and
disturbed ground such as along the south end of the sanctuary. When aggravated, the snakes
flatten their necks like a cobra, and then sometimes roll over and play dead with their mouths
hanging open. They can look imposing, but are harmless. The Eastern Hog-nosed Snake is
more common in the southern plains and southeastern US, but is considered to be at some
risk of extirpation in the Great Lakes region, Ontario, and New England.
One of the most critical functions of this coastal forest habitat is the support it provides to an
abundance of migratory birds as they move north and south along the Lake Huron shoreline.
The spring and summer breeding bird population is very abundant and diverse in this area,
especially the forest warblers. Several species of warblers have been identified on the Peltier
Sanctuary.
The Peltier Sanctuary is a high quality wetland and upland complex with a unique geologic
history, unique plant and animal community, significant Great Lakes coastal habitat, good
restoration potential, and a great addition to the TLC preserve lands. The beach ridge or dune
and swale landscape is a high priority for the TLC and we continue working to promote
preservation of this area through our Southern Lake Huron Coastal Park project.
North Street Station
5220 North Road, North Street, Michigan
0.5 Acre, Clyde Township, Saint Clair County
Acquisition Date: 2016 August 02
In 2016, the TLC purchased the old general store, post office, and rail station in North Street
through the Saint Clair County tax auction. This historic structure would have been
demolished if not acquired by a preservation group. The North Street station is one of only
two remaining stations between Port Huron and Croswell along the old Port Huron and
Northwestern Railway which opened in 1879. The main line ran from Port Huron to Saginaw,
with branches to Sandusky, Port Hope, and Port Austin. The line became part of the Pere
Marquette Railroad in 1889. The main structure on the North Street site probably dates back
to at least 1889, but was later partially modified in the mid 1940’s to serve as a residence.
The TLC is partnering with the Clyde Historical Society to protect the structure and fundraise
for restoration. We are currently restoring the exterior and plan to install signs describing the
history of the site. Eventually, we would like to restore the interior, display related historical
artifacts, and open it for meetings and public events.
The North Street Station is still a diamond-in-the-rough, but completion of the metal roof in
late 2022 was a major improvement. In the summer of 2023, we plan to add a good coat of
brown enamel paint to the sheet metal. Then, we can begin removing the outer siding on the
main structure to expose the original plank siding. We need to identify where the original
doors and windows were because the structure has been modified at least once. After the
siding work, a coat of white paint, the North Street Station will resemble the historic structure
it once was, dating back at least to the early 1900’s.
Bertha’s Haven Sanctuary or Mindimooyenh
“An Elder Woman of Great Respect ” in Annishinaabemowin
0.62 Acre, Fort Gratiot Township, Saint Clair County
Acquisition Date: 2019 September 27
In September of 2019, the TLC accepted ownership of the Galbraith Plant Preserve from the
Michigan Nature Association (MNA). The preserve is located only about 150 feet north of our
Peltier Sanctuary, in the same beach ridge or dune and swale landscape along Lake Huron in
Fort Gratiot and we have been watching over it when we go out to the Peltier Sanctuary. MNA
founder and director, Bertha Daubendiek, established this preserve back in 1972 as a place to
transplant native wildflowers from the adjacent Detroit Water Board property before the Lake
Huron water intake facility was constructed. The TLC renamed the preserve in honor of
Bertha Daubendiek, to “Bertha’s Haven”, borrowing part of an older name for the preserve.
For more information about Bertha Daubendiek and the Michigan Nature Association, see
these articles written by TLC Executive Director, William Collins:
http://www.huronecologic.com/thumb_habitats022004.htm
http://www.huronecologic.com/thumb_habitats032004.htm
Loznak Sanctuary or Yänhdawa’ yeh de yenhta’ iyaen’
“The Prairie is Near the River ” in Huron-Wendat
Honoring Charles and Elizabeth Loznak
11.5 Acres, City of Marysville, Saint Clair County
Acquisition Date: 2019 December 18
In December of 2019, under the guidance of TLC attorney Timothy Lozen, the TLC
accepted donation of the 11.5-acre Loznak Sanctuary, along with a small endowment
fund, from Loznak Real Estate Enterprises, LLC. The Loznak Sanctuary honors the
memory of Charles and Elizabeth Loznak. The sanctuary is located adjacent to an industrial
area along Wills Street in Marysville, east of Busha Highway in Marysville.
The Loznak Sanctuary is adjacent to the old Port Huron and Detroit Railroad line with an old
rail spur running through the middle of the sanctuary. It is also adjacent to approximately 26
acres of unusual ridge and swale forest with an interesting alluvial origin along the Saint Clair
River dating back almost 5,000 years ago. Despite the impact of previous industrial use
connected with a World War II munitions factory, the Loznak Sanctuary is a nice recovering
natural area with patches of young forest interspersed with the remains of concrete
foundations reminiscent of monuments. The east half of the sanctuary contains lakeplain
prairie vegetation with uncommon species such as Riddell’s Goldenrod – Solidago riddellii,
Fringed Gentian – Gentianopsis crinita, and Mountain Mint – Pycnanthemum virginianum.
Historic aerial photographs and mapping show that, other than limited use of the property
appearing to begin and end with World War II, the land appears to have been generally
undisturbed. A 1937 aerial photograph shows the Loznak Sanctuary and vicinity was
completely vacant and part of a large swath of mostly open land along the Saint Clair River
which may have been farmed. Similar lakeplain prairie habitat in the Marysville area, where
land use was not so intensive, serves as refugia for plants remnant of original populations that
existed prior to European settlement. Michigan Threatened Sullivant’s Milkweed – Asclepias
sullivantii, a rare lakeplain prairie plant found in only 8 southeast counties in Michigan, is
known from several locations in the Marysville area.
We envision the Loznak Sanctuary as a small park highlighting the interesting combination of
natural area, World War II industrial history, and railroad history relating to the old Port Huron
and Detroit Railroad, now owned by CSX Transportation, running along the west side of the
sanctuary and the rail spur connecting to it.
Bidwell Sanctuary or Chëkhònèsink hìtkwike schind lèkuwake
“Among Hemlocks on Sand Where Breaking Waves Are Heard ” in Lenape
42.1 Acres, Burtchville Township, Saint Clair County
Acquisition Date: 2020 July 17
In 2020, the TLC acquired the 42.1-acre Bidwell Sanctuary in Burtchville Township, located in
the beach ridge or dune and swale complex along Lake Huron. The Bidwell Sanctuary
acquisition was the first major fundraising project for the TLC and a significant preservation
accomplishment on behalf of the Blue Water Area.
The Bidwell Sanctuary is part of the proposed Southern Lake Huron Coastal Park. We have
been clearing a foot trail that now extends about two-thirds of the way north into the half-mile
long preserve. This trail will include another half-mile loop back down to the preserve
entrance, and we hope, eventually, will connect with a branch of the county Bay to Bridge
Trail.
In 2022, the TLC was awarded a grant for $4,500 from the Bioregion Reparation Fund, a
donor-advised fund established by the Full Circle EcoHouse of Prayer of Port Huron and
administered by the Community Foundation of Saint Clair County. The grant will be used
by the TLC to construct an informational kiosk at the entrance of our Bidwell Sanctuary to
provide information about the ancient beach ridge or dune and swale ecosystem, the
Southern Lake Huron Coastal Park, project supporters, and the TLC.
Tranquil Ridge Sanctuary
0.446 Acre, Dryden Township, Lapeer County
Acquisition Date: 2021 April 09
In 2021, the TLC purchased the 0.446-acre Tranquil Ridge Sanctuary located along Lake
George Road near the Oakland County border in Dryden Township, Lapeer County. The
Sanctuary is located on top of a narrow ridge along the east edge of a huge forested valley,
nearly 1 mile across and 2 miles long, with a series of lakes and wetlands at the bottom. This
impressive ice-contact landscape formed as retreating glaciers left massive ice fragments
across the interlobate region. These large ice blocks, surrounded by outwash deposits.
melted away, leaving steep embankments around depressions full of meltwater known as a
kettle lakes.
The plant community on the Tranquil Ridge Sanctuary is basically dry-mesic forest of Black
Oak, White Oak, Black Cherry, Big-tooth Aspen, Black Locust, and Sassafras. Black Locust
trees are apparently native to south-central North America but invasive in Michigan. Although
the Tranquil Ridge Sanctuary is a very small property, it is part of a much larger natural area,
largely covered by mature oak forest. Not only is it an interesting and uncommon glacial
landscape in Michigan, but it is very scenic and largely undeveloped and forested due to the
extreme slopes. Future development of the area is most likely to be limited to very disperse
single-family residences. For now, you can sit on one of the boulders on top of the ridge and
look out over the valley with Brooks Lake shining below and feel the solitude.
Tranquil Ridge Sanctuary is located in a relatively untouched natural area, but there was an
old cottage on the adjacent property that was demolished years ago. Because of the old
cottage site, limited soil disturbance allowed a few invasive plants like Black Locust,
honeysuckle, and privet to spread onto what would become the Sanctuary. There was also
some old junk scattered around, but the TLC has removed most of it. Decades ago, the
property was used as a band camp. The property was then purchased by a group of Ford
Motor Company employees and was known as the Brooks Lake Campground. An abandoned
structure south of the preserve was known as the Stone Cabin, one of several cabins used by
the campers. The campground was later sold and all of the structures fell into disrepair, which
explains the refuse we cleaned-up on and around the preserve.
In 2022, the Four County Community Foundation based in Almont made a grant of $2,000 to
the TLC to fund stewardship and improvements on the preserve. So far, the funds have paid
for a preserve sign, marking of the property corners by our surveyor, clean-up, and invasive
weed removal. The Tranquil Ridge Sanctuary was already a beautiful place without our work,
providing an impressive view over a large forest valley and Brooks Lake below. However,
there is always room for improvement. We continue our clean-up and removal of Black Locust
trees which are very rot-resistant and make great posts for fences and signs that can last a
century. Tranquil Ridge Sanctuary is a small part of a large, relatively untouched and
sustainable mature forest ecosystem. With our continued work, it is only getting better.
Full Circle Sanctuary
8.5 Acres, Kimball Township, Saint Clair County
Acquisition Date: 2022 August 11
The Full Circle Sanctuary is 8.5 acres of forest at the southwest corner of Flinchbaugh Road
and Barth Road in Kimball Township, Saint Clair County. The sanctuary is completely forested
and located in an area of well-document Painted Trillium occurrence, a Michigan Endangered
wildflower that is now recorded only from Saint Clair County in all of Michigan. Most of the
Full Circle Sanctuary is covered by swamp forest. Low upland rises across the Sanctuary are
covered primarily by mature oaks, including Red Oak, Black Oak, and White Oak.
The Full Circle Sanctuary is named in honor of the Full Circle EcoHouse of Prayer in Port
Huron, honoring the work of Sisters Veronica Blake and Concepción González, well-known
members of the Blue Water area environmental community. Sister Veronica and Sister
Concepción are members of the United States Region of the Sisters of Mary Reparatrix, an
international religious congregation. Since its founding in France in 1857, the Sisters of Mary
Reparatrix have been dedicated to repairing fractured relationships among humans and with
God. In the second half of the 20th century, global environmental crises caused them to also
focus on the need for humans to repair their relationship to the Earth.
Veronica and Concepción came to Port Huron in 1987. Veronica is from Manhattan, New York
City. Concepción was originally from Camaguey, Cuba, and had served in Peru and Colombia
previously. In 1990, they established the Full Circle House of Prayer in Port Huron’s South
Park, where they began offering spiritual retreats and workshops. Soon after, the Sisters
started SWAMP, Savers of Wetlands and Marshy Places, for youngsters eight to twelve years
old. Monthly gatherings, field trips and projects helped the children mature into adults who
care about Earth and its ecosystems. Over the years since, they have focused more and
more on the integrity of all Creation. They acquired a second house in Port Huron, naming it
the Full Circle EcoHouse, and they have interacted with and supported many other local
environmental groups. For more information about the Full Circle EcoHouse of Prayer and the
Sisters of Mary Reparatrix, visit their web sites at:
Full Circle EcoHouse of Prayer: FullCircleRetreat.org
Sisters of Mary Reparatrix: https://smr.org/en
Sisters of Mary Reparatrix USA: http://www.maryrep.org/
Charles Dodge Sanctuary
2.78 Acres, Clyde Township, Saint Clair County
Acquisition Date: 2022 August 11
The 2.78-acre preserve is located north of Bryce Road in Clyde Township, Saint Clair County,
formerly part of the Port Huron State Game Area. The preserve is covered by a generally
northern forest community and located in a known Painted Trillium area, only several
hundred feet west of the TLC Bob Putze conservation easement and about a half mile north
of the Michigan Nature Association Mary Stallins Ray Memorial Plant Preserve. There is still a
lot of State land in the vicinity, all part of the PHSGA, but all at risk of expanding development
and other land-use.
Although this preserve is just a very small piece of the Black River valley, the TLC thought it
appropriate to honor Port Huron botanist Charles K. Dodge, who over a century ago,
advocated for protection of the valley as a nature reserve. Maybe this small preserve will lead
to a bigger preserve but every piece of nature is now important.
Charles Keene Dodge was born on April 26, 1844 north of Jackson, Michigan and grew up on
a nearby farm. Attending the University of Michigan, he had a botany course, required for both
classical and scientific studies back when nature was still a foundation of basic higher
education.
After graduating in 1870, he taught for four years in the Upper Peninsula, then worked for the
law firm of Hubbell and Chadbourne in Houghton, and admitted to the bar in 1875. Dodge
moved back south to Port Huron to start his own law practice, impressed by the prosperity of
the city. But the depression of 1876-77 gave him a tough time as an unestablished young
lawyer of “average ability” as he humbly described himself. In his own words, he was “…
lucky to get a five dollar case with a thief for a client”.
About this time, his interest in botany blossomed. Dodge wrote, “Without any apparent mental
effort I took to botany and was never able to let it alone. Everything described within the limits
of Gray’s Manual [then the leading floral guide for our region] interested me. Woods, trees,
fields, all formed an irresistible attraction.” Dodge’s own copy of Gray’s Manual is kept at the
University of Michigan Herbarium. He consecutively numbered every species in the manual,
intent on collecting them all as herbarium specimens; pressed plants mounted on paper with
labels indicating the species and location.
Dodge later told Cecil Billington, the curator of the Michigan State University Herbarium, “…
how at first, he would go to the woods or fields, bringing in a few plants carefully hidden under
his coat so that his friends and neighbors could not see them. They nicknamed him ‘Posy’
Dodge, which name he did not relish and tried to avoid occasion for its use as much as
possible. However, this feeling gradually wore off, and Mr. Dodge, carrying his much-battered
vasculum [specimen case], was a familiar figure on the streets of Port Huron, particularly
those streets leading to the country.”
He preferred to travel on bicycle, rather than horse and buggy. Apparently, this was somewhat
unusual at the time, but allowed him to cover a large territory. Dodge wrote an article for the
Asa Gray Bulletin in 1896 entitled, The Bicycle and Botany.
By 1880, Dodge was the City Attorney of Port Huron. He later served as a Circuit Court
Commissioner for two terms, another year as the City Attorney, and one year as the City
Controller.
In 1893, Dodge was appointed Deputy Collector of the United States Customs Office in Port
Huron, and largely retired from legal practice, which afforded him much more time for botany.
This same year, he tossed nearly his entire herbarium collection out the back window of his
house, dissatisfied with his work. His ambition was then to collect the entire flora of North
America. This was about two years after he returned from a two-year stay in the American
west. He soon realized that the task was too huge and decided to concentrate on Michigan
and adjacent areas. He eventually collected about 40,000 specimens, now held by the
University of Michigan Herbarium.
In 1897, at the age of 53, Charles married Millie Burns. They lived at 2805 Gratiot Avenue in
Port Huron, a few blocks north of the present Blue Water Bridges. The modest two-story
wood-frame house is still there, and in their time was a “… pretty, quiet home with ample
grounds of about four and one-half acres, garden, fruit trees and opportunities for botanical
experiments”.
In 1900 Dodge published Flora of St. Clair County, Michigan and the Western Part of
Lambton County, Ontario. In the preface he wrote, “For the last twenty-two years, as spare
time would permit, I have been interested in studying and identifying the plants of this locality,
including only flowering plants, ferns, and their allies. Outdoor recreation being with me a
necessity as well as a great pleasure, and desiring to have an object in view in my various
wanderings on the wheel, at the suggestion of a friend, about six years ago, I undertook to
find and examine, during my leisure hours, all the plants referred to, growing wild in [the
region].” His primary interest became “… finding out what grows wild in Michigan”, and he
often expressed his wish to live long enough to survey the entire State.
Dodge was particularly drawn to native trees. From 1901 to 1909 he studied the complex
hawthorn genus Crataegus throughout Michigan, especially around Port Huron and Sarnia.
Partly due to his work, the type specimens, the basis for species descriptions, of 52 hawthorn
species were collected from Michigan, several in Saint Clair County. Dodge even has a
hawthorn species named for him, Crataegus dodgei.
Edward Voss, well known author of the three-volume Michigan Flora among other
publications, mentions Dodge in his book, Botanical Beachcombers and Explorers, an
excellent history of 19th Century botany in the Great Lakes region. Voss said Dodge was “…
a collector who was particularly obsessed with citing his home town almost every time he
used his name. I have seen labels on which he did it three times, but usually it was printed
neatly twice …”.
Dodge was often at odds with “… interests in Port Huron which sought to destroy in a
measure the beauty of his home city”. In 1911, Dodge wrote the Flora of the County section of
History of St. Clair County by William Jenks, and took this opportunity to lament the loss of
native habitat in the area even then. Dodge wrote, “It seems to the writer it has been
established beyond cavil that a country cannot be stripped of its trees, shrubs, and
herbaceous plants without the greatest danger to its welfare. It is a matter about which, in this
country, there is widespread and almost universal popular ignorance and unpardonable
apathy.”
In the same publication, Dodge proposed the creation of a large “… public reservation of
3,000 or 4,000 acres in one piece for St. Clair county” to preserve native flora and fauna of
the region. He wrote, “The very best place for such a proposed reservation in this county is in
the township of Clyde where Mill creek joins Black river”. This is the present location of the
Port Huron State Game Area.
Starting in 1908, at 64, Dodge made many expeditions through the Upper Peninsula with the
Michigan Geological and Biological Survey. He explored the western shoreline of Lake Huron
from Bay City to Saint Ignace, and was very familiar with the Thumb. His observations of
Tuscola County and other regions were published by the Geological Survey in 1920. In 1917,
his final year of life, at 73, he began investigating the flora of Berrien County.
Cecil Billington accompanied Dodge on some of his later excursions, and wrote, “… Mr.
Dodge could hold his own on a tramp with most of the younger men of a party … work far into
the night putting up his specimens for drying, and seemingly be as fresh as ever for the next
[day]”.
Dodge was a kind and generous man, often making long excursions with beginning botanists
through territory he knew would provide no new plant species for himself. He left nearly a
complete set of the roughly 3,000 species he knew to grow wild in the region to the Port
Huron Academy of Science for “… those who care to know anything about the plants of their
vicinity.”
Croissant Sanctuary
9.976 Acres, Brandon Township, Oakland County
Acquisition Date: 2023 February 22
In late February of 2023, the TLC accepted the donation of nearly 10 acres of property from
Dr. Paul Croissant, located along the east side of M-15 Ortonville Road in Brandon Township,
Oakland County, just south of Ortonville. This property is outside of our six-county territory but
not far from Lapeer County. We are not likely to own it for very long. Because of its location
along M-15 and close proximity to Ortonville, the property is surrounded by commercial and
residential development. It is partially wooded, but dominated by weedy species like Black
Locust, Box-elder, and Eastern Cottonwood. The eastern two-thirds of the property was
excavated out decades ago for landfill cover, leaving a wetland depression covered largely by
weedy vegetation. Despite this, every natural area has value and now matters with so much
having been lost. Our plan is to place a conservation easement on about 7.5 acres of the
wooded wetland and sell the approximately 2.5 acres along M-15 to raise funds to purchase
other natural areas. The remaining land protected by conservation easement would serve as
a nice little preserve for the many residents that border the north and east sides of the
property.
Dr. Paul Croissant is a neurological surgeon with Trinity Health in Pontiac. Dr. Croissant has
practiced in Oakland County since 1970. He completed his medical training in the
Philadelphia area, but as he put it, attended about 12 schools in as many years as a kid
because his father served as an officer in the United States Army. His family moved across
the United States, even living in Panama for a while. Dr. Croissant later served in the Army
Reserve. He flew small airplanes for several years. He enjoyed running for many years, from
his late 30s, often running up to 10 miles per day. One of his favorite events has been the
annual Crim Festival of Races in the city of Flint. Dr. Croissant has long enjoyed the outdoors,
particularly hunting, and has made several trips out West to hunt Pronghorn Antelope, and
Africa four times. These days, he mostly hunts pheasants with his bird dog. He and his former
wife, Mary Jane, have three adult children and five grandchildren; three granddaughters who
are in high school and excellent competitive dancers, and two younger grandsons who are “a
hoot”.
This property came to us through Bill Vandercook, a Lapeer-based land consultant working
with Dr. Croissant. Bill has worked in conservation in the region for many years and has
helped landowners throughout Michigan with land and conservation issues. He founded MI
Land Guide, LLC (MiLandGuide.com), which helps landowners with financial and debt relief
assistance, value-added conservation planning, and tax-reducing programs that benefit the
land and cost of land ownership, protecting land wealth into the future.
TLC Conservation Easements
Bob Putze Preserve
The Bob Putze Preserve is the first residential landowner conservation easement agreement
for the TLC. The conservation easement adjoins the Port Huron State Game Area along the
west side of Abbottsford Road; a very nice northern forest community with lots of Eastern
White Pine, and tall Red Pines that Bob Putze planted in 1964. Edge species like Big-tooth
Aspen and planted spruce are gradually dying off in the increasing shade, while shadetolerant
American Beech and Sugar Maple are colonizing the understory, a natural process
known as forest succession which leads to a mature native forest community. The groundlevel
vegetation is diverse and of good native quality with the usual species of cool sandy
soils in the Port Huron area including at least three species of clubmoss, a distant cousin of
ferns, along with Canada Mayflower, Wintergreen, and Low Sweet Blueberry. A small area of
wetland is covered by Royal Fern with Michigan Holly shrubs. Bob Putze’s forest is potential
habitat for Michigan Endangered Painted Trillium, a rare species now known only from Saint
Clair in all of Michigan, and occurring within a mile of Bob’s land.
Bob Putze is a very conscientious and reverent man who loves God’s creation and cares for
every animal that ventures onto his land. Bob feeds them all, including deer, turkeys, rabbits,
raccoons, opossums, and stray cats. Even Pileated Woodpeckers come to his suet feeder,
and Flying Squirrels live in a nest box by his driveway. Bob has always felt a spiritual
connection to his land. For years, he wanted to ensure that the woods would remain natural
and undeveloped after he is gone. The conservation easement signed with the Thumb Land
Conservancy in March of 2017 provides the legal basis for that protection in perpetuity.
The Bob Putze Preserve is characteristic of the drier and more northerly forest remaining in
the region. In the Port Huron area, northern forest complex is a second-growth woodland
complex of mesic to dry-mesic northern forest, dry-mesic southern forest, hardwood-conifer
swamp, and southern hardwood swamp on sandy soils extending across large parts of
Kimball, Clyde, and Port Huron Townships. The vegetation of this complex is a unique blend
of northern and southern flora, skewed largely toward northern species. This generally
northern community complex covers a broad and flat landscape of coarse to fine sands
deposited across the glacial lakeplain, the dominant cover being swamp forest. Smaller
upland sand ridges are typically scattered throughout the complex, deposited in glacial
drainageways or as glacial lake beaches and inland dunes.
Northern forest communities occur almost exclusively north of the “tension zone” or “transition
zone”, a rough division of northern and southern flora in the northeastern United States,
extending from Maine through Minnesota and dividing the lower peninsula of Michigan
roughly in half. North of the transition zone, conifer trees are a major component of the forest
along with broad-leaved hardwood trees. South of the transition zone, conifers are largely
absent. The combination of climate and soils north of the transition zone favors northern
vegetation, and south of the zone favors southern vegetation. In Michigan, the transition zone
is broad, roughly 100 miles wide in some areas, running from near Muskegon on Lake
Michigan, to the Saginaw Bay and across the northern tip of the Thumb. Some consider the
transition zone to extend down through the lower part of the Thumb, but most restrict it to
northern Huron County. Although there is some disagreement as to the precise location and
extent of the transition zone, it is certain that many northern plant species reach their
southern range limit there, and conversely, many southern plant species reach their northern
limits. Regardless, the occurrence of large northern plant communities south of Saginaw Bay
is unusual. The primary factor in the southern extension of northern flora in the Thumb is the
cooler growing season near Lake Huron. Northern vegetation extends down from Huron
County in a narrow coastal zone through Sanilac County, spreading out to the south and west
over the low, flat, wet sands of Saint Clair County on the glacial lakeplain.. Other factors
include extensive sand soils, a generally high water table perched above a shallow layer of
lakeplain clay, and the historic influence of fire.
Several rare or uncommon plant species occur almost exclusively in this northern forest
complex in Saint Clair County. The complex contains all of the currently known and extant
populations of Michigan Endangered Painted Trillium – Trillium undulatum in Michigan.
Michigan Threatened Northern Prostrate Clubmoss – Lycopodiella margueritae was recorded
from the area in 2002 but now its occurrence is apparently questionable due to a recent
change in the taxonomic status of the species. Other uncommon plants that may be found in
the complex include Creeping Rattlesnake Plantain – Goodyera repens, Downy Rattlesnake
Plantain – Goodyera pubescens, Tesselated Rattlesnake Plantain – Goodyera tesselata,
Trailing-arbutus – Epigaea repens, Pink Lady-slipper orchid – Cypripedium acaule, and Showy
Orchis – Galearis spectabilis.
Koester Preserve
The 79.4-acre Koester Conservation Easement in Fort Gratiot Township, Saint Clair County,
was established on April 4, 2020 and protects one of the larger forest tracts remaining in the
township. The property is located along the south side of Keewahdin Road and Pine Grove
Avenue, extending south one-half mile. The land owners, Darrin and Kim Koester, constructed
their residence on 5 acres in the north end of the parcel. The conservation easement allowed
the Koester’s to afford the property taxes on this large parcel, which had not been sold for
many years. Upon sale, the property taxes would have increased significantly and made the
land unaffordable for the Koester’s as a residence.
The Koester Preserve includes a large area of relatively mature, non-fragmented southern
swamp and hardwood-conifer swamp forest complex on seasonally inundated to moist sands
with scattered upland knolls. Wetland vegetation includes Silver Maple, Green Ash, American
Elm, Eastern Cottonwood, Bur Oak, Swamp White Oak, American Hornbeam, Spicebush,
Dwarf Raspberry, Spotted Touch-me-not, False Nettle, Clearweed, Marsh-marigold, Sensitive
Fern, Royal Fern, Spinulose Woodfern, Fowl Manna Grass, Lake Sedge, and Tussock Sedge.
Upland vegetation includes Red Oak, Black Oak, White Oak, American Beech, Basswood,
Sugar Maple, Red Maple, Tulip Tree, Sassafras, Serviceberry, Witch-hazel, Jack-in-the-pulpit,
White Avens, Solomon-seal, Wild Geranium, and Yellow trout-lily. Many of the native forest
plant species are typically of a more northern distribution in Michigan, including Paper Birch,
Eastern White Pine, Eastern Hemlock, Speckled Alder, Black Chokeberry, Meadowsweet,
Low Sweet Blueberry, Dwarf Raspberry, Wintergreen, Goldthread, Canada Mayflower, Wild
Sarsaparilla, Foamflower, Wood Anemone, Bracken Fern, Royal Fern, Northern Lady Fern,
Ground-pine, and Ground-cedar. Likewise, there are species that are typically more southern,
including Black Oak, Sassafras, Tulip Tree, and Spicebush. This sort of southern-meetsnorthern
forest is characteristic of the Blue Water Area, a transitional vegetative region where
nearby Lake Huron maintains cooler summers and warmer winters.
The south end of the parcel was partially logged in recent years but tree removal appears to
have been limited largely to dead ash. The logging left a lot of deep tire ruts in the south end,
but the forest plant community is still intact.
The Koester’s developed their residence on land that was cleared decades ago and covered
by planted pines along with very common or weedy species such as Apple, Black Cherry,
hawthorn, Gray Dogwood, Autumn-olive, Common Buckthorn, Tartarian Honeysuckle,
Common Blackberry, Late Goldenrod, Panicled Aster, and grasses. Portions of this area have
so many apple trees, it appears there may have once been a small orchard here. The TLC
assisted the Koester’s in avoiding regulated wetland impacts, optimize the conservation
easement boundaries, identify invasive shrubs such as buckthorn and honeysuckle, plan and
control methods. The TLC will also assist them with management of the conservation
easement in the future to improve the native forest community.
TLC Stewardship Sites
12.35-Acre Deerfield Wind Energy Preserve
Huron Township, Huron County, Michigan
2016 to present
In late 2016, the TLC contracted with Algonquin Power Company of Oakville, Ontario, Canada
to provide stewardship of their 12.35-acre Deerfield Wind Energy Preserve, about 4 miles
west of Port Hope. The Deerfield Wind Energy Preserve was placed under a State
conservation easement as mitigation for wetland impacts resulting from the nearby Deerfield
Wind Energy turbine project. 1.235 acre of State-regulated forested wetland was permanently
converted to open wetland for the purpose of clearing a 60-foot wide right-of-way for an
electrical transmission line. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality allows
preservation of existing wetland, at a 10 to 1 ratio, as mitigation for permitted wetland
impacts. As with the TLC Dead End Woods and Peltier Beach Ridge Sanctuaries in Fort
Gratiot Township in Saint Clair County, the Deerfield Wind Energy preserve was placed under
a State conservation easement as mitigation for permitted wetland impacts. The MDEQ now
requires long-term stewardship on all mitigation sites, usually provided by land conservancies
like the TLC.
Most of the Deerfield Wind Energy Preserve is southern swamp forest with species trending
somewhat toward a northern community. Dominant vegetation includes Silver Maple, Black
Ash saplings and seedlings, Sensitive Fern, Spinulose Woodfern, Wood Nettle, Clearweed,
Lake Sedge, and other sedges. Small upland areas are dominated by Red Maple, Wild Black
Cherry, American Basswood, and, unfortunately, Japanese Barberry. Uncommon native plant
species include Foamflower, Swamp White Oak, Turtlehead, Woodreed Grass, Spicebush,
Cardinal Flower, Round-leaved Pyrola, and Red Trillium. The preserve is part of one of the
larger forest fragments remaining in the Thumb, almost continuous along tributaries of Willow
Creek to Lake Huron. As such, it is not only important for the watershed, but as habitat for
migratory birds. Those observed on the preserve include Wood Thrush, Veery, Eastern Woodpewee,
Evening Grosbeak, many American Redstart warblers, Common Yellowthroat warbler,
Yellow Warbler, Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, and Catbird.
The most immediate stewardship issue on the Deerfield Wind Energy Preserve was
determined to be a dense growth of invasive Japanese Barberry along roughly 600 feet of the
east preserve boundary, extending about 100 feet west into the forest before decreasing to a
few scattered shrubs. The barberry growth apparently exploded in the past few years as a
result of forest clearing on the adjacent parcel east to expand a hay field. The clearing greatly
increased the amount of light exposure in the remaining forest, shifting edge forest conditions
at least another 100 feet west into the preserve.
The TLC proceeded with extensive manual clearing of the barberry in the fall of 2017, as
opposed to herbicide application, after determining that native forest plants under and around
the barberry would likely be eliminated by herbicide. These species include Foamflower,
Turtlehead, Red Trillium, Round-leaved Pyrola, and Canada Mayflower. Deer ticks are known
to concentrate in barberry, much of it head-high on the preserve, which could present a risk of
Lyme Disease to stewards cutting or digging barberry in the summer. To minimize Lyme
Disease risk and destruction of native woodland herbs, the TLC has limited most of our work
to the fall, winter, and early spring. Starting in early September of 2016, the TLC began
cutting barberry shrubs with hand loppers and a gas-powered weed whacker fitted with a 4-
point steel brush blade. Over one acre of barberry has been cut along the east side of the
preserve. In the early spring of 2018, the TLC will start burning the cut barberry stems with a
large propane torch. Repeated for a few years, most of the barberry should eventually be
killed. Others will be manually pulled or dug from the ground.
As with other stewardship sites, the TLC conducts species inventories, detailed
measurements of vegetation in sampling plots across the preserve, general observation, and
extensive photographic documentation as part of the annual monitoring required by the
MDEQ. The TLC inspects all preserves annually to monitor conditions and identify potential
stewardship issues. A detailed monitoring report is submitted to the MDEQ by the end of
January each year.
Major Supporters
[Jeff – I might be over-doing the space given to supporters. I think I’ve repeated this on
about 3 different pages. But leave it for now until we can decide what all goes where.]
Southern Lake Huron Coastal Park
and Bidwell Sanctuary
Fort Gratiot and Burtchville Townships, Saint Clair County
The Carls Foundation, Bloomfield Hills
North American Wetlands Conservation Council
Ducks Unlimited, Michigan Conservation Program
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
Consumers Energy Foundation
Community Foundation of St. Clair County
Franklin H. and Nancy S. Moore Donor Advised Fund
of the Community Foundation of St. Clair County
Cargill Salt of Saint Clair
Cargill, Incorporated
Bioregion Reparation Donor Advised Fund
of the Community Foundation of St. Clair County
SEMCO Energy Gas Company
Christine Powell and Bern Smith, Washington, D.C.
Elizabeth “Bess” Touma, Washington, D.C.
William and Cheryl Collins, Marlette
Dave Ladensack, Summit Realty, Lakeport
Timothy Lozen, Lozen Davidson and Kovar, P.C., Port Huron
Tranquil Ridge Sanctuary
Dryden Township, Lapeer County
Four County Community Foundation, Almont
Timothy Lozen, Lozen Davidson and Kovar, P.C., Port Huron
Loznak Sanctuary
City of Marysville, Saint Clair County
Richard C. Loznak, Loznak Real Estate Enterprises, LLC, Saint Clair
Timothy Lozen, Lozen Davidson and Kovar, P.C., Port Huron
Dan and Wendy Rhein, Port Huron
Dead End Woods Sanctuary
Fort Gratiot Township, Saint Clair County
Pete and Angelene Catlos, Fort Gratiot
Dorothy Craig, Fort Gratiot
Dr. Scott Ferguson, Clyde
Timothy Lozen, Lozen Davidson and Kovar, P.C., Port Huron
Full Circle Sanctuary
Kimball Township, Saint Clair County
William and Cheryl Collins, Marlette
Charles Dodge Sanctuary
Kimball Township, Saint Clair County
William and Cheryl Collins, Marlette
North Street Station
Clyde Township, Saint Clair County
Clyde Historical Society
John Schomaker, North Street
Kay Cumbow, Lynn
Gerrits Sanctuary
Ira Township, Saint Clair County
Lois Gerrits, Saint Clair
Timothy Lozen, Lozen Davidson and Kovar, P.C., Port Huron
Susan Gerrits, Rochester
Randy and Kathleen Schein, Bloomfield Hills
Peltier Sanctuary
Fort Gratiot Township, Saint Clair County
Ray Peltier, Burtchville
Tom and Laurie Dennis, Fort Gratiot
Bertha’s Haven Sanctuary
Fort Gratiot Township, Saint Clair County
Michigan Nature Association
Deerfield Wind Energy Preserve Stewardship
Huron Township, Huron County
Algonquin Power and Utilities Corporation, Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Huron County Community Foundation, Bad Axe