April 9, 2021
The Cok Family legacy: A protected respite on the shores of the Rogue River
The Cok Family recently amended their conservation easement, protecting more vital natural lands in the Rogue River watershed....
Landowner Stories
April 25, 2020
Celebrating trout opener and the landowners who help protect forests for fish
By Nick Sanchez, Conservation Easement Stewardship Specialist Trout season starts today, and what better time to recognize the support of our communities and the families who have worked with us to protect almost 12,000 acres of natural land in our eight-county service area. These lands are primarily comprised of family-owned forests under legal protection through conservation agreements, also known as conservation easements. Being land-dwellers ourselves, we...
April 17, 2020
No trails, no problem.
Exploring the Harters' peaceful creekside getaway—protected by a conservation easement. Susi Harter prefers to walk off the beaten path. “It’s a very refueling kind of feeling to go out in the woods and just wander around and not have a plan,” she said. That is why she decided...
November 25, 2019
35 conservation agreements. 3,300 acres of protected land. One community.
How neighbors have worked together to protect the Pere Marquette River. Conservation agreements are often viewed as private, individual acts of conservation, where landowners work directly with a land trust to protect their own land from development based on their vision for future use of the...
February 5, 2019
Working together to protect Hamlin Lake
Sand dunes, forests, wetlands, and streams—all contribute to the character and appeal of Hamlin Lake. Located just north of Ludington, this 5,000 acre lake is fed by the Big Sable River. In recent months, two separate conservation projects collectively protected over 300 acres of the...
July 30, 2018
Giving Back to the Land
If you asked Bruce and Ellen Vartian, they would tell you that the land where they live has taken care of them for nearly 40 years. Last summer they decided, after all the time the land has taken care of them, it was time to...
March 10, 2016
Conservation Agreement Success: The Gustafsons
Each Spring, when Peter and Ginny Gustafson’s children were young, they gave a prize to the first child to hear the whip-poor-will make its endlessly repeated call. The fifty acres of the Gustafson property is a welcome refuge for bats and birds and many other...
December 28, 2006
Conservation Agreement Success: Reed Family
200 Acres along the Pere Marquette River Todd and Budde Reed love to hunt. They also love the scenic beauty and forested river frontage of their family’s private hunting land, and so do their sons. For these reasons the Reeds created a conservation easement with the...
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