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616-451-9476

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August 22, 2016

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About Us

The Land Conservancy of West Michigan is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that works to keep nature nearby and conserve ecologically critical land in West Michigan. We protect land by creating public nature preserves, providing support to communities and local governments creating natural areas, and helping private landowners protect their own land.

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237 Steele St, Suite A
Grand Rapids, MI 49534

616-451-9476

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Our Fall Newsletter hit mailboxes last week! In this issue, we look back at the prairie restoration project at Saul Lake Bog Nature Preserve. A grassroots project in every sense, the prairie restoration was started by a single volunteer who saw the potential of an old field planted with a monoculture of non-native grass. Since then, hundreds of people have helped collect and sow seeds to expand this habitat, and our volunteer Prescribed Burn Crew has helped encourage the growth of native plants with periodic fire.

After 25 years of planting and expanding the restored tallgrass prairie at Saul Lake Bog Nature Preserve, we will plant the last remaining acres this fall.

📙 Read all about Saul Lake Prairie in the newsletter (link in bio)
🌱 Sign up for a fall event in the prairie on our website (link in bio)

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We were grateful to recently host Outdoor Afro Grand Rapids and the Mayfly Project for a day exploring fly fishing at McDuffee Creek Nature Preserve! We kicked the day off at the preserve to learn casting techniques and how to tie our own flies. Then we ate lunch and headed upriver to the Green Cottage access to wade in and test our skills.

Thank you so much to @westmichiganmayflyproject and Outdoor Afro Grand Rapids for your collaboration on this fun event! 🎣

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Thank you to the more than 40 volunteers who joined us on Saturday to collect seeds at Saul Lake Prairie! The seeds you collected will be used to expand vital native habitat at this preserve and at others the Land Conservancy manages.

This fall, we'll plant the last remaining acres of prairie at Saul Lake Bog Nature Preserve. We hope you'll join us to celebrate this 25-year, volunteer-powered restoration project! Learn more about and register to attend our upcoming events at Saul Lake Prairie at naturenearby.org/events.

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McDuffee Creek Nature Preserve's four miles of trail traverse a diverse collection of habitats, leading visitors through dense forest, lush wetlands, and along two tributaries to the Pere Marquette River. There is no shortage of stunning views at this preserve, and they are available for your eyes to behold thanks in part to the generosity of donors and the hard work of volunteers who joined us to lay boardwalk.

Take some time to explore the trails! 🦌 Please note: A portion of McDuffee Creek Nature Preserve is open to archery hunting between Oct. 1 and Nov. 14. If you plan to visit during this time, please avoid dawn and dusk, wear blaze orange, and if you see a hunter, make your presence known. Learn more about this preserve on our website at naturenearby.org/explore.

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Last week, LCWM Land Protection and Public Partnerships Manager Rory Thibault participated in a plenary session at the Michigan Outdoor Summit. He was joined by panelists Eoin Comerford (Outsize Consulting), Danielle Todd (Make Food Not Waste), and Katie Cruickshank (Outdoor, Inc.) in a conversation about collaboration across sectors in the outdoor economy, moderated by Haley Bennet (Fresh Coast Strategy).

Thank you to @michiganoutdoorrec and @heartlakes for the opportunity to participate in this conversation!

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It’s fall and the salmon have returned to the Little South Branch of the Pere Marquette River to spawn. 🐟 You can see them for yourself at Upriver Nature Preserve in Bitely. Fishing is allowed at this preserve (between late April and September 30), but it is just as fun to simply watch them in the water. You’ll likely have a bald eagle or two join you in your watching, as they seek to make a snack of these fish.

Learn more about this preserve and plan your visit at naturenearby.org/explore.

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