Thumb Land Conservancy: 2015 Spring Burn

TLC Philosophy

The Thumb Land Conservancy (TLC) was formed in 2008 to provide an organization dedicated to filling the gap of natural area preservation in Michigan's Thumb. Although much attention has been given to a few areas near Lake Saint Clair and along Saginaw Bay, the interior of the Thumb has been largely ignored.

There is a general misconception that little is worth saving north of Detroit because of urban development and agriculture. While much of the landscape has been drastically altered, many high quality natural areas remain. Some habitats are nearly pristine, resembling conditions that existed before European settlement about 200 years ago.

Regardless of condition, the extensive destruction makes preservation even more critical in the Thumb. Small, degraded habitat fragments can be restored and expanded, and often serve as isolated havens for rare plant species. We believe all natural landscapes are important locally because they reflect a unique combination of history and features particular to that location. Many benefits of nature are obtained and enjoyed only locally. We believe it is especially important for children to have natural areas nearby where they can play, grow, and learn.

TLC is carrying on a tradition in the Thumb. In 1952, Macomb and Saint Clair Counties were the birthplace of what became the Michigan Nature Association (MNA), the first statewide land preservation group in Michigan. MNA was led for many years by the late Bertha Daubendiek of Kenockee Township in Saint Clair County, and is one of the few organizations that has protected land in the Thumb, with 18 sanctuaries here.

TLC Sanctuaries

Since forming in late 2008, the TLC has acquired three sanctuaries totaling about 68 acres: the 18-acre Dead End Woods Sanctuary in Fort Gratiot Township; the 38.5-acre Gerrits Sanctuary in Ira Township; and the 11.5-acre Peltier Beach Ridge Sanctuary in Fort Gratiot Township. So far, all TLC preserves are in Saint Clair County only because opportunities have arisen there. Our goal is to eventually protect land in every county of the Thumb.

Please contact the TLC if you are interested in donating land or a conservation easement. The TLC will try to help you protect any land you are interested in.

17.6 Acres in Fort Gratiot Township, Saint Clair County

The Dead End Woods Sanctuary was acquired by TLC from the Saint Clair County Drain Commissioner, Fred Fuller, in December 2008. As a condition for obtaining a wetland permit from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality for the Huffman Drain and Bunce Creek drain project, Fred agreed to preserve nearly 12 acres of wetland in the Dead End Woods as mitigation by placing a conservation easement on the property. As mitigation options were being considered, the owner of one of the Dead End Woods parcels approached Fred with an offer to sell the land at a reasonable price. The MDEQ confirmed the presence of a large amount of wetland on the property and found that it is a high quality habitat. Fred then acquired adjacent land with additional wetland to fulfill all of the mitigation for the current phase of the drain project. As a means of satisfying MDEQ requirements for long-term monitoring and stewardship of the wetland, the two Dead End Woods parcels were then transferred to the TLC, relieving the Drain Commissioner from further responsibility for this land.

At 44.5, the Floristic Quality Index calculated for the Dead End Woods ranks well above 35, indicating a natural area of statewide significance. Some higher quality or interesting species that are not routinely encountered in natural areas of the region include Maidenhair Fern, Spikenard, Richweed, Hazelnut, Black Ash, Butternut, Spicebush, Tulip Tree, Cardinal Flower, Indian Pipe, Black Gum, Sycamore, Christmas Fern, Broad-leaved Goldenrod, Foamflower, and Eastern Hemlock.

38.5 Acres in Ira Township, Saint Clair County

On July 16, 2009, the TLC acquired its second nature sanctuary, the Gerrits Sanctuary, a generous donation from Lois Gerrits, the widow of the late Dr. James F. Gerrits. The closing was held at the Law Offices of Timothy J. Lozen, with attorney Anna Kovar and TLC executive board members William Collins and Terry Gill present. Ullenbruch Flowers and Gifts of Port Huron kindly donated a nice bouquet of flowers to express our appreciation to Mrs. Gerrits.

The Gerrits Sanctuary is 38.5 acres of southern mesic and southern swamp forest with old-field to the north. Crapaud Creek flows through the north end of the property, which is located only about ¾ mile north of Anchor Bay and Lake Saint Clair. Such coastal habitat is critical for migratory birds and insects that move along the Great Lakes.

The sanctuary is located along the east boundary of the City of New Baltimore and Macomb County in Ira Township, Saint Clair County. Although development has taken a toll on nearby land, the forest on the sanctuary is mature, contains many high quality woodland species, and is part of what appears to be the largest and least fragmented forest tract remaining along the Great Lakes coastline from Ohio north through the Algonac area, excluding Grosse Ile near Detroit, and Walpole Island on the Ontario side.

Dr. 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 TLC will feature more about Dr. and Lois Gerrits in the future.

11.5 Acres in Fort Gratiot Township, Saint Clair County

On June 28, 2010, the TLC acquired its third preserve, the 11.5-acre Peltier Beach Ridge Sanctuary in Fort Gratiot Township, Saint Clair County. The sanctuary is located south of Metcalf Road, along the east side of the Detroit Water Board property. The parcel was given to the TLC by Ray and Nancy Peltier to satisfy State of Michigan wetland mitigation requirements for an expansion of the Hamzavi Dermatology office in Fort Gratiot. As with our first preserve, the Dead End Woods Sanctuary in Fort Gratiot, the Peltier Beach Ridge Sanctuary is protected by a State of Michigan conservation easement. In accepting ownership of the mitigation property, the TLC agreed to be responsible for all monitoring, management, and long-term stewardship.

The Peltier Beach Ridge 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 sanctuary is a small part of a much larger and ecologically unique beach ridge and swale landscape, 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 Saint Clair River which rapidly down-cut and lowered the Great Lakes to modern levels, leaving a series of beach ridges as the water dropped.

The landscape consists of a series of mostly forested upland sand ridges and mucky wetland troughs or swales between. In Saint Clair County, the sand ridges average about 40 to 50 feet wide and 3 to 4 feet above the adjoining swales. The swales are usually about as wide as the ridges, but some are a few hundred feet wide. The beach ridge and swale landscape provides not only unique habitat, but also a record of Michigan’s post-glacial past.

On the Peltier Beach Ridge Sanctuary, 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, Bigtooth Aspen, and American Basswood, with scattered Black Oak, possibly hybridized with Northern Pin Oak, and a few Northern White-cedar. The lower ridge bases are lined with Paper Birch and covered by an unusual concentration of Alternate-leaved Dogwood.

Unique species on the sanctuary include Purple-flowering Raspberry, Yellow Lady’s-slipper orchid, and the Eastern Hog-nosed Snake. Purple-flowering Raspberry is the Lower Peninsula’s equivalent of the Upper Peninsula’s Thimbleberry, thought to be native to only 7 shoreline counties in Michigan. 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. The Eastern Hog-nosed Snake is a special reptilian inhabitant that prefers 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 rolling over and play dead with their mouths hanging open. They can look imposing, but are harmless.

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 Beach Ridge Sanctuary.

Friday, October 30, 2015

2015 Spring Burn

Bill Collins, Executive Director, Thumb Land Conservancy

On 2015 May 01, the TLC conducted its second controlled burn on the Michigan Road Preserve in Port Huron Township, Saint Clair County. This year, the Port Huron Township Fire Chief, Craig Miller, gave us permission to conduct the burn on our own, without their supervision. Our performance last April with the fire department probably helped in this decision. The purpose of the burning is to kill invasive Glossy Buckthorn, and encourage fire-tolerant vegetation that likely dominated this landscape prior to European settlement, before fires were suppressed. Accomplishing these two goals will increase native woodland species abundance and help prevent long-term degradation of the plant community.

Since taking over stewardship in 2011 of the Saint Clair County Road Commission and Pro-Tel Development preserves, collectively referred to as the “Michigan Road Preserve” along the east side of Michigan Road, between Dove Road and the Canadian National Railway, in Port Huron Township, it was clear that control of invasive Glossy Buckthorn is the big management issue out there. Glossy Buckthorn – Rhamnus frangula, recently renamed as Frangula alnus, is a small tree or shrub native to Eurasia and North Africa. It was introduced to North America about 200 years ago, first as an ornamental hedge plant, and later as a planting for wildlife and other conservation uses. Like so many other shrubs brought to North America for these purposes, including Common Privet - Ligustrum vulgare, Tartarian Honeysuckle - Lonicera tatarica, and Autumn-olive - Elaeagnus umbellata, Glossy Buckthorn became highly invasive, especially in open forests and shrub swamps. It forms very dense shrub thickets that shade-out and displace nearly every other plant species that once grew in the same area.

Glossy Buckthorn - Frangula alnus dominance in the west end of the preserve.

The best control for Glossy Buckthorn is pulling the smaller saplings and cutting the larger, usually combined with herbicide applications. This is very labor-intensive, requiring a lot of people and time to make significant progress against large areas of Glossy Buckthorn such as on the west sides and interior shrub swamps of the Michigan Road Preserve. Herbicide has the disadvantage of not always being so selective in which plants it kills. We are aware that some land managers have had tremendous success in controlling Glossy Buckthorn in shrub swamps by burning. This is usually more effective in open wetlands where there is more herbaceous growth and therefore, more fuel for burning. Except during autumn leaf fall, there is not typically a large amount of dry fuel on the ground of mature forests, and therefore, burning is more difficult.

Another aspect of the burning is that, to some extent, the northern plant community on the Michigan Road Preserve and across similar sandy soils in the Port Huron area, is fire-dependent to some degree. Oaks - Quercus, Paper Birch - Betula papyrifera, Low Sweet Blueberry - Vaccinium angustifolium, Wintergreen - Gaultheria procumbens, Bunchberry - Cornus canadensis, and other species on the upland sand ridges on the preserve all thrive in response to burning. Fire should help to restore some of the natural structure of the vegetation among other benefits.

Bunchberry - Cornus canadensis (white flower) and Fringed Polygala - Polygala paucifolia (violet flowers) along the south edge of the burn area on 2015 May 15, two weeks after the burn.

We decided to try burning on the west side of the Michigan Road Preserve to see how the Glossy Buckthorn would be affected in the swamp forest. We considered burning in the shrub swamp portions of the preserve, but we didn’t want to decrease the Speckled Alder – Alnus incana cover which appears to be competing with the Glossy Buckthorn, and we don’t want to open these areas to further invasion by Reed – Phragmites australis which dominates the lower wetter areas.

Speckled Alder - Alnus incana and Royal Fern - Osmunda regalis in the western edge of the shrub swamp. Here it appears to be competing fairly well with Glossy Buckthorn - Frangula alnus and Reed - Phragmites australis.

So far, the 2014 and 2015 burns appear to have decreased Glossy Buckthorn density. Because of delayed resprouting, it’s difficult to determine the final outcome until the burn areas have been observed multiple years. There has also been an increase in Black Cherry - Prunus serotina seedlings, but these are unlikely to persist as they mature due to the shade of the forest canopy. It appears that we are seeing an increase in generally northern herbaceous vegetation that likely benefits from fire, including Bracken Fern – Pteridum aquilinum, Fringed Polygala – Polygala paucifolia and Canada Mayflower – Maianthemum canadense, but it is too early to determine. A major consideration is that the forest probably lacks the original diversity and abundance of species that would have spread after fire, and so we may not see an optimal response until new species are introduced by seeding or transplanting. Other limiting factors include continued grazing by deer and edge forest effects due to the close proximity of non-forested land to the north and west.

2015 Burn Photographs

A nice burn up on the sand ridge with lots of dry oak leaves.

Glad we prepared good control lines because this fire burned along at a fast clip even upwind.

Left to right: TLC President Cheryl Collins; our first TLC Intern on her first day, Alex Roland; and Alex's friend Brook. All did a fine job and we kept the fire well-contained.

TLC Board Member, Dan "The Man" Rhein.

Dan Rhein holding the north boundary.

Smoky tip-up mounds. These mounds of sand were formed over centuries by large trees falling over and uprooting the soil. Most of the mounds date back prior to European settlement in North America and some could be as old as 8,000 years.

At this point in the burn, it was mostly large branches and logs smoldering.

This is the burn area on 2015 May 15, two weeks after we burned.

The contrast of burned (background) and non-burned (foreground) ground along the south limit of the burn area.

An Eastern Garter Snake - Thamnophis sirtalis out in the warm spring air near the south edge of the burn area.

Witch-hazel - Hamamelis virginiana inside the eastern burn area. It was leafed-out and appeared to survive the burn with no problem.

Eastern edge of the burn area, up on a sand ridge, showing what appear to be hybrids of Northern Pin Oak - Quercus ellipsoidalis and Black Oak - Quercus velutina (larger dark trees), scorched along the bottom trunks but otherwise unscathed.

Eastern edge of the burn area, up on a sand ridge, showing what appear to be hybrids of Northern Pin Oak - Quercus ellipsoidalis and Black Oak - Quercus velutina (larger dark trees).

Bracken Fern - Pteridium aquilinum appears to be particularly happy after burning. This is the new "fiddle head" recently emerged from the ground and growing taller.

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