Thumb Land Conservancy: DTE Energy Foundation Grant

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.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

DTE Energy Foundation Grant

Bill Collins, Executive Director, Thumb Land Conservancy

On March 21 of 2014, the DTE Energy Foundation awarded the TLC a grant of $2,500 for preserve stewardship support. This is the first corporate grant that the TLC has received since our formation in 2008 and we are thankful to DTE Energy. This money will be used primarily to organize and conduct invasive weed control on TLC sanctuaries, along with other minor stewardship activities. We held off using the funding last year because we were seeking further burn approvals and because we simply have a shortage of people interested in helping, but we hope to make progress in 2015.

https://www2.dteenergy.com/wps/portal/dte/aboutus/community/details/DTE%20Energy%20Foundation/About%20the%20Foundation/

Both the Dead End Woods Sanctuary and the Peltier Beach Ridge Sanctuary have extensive areas of Garlic Mustard – Alliaria petiolata, an invasive weed native to Eurasia and North Africa introduced to North America in the mid 1800’s as a culinary herb. It lives up to its name and is quite tasty, but is also quite invasive in open forest, displacing native plant species where it grows in thick patches. Our board members have been steadily working away each year on pulling the main patches of Garlic Mustard from the Dead End Woods but we definitely need more help if we are going to completely get rid of it.

Garlic Mustard

The Dead End Woods has another big invasive weed problem on the west end of the sanctuary, Yellow Archangel - Lamiastrum galeobdolon, an invasive groundcover native to Europe that spread from residences in Old Farm subdivision. The Yellow Archangel has spread about 50 feet into the woods, creating a near solid cover that has eliminated all but a few native forest herbs. It is extremely difficult to eradicate. Unfortunately, Fort Gratiot Township has made burning an expensive control option by requiring $250 for a fire crew and truck to be present. Although we have this DTE Energy grant, I am reluctant to spend so much for what we feel are excessive measures for a small controlled burn with good control lines.

Yellow Archangel

The north side of the Dead End Woods Sanctuary has a few patches of invasive Periwinkle – Vinca minor, another ornamental ground cover species native to Eurasia. It is also difficult to eradicate, but because there are only a few small patches so far, it should be fairly easy to remove.

Periwinkle

In addition to Garlic Mustard, the Peltier Beach Ridge Sanctuary has some dense patches of Tartarian Honeysuckle – Lonicera tatarica, native to northeast Asia and brought to North America as an ornamental shrub. There is also a fair amount of Common Privet – Ligustrum vulgare, another invasive shrub native to Eurasia and North Africa brought to North America as a hedge plant. The only good control for these invasive shrubs, short of killing everything with herbicide, is pulling, followed by repeated burns to kill seeds on the ground surface. As with most invasive weeds, effective control of honeysuckle and privet is a long-term proposition.

Tartarian Honeysuckle

The TLC knew the Peltier Beach Ridge Sanctuary had a lot of invasive weeds before we accepted ownership of it. But, not owning the land doesn’t make those weeds go away. Almost the whole beach ridge and swale landscape in Saint Clair County has been covered by extensive areas of invasive weeds for decades. Despite this, the plant community still contains many unique native species like Purple-flowering Raspberry – Rubus odoratus, known to be native in only 7 Michigan counties and restricted largely to near-shoreline areas, and also Yellow Lady’s-slipper orchid – Cypripedium parviflorum. The beach ridge and swale complex is valuable in many other ways, including the extensive wetland swales, forest cover, and habitat for migratory birds that move along and reside near Lake Huron. Refer back to a previous blog post on March 9, 2015 entitled “Peltier Beach Ridge Sanctuary”.

Thankfully, the TLC Gerrits Sanctuary in Ira Township contains relatively few invasive weeds. We have pulled a few Garlic Mustard plants, and where there are a few, there are likely more. There are also a few Autumn-olive – Elaeagnus umbellata, an invasive Eurasian shrub, in the north field of the sanctuary, and Oriental Bittersweet – Celastrus orbiculatus, an invasive east Asian vine, along the northeast boundary. Otherwise, the preserve appears to be largely free of invasive weeds.

Other stewardship issues to be addressed on all of the TLC sanctuaries include neighborhood dumping of grass clippings, leaves, and occasionally, scrap materials like treated lumber or shingles. This has been a big problem on the Dead End Woods Sanctuary, although we are making progress. There hasn’t been much trouble on the Peltier Beach Ridge Sanctuary or Gerrits Sanctuary.

Sometimes people wonder why leaves and grass clippings are a problem when dumped on a nature preserve. They reason that its all plant material and so should be good for nature. It sounds reasonable on the surface, but the issue is in the amount and concentration of these materials. It’s like, a drink of water is nice but if we dump you in middle of an ocean, you probably wouldn’t like that. So leaves and grass are a natural part of most native plant communities, but limited to only the plants that grow in those areas. So, just a limited amount of leaves, grass, branches, and other organic matter falls to the ground surface, in Michigan largely only in the autumn, not all summer long. Woodland herbs and tree seedlings are able to grow up through the natural amount of leaf matter on the ground in the spring. In fact, they rely on that leaf material for nutrients, moisture retention, temperature control, and other benefits. But if you dump a pile of leaves in the forest, even just a foot or so deep, chances are most of the native woodland plants aren’t able to grow up through that layer, at least not without considerable time, trouble, and deformation. Most small plants in those areas will eventually die because they are “suffocated” by too many leaves, grass clippings, or whatever. In this case, the leaves and other material become mulch. Most people know that mulch is used to keep plants from growing in an area. Even just a small amount of excess organic matter on the forest floor can favor increased numbers of slugs, snails, and other organisms such as fungus, that consume or otherwise destroy the native plants. Another problem is that sometimes, invasive weed seeds and live plants are contained in yard waste dumped on a nature preserve. This may be how Garlic Mustard was brought to the Dead End Woods Sanctuary. This makes a huge problem for the stewards of preserves, and we don’t any more problems. So, please consider composting or mulching your leaves and grass clippings on your own property. Don’t dump on ours. Once you understand the value of organic matter to the soil in your garden, flower beds, or even just your lawn, it seems like you’d want to keep every bit of it. Unlike all the compost methods and systems you see in the gardening magazines, you really don’t need to get fancy about it. Just pile the material up in a back corner somewhere and it will soon break down into that carbon-laden black material that will bring your soil to life.

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