{"id":5578,"date":"2024-07-24T14:10:43","date_gmt":"2024-07-24T18:10:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/?p=5578"},"modified":"2024-07-24T14:10:46","modified_gmt":"2024-07-24T18:10:46","slug":"on-the-path-to-preservation-grand-traverse-regional-land-conservancy-benzie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/index.php\/on-the-path-to-preservation-grand-traverse-regional-land-conservancy-benzie\/","title":{"rendered":"On the Path to Preservation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Explore and support the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy in Benzie County<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

By Bree McGregor
Current Contributor<\/strong>

When was the last time that you wandered down the winding path of a wooded trail, enjoyed the tartness of wild blackberries and the rich scent of wet soil and cedar, or stood beneath sun-dappled leaves to bathe in the gentle symphony of forest life?\u00a0

No need to endure the icy shock of a polar plunge; it turns out that immersion in the woods offers its own host of health benefits\u2014reduced stress, improved energy, and boosted immune system among them.\u00a0

The Japanese call the practice of connecting with the natural world through our senses \u201cshinrin-yoku,\u201d which translates to \u201cforest bath,\u201d and a growing field of scientific research indicates that simply taking in the forest atmosphere through our senses can improve our physical and mental well-being.

Here in Benzie County, public access to forest-bathing opportunities abound, due in great part to the work of the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy (GTRLC).\u00a0

Land conservancies are nonprofit organizations that protect and care for the land by maintaining its natural scenic beauty, providing habitats for native species, and enhancing the quality of life in our communities for future generations. Many of GTRLC\u2019s preserves in Benzie County offer public access to trails, lakes, and rivers.

Erin Anderson Whiting (46), senior charitable giving specialist for GTRLC, explains that GTRLC\u2019s conservation efforts have become increasingly important as the popularity of our region continues to grow.\u00a0

\u201cAs development skyrockets,\u201d Whiting says, \u201cwe have to find a balance between economic development and inevitable growth\u2014and preserving the things that call us to live here in the first place. GTRLC’s work provides a path by which people can help protect the very best of Northern Michigan for future generations to enjoy. \u201c

Whiting, who is originally from Elk Rapids, has been involved with GTRLC off and on for more than seven years.\u00a0

\u201cMy life-long love of the natural world drew me to the organization,\u201d she explains, in reference to her return to Northern Michigan from New York City, and subsequently her initial communications role in the organization, before switching to charitable giving. \u201cAnd seeing the real and lasting impact of the conservation work up close inspired me to deepen my own commitment to protecting our lands and waters.\u201d\u00a0

Her initial work with GTRLC included the organization\u2019s ambitious Coastal Campaign to protect more than 6,000 acres of incredible dunes, forest, and farmland along the Lake Michigan coast from 2003-2007, after which, she stepped away to expand her professional experiences with Interlochen Center for the Arts for six years, and then as executive director of Parallel 45 Theatre for seven years.

\u201cWhen an opportunity arose to re-join the Conservancy staff in early 2023, I was honored to return\u2014exactly 20 years from my start date,\u201d she says. \u201cThe full-circle nature of this feels fitting for an organization whose work is tied to the cyclical rhythm of the natural world.\u201d

Land Conservancy in Benzie County<\/strong>
Since it was formed in 1991, GTRLC has acquired and protected natural, scenic, and farm lands across Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Manistee counties.\u00a0

Within this region, it has established more than 300 conservation easements and 50 nature preserves and sanctuaries; in total, GTRLC has protected more than 47,000 acres of land and 155 miles of shoreline. It has cultivated 126 miles of trails and opened 80 properties to the public.\u00a0

The numbers are impressive, and\u2014through the continued support of invested communities, volunteers, and private donors\u2014the numbers continue to grow.

GTRLC\u2019s presence in Benzie County originated with a conservation easement by the Kraft family in 1991, the same year that GTRLC was founded: 25 acres of protected land at Watervale in Arcadia. Conservation easements are defined by GTRLC as \u201cvoluntary, perpetual agreements that restrict the way that land will be managed in order to protect natural resources and water quality.\u201d According to the GTRLC 25th Anniversary Publication<\/em>, printed in 2021, the Kraft family was among the first in Michigan to conserve easements on their land.\u00a0

Since that very first conservation easement was created in Benzie County, land preservation efforts in this area have expanded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Elberta
View from the top of Elberta Dunes Natural Area, of the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy. Photo by Bree McGregor.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Presently in Benzie County, 22 properties are owned or protected by GTRLC. These lands\u2014open to the public\u2014total more than 6,600 acres and include the 3,800-acre C.S. Mott Nature Preserve at Arcadia Dunes, which stretches across Benzie and Manistee counties.\u00a0

These lands are classified by GTRLC into the following four categories: nature preserves; parks and natural areas; sanctuaries; and ecologically managed forests. Each classification indicates how the property is protected, owned, and managed. (Editor\u2019s Note:<\/strong> Currently, GTRLC does not have ecologically managed forest land in Benzie County.)<\/em>

Within Benzie County, there are nine nature preserves. These properties are protected, owned, and managed by GTRLC. Combined, the preserves host more than 30 miles of trails, where visitors can partake in birding, fishing, hiking, snowshoeing, hunting, kayaking\/canoeing, mountain biking, skiing, and\u2014of course\u2014forest bathing.

One trail of note is the Arcadia Dunes Overlook at The C.S. Mott Nature Preserve. Perched 356 feet above Lake Michigan atop Old Baldy, this one-mile trail provides sweeping views and universal access for nature enthusiasts of all ages and abilities. Completed in early 2016, the trail is composed of boardwalk and crushed gravel that leads to a spacious platform overlook with wooden benches and wildlife kiosks. The trail is wheelchair accessible from the Baldy Trailhead parking lot off M-22, about 10 miles south of Frankfort. Arcadia Marsh, located off Northwood Highway\/M-22, just south of Arcadia, is another wheelchair-accessible preserve.

Benzie County is also home to six parks and natural areas, totalling roughly 800 acres. Parks and natural areas are protected by GTRLC on behalf of local units of government, though they are technically owned and managed by these municipalities after their designated protection.\u00a0

Among these lands is the two-acre Lake Ann Beach, an idyllic swimming and picnicking locale on 175 feet of Lake Ann frontage\u2014with tables, grills, pavilions, and other amenities provided and maintained by Almira Township.\u00a0

Another is Elberta Dunes South Natural Area, which offers a 0.8-mile hiking trail and a viewing platform with 360-degree views of Lake Michigan and the surrounding area.\u00a0

There are also seven sanctuaries totalling approximately 245 acres in Benzie County. These are defined by GTRLC as property that is protected, owned, and managed by GTRLC. Because these are sensitive natural lands that contain exceptionally rare or rich natural features, no trails or infrastructure are present, and public use may be limited or even discouraged. Those who wish to explore these areas are encouraged\u2014and in some cases required\u2014to first contact GTRLC for permission, rules, and instructions.

GTRLC also holds conservation easements on a number of other properties in Benzie County which are privately owned and therefore not open to the public.

How To Preserve Land<\/strong>
The process of conserving land happens through a variety of partnerships.\u00a0

\u201cGTRLC frequently assists communities in creating public parks and natural areas that result in enhanced public access to nature and improved recreational opportunities,\u201d Whiting explains. \u201c[We do this] by working with local units of government to provide land-protection expertise and direct assistance with fundraising [from private and public sources], land acquisition, landowner negotiations, land improvement, stewardship, and much more.\u201d\u00a0

Whiting points to numerous examples in Benzie County: Elberta Dunes South (owned and managed by the Village of Elberta); Lake Ann Beach (Almira Township); Pearl Lake (State of Michigan); Platte River Park (Homestead Township); Railroad Point Natural Area (Benzie County); and Ransom Lake Natural Area (Almira Township).\u00a0

\u201cIn the case of Railroad Point, for example,\u201d Whiting says, \u201cthis beloved 66-acre property\u2014with an abandoned railroad bed running along the shore [hence the name] on the south side of Crystal Lake\u2014was high on the community’s list for permanent protection.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0

At the time it was acquired, a developer was also eyeing the property for a 40-home development along the site’s prominent forested bluff.\u00a0

\u201cThe Conservancy worked closely with Benzie County to negotiate the sale with the property owners,\u201d Whiting explains. \u201cTo permanently remove development rights, to apply for [and receive] highly-competitive funding from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, and to raise the private dollars required by the Trust Fund for their local match.\u201d\u00a0

She continues:

\u201cWorking in partnership with Benzie County, over nearly 30 years, GTRLC has helped protect the Natural Area and four subsequent additions, bringing the Natural Area to more than 221 acres. The Natural Area includes a connector to the Betsie Valley Trail and offers stunning views of Crystal Lake. If you haven’t been there, it should be on your list, at any time of the year!\u201d

Another good example of preservation through partnership is the new Platte River Park, which just opened officially in May. GTRLC purchased the property in 2018 under an agreement that it would be reimbursed, and the payback came fairly quickly from grants awarded by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and several foundations.

The key player behind the Platte River Park is Honor Area Restoration Project (HARP), which has raised almost $900,000 additional to establish a paved trail, several riverbank-viewing platforms, and a kayak and canoe launch.

HARP then donated the park to Homestead Township, though HARP remains intent on raising an endowment to ensure that the township has a permanent source of funds for its maintenance. Around $2 million more is needed to complete other assets, including a new entrance, a pavilion and picnic area, a trail system, a riverside boardwalk, and a walkway to the Honor village center. (Read more about Platte River Park in an article by Keith Schneider in the online archives of The Betsie Current<\/em>.<\/a>)

The GTRLC uses a landscape-level ecological analysis to determine long-term strategic goals for land conservation in Benzie County, according to Whiting, by identifying natural lands, forests, farmland, wetlands, water bodies, and Lake Michigan shoreline that have high conservation value and potential in Benzie County.\u00a0

\u201cAs everyone in Benzie County knows, the pace of development pressure has increased\u2014and will only continue to increase,\u201d she says. \u201cOur ability to meet that accelerated pace is directly related to our ability to raise funds, the majority of which come from generous individual donors, rather than public sources or private foundations.\u201d

She continues:

\u201cWe all love Benzie County, but we don’t want to love it to death. Our job as an organization is to work with willing landowners, generous donors, and volunteers to find a way forward that balances smart development with permanent conservation of our most irreplaceable natural assets; once those are gone, they are gone forever, and no amount of money or regret will ever replace them.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0

\u201cEveryone has a valuable role to play,\u201d she says.\u201d If you’re interested in what we do, we would love to have you as a volunteer.\u201d\u00a0

Paula Dreeszen: Volunteer Extraordinaire\u00a0<\/strong>
Pete\u2019s Woods Trail\u2014located just off Swamp Road in Blaine Township\u2014is a GTRLC preserve, well known by locals as one of the best trails for enjoying spring wildflowers. Should you visit Pete\u2019s Woods mid-spring, you will likely find trillium blooms and migratory birdsong, as well as local wildflower expert and GTRLC volunteer Paula Dreeszen (65).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Paula
Paula Dreeszen (65) is lead volunteer for the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy\u2019s Southwestern Region, which includes Benzie County. This past May, she picked a lot of garlic mustard, an invasive species. Photo courtesy of Paula Dreeszen.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Dreeszen’s official role with GTRLC is lead volunteer for the organization\u2019s Southwestern Region, which includes Benzie County; Pete\u2019s Woods is one of her favorite springtime trails.\u00a0

After retiring from a career in engineering in Burlington, Wisconsin, Dreeszen and her husband relocated to Northern Michigan and began volunteering for GTRLC in 2005. The volunteer role offered Dreeszen something that engineering had not\u2014abundant opportunities to enjoy the outdoors.\u00a0

For nearly 20 years, Dreeszen has observed and supported the land\u2019s improvement in a volunteer capacity, while continually learning about each preserve, its plants and animals.\u00a0

\u201cI particularly enjoy searching for the first blooming spring ephemeral flowers and looking for the first returning migratory songbirds,\u201d Dreeszen says.\u00a0

In her official role as lead volunteer, Dreeszen\u2019s contributions to land stewardship are both physical and administrative. She spends significant time working within the preserves, and she also attends weekly staff meetings and supports communication between staff and volunteers, helping to assign volunteer jobs, such as trail maintenance.\u00a0

In addition, Dreeszen explains:\u00a0

\u201cI am also busy with my own volunteer work: invasive species control [solo and helping to lead workdays], leading wildflower hikes, bird counts, trail maintenance, plant inventories, and more. I\u2019ve also helped to create field guides to several preserves and to develop signage for the parking lot kiosks.\u201d\u00a0

Citizenship Via Environmental Stewardship<\/strong>
As GTRLC\u2019s land conservation throughout the Southwest Region continues to grow, so does its need for community involvement in land preservation\u2014to include volunteer trail work, conservation partnerships, and fundraising support.\u00a0

Dreeszen\u2019s current volunteer roster boasts 138 members, though she says not all are active. While many volunteers for trail work are retired from their careers\u2014and\/or are \u201cempty nesters\u201d whose children have grown up and left the home\u2014others volunteer around work schedules or during college breaks and summer holidays. Diversity within her volunteer workforce is important.\u00a0

\u201cThere\u2019s a natural progression, as our volunteers get older and can\u2019t do the more physically demanding tasks,\u201d Dreeszen explains. \u201dSo we constantly need younger people to volunteer and take on those jobs.\u201d

One of GTRLC\u2019s active projects in Benzie County is the Betsie Dunes Nature Sanctuary Addition.\u00a0

The Betsie Dunes Nature Sanctuary is located between Lake Michigan and Crystal Lake, with more than 80 acres of healthy, forested dunes and almost 1,600 feet of undeveloped Lake Michigan shoreline.\u00a0

\u201cA proposed addition could incorporate a 2.5-acre inholding into the sanctuary, reconnecting a fragmented parcel that could otherwise be developed,\u201d Whiting explains. \u201cThe property boasts a significant migration corridor for numerous bird species and serves as a home to the federally and state-listed rare Pitcher’s thistle plant [Cirsium pitcheri<\/em>], which takes several years to bloom and is particularly sensitive to disturbance. It’s a stunning place. We are currently working to expand the protection of this property and preserve critical habitat for the plants and animals that call this place home.\u201d

She adds:\u00a0

\u201cIf we are successful in this effort, we would safeguard another 100 feet of Lake Michigan frontage and permanently protect important habitats, like northern mesic forest, open dunes, and the globally rare wooded dune and swale complex, only found along the Great Lakes.\u201d\u00a0

Like many of GTRLC\u2019s conservation projects, the success of Betsie Dunes Nature Sanctuary Addition is contingent on fundraising and community support\u2014so far, GTRLC has raised $115,027, which is 65 percent of the goal of $177,650.

Meanwhile, GTRLC\u2019s smaller ongoing projects in Benzie County target invasive species removal\u2014like baby\u2019s breath and garlic mustard\u2014and these efforts rely heavily on the support of volunteers.\u00a0

\u201cMost volunteer work happens between April and October,\u201d Dreeszen says. \u201cThat\u2019s when trails are built, overgrown vegetation along trails needs to be trimmed, trees fallen over trails need to be cleared, invasive plants are removed, native seeds are collected, and native plants are planted.\u201d\u00a0

She adds:\u00a0

\u201cAll year long, we need volunteers to visit nature preserves\u2014being the eyes and ears of the conservancy\u2014and submit monitoring reports.\u201d

Not all volunteer work requires the physicality of outdoor labor, however. In addition to the volunteers who help monitor and care for the land, Dreeszen says:\u00a0

\u201c[GTRLC] also needs volunteers for indoor tasks which support the mission of protecting significant natural, scenic, and farmlands in Benzie County and the other four counties where [GTRLC] operates.\u201d\u00a0

The volunteer calendar linked to the GTRLC website reveals regular opportunities to participate in scheduled trail maintenance, trail building, and invasive-species removal throughout the summer.\u00a0

For instance, in July, volunteers can help to remove baby\u2019s breath at Elberta Beach or trim vegetation at Arcadia Marsh, among other activities.\u00a0

Volunteering with GTRLC is as simple as clicking a link and choosing an event to support.\u00a0

There are two different ways to get involved in volunteer work\u2014sign up to volunteer on the website, and GTRLC\u2019s volunteer coordinator, Erica DesJardins, will contact you to match your interests to volunteer roles available. Or look at the volunteer workday calendar online, and sign up for any workday that interests you.

Prior experience or specialized knowledge is not required.\u00a0

\u201cIf someone likes to work outdoors in nature\u2014either independently or with other like-minded people at workdays\u2014preserve stewardship work is rewarding and fun,\u201d Dreeszen says.\u00a0

Take a Hike\u2026 or a Forest Bath<\/strong>
Whether you decide to join the ranks of volunteer trail steward or to simply explore the land preserves in our area on your own or with friends\/family, with more than 30 miles of trail to choose from in Benzie County, where should you begin? Dreezen and Whiting have a few recommendations to help launch you into the trails.

Dreeszen admits that her favorite Benzie County trails are numerous and vary by season. To name a few, she recommends Pete\u2019s Woods for spring blooms, and Baldy Peak at Arcadia Dunes for dune flowers in June or really, she amends, anytime of year to enjoy the Lake Michigan view. She recommends strolling the boardwalk at Arcadia Marsh while enjoying an ice cream cone in August, when the wildflowers reach their peak. But truly, each trail offers its unique experiences and beauty, so an ambitious reader may endeavor to explore them all.\u00a0

Whiting, likewise, struggled to name just one favorite.\u00a0

\u201cIf I had to pick one,\u201d she says, \u201cit would be one that’s perhaps lesser known, but a true gem: Lower Woodcock Lake.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Green
Green Point, of the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy. Photo by Bree McGregor.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Located farther afield near Interlochen, just southwest of Lake Ann, this 230-acre preserve contains an entire 22-acre undeveloped lake, as well as a half-mile of frontage on the Platte River, plus numerous other streams.\u00a0

\u201cYou can meander more than 3.5 miles of trails and find yourself immersed in so many different natural scenes as you move through the property,\u201d Whiting says. \u201cThe mirror-like surface of the unspoiled lake, the wide variety of bird species you regularly observe, the sound of the river rushing past like voices laughing and talking in a far-away distant room\u2014these are just some of the reasons I love spending time there.\u201d\u00a0

Whatever trail you choose, Dreeszen and Whiting encourage you to enjoy the land responsibly.\u00a0

\u201cWhen you arrive at any GTRLC nature preserve, read the signs on the kiosk to learn preserve rules and what natural features and creatures you can expect to find there,\u201d Dreeszen recommends.\u00a0

\u201cWe are your land conservancy,\u201d Whiting emphasizes. \u201cPlease get out on the trails and visit our preserves and natural areas. Explore a new place, or get to know an old favorite even better.\u201d

So what are you waiting for? Explore a local GTRLC nature preserve\u2014walk among the trees, open your senses, and begin to connect with the natural world.

Interested in volunteering with GTRLC? View opportunities and sign up at <\/em>GTRLC.org\/volunteer\/signup<\/em><\/a> online. Visit GTRLC.org to learn more about the organization or visit the Conservation Center, which is open to the public at 2846 3-Mile Road North in Traverse City.<\/em>

Interested in learning more about the art and science of forest bathing? Read Dr. Qing Li\u2019s <\/em>Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness<\/em><\/strong>. Related works are also available at Benzie County public libraries or The Bookstore in Frankfort.<\/em>

Featured Photo Caption: <\/strong>Brett McGregor is a trail steward for the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, and on this day, he and the author, Bree, took their daughter, Esm\u00e9, with them to Baldy Dune while Brett cleared some downed trees. Photo courtesy of the McGregor family.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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