News From The Nature Conservancy
Michigan Chapter Headquarters: 101 E. Grand River | Lansing, MI 48906-4348 | 517-316-0300
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Dec. 6, 2004
Note: Photos available upon request.
Contact:
Melissa Soule, Communications Director - (517) 316-2268 or msoule@tnc.orgLast Great Place Saved by Nature Conservancy
UP?s Bete Grise Best Remaining Example of Great Lakes
Coastal Plain Marsh
BETE GRISE, Mich. ? Once staked for a subdivision, 1,103 acres, including 1.5 miles of Lake Superior shoreline, will now be forever protected thanks to an extensive partnership organized by The Nature Conservancy?s Michigan Chapter.
Stretching along Lake Superior from Lac La Belle to Point Isabelle, Bete Grise is recognized by the Michigan Natural Features Inventory as the single most important coastal plain marsh community remaining in the upper Great Lakes region because of its size, diversity and intact hydrology.
"Bete Grise Bay was one of only 16 projects funded nationwide this year, so it shows how significant this area is," said Christie Deloria, who leads the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's U.P. Ecological Services Office. "It is a priority worthy of preservation because it's really a unique site, probably one of the last remaining coastal estuarine marshes in the upper Great Lakes. Having partners like The Nature Conservancy and South Shore Association already working together contributed to making this an even more valuable project to fund."
Characterized by a high diversity of grasses, coastal plain marshes are home to a variety of rare and declining migratory and nesting bird species and provide invaluable habitat for spawning fish and breeding amphibians. These areas also serve as natural water purification systems, and above all, are the base of the food chain for the entire Great Lakes ecosystem. Over the past 150 years, significant loss of this important wetland habitat throughout the Great Lakes has coincided with a decline in both water quality and the fishing industry, touted as one of Earth's finest fisheries just decades ago.
"The diversity of our environment is something that makes Michigan unique, and is worth protecting," said Steven E. Chester, Director of the Dept. of Environmental Quality in Michigan. "This project will preserve coastal wetlands and uphold our great tradition of responsible environmental stewardship."
The project has received a $447,000 grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in partnership with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality's Coastal Management Program. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced an additional award of $1 million through its National Coastal Wetland Conservation Program, in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Both grants require matching partner funds and The Nature Conservancy is spearheading fundraising efforts in cooperation with the Keweenaw Land Trust, the Houghton/Keweenaw Conservation District, the South Shore Association and numerous private donors to generate an additional $450,000. The total project cost will be $1.9 million. Long-term management and ownership of the preserve will be a joint effort between the Conservation District, the Keweenaw Land Trust and The Nature Conservancy, which also received funding from the estate of Isotta Cesari for this and other related projects.With the protection of Bete Grise secured, The Nature Conservancy has now helped protect more than 11,000 acres?including 14 miles of Lake Superior shoreline?in the Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan?s northernmost mainland tip. Last year, the Conservancy transferred the final part of a 6,275-acre parcel utilizing the largest single grant in the history of the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund.
The area serves as habitat for more than 900 species of flora as well as large, wide-ranging mammals like black bear and moose. Visitors to the area are likely to spot bald eagles and sandhill cranes, both of which actively nest here.
"With land increasingly fragmented while the cost of shoreline continues to dramatically rise, we have little time left to save these last great places like Bete Grise," said Helen Taylor, state director of The Nature Conservancy in Michigan. "We?re grateful to our partners for their assistance in stepping forward to protect this remarkable place. We couldn?t have done it without their help."
The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. The Nature Conservancy counts at least 1 million members worldwide, including 30,000 in Michigan. The Conservancy and its members have protected more than 80 million acres on Earth, including 84,759 acres in Michigan. The Nature Conservancy embraces a non-confrontational, market-based approach for accomplishing its science-driven mission.
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