|
|
News |
SMLC is Nationally Accredited! |
| 
Lost Lake Nature Preserve—Photo by Charles Scott
|
| Today, SMLC announced that it has achieved national recognition—joining a network of more than 470 accredited land trusts across the country that have demonstrated their commitment to professional excellence and to maintaining the public's trust in their work. |
“The Land Trust Commission’s accreditation certifies and elevates SMLC’s ongoing work to conserve local woods, wetlands, prairies, and open spaces”, says Jill A. Lewis, SMLC’s Executive Director. “SMLC is helping the planet where we live, work, and recreate, here in Southeast Michigan, and the Commission has recognized our adherence to land trust standards and best practices as part of what we do.”
Click here to read more
After undergoing a rigorous application and submitting extensive documentation, SMLC was awarded accreditation by the national Land Trust Accreditation Commission in February 2024. SMLC has demonstrated that it meets the highest standards for land trusts.
To learn more about land trust accreditation, visit landtrustaccreditation.org.
|
Picnic and Accreditation Celebration at the Conservancy Farm - Thank You!!
|
The 2024 Picnic at the Farm, held in September, was a lovely event! Participants were treated to good food and fellowship, tours of the historic farm buildings and Conservancy Farm prairie and wetlands restoration, and a “Nature’s Nightlife” presentation from the Leslie Science & Nature Center. During the event we also presented our biennial SMLC Awards – see list below (click here to read the Press Release).
|
SMLC's 2024 Award Recipients*
Community Organization Awards: Ducks Unlimited and US Fish & Wildlife Service
(for their help with the Conservancy Farm and Lost Lake Nature Preserve prairie/wetland restorations)
Volunteer of the Year 2023: Joel Geffen (photography)
Volunteer of the Year 2024: George Kasdorf (stewardship)
Volunteer Legacy Award - Members of the Event Planning Committee:
Misty Callies, Heidi Gunther, Allison LaPlatt-Weaver, Michelle McIntyre, and Maria Vicini
Executive Director Legacy Award: Jill A. Lewis
(for 15 years of service through 2023)
|
| *SMLC’s awards are given out biennially. |
| 
SMLC's Community Organization Awards were presented to staff representatives of Ducks Unlimited and US Fish and Wildlife Service at the 2024 Picnic at the Farm event. Photo by Jim Weiner
|
| 
Shawn Severance, SMLC Stewardship Committee Chair, leading the prairie restoration tour at the 2024 Picnic at the Farm event. Photo by Alan McTaggart
|
|  |
Conservancy Farm Restoration Project
The 2022 Conservancy Farm Restoration Project was successfully completed this past September. The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program project leverages almost $31,000 in federal funding.
Project partners are Ducks Unlimited and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Results are an enhanced 12.5 acres of emergent wetland and newly restored 30.2 acres of native upland prairie that are located at the site of former agricultural fields.
Conservancy Farm Prairie Wildflowers
Photo by Joel Geffen.
The project benefits as determined by SMLC’s Stewardship Committee include:
• Buffering 69 acres of existing woodlands – local wildlife habitat will increase from 109 acres to 138 contiguous acres
• Increasing grassland birds nesting and migration habitat
• Providing resources for pollinators and other insects
• Increased water quality in the area due to perennial native vegetation (reduces erosion, chemical runoff and sedimentation of nearby waterways) Desired outcomes include:
• A thriving local population of native insects, amphibians, birds and other wildlife that rely on grasslands and wetlands as part of their life cycle
• An increase in migrating birds using the site
• A more pleasant experience for the Farm’s trail users
|
SMLC’s 2022 Award Recipients
|
|
|
At SMLC’s recent Summer Celebration event, we honored the following organization and individuals for their outstanding support of SMLC and local land conservation during 2022 and the past few years. Due to the pandemic we were unable to award some of these before now — we are pleased to present them now:
Peter Blank accepting the Organizational Award on behalf of The Nature Conservancy-Ohio
Photo by Joel Geffen.
The Nature Conservancy-Ohio: Organizational Award (for ongoing Sibley Prairie project funding and support) Mary Ericson: Board Award—Outgoing President (Term: 2017-2020) Bryan Collett: Board Award—Outgoing Director (for 6 or more years of continuous service) Shawn Severance: Volunteer of the Year 2022 (Stewardship Committee Chairperson, Stewardship Support) Cathy Bach: Volunteer of the Year 2021 (Superior Township Chapter Member, Project Leader) Robert Moll: Volunteer of the Year 2020 (Nature Preserve Watcher, Photographer)
|
Secrest Nature Preserve - Now OPEN! |
|
SMLC's new Secrest Nature Preserve is now open to the public! Parking is available on Berry Road in Superior Township - click here for directions.
In September 2021, SMLC held a special Dedication Event to preview the new public trail, honor the Secrest Family - whom the preserve is named after - and acknowledge the Superior Greenway partners who have worked with SMLC through the years to protect more than 2,700 acres of woods, wetlands, prairies and farmland in Superior Township, Washtenaw County. Click here to read the press release.
SMLC in the News
Check out these articles featuring SMLC preserves, trails and the Superior Greenway:
"This article is part of Inside Our Outdoors, a series about Southeast Michigan's connected parks, greenways, and trails and how they affect residents' quality of life. It is made possible with funding from the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance."
A fun read about the pairing of a cup of joe and local trails.
|
|
Preserve Update:
Sibley Prairie Nature Preserve - West Prairie Site |
| SMLC acquired the 39-acre West Prairie Site of Sibley Prairie Nature Preserve in 2014 after a year's worth of effort, and now this beautiful property will forever be protected. To read more about the project and the property's unique characteristics, click here
Prairie remnant found in the West Prairie Site addition to the Sibley Prairie Nature Preserve. Photo by Jill Lewis. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
