March
19th, 2008
Below
is the 3/19/08 biweekly update for Huron Pines.
Thank
you!
Huron
Pines
GREAT NEWS FOR THE AU
State
funding support has returned for the Au
Sable River Large Woody Debris Program!
Huron
Pines has been awarded a contract from the MDNR to complete $400,000 of
in-stream habitat improvement work on the Au Sable River. The funding was
initially allocated several years ago, but put on hiatus due to budget cuts
within the Fisheries Division. Fortunately, MDNR recognizes the need for active
habitat improvement efforts and is providing $400,000 in funding over the next
two years to do the type of stream enhancement work known as large woody debris
(LWD).
While
waiting the return of public funding for the river improvement effort, Huron
Pines received critical funding from several conservation groups. If you
appreciate the river work on the Au Sable, be sure to check our website to see
who helped.
Learn
more about this new development for the Au Sable River LWD project: http://www.huronpines.org/article.php?action=view&articleId=65
NEW CONSERVATION FIRST RESPONDER PROGRAM
A recently released study documented what we've known for a long time: one-on-one access to resource experts, who can “walk the land” with property owners, is the most important type of assistance people need to ensure good land stewardship. For too long, landowners have had to run through a maze of frustration in order to get the answers they need to conservation questions, often getting nowhere.
Through our volunteer based Conservation First Responder program, Huron Pines is seeking 10-20 people with a strong background in wildlife, forest management, invasive species, water quality or soil erosion control that have a little time to spare and want to make a difference.
We're looking for retired resource experts living in
This program will be offered to landowners, free of charge, beginning in early summer. If you have an interest in serving as a volunteer in our Conservation First Responder program, please contact Brad Jensen at (989)344-0753 ext. 18 or brad@huronpines.org.
GET YOUR NATIVE PLANTS
Keep in mind the
Otsego Conservation District Seedling Sale Fundraiser this spring. This is a
great way to support local conservation efforts and get some excellent plants.
Otsego Conservation
District was the winner of the 2008 Huron Pines Award for their successful
efforts in reaching out to private landowners and their community garden
program.
Orders are due March
28, 2008 and pick-up is April 25 & 26 in Gaylord.
Please visit: http://www.otsegocountymi.gov/conservation/ocd.htm
Or, contact Patricia
Osburn: patricia.osburn@mi.nacdnet.net
If you live outside of
check
your local conservation district for seedling sales as well!
DATE SET FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF WATERSHED & RIVER
ORGANIZATIONS
Leaders of volunteer-led watershed groups will have their 13th annual meeting on Wednesday, April 9th 2008 from 9:00am to 3:00pm at the Days Inn of Grayling, Michigan.
Topics on the agenda include groundwater withdrawal and contamination, land conservancy initiatives, and the MiCorps volunteer group water quality testing. This meeting is hosted by the Upper Manistee River Restoration Committee and the Au Sable Watershed Restoration Committee.
For more information, contact Bob Andrus at 989-348-5196 or randrus@netscape.com.
To subscribe, send an email to: enewsletter-subscribe@lists.huronpines.org
To unsubscribe, send an email to: enewsletter-unsubscribe@lists.huronpines.org
For questions about this
email or if you are unable to automatically subscribe/unsubscribe,
contact Casey Ressl: info@huronpines.org
Huron
Pines is a nonprofit organization whose goal is to
conserve the
forests, lakes and streams of
Huron Pines
Phone 989.344.0753
Fax 989.348.7945