Sharon Township property conserved, adds to Sharon Short Hills Greenway

Legacy Land Conservancy has protected an additional 53 acres of Sharon Township property as of late December.

submitted by Pam Bierzynski, Legacy Land Conservancy

On December 28, Legacy Land Conservancy announced that it has permanently protected 53 acres of agricultural land and wildlife habitats within the Sharon Short Hills area of western Washtenaw County. The landowner—who wishes to remain anonymous—is pleased to protect their property’s highly valuable natural areas, hunting resources, and retreat-like qualities through a conservation easement with Legacy, which offers permanent protection to privately owned land. The property, located within the Huron River watershed, contains gently rolling hills, a spring-fed lake that flows to a creek, and multiple wetland areas, all surrounded by oak-hickory forest. The topography and variety of ecosystems add to its “climate resiliency,” its ability to adapt to the stressors of climate change.

Preservation of this property adds to an existing 187-acre natural “greenway” in the Sharon Short Hills area, benefiting water quality and providing wildlife habitat. Most notably, it helps connect wildlife habitat between two Washtenaw County preserves. Although the property is not open to the public, it ensures that area wildlife have more contiguous habitat to thrive in. Because the property’s emergent marsh, riverine and shrub wetlands, and associated forested uplands provide valuable habitat for a variety of migratory birds, including Henslow’s sparrow, Marsh Wren, Black-crowned Night Heron, Hooded Warbler, and Bobolink, the project was partially funded by the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) through the Saginaw Bay to Lake Erie Coastal Wetland Habitat Project, administered by Ducks Unlimited.

NAWCA funds land protection and habitat restoration and enhancement projects across North America to benefit migratory birds. These projects also benefit many other wildlife, including threatened and endangered species, and people. “More than 3 million waterfowl annually migrate through or breed in the Great Lakes region and many of them depend on the corridor of fragmented habitat that extends from Saginaw Bay to Western Lake Erie” Kali Rush, Ducks Unlimited Michigan Regional Biologist, said. “Conservation of tracts of land that connect existing natural infrastructure help to prevent future fragmentation and ensure habitat for the birds forever. This easement is a great example of an inland forested wetland that can provide brood rearing habitat for ducks.”

In addition to NAWCA funding attained in partnership with Ducks Unlimited, Legacy worked with the Carls Foundation and other private entities to secure the other funding sources to purchase the conservation easement from the landowner. It is the fourth property permanently protected in a five-project effort generously funded through a grant with the Carls Foundation.

“The Carls Foundation has been a strong supporter of our work and we’re so grateful for their dedication to conservation and land protection here in southern Michigan. It’s with their vision and leadership that we’ve been able to protect this property, and more than 250 acres total across four projects since 2017,” Diana Kern, Legacy Executive Director, said.

About Legacy Land Conservancy: Founded in 1971 as Michigan’s first local land trust, Legacy is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects land in southern Michigan. Legacy’s mission is to secure for current and future generations a land base for nature, agriculture, fresh water, and recreation in Jackson and Washtenaw counties and beyond. Legacy has helped to protect more than 9,000 acres of land (including seven nature preserves open for all to enjoy) that enhance our community’s quality of place by safeguarding water quality, conserving working farms, and protecting places to play. In a testament to 50 years of successful voluntary conservation, Legacy is accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission for adhering to a set of standards designed to ensure the organization’s work will endure forever. Legacy is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. For more information, visit www.legacylandconservancy.org

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.