land preservation

The Washtenaw County Conservation District is working with communities in the southwest part of the county to find ways to conserve and protect land in their area. WEMU’s Ana Longoria reports.

Just about 40 miles from our WEMU studios sits a 440-acre lake plain prairie. It’s called the Sibley Prairie, and you’ll find it in Brownstown Township. It is the largest and highest quality lake plain prairie in Michigan. As such, work is underway to try and permanently preserve this rare ecosystem. Jeff Vornhagen is Director-at-Large of the Huron Valley Chapter of the Michigan Botanical Society. He spoke about the preservation project with WEMU's David Fair.

Ann Arbor City Council recently approved contributions to its first project in its innovative Bluebelt initiative. The Bluebelt program is a supplement and extension of the city’s Greenbelt land preservation program. It aims to improve area water quality. Now, in partnership with Washtenaw County and Scio Township, Ann Arbor is purchasing the Davenport Property just west of the city, along Mill Creek. That will add 79 acres of woods, wetlands and farmland. WEMU's David Fair got an update on the Bluebelt program with Ann Arbor Land Acquisition Specialist, Rosie Pahl Donaldson.

Ann Arbor is looking at something "blue" to expand its protection of drinking and other water sources. The new Bluebelt program will work in concert with the Greenbelt land preservation program to expand water protections. WEMU's David Fair was joined by City of Ann Arbor Land Acquisition Specialist, Rosie Pahl Donaldson, to discuss the goals of the program.

A reversal in a federal funding initiative could end an effort to preserve another 4,000 acres of land in southeast Michigan. $24.6 million had been granted to the Legacy Land Conservancy and its partners for preservation of farmland, forests, wetland and waterways in our region, including Washtenaw County. But the Trump Administration has rescinded that grant. WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director Lisa Wozniak weigh the real and potential impacts with Legacy Land Conservancy executive director, Diana Kern.

Dexter will be holding a special election August 5th asking voters if it can sell off the land that was previously purchased to build a new fire station. WEMU's Kevin Meerschaert has this report.

Land preservation is important to the agricultural community in Washtenaw County. It’s also a part of the strategy to get Ann Arbor and the county to its carbon neutrality goals. One man has spent about 30 years on local land preservation. Barry Lonik has been a part of 100 projects preserving more than 10,000 acres of land that might otherwise have been developed. WEMU's David Fair spoke with Barry about his three-decade journey and about the impact he still wants to make.

The greenway along the Saline River is going to expand, and about 45 acres of property will preserved in perpetuity. The Washtenaw County Department of Parks and Recreation purchased the land from the Grossman Family, and it aims to improve the environment and add recreational opportunity. WEMU's David Fair spoke with Parks and Recreation Stewardship Planner Allison Krueger about the project.

The Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Department has announced the purchase of 45 acres of land along the Saline River for preservation. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has more.

Several city and township ballot proposals on the Washtenaw County ballot were decided on Tuesday night.