Thursday, November 18, 2004
By Jeff KartTimes Writer
A $500,000 grant will help land conservancies in the Saginaw Bay and River Raisin watersheds keep an eye on protected land.
The Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy, a nonprofit group which covers 22 counties in the watershed, has received the funding from the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation of Midland, said Bonnie L. Marsh, the conservancy's executive director.
The grant is $100,000 a year for five years, beginning in December 2005. The money will be endowed, or invested, by area community foundations, with about 5 percent used for ongoing monitoring of permanent conservation easements by area land conservancies, Marsh said.
The Saginaw Basin conservancy is using $7.5 million in state grants to buy permanent easements on thousands of acres of land in Michigan, to forever preserve conservation practices that filter pollutants and sediment from runoff. Most easements will be purchased in the Saginaw Bay area, with a few purchased in the River Raisin area in southeast Michigan, Marsh said.
Ranny Riecker, president of the Dow Foundation, said her organization wanted to support the conservancy because the easement purchasing program will have positive impacts regionwide.
Marsh said the grant is a blessing.
"The $7.5 million allows us to buy the permanent easements, but then we're left with a liability," she said.
"So this half-million dollar grant from the Dow Foundation is a real godsend. It's going to help us fulfill our charitable obligation, to monitor these easements every year."
Conservancies from throughout the two watersheds will help with annual monitoring, to make sure the parcels are kept natural.
Benefiting organizations include the Bay Area Community Foundation, Midland Area Community Foundation, Mount Pleasant Area Community Foundation and Lenawee Community Foundation, which serve the Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy, Little Forks Conservancy, Chippewa Watershed Conservancy and Raisin Valley Land Trust, respectively.
Marsh said another $1 million in endowments is needed to generate ongoing funding, about $75,000 a year, to pay for monitoring the $7.5 million in easements.
The Saginaw Basin conservancy is seeking additional grants for monitoring. Those interested in donating also can call the conservancy at 686-0220, or visit www.sblc-mi.org online.
- Jeff Kart covers the environment and politics for The Times. He can be reached at 894-9639.
© 2004 Bay City Times.
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