REGION – HeadWaters Land Conservancy is excited to share they have accepted a 20-acre land donation from the Peng Family which will soon be open to the public as their newest nature preserve. With the addition of this property, HeadWaters Land Conservancy now owns seven nature preserves and protects 12,367 acres of land!
“This is an exciting acquisition for me on many levels,” Julie Rubsam, Executive Director said. “This will be a first for me in experiencing land acquisition in my new Michigan home, and the first of what I hope will be many new preserves for Headwaters. I look forward to trails, restoration and outreach events at our newest addition.”
The property is located on Lake Nettie Road in Presque Isle County, just south of County Road 638. The land is hilly and forested; its valleys drain towards Lake Nettie. There is a small wetland complex in the southern portion of the property with tag alder and swamp conifers. This area acts as a filter for spring snowmelt and rain and is home to turtles, frogs, and salamanders. Preserving this land keeps wildlife habitat intact and helps maintain the water quality of Lake Nettie and the Ocqueoc River watershed.
Lake Nettie is the largest of the “chain of lakes” that make up the headwaters of the Ocqueoc River. The Ocqueoc River begins south of the village of Millersburg, winding its way north through Presque Isle County before reaching Lake Huron’s Hammond Bay. Preserving natural lands like the Peng property not only protects water resources in the immediate vicinity but maintains a positive impact downstream as well.
Land and Stewardship Committee members and HeadWaters’ staff were excited to visit the property this spring. At the time of their visit, the aspen buds were starting to swell but hadn’t yet popped and the forest floor was littered with last fall’s acorns. Wintergreen and pine needles added some green to their late April visit.
“I loved visiting the Peng parcel. It was such a treat. A gorgeous composition of a classic northern Michigan forest type. I think any person that enjoys a walk there will not leave disappointed,” said Brittany VanderWall, District Forester of Presque Isle and Cheboygan Counties and new HeadWaters Board Member.
Land and Stewardship Committee chairman Tom Schupbach added, “This preserve will be a small local jewel for the Lake Nettie area. The property is twenty acres of mostly rolling glacial hills dominated by middle-age oak, pine and aspen. Headwaters Land Conservancy looks forward to establishing a short nature trail within the preserve. It will be a convenient hike to hear the cacophony of morning birds or chorus of spring frogs.”
The mission of HeadWaters Land Conservancy is to protect the natural diversity and beauty of northeast Michigan by preserving significant land and scenic areas and fostering appreciation and understanding of the environment. HeadWaters Land Conservancy serves 11 counties: Alcona, Alpena, Arenac, Crawford, Iosco, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, and Roscommon.
Find out more about HeadWaters Land Conservancy and upcoming public educational events at www.HeadWatersConservancy.org.
