USFWS Piping Plover Grant

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The Central Lake Superior Land Conservancy ( CLSLC) is proud to announce the kickoff of the 2007 piping plover protection season in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The past two years have been very productive ones here at the CLSLC. The piping plover grant that we were awarded through the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service for Grand Marais; MI was a success with seven chicks fledged in 2005 & 2006 combined. This project included monitoring and protection of piping plover nests to determine their status, to help alleviate human or pet disturbance, and to educate the public. The project will continue this summer and the plover Biologist from last year, Jean Carpenter, will continue her work.

The 2007/08 season kicked off in May and the funds are made available through the Private Stewardship Grant Program of the USFWS. This grant work will be similar to our previous Grand Marais, MI plover conservation project but on a broader scale. There will be two additional sites, one at the Gulliver Lake outlet ( 15 miles East of Manistique, MI) and another at Vermillion ( 11 miles West of Whitefish Point). These areas are mainly privately owned stretches of beach and thought to be critical plover habitat. There are also Great Lakes endemic plant species found in these areas including the Pitcher’s thistle, Dwarf lake iris, and Houghton’s goldenrod, which are all federally listed species. The project will entail landowner contact and education for the purpose of increasing successful plover reproduction and survival as well as raising public awareness to protect the rare plant species found in these areas. We will keep you all updated on the progress of this new and exciting grant opportunity.

Peshekee Trace Project

This project consists of public outreach in the form of an educational brochure and letter to the landowners in the greater Michigamme area. This mailing will inform landowners of their conservation options and explain why there is a need to create and maintain a wildlife corridor between Craig Lake State Park and the McCormick Wilderness area. This mailing will help to stimulate the land conservation efforts in this region and result in the protection of thousands of additional acres in this ecologically significant area. The information distributed will benefit landowners by informing them of their land conservation options as well as educating them on why creating a wildlife corridor is important to them. This corridor will benefit Marquette County by reducing fragmentation of habitat, increasing water quality, and promoting land protection. This goal creates overall health of the environment and thereby protects the health of the citizens in the community.