Wetlands, woods, and lakes now protected in Delton

Kathy Jennings | Thursday, December 18, 2014

view from Quadcopter Nate Fuller

Monitoring the Smith property by kayak Emily E. Wilke

For the past 70 years the Smith family in Barry County has been purchasing property, putting together more than 300 acres. They wanted to see the property's wetlands, lakes and woodland protected.

Now that land will stay in its natural state as the family hoped. The Smith family has entered into a conservation easement with the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy funded by the a Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) Nonpoint Source Program matching grant. The program is designed to conserve highly ranked properties for water quality protection such as that in the Augusta Creek Watershed.

"Conserving this property has been the goal of our family for several years and fulfills my long-time dream," says Karl Smith. His parents left the property to him and his late brother, Roger.

The Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy has been working with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the Four Townships Water Resource Council for the past two years to conserve this and other land in the area. The land will be known as The Smith Nature Trust Conservation Easement.

"The Smith property has been one of the highest priorities for both its size and diversity of wetlands, water bodies, and habitats important for wildlife, including migratory and nesting waterfowl," says Emily Wilke, SMLC Conservation Projects Manager.

Karl Smith says he has fond memories of the times spent with friends and family at the reunions they host on the shores of Little Gilkey Lake.

"This summer, there was a family reunion with family members coming from all over the country," says Smith. "They all told us how grateful they are that we are preserving this property."

The Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy serves the nine counties of Southwest Michigan, and has protected almost 13,000 acres since it was formed as an all-volunteer organization in 1991. It now has has eight staff and 150 active volunteers and is supported by over 1,200 household memberships.

Writer: Kathy Jennings, Second Wave Media
Source: Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy

Captions:
A sandhill crane’s-eye view of the Smith property provides views of Little Gilkey Lake stretching north to Shallow Gilkey Lake, now permanently protected with a conservation easement. Photo by Nate Fuller.

Lynn Steil monitors the Smith property by kayak. Photo by Emily E. Wilke.