From recreation to restoration, you’ll find it in here. www.natureiscalling.org | 231.941.0960 | 1450 Cass Rd. Traverse City, MI 49685

Grand Traverse Conservation District 2015 Annual Report

We have the privilege of living in the beautiful Grand Traverse region. With privilege, comes responsibility. We have the responsibility to care for the air, land, and the water. We also have the responsibility to nurture the conservation leaders of tomorrow. The Grand Traverse Conservation District has been committed to these responsibilities for nearly 75 years. We are guided by our mission to inspire exploration, appreciation, and conservation of our natural world. In an effort to advance this mission, 2015 was spent examining the future direction of the Boardman River Nature Center. We have spent the year collecting data, analyzing needs, and beginning the formation of plans. We had the good fortune of securing a planning grant from Rotary Charities of Traverse City to fund a Peer Consult from the Association of Nature Center Administrators (ANCA). We received their final report in November 2015, which was filled with innovative recommendations for creating a more enticing and enriching Nature Center experience. Beginning in December 2015, the Nature Center will be open on second Saturdays each month. We have expanded program options to help nurture current and future conservation leaders. Through the commitment of volunteers, we are able to staff Saturday hours in an effort to fulfill the many requests for Saturday activities. We are always looking for volun-teer speakers and docents to assist with programming. In January 2016, we updated our community needs and interests survey which addresses nature and conservation related programming at the Nature Center. We will use this information to shape our community-centric programming over the next few years. We are able to fulfill our mission because of the monetary and volunteer support from our generous community. Thank you for all you do to help inspire exploration, appreciation, and conservation of our natural world!

Yours in conservation,

Marsha Barber Clark Executive Director

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PARKLANDS

This year has turned out to be another busy year for the Parklands program. We continue to improve the Grand Traverse area’s public parklands through better connectivity, signage, education displays, trail design, and structure maintenance. Dedicated volunteers continue to aid in our success and the quality of the recreational experiences to enjoy both on the river and in the parklands. Throughout 2015, volunteers offered their time and energy to help perform trail maintenance, remove invasive species, build trail infrastructure, and even clear trash to keep our parklands looking clean and natural. Here are a few highlights from this year: The 2015 season at the City of Traverse City-owned Brown Bridge Quiet Area received over 800 hours of volunteer effort. Community volunteers that participated in workbees this spring and fall were able to plant over 5,300 native trees and shrubs within the recently exposed bottomlands of the former Brown Bridge pond. The relatively new Boardman River Trail, a 24-mile long TART trails project connecting Traverse City to the North Country Trail through the beautiful Boardman River valley, passes through three different parklands managed by the Grand Traverse Conservation District. This season was busy with planning routes, clearing downfall, blazing new trail, and constructing boardwalks….all with the help of TART volunteers! Volunteers of our Trail Stewards program served as our extra sets of eyes to watch over the nine different parklands that we manage scattered throughout Grand Traverse County. With the assistance of these volunteers, we are able to respond to management needs in a much quicker and more efficient manner. The Trail Stewards program still needs more volunteers! So if you enjoy hiking our trails and would like to adopt a trail to steward, contact us today to learn more! A big thank you to all of our 2015 volunteers for making a difference! Be sure to check in again soon to see a list of our 2016 volunteer opportunities with the Parklands program!

2015 was a year of agricultural literacy and a record year for re-verifications for the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP). This past July, Governor Snyder signed a bill reauthorizing the successful voluntary program and broadening the funding base for MAEAP. Previously, a portion of the MAEAP funding came from a tax on nitrogen-based fertilizer. The new law established a tax on all fertilizer. Farm re-verifications were also a major change to the new bill. Once verified, a farm will now be on a five-year re-verification cycle instead of three years, reducing the demand on farm-er’s time. MAEAP also introduced the new Forest, Wetland & Habitat*A*Syst to assist land owners to better understand, plan, manage, protect, and utilize their forest resources. After receiving a grant from the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, a summer farm camp program called Farm Camp was established to better educate youth about the different aspects of local agriculture. From fiber to soils to integrated pest management, 175 children received an education about the industry that drives our local economy. In order to better educate the public about environmentally verified farms, MAEAP Technicians worked closely with verified wineries, educating tasting room staff about the environmental best management practices wineries imple-mented in order to obtain MAEAP verification. In 2015, “Team MAEAP” facilitated the verification of 16 farms and the re-verification of 48 farms in Antrim, Ben-zie, Grand Traverse, and Leelanau Counties; bringing our total verifications to nearly 175! Join along on our accomplish-ments throughout the year, by following us on Twitter: @Team_MAEAP!

AGRICULTURE

From recreation to restoration, you’ll find it in here. From recreation to restoration, you’ll find it in here. www.natureiscalling.org | 231.941.0960 | 1450 Cass Rd. Traverse City, MI 49685

If you made a donation and you are not listed here, or if your name is misspelled, please contact us so that we may correct our records: 231.941.0960From recreation to restoration, you’ll find it in here.

Several high-wind weather systems this past year toppled trees blocking the Boardman River in numerous locations. The most notable of course was the August 2nd event that left many places looking like disaster scenes that we only see hit “other” places on the news. Fortunately, there were only about a half- dozen sites where trees came down blocking navigation. District staff and volunteers were able to handle most of the sites, but a group of large trees fell across the river in a swift flowing part of the river system just above the Lone Pine Landing in the County’s Natural Education Reserve. District staff quickly realized that it would take more people to handle the job as safely as possible and called in Team Rubicon, who was in the area helping surrounding communities clean up from the storm. Team Rubicon unites the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams. Other activities that involved stewardship include: Continued involvement in the Boardman Dams Project. The construction of a new Cass Road bridge is slated to start (removing trees) after the first of 2016. Removal of Boardman Dam is scheduled to follow in 2017 and Sabin Dam in 2018. Modification of Union Street Dam will follow. River restoration work is also continuing at Brown Bridge through the planting of several thousand trees and shrubs, and the scheduled placement of more in-stream habitat wood in 2016. District staff and Trout Unlimited (TU) volunteers also restored a 70-foot-long eroded bank downstream of Brown Bridge. Once again the District partnered with Boardman River Clean Sweep (Norm Fred) on the 11th Annual Boardman River clean-up event. The District held the 19th Annual R.W. (Bob) Summers Fly Rod raffle, where over $8,000 was raised to support our work on the River. Rotary’s Gourmet Game Dinner Committee held the 12th Annual fundraiser to support construction of a footbridge over the Boardman below the former site of Brown Bridge Dam. The District also teamed up with Sandy Graham from BackCountry North on two Community Stewardship paddle events through the new section of river at Brown Bridge.

As our community grows, we at the Grand Traverse Conservation District are constantly trying to create more ways for children and families to connect to the natural world. This past year we have been able to achieve some incredible accomplishments with our environmental education programming at the Boardman River Nature Center and in the community. Over 400 preschoolers (3-5 years old) discovered their curiosity, empathy, and wonder of the natural world through our Peepers program this year. Peepers is offered once a week throughout the spring and autumn. The 90-minute nature program includes stories, crafts, music, hands-on discovery, and outdoor adventure. Nearly 1,200 students were connected to the world of natural resource conservation, environmental restoration, and stewardship through our Nature Education for Students and Teachers (NEST) field trips, Night at the Nature Center, Nature Egg Hunt, and other student-focused programs at the Boardman River Nature Center. Nature Day Camp grew in many ways this year. We doubled our program offerings, introduced new themes and field trips, and become a State of Michigan Licensed Day Camp. Because of all these improvements, we saw a 33% increase in attendance! That is 33% more children empowered by knowledge about their natural world who can take an active role in the future of conservation. The Boardman River Nature Center was used as a meeting place for nearly 1,500 conservation-minded adults who were engaged in various nature and conservation topics through our stewardship programming, partner organization meetings, and workshops.

EDUCATION

STEWARDSHIP

www.natureiscalling.org | 231.941.0960 | 1450 Cass Rd. Traverse City, MI 49685

STEWARDSHIP

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Thank You Donors

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Thank You Donors

Adams Chapter of Trout UnlimitedCatherine AnnelinThe Art and Mary Schmuckal Family FoundationAugust A. Busch III Charitable TrustRichard & Patricia AustinNancy BaglanJames & Anne BairdRebecca BakerKay BaumannMr. & Mrs. Jeff BeatonBeers Family FoundationMack & Lorraine BeersFlora BiancalanaNancy Birnie-VisscherBrian BloodRoger & Carla BloomBoardman River Clean SweepDean & Christina BottMargery BreitDr. John & Phyllis BrewsterClyde & Dawn BuchananAndrew & Emily BuchholzArbor BuildersJim & Barbara BurkholderStan & Dorothy CainArchie & Robbie CarmichaelBob CarstensRobin & Paul ChristensenJames ChristiansSusan ChrostekMarsha Barber Clark & Charles ClarkSara CockrellH. Cox & SonMichael & Dixie DavisDan & Kelli DealGreg DoornbosDowntown Traverse City AssociationPaula DreeszenMr. & Mrs. Robert DunbarDon & Kathy Ehrenberger

Shelley EhrenbergerHarry & Sara EickJoe & Sheryl ElliottKenneth & Janet EngleCatherine Eubanks Dan & Cameron FarleyGregory & Nancy FazzoniLynn Fellows-LyonBob & Sue FinkRobert & Marlene FlanneryMichael & Donna FlynnDr. Robert & Sandra FooteRichard & Susan FordMarge ForgioneLen & Karen FranseenThe Friendly Garden Club of Traverse CityCharlie FryeJoel & Lucille GaffDouglas & Shirley GembisGolden K Kiwanis ClubJeff GraftGrand Traverse Audubon ClubGrand Traverse Fruit Growers CouncilGrand Traverse Regional Community FoundationGreat Lakes CommissionHagerty InsuranceJohn HaggardDrs. Robert Hall & Cynthia GlinesGregory HamiltonHardwicke Family FundTeri HedrichMartha & Jack HicksMike & Shari HintzJames & Virginia HoffaJim HopfenspergerMichael & Marsha HowardJim & Diana HuckleRyan HughesJohn HuntMeredith Hunt & David Lillvis

John Hunter Gourdie-Fraser, Inc.Jerry & Carol InmanBrian & Jennifer JaffeJohnson Clark Printers, Inc.Jennifer Jay & Evan JohnstoneJennifer JulinJunior Achievement Half Moon HammocksCharles & Dolores KellyMark D. KellyPatrick & Mary Kelly Deb KennedyCharles & Janet KibbyMera Jetton KohlerWarren & Sharlene KrugerThe Kuschell FamilySandra L. KuslerDick & Jody LaBarreLake Shores Garden ClubSteve & Sharon LargentDavid & Jane LawrenceLeelanau StudiosMark & Lori Leugers Tracey Lev-AryBrian & Diane LironesJim & Mim LongcoreGrace MacdonaldMark Maddox & Sarah SuttonMa-Me-Ne-Sewong Garden ClubLinda MarchioKen & Priscilla MarekAllison MarionJody MarquisBob & Nancy MarshallDavid MathewsJohn & Molly McCombsLarry & Margaret McCormickThomas McLenithanJean M. McNeilThomas & Linda Mead

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Lynn Messing & Preston Williams Ed & Carolyn MoehleMary Beth & Hugh MorrisonDennis & Judy MurphyAnn NicholsThe Oleson FoundationOtwell Mawby Geotechnical, P.C.Katie & Bill ParkerMary "Monnie" PetersChristina RiddleRick & Teri RinalJack RobbinsMichael & Barbara RodenbergRotary Charities of Traverse CityRobert & Grace RuddMatthew & Adrienne Russell Mary Lou Schneider Art & Karen SchwarmAlissha & Paul ShankAnita SilvermanLeAnne SlederDr. Ann & Dr. Mark SmithMark & Kathy SpencerLeo & Linda StallmanMrs. Bethany SteffeyRoy Strait & Nancy Schumacher-StraitEddie SullivanBob & Evi SummersWilliam & Mary SwiftCarl & Eleanor TackeLisa TarchakTCAPS - Recycle CraftJames & Roberta TeahenHerman & Laurie ThomasThompson Surgical Instruments, Inc.Gabby ThompsonEd & Cindy TimmerTom & Janice Tinker Tom’s Food MarketsJane VanderZwaagTim & Jill Vollbrecht

Steve & Amy TonguePaul and Nancy TousleyTraverse City Big Boy Mari & Rolf von Walthausen Ralph & Margaret Von WalthausenBill & Jane WaresPrice & Jane WattsWells Fargo Community SupportElena J. WentzThomas WertzSusan WoodruffJohn Wunsch & Laura WigfieldE. YoungJohn & Marylou Zaloudek

SponsorsBlack Star FarmsFischer Insurance Agency, IncGrand Traverse Resort & SpaImage 360Wildlife & Wetland Solutions

In Memory of Bill BusbyKaren Wilson-Smithbauer

In Memory of Clyde EwingSuzanne & Jason AllenJoanne CouturierBecky Ewing & Bob EichenlaubAnn ParkerBob & Becky SanfordFrederick & Denise Schubert

In Memory of Charlie FryeArnie & Aggie Ochs

In Memory of Jack HoodWilliam C. Scharf

In Memory of Dan OlsonJack & Carol Olson

In Memory of Jim & Sandy VanEenenaamKristopher StamMarti VanEenenaam-Iwanicki

In Honor of Betty GillmanMichael Gillman

In KindBackcountry OutfittersBay Area Recycling For CharitiesBlack Star FarmsBonobo WineryBowers Harbor VineyardsBrewery Terra FirmaChateau ChantelChemical BankEagle View FarmsEspresso BayMichael & Tricia ForgraveSandy & Susie GrahamIntegrated Systems Consultants - Troy FairchildMI GrilleKeil MosherOneupwebPeninsula CellarsRedPath OrchardsJack RobbinsSchelde's Grille & SpiritsUrs & Ruth SulgerTwo Lads Winery

A special thanks to our Board Members:

Andy BlodgettJan Engle

Brian HammerJennifer JayEd Moehle

Donna SowersJim Teahen

Steve TimmerTom Wertz

Thank You Donors

If you made a donation and you are not listed here, or if your name is misspelled, please contact us so that we may correct our records: 231.941.0960

www.natureiscalling.org | 231.941.0960 | 1450 Cass Rd. Traverse City, MI 49685

www.natureiscalling.org | 231.941.0960 | 1450 Cass Rd. Traverse City, MI 49685 From recreation to restoration, you’ll find it in here.

Your Dollars At Work

Federal & State Grants 328,548 40% District Operations 125,124 16%Conservation & Education Services 252,918 31% Invasive Species (Federal Grant) 138,456 18% Contributions and Donations 167,010 20% MAEAP (State Grant) 118,209 15%Contributions from Local Units* 47,500 6% GTSI (Public Grant) 71,071 9%Native Seedling and Plant Sales 21,780 3% Conservation & Education 312,921 40%Interest, Rentals & Other Sales 6,070 0.7% Seedling/Plant Sales 13,584 2%Total $823,826 Total $779,365 Contribution to Fund Balance $44,461*Only 6% of income comes from local government. The rest is raised from grants,

providing services & programs, a yearly native seedling and plant sale, and tax-deductible contributions.

In 2015, Grand Traverse District Forester Kama Ross provided free private forest land technical assistance to over 150 county forestland owners. Kama performed 69 on-site landowner visits covering 3,713 acres, giving landowners information on how they can more actively manage their forest resources. She conducted 27 forestry outreach events, attracting over 1,500 local landowners with such topics as Timber and Taxes, Forest Soils and Glacial History, Forest Insects and Disease, and a Forestry Field Day in collaboration with the Michigan Tree Farm Program. Her educational efforts with landowners resulted in 21 forestry referrals, connecting consulting and procurement foresters with landowners to create forest management plans and carry out timber harvests, becoming more active stewards of our natural resources. In 2015, the Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network (ISN) grew in both partners and efforts. Through funding from the U.S. Forest Service and the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program, ISN surveyed over 900 acres and treated over 500 acres for “Top 20” invasive species. Much of this invaluable work was done by a crew of four fantastic seasonal employees (Rebecca Koteskey, Saman-tha Davis, and Michael Schneider, led by Samantha Palmer), who worked with partners throughout the service area on high-priority projects in high-quality habitats. ISN also hosted four garlic mustard workbees and three shrub workbees, during which residents of the four counties came together to contribute over 180 volunteer hours to manage invasive species in northwest lower Michigan. In order to do more to protect the natural resources that are crucial to our “Up North” way of life, ISN worked to educate the public on invasive species issues to prevent new invasions. This started by bringing Emily Cook on as ISN’s Outreach Specialist. This year, ISN directly contacted over 1,400 members of the public through outreach efforts (including over 30 presentations to local governments, school groups, garden clubs, and others) and expanded the voluntary, groundbreaking Go Beyond Beauty program to include eight nurseries and 13 landscapers. These bold businesses are not only making a stand for stewardship of our priceless natural areas; they’re working hard to educate their customers as well as removing top-priority invasive ornamentals from their sales. As we look to the future, ISN is planning to grow Go Beyond Beauty, start tackling the large stands of invasive Phragmites and knotweeds threatening our treasured natural areas and infrastructure in Manistee and Benzie counties (following the success we’ve had in Grand Traverse and Leelanau), and continue to provide excellent resources for partner organizations, local govern-ments, and land owners. The Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network is charged with protecting, enhancing, and promoting northwest Michi-gan’s natural communities through terrestrial invasive plant management and outreach in Benzie, Grand Traverse, Leelanau, and Manistee counties. ISN works with over 40 partner organizations throughout the region, including the Grand Traverse Conservation District as its fiscal agent. Learn more about ISN at www.HabitatMatters.org.

STEWARDSHIP

Income: Expenses:

www.natureiscalling.org | 231.941.0960 | 1450 Cass Rd. Traverse City, MI 49685

Thank you to our Volunteers!

From recreation to restoration, you’ll find it in here.

Volunteers are ambassadors for the Grand Traverse Conservation District and Boardman River Nature Center. They bring inspiration, excitement, and motivation to the staff and community. With their dedication and commitment, so much more is being accomplished than could ever be done by staff members alone. Thank you to our volunteers!

The Boardman River Nature Center (BRNC) is operated almost exclusively by volunteer docents. During the past year, dedicated docents have volunteered 1,152 hours of service. These hours included running the welcome desk as well as assisting visitors, staff, and program participants. Education volunteers gave over 250 hours to the nature education programs at the BRNC. Volunteers led hikes, provided program instruction for participants, worked special events, and created special program materials. Over 15 volunteers assisted with packing 7,300 native seedlings to go to their new homes throughout Grand Traverse County during our 2015 Seedling Sale. Over 20 volunteers assisted with our 2015 Native Plant sale where over 3,500 plants found new homes. ISN hosted 7 workbees over all four counties - Grand Traverse, Benzie, Leelanau, and Manistee - with a total of 57 volunteers, 161 volunteer hours, and 26 acres covered. Volunteers planted over 5,300 native trees and shrubs on the Brown Bridge Quiet Area bottomlands. Collaborative efforts with community partners, including Master Gardeners, United Way, TART, GT Hiking Club, Rotarians, Red Lobster Geocachers, Veterans for Peace, TC West Greenagers, and students of the Children's House, have provided many great improvements throughout the nine Conservation District managed parklands during 2015.

Donate Today Why do you love the Grand Traverse Region? Is it for the sweeping views of orchards in full bloom? The thrill of the catch in the Boardman River? A stroll through undisturbed woodlands? The chance to enrich the life of a child through hands-on-learning in one of the most beautiful places in the world? Whatever draws you in to our great region, chances are that the Grand Traverse Conservation District has had a hand in shaping the places and experiences that matter most to you. The challenges facing our community continue to grow, but we promise to be here, by your side, working tirelessly to enhance and safeguard the natural areas that fill our hearts and shape our dreams. Join us in this noble effort in any way you can give. Your support will never go unnoticed and your dollars will never be wasted.

You can also donate online: www.natureiscalling.org/support/donate/

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