Heather Shaw, Michigan Department of Natural Sources Shingleton Unit wildlife biologist and an avid upland bird hunter, talks about her experiences at the March 31 annual meeting of the Alger Conservation District. The event marked the district’s 62nd annual meeting. (Photo courtesy of ACD)

MUNISING — The Alger Conservation District had a busy 2021, being involved in activities such as meeting with landowners and helping to collect scrap tires.

One of the most notable events was Matt Watkeys moving from the position of Forestry Assistance Program manager to the Alger Conservation District manager spot on Oct. 1.

“I am super excited to be taking over the reins from Teri Grout, who has put in over 12 years of dedicated hard work, keeping the doors open and getting some great conservation projects done on the ground,” Watkeys was quoted as saying in the 2021 annual report.

The district reported revenue of $330,136 for 2021, compared with $272,260 in expenses.

Grout still kept active with the conservation district, though, noting in the annual report that in 2021 it administered 11 grants and contracts that included invasive species management and mapping, watershed restoration, wildlife habitat, tree planting and scrap tire recycling.

Under a fisheries habitat grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Alger Conservation District worked with the Alger County Road Commission to restore the bridge on the west branch of the Whitefish River at King Road in Kiva. During rain events, Grout said, visible plumes of sediment washed into the river and damaged the fishery.

ACD’s Sustain Our Great Lakes grant allowed ACRC crews to replace a perched culvert at Baker Creek, a tributary of the Sucker River in Grand Marais, and a failing culvert at Slapneck Creek on Kolpack Road, Grout said. The grant also covered non-native invasive species management at these road-stream crossings.

“These junctions could allow invasives to escape and spread across the waterways, so prevention here is critical,” Grout noted.

A grant from DTE Energy and the DNR’s Urban Forestry Program paid for 26 street trees in Munising, which replaced damaged and dying trees. The Munising Department of Public Works planted and watered the trees, Grout said.

Another success came from ACD’s first scrap tire collection grant from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, she said. With assistance from officials and staff from Rock River, Mathias and Limestone townships, the district ran two collection events in which 1,108 passenger tires were collected.

However, Grout pointed out that because of a change in ownership of some haulers and processors as well as an overabundance of tires at the Marquette County Landfill, the conservation district could not secure the necessary contractors to complete the effort this year, but she expressed confidence the program would be “up and going” in 2023.

District involved in outreach

District forester Sara Kelso noted in the annual report that ACD coordinated 18 outreach events in 2021. Nearly 100 landowner properties were visited, resulting in many forest management plans written, timber harvests conducted and general forestry assistance provided.

Kelso said ACD received a grant to restore critical deer wintering habitat in Alger County through the Upper Peninsula Deer Habitat Improvement Partnership Initiative. The project included performing site preparation and planting wildlife seed mixes along 2 miles of old logging and skid trails as well as planting assorted trees and shrubs on two parcels in the county.

“This is an exciting project, and important for providing sustainable wildlife habitat in the area,” Kelso said.

Assistance provided

Landen Tetil, ACD produce safety technician, continued to provide free, voluntary and confidential education and technical assistance to U.P. farmers who grow and sell fresh fruits and vegetables.

The goal of the produce safety program is to identify and manage risks to human health that pathogens such as salmonella, E. coli and listeria pose on farms, Tetil said in her staff report.

“The main areas of concern that affect produce safety include worker health and hygiene, cleaning and sanitation, soil amendments, wildlife and domesticated animal intrusion, water quality and post-harvest handling,” she said.

Christy Foye, conservation program manager, said interested individuals can stay updated on the Alger Conservation District through Facebook or Instagram, or on its website at www.algercd.com, which contains information on the district’s plant sales and events.

They also can sign up for the monthly eNewsletter, which Foye said was launched in 2020 when “things came to a halt because of COVID.” Individuals can sign up for the newsletter on the “About” page on the website or send her an email at christy.foye@macd.org.

The annual report also included input from district partners.

Misa Cady, district conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, noted that NRCS works with the district to help landowners, local governments and community groups. Areas of interest include forest management planning, timber stand management, young forest management, forest trails and landings, reforestation projects, wildlife enhancement activities, invasive species management, native pollinator plantings, grazing management, pasture renovation and seasonal high tunnels.

Soil conservationist Kelly Sippl said the Environmental Quality Incentives Program is available to landowners to address resource concerns. For example, EQIP helped nearby landowners plant nearly 14 acres of native trees and shrubs in 2021 — over 15,000 trees.

Michael Paling, Michigan forester for the American Bird Conservancy, pointed out that over half of Michigan’s 200 million acres of forestland is privately owned.

“Some birds, such as the wood thrush, need old and continuous forests, while others, such as the golden-winged warbler, need young and wide-open forests,” Paling said. “The trick is knowing what management your forest type calls for.

“Ultimately, this management will really have an impact on the bird habitat on your property.”

ABC, he said, works to provide guidance to landowners to create good bird habitat.

Holly Moss, technician with the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program, said MAEAP works with owners of farms of all sizes to ensure they reduce risks to the environment. It also provides legal protections offered through the Right to Farm Act.

All Alger Conservation District regular monthly meetings take place at 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at the Michigan State University Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center in Chatham unless otherwise noted.

Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.