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Happenings in the Keweenaw Peninsula Posted March 9, 2006 Text © 2006 Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District, courtesy Sue Haralson, Administrator. Photos © 2006 and courtesy Sue Haralson.

Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District to hold 2006 Tree Sale; new District Forester named 

HOUGHTON -- The Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District (HKCD) Annual Tree Sale is underway. This is the District's major fund raiser for the year. Tree Sale brochures and order forms are available at the Conservation Office located on the second floor of the UPPCO Building at 600 East Lakeshore Drive, Houghton (482-0214) or on the HKCD Web site: www.hkconserve.com. 

This year's sale includes conifers for reforestation; trees and shrubs for wildlife; blackberry, blueberry, raspberry and strawberry bushes; apple, cherry (sweet and tart), peach, pear and plum fruit trees; native wildflowers in 3” pots; wildflower seeds and conservation merchandise. Order early. Orders are due by April 1. Pick up time will be on May 5 and 6 at the Houghton County Arena, Hancock.

The Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District Tree Sale includes a variety of native plants, including wildflowers such as this Bergamot. A fragrant member of the Mint family, the Bergamot produces an abundance of picturesque purple flowers. Hummingbirds flock to it. It grows to five feet tall in full sun or light shade and on clay, loam or sand, from damp soils to dry hillsides. Visit the HKCD Web site for a full catalog of offerings. (Photo © 2006 and courtesy Sue Haralson, Administrator, Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District. Reprinted with permission.)

Funding from the Tree Sale helps the Conservation District support public services, including:

- Forestry Assistance Program which provides free landowner consulting service and conservation education at local schools
- Management of the District's two preserves: Joseph and Mary Lizzadro Preserve and Bete Grise Preserve -- open to the public year round.*
- Natural Resources Reference Library -- over 50 books available to the public to consult for reference and to check out for home use
- Eagle River Watershed Management Plan Grant Project -- improving water quality for our area
- Bete Grise Preserve Management Project -- Enhancing services at the 1104 acre preserve

Another wildflower available at the Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District tree sale is the colorful Columbine. It was once considered for our national wildflower because its flower resembles the Bald Eagle's talons. Its nectar tubes make it a favorite flower of hummingbirds. (Photo © 2006 and courtesy Sue Haralson, Administrator, Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District. Reprinted with permission.)

Conservation District welcomes Mark Salo, new Forester

During their February meeting, the HKCD Board of Directors welcomed Forester Mark Salo to join the District staff. He is a graduate of Michigan Technological University with a bachelor's degree in forestry. Most of his forestry experience is from working in this area with some of the larger industrial landowners. Mark also draws experience from working with private individuals throughout the Upper Peninsula and Wisconsin, as well as several government agencies. Having recently returned to Houghton after pursuing his other interests as a timber frame builder on both the East and West coasts, he is looking forward to working with the members of this community to manage our natural resources wisely. The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) funds the Forestry Assistance Program (FAP) through a grant administered by local conservation districts. Through this program, HKCD is able to hire a forester who is available for free forestry assistance throughout Houghton and Keweenaw Counties.

FREE SITE VISITS on your property are a phone call away (906) 482-0214. Mark will be available to answer questions you may have about timber harvesting, tree or shrub planting, wildlife habitat management, insect and disease problems, cost share programs or any other forestry related issues. This is an important first step to responsible management. Following a site visit you may be provided with additional information relevant to your specific situation and referred to local resource professionals who can further assist in developing and implementing a plan. In addition to site visits, public presentations on various forest management topics will be offered throughout the year. Please call Mark with your conservation questions.

Other business discussed at the February HKCD meeting is as follows:

· Michigan Department of Agriculture Operations Grant has been cut to $18,200 for FY 2007. Last year the HKCD had a cut from $20,000 to $19,100.
· There is a vacancy on the HKCD Board of Directors. Any individual residing in Houghton or Keweenaw County is eligible to become a Director. Contact the office for more information at 482-0214.
· Received official word that HKCD was awarded a $20,000 grant through Michigan Coastal Management Program, Environmental Science and Services Division, MDEQ for the Bete Grise Preserve.* HKCD and other volunteers will provide $21,200 as match to accomplish the $41,200.00 project.
· Karen Endres, Manager of the Eagle River Watershed (ERW) Management Plan provided her monthly report. The writing of the Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for ERW should be finalized by the end of the month. Karen also told the Board of her power point presentation given at the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Meeting held on February 2nd in Marquette.
· Karen Endres was approved to submit a grant application with the Michigan Volunteer River, Stream and Creek Cleanup Program, Great Lake Commission, to cleanup approximately 4,000 feet of the Gratiot River mouth area that was recently acquired by Keweenaw County. Partners in the project will be area boy scouts and Keweenaw County Commissioners. 

For more information call 482-0214, or check the Houghton/Keweenaw Conservation District Web site.

Click here for the Tree Sale Order Form.

*Editor's Note: HKCD, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, Keweenaw Land Trust, the South Shore Association and numerous private donors has contributed to the preservation of Bete Grise South. See "Bete Grise wetlands, shoreline protected through TNC partnership." With the help of the Keweenaw Land Trust, HKCD was awarded a Michigan Coastal Zone Management Program grant to purchase the Joseph and Mary Lizzadro Preserve, also known as Dan's Point, a 24-acre parcel with 643 feet of Lake Superior Shoreline in Eagle Harbor Township at the northernmost point of the Keweenaw Peninsula. See the October 2003 article, "Township, conservation groups seek to preserve Lake Superior dunes, shoreline, wildlife habitat."

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