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Happenings in the Keweenaw Peninsula September 5, 2003 Text © 2003 The Nature Conservancy Press Release. Photos © 2002 Jeff Knoop. Reprinted with permission.

Michigan officials, TNC to celebrate Keweenaw Tip completion

LANSING -- The Nature Conservancy (TNC)-Michigan Chapter will join state and local officials in celebrating the completion of the 6,275-acre Keweenaw Tip land purchase at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 10, on Brockway Mountain near Copper Harbor.

At this event, representatives from The Nature Conservancy will present the final half of a symbolic "Key to the Keweenaw" to state officials -- recognizing that this land will forever belong to the people of Michigan as a "last great place" open for hunting, fishing and hiking.

Large land parcels near Keweenaw Point, seen in this aerial photo, are included in TNC's Keweenaw Tip land purchase on behalf of the State of Michigan. (Photo by Jeff Knoop of TNC)

In January 2002, TNC purchased this acreage from International Paper and acted as a third-party broker to transfer the land to the State of Michigan, thanks to a $12.5 million grant -- the single largest grant ever awarded by the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund in the program's 25-year history. TNC contributed an additional $400,000 in interest charges, thereby allowing the Trust Fund to spread payments over two years, purchasing 3,009 acres in 2002 and 3,266 acres in 2003.

These 6,275 acres will join with other land already owned by The Nature Conservancy and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to protect a total of 13 shoreline miles and 11,104 acres with high biodiversity value. This parcel includes five miles of the Montreal River (a top-ranked trout stream), three sparkling inland lakes (Hoar, Schlatter and Copper lakes) and spectacular waterfalls. These natural communities are home to numerous rare species and more than 900 species of flora. The Keweenaw is centrally located within the Great Lakes flyway, serving as an important stopover site for thousands of raptors, including hawks, eagles, falcons and merlins.

Schlatter Lake, seen in this aerial photo, adds more than 1,000 acres to the Keweenaw Tip land purchase. (Photo by Jeff Knoop)

Trustees and staff from The Nature Conservancy-Michigan Chapter will be joined by local community leaders including Charlie Eshbach, Keweenaw photographer and conservationist; Keweenaw County Commissioners (who have changed the date of their September Board meeting to Sept. 9 in order to attend this event) and Grant Township officials.

Representing the State of Michigan will be Matt Johnson, on behalf of Governor Jennifer Granholm; Dennis Fox, on behalf of Lt. Gov. Cherry; State Rep. Richard Brown; State Rep. Tom Casperson; Jim Ekdahl, on behalf of the Michigan DNR; Members of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission; and Members of the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Board.

Federal representatives will be Sherri Davie, on behalf of U.S. Senator Stabenow; Tom Baldini, on behalf of U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak

The ceremony and dedication will take place at the Brockway Mountain Lookout (first pullover). Visitors are requested to park at the boat launch and carpool up the mountain, since there is limited parking at the site.

After the ceremony on Wednesday, visiting officials are invited to take a boat trip on the Isle Royale Harbor Queen around the Tip of the Keweenaw. On Thursday, Sept. 11, they will have the opportunity to take field trips: a Mt. Lookout Trek, a Horseshoe Harbor Walk and a Montreal River Falls Hike.

The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. The Nature Conservancy counts one million members nationwide, including 32,500 in Michigan. Guided by the best available science, the Conservancy takes formal public positions on federal or state legislation only when there is a substantial and direct impact on the Conservancy’s ability to accomplish its mission.

Editor's Notes: For details on the Keweenaw Tip purchase, see "First closing on Keweenaw land sale expected Jan. 3." To learn more about the negotiators in this project see the Web sites of  The Nature Conservancy and International Paper.

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