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News from the Keweenaw Peninsula Posted November 24, 2004 Text © 2004 Michele Anderson for Keweenaw Now, with information provided by Gina Nicholas. Aerial photo © 2003 Michael Jordan. Reprinted with permission. Other photos © 2004 Michele Anderson.

Bete Grise awarded $450,000 for coastal wetland protection

WASHINGTON, D. C. -- The Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District, through the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), learned on Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2004, that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has given final approval for grants totaling approximately $450,000 for Bete Grise South coastal wetlands.

These coastal wetlands funds will help protect over 1000 acres of pristine wetland in an area that includes part of the Lac La Belle sloughs and over a mile of Lake Superior shoreline at Bete Grise South, located in Keweenaw County along the eastern shore of the Keweenaw Peninsula, adjacent to the Bete Grise Bay of Lake Superior.

This NOAA grant money, designated for Bete Grise wetlands Areas 1 and 2, is part of a project that will allow the total purchase, from International Paper/Lake Superior Land Co. (IP/LSLC), of 1,800 acres, including wetlands, Lake Superior shoreline and Lac La Belle sloughs.

This aerial photo shows the wetlands and beach at Bete Grise South in relation to the Gay-Lac La Belle Road. Lac La Belle and some Lac La Belle sloughs are in the background. (Photo by Michael Jordan. Reprinted with permission.)

The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Keweenaw Land Trust (KLT), Houghton/Keweenaw Conservation District (HKCD), the South Shore Association (SSA), the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) are partners in the project. These NOAA grants, along with the recently awarded $1 million National Coastal Wetlands Conservation grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, complete the funding needed to preserve for present and future generations the wetlands at Bete Grise South, identified by The Nature Conservancy and Michigan's Departments of Natural Resources and Environmental Quality as the single most important estuarine marsh remaining in the Upper Great Lakes.*

On Nov. 24, Dave Kanega of the MDEQ Coastal Management Program announced to Sue Haralson, HKCD administrator, that NOAA had given final approval for the coastal wetlands grants for two areas of Bete Grise South wetlands.  

"HKCD, TNC, KLT and South Shore Association (SSA) all worked in partnership with Dave Kenaga to obtain this grant," said Gina Nicholas, Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District Board member. "Many, many people contributed to the success of this effort."

In an email message thanking DEQ's Kanega and members of the partnering organizations, Nicholas noted Kanega toured  Areas 1 and 2 on a visit to Bete Grise in May and September 2004 and recommended the project for funding. 

"This is something extra special to be thankful for this year," Nicholas said.

Since a government entity must apply for these grants, the Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District will hold the deed to Bete Grise wetlands Areas 1 and 2, with a permanent conservation easement held by Keweenaw Land Trust (KLT). Areas 1 and 2 will be permanently preserved in their natural state but will be open to the public for noninvasive recreation, research and education.

Gina Nicholas, Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District (HKCD) Board member, points out wetlands on map of Bete Grise area during a discussion of grant applications at the July 2004 meeting of the HKCD in Houghton. Also pictured are other board members, from left, Bruce Petersen of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Sandra Palmore and Mark Weber. (Photo by Michele Anderson.)

The Nature Conservancy will provide the match for these coastal wetlands funds. TNC still needs donations to reimburse the expenses incurred in completing this purchase and managing the property in the future.**

Anyone wishing to contribute to The Nature Conservancy's fund for purchasing Bete Grise South may send donations to:
The Nature Conservancy
Att: Jeff Knoop
125 W. Washington St. - Suite G
Marquette, MI 49855

Please be sure to indicate that the contribution is for Bete Grise South. Contributions are tax-deductible.

Editor's Notes:   * See the Oct. 29, 2004, article, "Bete Grise awarded $1 million for wetland, habitat protection," for information on the recently approved $1 million grant from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) under the 2005 National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program. ** For background on efforts by The Nature Conservancy and local citizens to purchase Bete Grise South for protection and public access, see the Feb. 14, 2003, article, "Conservancy seeks funds for Bete Grise South" and the May 11, 2003, article by Gina Nicholas, "Help TNC acquire Bete Grise South."

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