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News from the Keweenaw Peninsula January 4, 2002 Text © 2002 Michele Anderson Photo © 2002 Jeff Knoop. Published with permission.

IP/LSLC, TNC close on first stage of Keweenaw land sale

HOUGHTON -- On Thursday, Jan. 3, 2002, International Paper/Lake Superior Land Co. (IP/LSLC) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) closed on the first part of the Keweenaw Tip land sale totaling 4,069 acres for $5.72 million. The second part of the transaction, totaling 2,206 acres for $6.33 million, will close in December 2002. 

Under the purchase agreement, TNC will purchase a total of 6,275 acres at the Tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula and hold it until state funds become available for purchase by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The project will conserve the forested character of the land and protect important recreational and ecological resources, including 6.5 miles of Lake Superior shoreline, 4.8 miles of inland lake shoreline and 3.5 miles of Montreal River shoreline.

This aerial view of some of the land included in the first part of the Keweenaw Tip land sale shows Hoar Lake and wetlands near it. Jeff Knoop of The Nature Conservancy said he spotted a lynx in this area. The land will eventually be state-owned, thus providing protection for several species of wildlife and for other ecological resources. (Photo by Jeff Knoop. Published with permission.)

Jeff Knoop, director of land protection in TNC's Upper Peninsula office in Marquette, said the $12 million land sale is one of the most significant acquisitions that the State of Michigan DNR and The Nature Conservancy have ever done under a cooperative agreement.

"This acquisition protects some of the most wild and pristine lands remaining in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (and) connects to approximately 2,500 acres already owned by the DNR," Knoop said on Jan. 3, after the closing. "It also connects to 1,500 acres already owned by TNC."

Knoop said the connecting lands bring the total of protected Lake Superior shoreline to about 12.5 miles. He noted also that the purchase will protect wildlife -- including lynx, possibly wolves and many rare and endangered birds, fish and other mammal species. Knoop said he spotted a lynx on a visit to Hoar Lake, one of the areas included in the first part of the land sale.

Rolf Peterson, professor of wildlife ecology at Michigan Technological University, said he was unaware of any lynx in the Upper Peninsula, but the land sale could secure wolf habitat for the future. Although the amount snow in the area presently limits the number of deer and therefore the number of wolves, Peterson noted, the Tip of the Keweenaw provides habitat for snowshoe hares (which are prey for many carnivores and critical for lynx), bobcats, fisher and marten. The fisher (of the weasel family) and the marten were formerly extinct in Michigan but re-introduced in the 60s and 80s, respectively, he added.

"It's certainly potential moose habitat, but to my knowledge there aren't any moose out there yet," said Peterson, who has done long-term research on moose and wolves in Isle Royale National Park. Peterson called the land purchase by the state through TNC a wonderful idea.

"It's time somebody came to the table to secure valuable land for public use," he said.

Dave Lieser, IP's region manager of the Northern Operations for Forest Resources, said the company's economic goals and the conservation of natural resources are not mutually exclusive.

"This land sale to The Nature Conservancy provides yet another example of how economic and resource conservation goals converge to benefit the public, the environment and our company," Lieser said.

TNC will transfer the first part of the land purchase to the DNR in February 2002, when the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund money becomes available. On Sept. 12, 2001, the Trust Fund Board recommended $5 million for the Keweenaw Tip project and also committed to recommending the remaining $7.5 million in 2002 to complete the purchase by the state. The final transfer of the remaining acreage from TNC to the DNR is anticipated for August 2003.

Jim Ekdahl, DNR Upper Peninsula field deputy in Marquette, said public support and public patience played a big role in this project, which started as a land exchange proposal several years ago.

"This is a great day for all of us who care about natural resources in Michigan," Ekdahl said on Jan. 4. "It's really satisfying for all of us to see the kind of resolution we were able to achieve. We knew there was a better way to acquire this property than was presented by the exchange. It's particularly satisfying that in this situation we have a net gain of public land and natural resources, rather than having to give up one valuable area for another."

Michigan Rep. Rich Brown, D-Bessemer, who has been a supporter of the land sale, was happy to hear of the closing.

"This is a great way to start out 2002 with the finalization of a project that has been in the works for years," Brown said. "A lot of people deserve congratulations on their hard work and dedication to this purchase. I am glad I could at least play a small part in making this a reality."

The purchase will include sand and gravel rights, but in a separate agreement, International Paper will negotiate the potential sale of deep mineral rights on these lands exclusively with the State of Michigan. Through the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) program, the company will continue to own and manage some 109,000 acres of forestland above the Portage Canal in the Keweenaw Peninsula.

Founded in New York State 50 years ago, The Nature Conservancy is the world's largest private conservation organization. Its mission is to protect plants, animals and ecosystems by preserving the lands and waters they need to survive.

International Paper is the world's largest paper and forest products company. Businesses include paper, packaging and forest products. As one of the largest private landowners in the world, the company has managed its forests under the principles of the SFI program, a system that ensures the perpetual planting, growing and harvesting of trees while protecting wildlife, plants, soil, air and water quality. Headquartered in the United States at Stamford, Conn., International Paper has operations in nearly 50 countries and exports its products to more than 130 countries.

To learn more about the negotiators in this project see the Web sites of The Nature Conservancy and International Paper. To read about the Trust Fund's commitment to the Keweenaw purchase and their agenda for 2002, see the DNR Web site.

Read the Jan. 3 article on the Keweenaw Tip land sale and how you can help TNC in fundraising for the $500,000 interest needed for this land purchase. In this article, see comments by Walt Arnold, director of marketing and sales for IP/LSLC and one of the key negotiators in this project.

For previous stories on the Trust Fund Board's recommendation of the Keweenaw Tip purchase, and on public support of the project, see Pasty.com's Keweenaw Issues Land Use Forum.