As harmful algal blooms continue to threaten Lake Erie, a new land protection project in Augusta Township is helping address the problem. In a community northeast of the city of Milan, Legacy Land Conservancy has permanently protected 30 acres of forest and wetlands, including 3,000 feet on a tributary that connects to Stony Creek and flows into Lake Erie.
The landowners–Randy and Heather Burda–are extremely pleased to protect their properties’ highly invaluable natural wetland areas and ensure the quality and quantity of water resources within the Stony Creek Watershed via a conservation easement with Legacy, which offers permanent protection of privately-owned land.
The protected wetlands help filter nutrients and stormwater before they reach Lake Erie, where harmful algal blooms continue to threaten drinking water, recreation, and wildlife habitat.
The Burdas were inspired to protect and further restore their land in the fall of 2023 while attending a Washtenaw County Conservation Collective meeting where Legacy Land Conservancy presented. Fully immersed in the early stages of restoration projects on their property, Randy and Heather realized they wanted to ensure the land would stay protected forever while also expanding upon the restoration work they’d already completed. Following the presentation, they connected with Legacy Land Conservancy.
“We’ve spent years caring for this land, and we wanted to make sure it would always stay healthy and protected,” landowner Randy Burda said. “Thanks to Legacy and their connection to a timely grant opportunity, the land and water we love is protected forever.”
A few weeks after meeting Randy and Heather, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Ducks Unlimited announced a newly launched grant opportunity through the Wetland Conservation Program using American Rescue Plan Act funds creating a rare chance to move the project quickly.
The Wetland Conservation Program was looking for local municipalities and private landowners interested in taking action to restore and conserve wetlands on their property in an effort to improve drinking water, reduce harmful algal blooms, and protect wildlife habitat in Lake Erie and Saginaw Bay watersheds.
“The Stony Creek Connector property was a good fit for the program’s funding requirements and the landowners were ready, so things lined up uniquely well,” Susan LaCroix said. “Legacy was thrilled to be in the right place at the right time and make the connection.”
Harmful algal blooms in western Lake Erie are fueled by excess nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen entering waterways through runoff and wastewater. These blooms threaten drinking water, recreation, wildlife, and local economies. Wetlands help reduce those impacts by naturally filtering water and absorbing excess nutrients before they reach larger water systems.
Permanent protection and restoration of the Stony Creek Connector conservation easement and other similar properties is an essential part of reducing harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie. Its forest and wetlands along Stony Creek act like natural filters and sponges capturing excess nutrients, slowing floodwaters, and improving downstream water quality for the Milan and Monroe areas and the Ottawa-Stony Creek watershed, which empties into Lake Erie.
“Land protection and wetland restoration in the Ottawa-Stony Creek watershed are priorities for the continued health of Lake Erie,” explained Ducks Unlimited Private Land Biologist Colleen Gleason. “Improving function of wetlands and preserving the natural land cover ensures these lands will provide significant water quality benefits in downstream areas and reduce algal blooms in Lake Erie.”
Now that the land is protected, the Burdas will work closely with Ducks Unlimited to restore existing wetlands throughout their property. By implementing projects like building up an existing trail and installing a Water Control Structure, it will help slow water down so it can percolate more and cause less runoff before flowing into Stony Creek. Essentially flooding the property will create more wetlands, deepen existing ones, and increase habitat diversity.
The total cost to purchase the Stony Creek Connector conservation easement was $205,123. In addition to American Rescue Plan Act funds, additional resources to purchase the conservation easement from the landowners were secured in partnership with The Americana Foundation.
The Burdas hope this project is only the beginning. Using part of the conservation easement proceeds, they purchased an additional 25 acres of agricultural land adjacent to the north. With a goal to restore it back to wetland and conserve it in the future, they are aiming to improve water quality and wildlife habitat in an area at high risk of development.
“Protecting and restoring wetlands upstream has real downstream regional impacts,” Legacy Land Conservancy Executive Director Diana Kern said. “What happens on the land directly impacts our water. Local projects like this help improve water quality, reduce flooding, and strengthen the health of the entire Lake Erie watershed.”
Click here for the press release
