Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy (SWMLC) is excited to announce that the Carls Foundation has awarded SWMLC a $125,000 challenge grant to help raise the remaining $250,000 needed to protect and steward the 457-acre LaGrange Valley Wetlands. This summer, every dollar donated to support the LaGrange Valley Wetlands project will be matched 1:1 by the Carls Foundation.
Formerly known as Lake LaGrange, the spectacular LaGrange Valley Wetlands property includes a huge, high-quality, intact wetland and is home to not one, but two species that are on the federal endangered species list, as well as numerous others listed by the State of Michigan as rare or threatened.
Despite centuries of settlement, farming and development in southwest Michigan, parts of Cass and St. Joseph Counties are still home to a wealth of expansive and wild acreage, protecting biodiversity and rural character important to the sense of place and ecology of the region.
LaGrange Valley Wetlands, identified as a “biodiversity hotspot” in SWMLC’s Climate Resilience Strategic Conservation Plan, is adjacent and across the street from Edward Lowe Foundation’s wild, protected, 2,000-acre Big Rock Valley, and near the Jones Conservation Area Hub. Dowagiac and Talkie Creeks meander through the prime fen habitat here and a number of upland islands are graced by very large and beautiful hardwood trees, where a pair of bald eagles continues to nest.
“SWMLC has been working on this project for over a year and all of the pieces have fallen into place,” stated SWMLC President and Executive Director Mike Larson. “Now we need the community’s help to meet the Carls Foundation’s $125,000 challenge so that we can match the Endangered Species Act funding to complete the purchase of the property this fall and begin to build a stewardship fund to take care of the property over the long-term.”
SWMLC’s three main goals for the LaGrange Valley Wetlands are to: Recover, Restore, and Rewild. Recovery is the first piece, and that means purchasing the property so that it will be conserved forever. Restoring the property means removing the most aggressive invasive plant species (such as the non-native wetland grass called ‘phragmites’) that pose a serious threat to LaGrange Valley Wetlands’ rare and threatened native plants and animals, as well as to neighboring properties. And finally, Rewilding the property over the long-term means helping the landscape return to its natural, wild state – including the plants and animals that have historically lived there.
“Conserving the ecologically important LaGrange Valley Wetlands not only preserves native landscape and the special plants and animals that live there, it is also a significant step toward ensuring the continued water quality of Dowagiac Creek and its ability to support cold water fisheries upstream and down,” stated SWMLC Stewardship Director Mitch Lettow. “Conserving this land will also help to create vital connectivity along Dowagiac Creek that is essential to the strength and resiliency of the local landscape and the larger region, as a whole.”
The LaGrange Valley Wetlands will be SWMLC’s largest nature preserve to date. Due to the extremely high-quality nature of this habitat and its ability to sustain many sensitive species, it will likely become one of SWMLC’s limited access “refuge” preserves. SWMLC is exploring the future possibility of a public viewing area to provide people with scenic views into the preserve to help connect them with the property, but without disturbing the many rare plants and animals that live there.
“SWMLC is thankful for the contributions of our conservation and community partners including the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Edward Lowe Foundation, the Pokagon Band of the Potawatomi, the Department of Natural Resources, the Cass County Conservation District, Cass County Parks and Recreation, and several individual community members,” emphasized Mike Larson. “We are excited for the LaGrange Valley Wetlands to again become a cherished and meaningful part of the community, and we would love your support in making this conservation dream a reality.”
If you are interested in supporting the LaGrange Valley Wetlands project, SWMLC’s friend and partner, Cairn Stone Adventure Tours is organizing a day of scenic hikes and runs on courses around the perimeter of the property to help raise money for the project. Hikes range from 3.1 miles up to 11.4 miles, and include quiet, winding, bucolic roads, featuring the charming Slipper Street, and Walden Pond look-alike Kelsey Lake viewpoint.
Registration and entry are free, but participants are encouraged to come with a kind heart and consider a donation toward the project. Please see https://swmlc.org/lagrange-valley-benefit-hikes/ for details.
Lindy’s Restaurant has agreed to host the event. They offer a full food menu and wonderful views of the LaGrange Valley Wetlands (former Lake LaGrange).
To learn more about the LaGrange Valley Wetlands project, or to donate in support, please see SWMLC’s webpage at https://swmlc.org/2023-la-grange-valley-appeal/
