This image shows how this parcel is 1) Amazing and 2) Connects the adjacent protected lands into one large natural/ recreation area. Note: The 546.3 acres being purchased is outlined in yellow and shown as two Natural Areas: Gratiot River Falls and Gratiot River South (KNA = (NWC) Keweenaw Natural Area MNA = Michigan Nature Association)
The North Woods Conservancy is looking to purchase a 546 acre parcel of land that would complete the Gratiot River / Lake Superior Coastal Conservation Area.
The property is currently for sale and is situated along the shoreline of Lake Superior and contains a mile and a half of the Gratiot River.
The cost of the property is about $1.4 million and the NWC would need to raise $80,000 by December 28th and another $60,000 by July 1st for the down payment.
They are getting help from a Gratiot River Donor who has pledged to double all contributions up to $40,000.
Gratiot River (on the GRF property)
If the effort is successful, the result would be a total of more than 1,300 acres open to the public with over two and a half miles of Lake Superior shoreline and nearly three and a half miles of the Gratiot River.
Here is the notice from the North Woods Conservancy:
Dear NWC Friends and Family,
The NWC Board has something very exciting to report: after nearly 30 years of effort, there’s only one final parcel needed to complete the Gratiot River / Lake Superior Coastal Conservation Area, and IT’S FOR SALE! It’s an amazing opportunity, and a big challenge. The timing is not ideal (is it ever?), but as someone said: “We can’t not do this”.
What an incredible property: 546.3 acres with 3,100’ of west-facing Lake Superior shoreline and 7,882’ (1.5 miles!) of the Gratiot River. Even better (as you can see on the map below), this property is “The Missing Linkage,” the critical keystone piece that connects MNA Black Creek to the Gratiot River Natural Park to Gratiot River North to Conglomerate Falls, and resulting in a much larger contiguous natural/recreation area located less than 5 miles from 80% of Keweenaw residents. When complete, there will be 1,366 acres with 13,683′ (2.6 miles) of Lake Superior shoreline and 17,688′ (3.4 miles) of the Gratiot River.
Public access is guaranteed because the Gratiot River Road (a county road) runs though the length of the property. The interior is CFR, so hunting and fishing are maintained, and taxes will be paid.
So now all we (we!) have to do is buy it 😊 One point four million dollars (about 2/3 of the value is in the lakeshore).
First off, gotta raise the 10% downpayment ($140,000), as follows: $80,000 by December 28, 2018, and the other $60,000 by July 1, 2019.
But guess what?! An amazing Gratiot River Donor will double all contributions up to $40k. So we really need to raise “only” $40k in the next month. Easy, right?
That’s 4 $10,000 donors, or 8 $5,000 donors, or 40 $1,000 donors, or 400 $100 donors. Or Whatever — every bit adds up.
CLICK HERE TO DONATE ONLINE THANKS! (if the website looks odd, refresh the page). Or mail a check to: NWC, PO Box 124, Calumet, MI 49913.
It’s not very often that we get a chance in life to make and change history. Imagine 10 or 40 or 100 years from now — this remarkable natural area will be there for wildlife and people to enjoy because you acted to make it happen.
We can’t not do this! You in?
John Griffith
NWC Volunteer Prez
P.S. Alone this would be an impossible task, but together we can do it! All donations are tax deductible and will be acknowledged by email and/or letter. Thank you!
P.P.S. Coming Soon: a website for this project that will have more details, maps, photos, and a project framework and timelines. But right now, we need to raise that down payment!
The NWC is a 501(c)(3) charity and all donations are tax deductible.
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