Conservation, Restoration, and the Role of Blue Heron Headwaters Conservancy in Michigan’s Most Populous Watershed
The Clinton River Watershed
The Clinton River Watershed is made up of many streams, lakes and wetlands that play an integral role in a greater system by draining water from 760 square miles into Lake St. Clair which flows into Lake Erie. Wetlands and small tributaries form the Clinton River’s beginnings, or headwaters, in the west region of the watershed. The quality of the headwaters creates the baseline for the rest of the watershed flowing downstream.
As a large and highly populated watershed, its land, water and wildlife have been highly threatened by pollution since the time of European settlement. Stormwater runoff picks up litter, oil, and chemicals along the industrial and urban surfaces of the watershed and all of that polluted water flows right into rivers and streams that drain into the lake. Luckily, the ecological health of the Clinton River and its watershed is monitored and has significantly improved over the last 50 years, thanks to the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement of 1972 and the initiation of environmental groups paving the way for scientific research, stewardship, preservation, and public awareness and education.
Blue Heron Headwaters Conservancy protects—either through land ownership or easement—approximately 530 acres of high quality natural areas in the Clinton River Watershed. The Nels Kimball Sanctuary and the Sashabaw Creek Nature Preserve are two examples of protected properties in the headwaters region that strengthen the ecological community and water quality in the Clinton River Watershed, while providing recreational opportunities for the public. These properties differ in their unique natural features, in their acquisition stories, and in their management tactics despite being fairly close in the landscape.
Nels Kimball Sanctuary
In 1985, 41 acres of land was donated to Blue Heron when two families involved in local development realized that the area was unfit for building due to its extensive floodplain. It is located at the furthest northwest extent of the watershed and contains an early section of the Clinton River. This preserve is known today as the Nels Kimball Sanctuary, named after Blue Heron’s president at the time of the acquisition. This preserve allows visitors to take refuge in a pocket of secluded mature oak hickory woods in the midst of the developed area of the Village of Clarkston. The riparian zone along the river cools the water and maintains a wide buffer that prevents nearby development from introducing septage, lawn fertilizer, insecticides and de-icing products into the water.
Every year the Clinton River Watershed Council (CRWC) tests the waterway that runs through Nels Kimball Sanctuary. Consistently it rates as the highest quality site in the entire watershed. Blue Heron takes care of this special floodplain by controlling invasive plant growth, improving habitat for beavers and other observed wildlife, maintaining the public trail, restoring the spring ephemeral biodiversity, and installing bird nest boxes along with monitoring the activity of different bird species.
Sashabaw Creek Nature Preserve
Located just a few miles southeast is the Sashabaw Creek Nature Preserve, a 20 acre property of wooded wetlands, open fields, and upland forest. It is bisected by Sashabaw Creek, a tributary of the Clinton River. Sashabaw Creek originates in Oakland County and flows through Clarkston and Independence Township before joining the Clinton. Although it is a small stream compared to the Clinton River, the creek plays a role in both its localized and larger ecosystems. As a natural warm water stream, Sashabaw Creek serves as a corridor for wildlife movement, allowing fish, amphibians, invertebrates, and mammals to migrate, find food, and access breeding grounds. The creek’s floodplain provides nutrient-dense soil that supports diverse plant growth and absorbs excess water during storm events, helping to mitigate downstream flooding. People can be found hiking and searching out unusual flowers, trees, mushrooms, and animals along Sashabaw Creek.
Blue Heron obtained the Sashabaw Creek Nature Preserve as a donation that was required by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) because the former owner filled in wetlands during attempted unpermitted construction of a golf course. EGLE issued a mitigation order to the owner that required him to undo the golf course characteristics and improve the diversity of native species. Since this wasn’t their company’s specialty, the owner donated the property along with funding for a 5 year mitigation process to Blue Heron to fulfill the restoration. They also placed a conservation easement over the property to ensure the enhancement, maintenance, and perpetual preservation of this site before ownership was officially transferred to Blue Heron in 2016.
At this time, the property had both natural high quality areas and highly degraded areas. In addition to featuring a scenic and unpolluted section of Sashabaw Creek, the property contained forested wetlands that support a significant plant community, as measured on a statewide perspective by MDNR using a Floristic Quality Index (FQI) calculated for this site. However, the site had two significant ecological issues; the establishment and spread of invasive species and the disturbance caused by dumping of sand and fill and the re-contouring of the landscape during the attempted golf course construction.
A number of steps were taken over the course of the mitigation period to restore the Sashabaw Creek Nature Preserve to its natural beauty. The site was continuously monitored with botanical surveys, invasive species control and photo monitoring. Chemical treatment of non-native vegetation and a prescribed burn was conducted along designated units to prepare the site for seeding of native species. Today, the area that was once clear-cut and filled for the golf fairways is now restored into an upland prairie ecosystem, and a nature trail is maintained for visitors to wander alongside the creek and explore the preserve’s hidden gems. Management includes specific enhancements such as repairing fencing, installing signage, reducing negative environmental impacts such as erosion, enhancing habitat for wildlife and preserving overall ecological value through yearly additions of native species.
Blue Heron Headwaters Conservancy
Blue Heron has been acquiring and stewarding natural areas on the Clinton River Watershed since 1972 and continues to do so today with several other properties in addition to the Nels Kimball Sanctuary and Sashabaw Creek Nature Preserve. The conservancy has a vital role in the historic revival and future of the Clinton River through supporting the ecosystems and water quality of the watershed. Through the tireless efforts of organizations like Blue Heron, the watershed's key natural features in its headwaters are being protected, restored, and enhanced for both wildlife and public enjoyment.
You
Supporters and donors like you are the heart of Blue Heron Headwaters Conservancy’s work in preserving and restoring the Clinton River Watershed. Your contributions empower us to protect these vital ecosystems, ensuring clean water, healthy habitats, and biodiversity throughout Southeast Michigan. As we approach Giving Tuesday, please consider joining us in *Give for Green.* Every donation fuels our mission to conserve natural spaces and maintain the ecological health of Michigan's most populated watershed, benefiting wildlife, local communities, and future generations. 💚 #giveforgreen #natureworthpreserving
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