June 2005 Conference Coolbough Natural Areas: Community Forest Brooks Township, Michigan Outline of topics: Outline of topics: Newaygo County vitals Newaygo.

June 2005 Conference

Coolbough Natural Areas: Community ForestCoolbough Natural Areas: Community Forest Brooks Township, MichiganBrooks Township, Michigan

Outline of topics:Outline of topics:

Newaygo County vitalsNewaygo County vitals Brooks Township natural featuresBrooks Township natural features Brooks Township Land Use VisionBrooks Township Land Use Vision: an example of : an example of

community-based planningcommunity-based planning Coolbough Natural Areas – Community ForestCoolbough Natural Areas – Community Forest



N



Area population growthArea population growth(1990-2000) (1990-2000) Source: U.S. Census BureauSource: U.S. Census Bureau

U.S. grew 13.2%U.S. grew 13.2% Michigan grew 6.9%Michigan grew 6.9% Newaygo County grew 25.3%Newaygo County grew 25.3% Brooks Township grew 34.6%Brooks Township grew 34.6%




Hess Lake



Muskegon River



Coolbough Natural Areas



Mission statementMission statement

To serve township citizens while protecting the To serve township citizens while protecting the environment and our way of lifeenvironment and our way of life

Adopted Mar 26, 1997Adopted Mar 26, 1997



LUV ParticipantsLUV Participants Brooks Township residents & landownersBrooks Township residents & landowners Hess, Brooks & Emerald/ Sylvan Lake AssociationsHess, Brooks & Emerald/ Sylvan Lake Associations Grand Valley State UniversityGrand Valley State University MDEQ Surface Water DivisionMDEQ Surface Water Division Natural Resources Conservation ServiceNatural Resources Conservation Service U.S. Forest ServiceU.S. Forest Service MDNR Forest Management DivisionMDNR Forest Management Division Timberland R.C. & D.Timberland R.C. & D.



LUV ParticipantsLUV Participants (cont’d(cont’d))

Michigan Nature AssociationMichigan Nature Association Newaygo Conservation DistrictNewaygo Conservation District The Nature ConservancyThe Nature Conservancy Michigan Natural Features InventoryMichigan Natural Features Inventory Brooks Township Planning CommissionBrooks Township Planning Commission Brooks Township BoardBrooks Township Board


Initial Public Meetings

March 28, 1998March 28, 1998




Rivers, Lakes, Wetlands

Forests, Prairies, Barrens

Trash & Recreational Impacts

Committees (Areas of concern)



Trash in National Forest



ProcessProcess

TargetsTargets ThreatsThreats StrategiesStrategies



Desired outcomesDesired outcomes

Create ecological map Create ecological map Organize cadre of committed residentsOrganize cadre of committed residents Further relationship between local government and Further relationship between local government and

conservation partnersconservation partners Document process as template for replicationDocument process as template for replication


PublishPublished ed

March March 19991999



Summary of recommendationsSummary of recommendations (72)(72)

Community Education (27)Community Education (27) Voluntary participation of landowners (17)Voluntary participation of landowners (17) Regulatory strategiesRegulatory strategies Land managementLand management MiscellaneousMiscellaneous



LeverageLeverage

$60,000 in grants from $60,000 in grants from Fremont Area Community Fremont Area Community Foundation for Foundation for implementationimplementation

$667,000 grant from $667,000 grant from Michigan DNR Michigan DNR Recreation Trust Fund for Recreation Trust Fund for Coolbough Natural AreasCoolbough Natural Areas




Keys to successKeys to success

Shared vision & shared valuesShared vision & shared values Cultivate desire to participate & sense of community Cultivate desire to participate & sense of community Professional & non-threatening communicatorsProfessional & non-threatening communicators Respect:Respect:

Differences of opinionDifferences of opinion Property rightsProperty rights Livelihood or investmentLivelihood or investment

““Market” function of local governmentMarket” function of local government Celebrate achievementsCelebrate achievements



400 acre

Coolbough

Natural Areas



Property DescriptionProperty Description

White pine-white oak forestsWhite pine-white oak forests Remnants of dry sand prairieRemnants of dry sand prairie Coolbough and Bigelow Creek trout streamsCoolbough and Bigelow Creek trout streams 3.5 acre pond3.5 acre pond 7 acres of wetlands7 acres of wetlands



Natural Resources ProtectionNatural Resources Protection Rare plant communities: white pine-white oak forests & dry Rare plant communities: white pine-white oak forests & dry

sand prairiessand prairies Federally endangered Karner blue butterflyFederally endangered Karner blue butterfly State threatened: Great Plains spittlebug, Ottoe skipper & State threatened: Great Plains spittlebug, Ottoe skipper &

Persius dusky butterflies, red-shouldered hawk & prairie Persius dusky butterflies, red-shouldered hawk & prairie smokesmoke

State special concern: wood turtle and frosted elfin & State special concern: wood turtle and frosted elfin & Henry’s elfin butterfliesHenry’s elfin butterflies
























Property AcquisitionProperty Acquisition

Elements of cost totaling $889kElements of cost totaling $889k 320 acre Koetje tract appraised at $700k320 acre Koetje tract appraised at $700k 80 acre existing TNC tract appraised at $140k (donated & applied toward 80 acre existing TNC tract appraised at $140k (donated & applied toward

minimum 25% local match)minimum 25% local match) $49k in associated purchase costs$49k in associated purchase costs

Michigan DNR Recreation Trust Fund Grant of $667k (75% of $889k Michigan DNR Recreation Trust Fund Grant of $667k (75% of $889k project costs)project costs)

Cash balance by TNCCash balance by TNC Result: Brooks Township acquired 400 acres of environmentally Result: Brooks Township acquired 400 acres of environmentally

significant land with no money paid or owed!significant land with no money paid or owed!



Property ManagementProperty Management BindingBinding Management Agreement Management Agreement between Brooks Township and The between Brooks Township and The

Nature ConservancyNature Conservancy Description of permitted & prohibited usesDescription of permitted & prohibited uses Master Plan for development/improvementsMaster Plan for development/improvements Defined role of each partnerDefined role of each partner

Property management by an Property management by an Environmental CommissionEnvironmental Commission with with representation from:representation from:

The Nature Conservancy (2)The Nature Conservancy (2) Brooks Township (2)Brooks Township (2) U.S. Forest Service (1)U.S. Forest Service (1) Land Conservancy of W Michigan (1)Land Conservancy of W Michigan (1) At-large (1)At-large (1)



Capital ImprovementsCapital Improvements Initial funding of $17k in 2002Initial funding of $17k in 2002

Brooks TownshipBrooks Township The Nature ConservancyThe Nature Conservancy Friends of Coolbough Natural AreasFriends of Coolbough Natural Areas & & Matching funds from Fremont Area Community FoundationMatching funds from Fremont Area Community Foundation

Brooks Township $5k/yr and TNC with in-kind and management costsBrooks Township $5k/yr and TNC with in-kind and management costs

ImprovementsImprovements SignageSignage Hiking pathsHiking paths Bridle pathsBridle paths Parking lotParking lot Barriers to motorized vehiclesBarriers to motorized vehicles






Contact informationContact information

Dale Black, SupervisorDale Black, SupervisorBrooks TownshipBrooks Township

490 Quarterline Rd490 Quarterline Rd

POB 625POB 625

Newaygo, MI 49337Newaygo, MI 49337

E-mail: E-mail: [email protected]@riverview.net

Website: www.brookstownship.orgWebsite: www.brookstownship.org

June 2005 Conference Coolbough Natural Areas: Community Forest Brooks Township, Michigan Outline of topics: Outline of topics: Newaygo County vitals Newaygo.

Documents

township citizens

example of community

community education

national forestjune

facf grantsep

draft luv

luv publishednov

local government