Benzie County Conservation District Endowment Fund

The purpose of this fund is to provide income for the Benzie County Conservation District.

To promote responsible use of natural resources in our community by providing leadership, information and services.

About the Benzie Conservation District

The Benzie Conservation District is a local unit of state government. It was established in 1945. Every county in Michigan and most counties across the country, has a Conservation District. We are funded by several sources including: State, Federal and County grants; seedling sales and by generous donations.

The guiding philosophy of all Conservation Districts is that decisions on conservation issues should be made at the local level, by local people. Technical assistance is provided by a professional staff.

Created to serve as stewards of natural resources, Michigan's Conservation Districts take an ecosystem approach to conservation and protection. Serving our community as a "gateway," we link land managers with with a host of conservation service providers that include state, federal and local governments, conservation organizations, and Internet resources. We continually study the needs of our community. We work in partnership with others involved in conservation to set local priorities, and develop action plans to solve natural resource problems. Conservation Districts allow the public a point of access in the community when questions arise on natural resource management.

Current Projects:

The conservation district is currently involved in several projects, with the three largest described below. For a complete list of all projects the conservation district is involved with, please use the contact information below.

The Benzie Conservation District conducts watershed projects to identify water resource problems and concerns and develop sensible management plans. The management plans provide guidance and recommendations for future activities that will help reduce pollution, restore degraded water bodies and preserve the county's clean water resources.

Projects currently underway are the Platte River Watershed and the Herring Lakes Watershed.

Reforestation

In the spring of each year, the District sells conservation seedlings to county landowners for such things as wildlife habitat improvements, erosion control, windbreaks, privacy screens and shoreline buffers. Funds generated from these sales are used to support the District's other conservation efforts.

If you are interested in receiving a FREE tree seedling catalog, contact the conservation district at the number below and leave your mailing address.

Benzie Conservation District began selling tree seedlings in 1945. Since that time, they have sold an average of 50,000 seedlings per year. Imagine what Benzie County would look like without those 2,850,000 trees!

FORESTRY:

The Conservation District Forester is an unbiased resource available to landowners. Proper forest management education is the principal service offered. Education of school groups and the general public on many forestry and tree concerns is provided.

CONTACT INFORMATION AND BOARD MEMBERS

Benzie Conservation District
280 S Benzie Blvd
PO Box 408
Beulah, MI 49617
Phone: (231) 882-4391
Fax: (231) 882-9767
Web: www.benziecd.org

Board of Directors:

Chairman: Ray Kadlec
Vice Chair: Sally Cook
Treasurer: Brian Putney                                                                 Member: Deb Lindgren
Member: Doug Cook                                                               Benzie County Commissioner Liaison: Don Smeltzer

Staff
Executive Director/Forester: Diane Hash
Watershed Project Coordinator: Ron Harrison
Environmental Outreach Coordinator: Kyle Axtell
Executive Assistant: Ariel Sutter
MI Groundwater Stewardship Program: Dan Busby
AmeriCorp Volunteer: Valerie Bartell

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