Outdoors

Shining bright

HKCD Diamond Jubilee

Calumet TOWNSHIP- Earlier this month, the Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District (HKCD) welcomed the public to its Diamond Jubilee celebration at Calumet Township’s Waterworks Park as the organization turned 75 this year. Though the organization has changed leadership many times over the years, and even changed names (they started as the Houghton County Soil Conservation District), its focus has always been on advising and assisting people to wisely manage and use the natural resources of both counties.

When HKCD was founded in 1951, the organization only served Houghton County and in the 60s, it expanded to include Keweenaw County. A focus on the quality of soil and water with respect to farming was how the organization started, but quickly expanded to look at the benefit to all who live locally. In the past 25 years, HKCD has also grown from primarily technical assistance to include land stewardship.

Four preserves are under the care of HKCD including the Joseph and Mary Lizzadro Lakeshore Preserve (2003), Bete Grise Preserve (2004), Seneca #3 Mine Bat Conservation Area (2008), and the Bare Bluff Shoreline Wilderness (2015). Big plans and a desire for a central location to both Houghton and Keweenaw Counties led HKCD to select Calumet Waterworks Township Park for the festivities.

HKCD invited exhibitors with interests similar to its own mission to help celebrate the 75-year milestone, and invited the public to learn more about these organizations. Several exhibitors also provided demonstrations, tours and walks highlighting the goals of HKCD.

Green Timber Consulting Foresters, Inc. offered forest tours in the Gardeners Creek area just across Lakeshore Drive from the park. The organization worked with Calumet Township in creating a sustainable forest management plan for the area giving them a unique perspective to talk about the different kinds of forests in the area. Erika Vye, Geosciences Research Scientist with the Great Lakes Research Center, offered beach walks in the afternoon.

Tamarack Tree Services and Nomad Tree Care both on hand to give arborist demonstrations with bucket trucks and tools of the trade on display. They modeled their methods of climbing trees for pruning or removal and were happy to answer any questions the public had about proper tree care.

Getting back to the soil and water roots of HKCD, Frank Wardynski, ruminant educator with Ontonagon County Michigan State University Extension held a presentation on how roots have an impact on water retention in soil. In one container, Wardynski had tilled soil that he said people generally expect to be "fluffy soil that will hold onto water." When he poured water over the sample, it showed a large amount of water runoff and a minimal amount of water seeping into the soil itself.

Two other containers had grass rooted into the soil. One Wardynski called a "sacrificial plot" where cattle were held for longer periods of time, for instance when dispensing medication was needed. "That grass will get over-grazed by the cattle and the soil will be more compacted with them walking over it all the time." In the other, grass that was targeted for quick grazing over the course of one to three days was in the soil.

When water was poured over these two samples, it becomes clear to onlookers how important a grazing plan is as the targeted grass helped the soil absorb and retain the water far better than the compacted soil which soaked up some while most of the water just ran across the surface. "Showing people how the water reacts in real time is much more impactful for people," Wardynski said.

A diverse group of exhibitors happily engaged visitors in conversations about conservation. Keweenaw National Historical Park shared information about the important cultural resources of the area. The Calumet Keweenaw Sportsman's Club discussed how to participate in hunting and fishing activities in the area that were safe for both the environment and the participants. US Fish and Wildlife Service personnel out of Marquette talked about their work fighting lamprey in the Great Lakes.

Ellie Johnson, outreach forester for the Michigan Forest Association, traveled from downstate Okemos to share information about her organization. Reciting its mission statement by memory, Johnson said the organization seeks "to inspire and empower people to sustainably manage, conserve and enjoy forests through education, advocacy and fellowship."

Activities at her table included asking visitors to share what they love about Michigan forests through words and drawings as well as a tree identification trivia game. "We want people to learn what kinds of trees they have around them so they can appreciate them more and know how to take care of them. The more you know about something, the more you'll care about it."

Groups encouraging people to get out into nature and appreciate it included the Keweenaw Outdoor Recreation Coalition, Michigan DNR - State Parks and Recreation Division, Open Skies LLC, and the Michigan Chapter of the Sierra Club. Many other groups focused on care and conservation including the American Tree Farm System and Keweenaw Wild Ones.

The Diamond Jubilee for HKCD was a celebration not only of the seventy-five years the organization has aided both Keweenaw and Houghton counties, but also of what all is available in the counties. The surrounding landscape of forests and Lake Superior was a visual demonstration of the positive work the organization has done as well as a call to action for the public and the organizations in attendance to continue the always important work of conserving and celebrating all that nature has to offer.