Gilchrist Creek is flowing freely once again since conservation nonprofit Huron Pines replaced two undersized crossing structures at Carter Road and Greasy Creek Road, reconnecting more than 40 miles of coldwater trout habitat and fixing long term issues with road maintenance. … More 40 Miles of Trout Stream Reconnected on Gilchrist Creek
While it’s trout that get all the attention on Northern Michigan’s river systems, there would be no trout to speak of without macroinvertebrates. We can use the presence and diversity of aquatic insects like mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies to gauge a stream’s health. … More What bugs tell us about water quality
Huron Pines teamed up with Consumers Energy Aug 19 for a day of hands-on stewardship and education at Mio Pond on the Au Sable River, including hand-pulling about 100 pounds of invasive purple loosestrife from the shoreline. … More Huron Pines, Consumers Energy Partner to Remove Invasive Plants at Mio Pond
The pink and purple spikes sprouting from roadside ditches right now might look pretty, but behind their floral facade lurks the potential for millions of seeds that can ride the wind and spread this highly invasive plant across Northern Michigan. … More Take on Invasives: Purple Loosestrife
Huron Pines and Alabaster Township have launched a public fundraising campaign to garner financial support and raise awareness to ensure the permanent protection of nearly a mile of Lake Huron shoreline as a public preserve south of Tawas City. … More Campaign Launched to Preserve Lake Huron Shoreline for Public Use
We hosted a dozen friends, neighbors and birders for a hike at Emily Min Hunt Preserve July 22, where the meadows were bursting with wildflowers and the canopy was filled with bird song. Here are some images from that day. … More Gallery: July Hike at Emily Min Hunt Preserve
Huron Pines is breaking ground on projects at two road crossings of Gilchrist Creek in Montmorency County. Carter Road and Greasy Creek Road will get new crossing structures to restore the natural flow of one of the highest quality tributaries of the Thunder Bay River. … More Restoring Trout Habitat with Two Projects on Gilchrist Creek
Read a firsthand account by Diana Digges, our second-year Huron Pines AmeriCorps member serving Michigan Natural Features Inventory, as she searches rugged and remote corners of the Upper Peninsula for Michigan’s diminutive wildflower. … More Searching the U.P. for Michigan’s State Wildflower
There’s a reason so much emphasis is placed on the outdoors when it comes to pitching Northeast Michigan to visitors: Tourism structured around outdoor recreation is growing part of our economy, leading to new opportunities and challenges around access, stewardship and economic growth. … More How Recreation Powers Northern Michigan’s Economy
A tiny, floating plant that can dominate entire shorelines of ponds, lakes and slow-moving rivers is here in Northern Michigan — and it is spreading fast. Mats of frog-bit make it difficult or impossible for fish, waterfowl and other wildlife to move through infested areas. … More Take on Invasives: European Frog-Bit