Our Work

Our service area spans north to south from the Mackinaw Bridge to the Saginaw Bay and west to east from the headwaters of the AuSable to the Lake Huron coast. With the support of state and federal agencies, local partners and dedicated volunteers, we work hard to improve the water, wildlife and communities in the places we live and love.

Our major projects include small dam removal, road/stream crossing improvement, stormwater management, erosion control, invasive species management, habitat improvement and environmental education.

Service Area Map Michigan

Water

We believe that clean water and healthy habitat are better for wildlife, recreation and tourism. That’s why we work to restore the natural flow of waterways and river systems. By removing dams and improving road/stream crossings we natural processes, making it easier for fish to complete their migration to the coldest headwaters for spawning. With the help of many partners and organizations, Huron Pines has completed more than 70 road/stream crossing improvements over the past decade and successfully removed 4 high-priority dams in the last 5 years.

Wildlife

Huron Pines is dedicated to native habitat restoration through activities like promoting native plant communities, treating invasive species, installing instream habitat structure and connecting wildlife corridors in order to support our diverse landscapes. We’ve treated invasive plant species across 600 acres of Michigan land since 2014, covering 12 different counties in 2017 alone. By sustaining Northeast Michigan’s unique ecosystems we help support rare plants and animals like Pitcher’s thistle, Blanding’s turtle, Hines’ emerald dragonfly, eastern massasauga rattlesnake and the Kirtland’s Warbler.

Community

We rely on a collaborative approach to solve natural resource challenges and identify new opportunities. In bringing together organizational partners, city officials, landowners, schools, businesses and residents, we can ensure that our work is relevant and meaningful to the people in the communities where we work. Natural resource stewardship is an important part of building a vibrant community. Our community engagement is best exemplified by our Huron Pines AmeriCorps program, our commitment to bringing conservation education to local students and our role in hosting and facilitating community conversations to advance conservation projects that focus on holistic, long-term solutions to complex natural resource challenges.

The Huron Pines AmeriCorps program, which began in 2007, matches applicants from across the country with nonprofits, agencies and organizations throughout Michigan to complete a 10-month term of service related to the field of conservation. Through their service, Huron Pines AmeriCorps members strive to enhance Michigan’s natural resources and foster environmental stewardship. They do this by completing on-the-ground conservation work and engaging local volunteers, community groups and schools in service projects, hands-on learning opportunities and educational workshops.