Our focus on healthy water, protected places and vibrant communities is rooted in our belief that the land, water and people of Northern Michigan have an equally important role in protecting our most precious places. … More Engaging Stewards of Land and Water in the Au Sable Watershed
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
Members of our water team — Amy Nowakowski, Josh Leisen and Samantha Nellis — surveyed six road/stream crossing sites in the watersheds of the Thunder Bay and Pigeon rivers last month. Their nets revealed a diverse assortment of aquatic insects, indicating healthy waters. Have a look at what they found in our gallery. … More Meet the Aquatic Insects of the Upper Pigeon, Thunder Bay Rivers
This is the fourth and final in a series of conversations with our 2020 Huron Pines AmeriCorps members. We talk highlights, takeaways, and what their average days have been like in a not-so-average service year. Ever drawn to water, Nick Theisen relished the days he spent monitoring the quality of Northern Michigan streams by collecting and identifying aquatic insects. … More Q&A with Huron Pines AmeriCorps Member Nicolas Theisen
This is the third in a series of conversations with our 2020 Huron Pines AmeriCorps members. We talk highlights, takeaways, and what their average days have been like in a not-so-average service year. Jen Klemm said adapting her in-person educational programs for an online format — and having it warmly received by participants — was an empowering experience. … More Q&A with Huron Pines AmeriCorps member Jen Klemm