Spring 2012 Newsletter - Land Conservancy of West Michigan

Lamberton Lake Fen hydrology restoration project
“Hey, sweetie, sweetie,” a chickadee calls from
the bare branches of a red osier dogwood,
located along the trail at our Lamberton Lake
Fen Nature Preserve. The fluttering of bright
pink flagging tape has piqued its curiosity and
it has flown in for a closer look.
The flagging is marking the locations where a
long anticipated hydrology restoration project
will begin in the coming months. Thanks in a
large part to a Landowner Incentive Program
grant from the Michigan Department of
Natural Resources, funding assistance from
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for
Fish and Wildlife Program, and donated
services from Larry Austin of Aqua-Tech
consultants, two culverts will be installed
along a berm that has long separated two
halves of a unique and rare prairie fen.
The berm was installed in the 1960s to
provide access to neighboring residential
properties. It has been unused as a roadway
since before the Land Conservancy acquired
the preserve in 1994. Unfortunately it
has also been acting as a dam, resulting in
restricted water flow on the north side of the
fen and causing the fen to dry out. This has
encouraged the growth of shrubby vegetation
and an invasion of exotic buckthorn.
Buckthorn, a very aggressive invasive plant,
Apartments
Open
Fen
Shrubs/Ferns
Cattail
Marsh
has pushed out the
native sedges and
grasses as well as
unique wildflowers
such as the white lady’s
slipper and fringed
gentian.
Land Conservancy of West Michigan
Lamberton Lake Fen
Nature Preserve
On the south side of the berm water began to
back up, flooding the fen plants located there
and creating what is now an emergent marsh.
While an emergent marsh can be pretty to
look at it is not particularly rare in West
Michigan.
These culverts, once they are installed, will
allow water to resume a more natural flow
across the entire preserve. Slowly, over time,
the preserve should begin to resemble the
high quality prairie fen that once existed
here and will be an inviting place for the rare
and unique plants and animals that call such
special places home.
Several volunteer events will take place at the
Lamberton Lake Fen Nature Preserve this
spring and summer as we work to complete
this hydrology project. To receive the most
up-to-date information please join our email
list by contacting lcwm@naturenearby.org.
Hydrology Plan:
Lamberton Lake Fen
Nature Preserve
Property boundary
Lamberton Lake/stream
Wetland area impacted
Proposed culverts
Old 2-track road
Land Donors
Weldon & Marilyn Brummels
Castle Park Association
Valerino & Maria Castro
Anne & Natasha Cridler
Reginald & Diane Cridler
Gerry & Peggy Ann DePersia
Lake Breeze Protection Group
Joan Lerchen Trust
Muzzy Family Partnership
RED Investors, LLC
Mrs. James Sebastian
Ruth Skwarek
South Highlands Beach Assoc.
Edith Van Til Trust/
Blackburn Family
Wege Foundation
Evangeline White
Business Members
Alcoa Howmet
Baker Publishing Group
Bata Plastics
BISSELL Inc.
Cardno JF New & Associates, Inc.
Dairy Dock Too
Elzinga & Volkers, Inc.
Fanshawe & Associates
Foremost Insurance
Forest Hills Foods
Forever Fossilized Videography
Founders Bank & Trust
Growco Indoor Garden Supply
Jarzembowski Builders, Inc
Jawor Bros Blueberries Inc
Moore & Bruggink, Inc.
Open Prairie Ventures, Inc.
Patriot Realty
Permaloc Corporation
Quaint Cottages
Reagan Marketing & Design
Reusch Design Services
The Hideout Brewing Company
Trillium Haven Farm
Universal Forest Products
Urs Corporation - Great Lakes
Valley City Environmental Services
Williams & Works
Willson Insurance
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