Wild Shores Initiative looks to conserve Great Lakes shoreline

Little Traverse Conservancy, based in Harbor Springs, Michigan, has initiated a program that seeks to increase land protection on the shores of the Great Lakes. According to a release issued by the land trust, the Wild Shores Initiative focuses on Great Lakes shoreline in Little Traverse Conservancy’s five-county service area, which includes Lake Superior, Lake Huron and Lake Michigan.

Undeveloped Great Lakes shoreline continues to be harder to find, beyond those special places already protected as state or federal land or by non-profit conservation organizations — places like Sturgeon Bay Dunes in Emmet County that was protected by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in 1991, a charge led by Little Traverse Conservancy’s executive director at the time, Kathy Bricker.

Great Lakes coasts are desired landscapes for people to enjoy, and they provide irreplaceable habitat for numerous shoreline-dependent species. Natural shoreline is also imperative for coastal resilience in times of weather events or fluctuating water levels.

As noted on the Little Traverse Conservancy website, the Wild Shores Initiative “aims to acquire large, natural Great Lakes shoreline properties, primarily in the Upper Peninsula and on many of the islands, where there are significant conservation opportunities at affordable prices. These lands are typically robust in conservation value and are essential areas for many species, including migratory birds. This initiative is home to a revolving group of worthy shoreline projects.”

“This program is different from most because instead of focusing on a single property, it pools resources together to fund a growing portfolio of properties,” said Kieran Fleming, Little Traverse Conservancy’s executive director. “This approach creates a sense of community among those who are interested in the direct protection of land along Great Lakes.”

The first phase of the initiative is now complete and has been an overwhelming success. As the land trust begins fundraising for phase two, the project has already conserved 287 acres of land, more than 1.5 miles of Great Lakes shoreline and 3,000 feet of shoreline on Great Lakes tributaries.

Little Traverse Conservancy was founded in 1972 and serves the northern tip of Michigan’s lower peninsula as well as the eastern part of the upper peninsula. In addition to conservation, the land trust provides environmental education programs as well as maintains 100+ miles of trails on nearly 50 nature preserves.

Further reading about the Great Lakes:

State of the Great Lakes 2025 Report: An overview of the status and trends of the Great Lakes ecosystem (The report is a collaboration between the governments of Canada and the United States)

What the State of the Great Lakes report tells us about our future (Alliance for the Great Lakes)

Great Lakes Land and Water Initiative (Land Trust Alliance)