Nearly 200 acres protected for parkland, farming across Washtenaw County

Land across Washtenaw County protected for parkland, farming

Washtenaw County parks officials have signed off on a few new deals to protect lands from development, including the purchase of nearly 45 acres for public parkland and a series of conservation easements for local farms.

The Grossman property, about 44.8 acres off Macon Road in Saline Township, fronts about 3,700 feet of the Saline River across from the Leslee Neithammer Preserve.

The Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission voted unanimously Tuesday, Sept. 10, to authorize a sales contract to purchase the Grossman property for about $1.3 million, with help from a $501,000 grant awarded by the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund. The sales contract is contingent upon an attorney review and approval. An additional $22,000 from a special revenue fund will go toward future management of the property.

The rest of the cost of purchasing the land will be covered through county park’s Natural Areas Preservation Program, which generates about $5.2 million annually from a countywide millage to preserve and restore natural areas and purchase agricultural easements.

“There was some farmland. There was some forest and some grassland. So, it’s kind of a combination,” Ginny Leikam, the county superintendent of park planning and natural areas, told the commission.

Leikam said the portion of the land that was farmed in the past is a candidate to be restored as a natural area.

There is potential for a trail connection across the river, “which was one of the reasons we were interested in this,” she said.

County Commissioner Yousef Rabhi, D-Ann Arbor, supported the purchase but questioned using money for natural areas on the portion of the property that has been farmed.

“I’m fine using the money, obviously, for all the land that is forested, and I like that this is on a river body. And so, that’s all good,” Rabhi said. “And I’m just sensitive to the fact that we’re using natural areas money to buy farmed land and it’s going to take an immense investment to get that to a place where we want it to be.”

He also asked if leasing the farmed portion to a farmer would be an option.

Leikam answered that it would be an option and something to consider during investigation of the site.

Farmlands saved from development

The commission at Tuesday’s meeting also voted to authorize the purchase of two conservation easements to protect farmland from development, while moving the process along for another farm property.

A 79.75-acre property along Trinkle Road west of Parker Road in Lima Township, which is actively farmed, is one of them. About 73 acres of farmland will be protected by a conservation easement. A house and farm buildings are on the remainder of the land.

The farm, currently owned by the James and Sarah Ritchie Trust with Sally Lovell as trustee, is located about a mile east of Trinkle Nature Preserve and near another farmland easement held by Scio Township. Owners will be selling it to another farm family, according to a memo from county parks Director Coy Vaughn.

The Agricultural Lands Preservation Advisory Committee identified the farm as a high priority, according to Vaugh’s memo.

The commission at Tuesday’s meeting authorized the purchase of an approximately $548,611 conservation easement. In addition, a special revenue fund will contribute $15,000 for monitoring and enforcing the conservation easement.

About 63.5 acres along Schneider and Pleasant Lake roads in Freedom Township, which is owned by Keith and Jean Weidmayer and actively farmed, also will be protected as farmland. County parks already holds a conservation easement for Weidmayer-owned property to the east, and Legacy Land Conservancy holds a conservation easement to the northeast.

The commission authorized the purchase of an approximately $623,508 conservation easement, with help from a $296,071 grant from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, along with $15,000 for monitoring and enforcing the conservation easement

An additional 213 acres of Weidmayer farmland, mostly to the north, is a candidate for a potential conservation easement. The commission voted to apply for a grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a 50% match.

Land on a 69-acre farm off Austin Road east of Parker Road in Saline Township, which is owned by Michael Beaty, is one step closer to being protected by a conservation easement. The commission voted to authorize a sales contract for an estimated $587,000. The state awarded a $238,000 grant earlier this year.

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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.
   • Indicator 15.1.1: Forest area as a proportion of total land area.

2. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding, and other disasters, and that progressively improve land and soil quality.
   • Indicator 2.4.1: Proportion of agricultural area under productive and sustainable agriculture.

3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive, and accessible, green, and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons, and persons with disabilities.
   • Indicator 11.7.1: Average share of the built-up area of cities that is open space for public use for all, by sex, age, and persons with disabilities.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Analysis

The article discusses the protection of land in Washtenaw County for parkland and farming, highlighting the efforts to conserve natural areas and promote sustainable agricultural practices. Based on the content of the article, the following SDGs, targets, and indicators can be identified:

SDG 15: Life on Land

The conservation of land for parkland and the restoration of farmland as a natural area align with SDG 15, which aims to ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. The article mentions the potential restoration of farmland as a natural area, contributing to the restoration of ecosystems. The indicator 15.1.1, which measures the forest area as a proportion of total land area, is relevant as it reflects the conservation efforts mentioned in the article.

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

The article mentions the protection of farmland through conservation easements, which contributes to sustainable food production systems and resilient agricultural practices. This aligns with SDG 2, which aims to ensure sustainable food production and improve land and soil quality. The indicator 2.4.1, which measures the proportion of agricultural area under productive and sustainable agriculture, is relevant as it reflects the efforts to protect farmland and promote sustainable agricultural practices.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The article mentions the purchase of land for public parkland, which contributes to the creation of safe, inclusive, and accessible green spaces. This aligns with SDG 11, which aims to provide universal access to safe and inclusive public spaces. The indicator 11.7.1, which measures the average share of the built-up area of cities that is open space for public use, is relevant as it reflects the efforts to provide green spaces for all.

Source: mlive.com