Thumb Land Conservancy

09/20/2026

09/19/2026

Here's the follow-up article to aquatic macroinvertebrates posted on September 2. This article describes how collecting and identifying aquatic macroinvertebrates can be used to assess the water quality of streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, and some wetlands..

https://thumbland.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2010-10-October.pdf

09/06/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19PrmeDDvz/

SIBLEY PRAIRIE UPDATE: A CLARION CALL - Please Share

September 1, 2026

Dear Supporter,

We now have three months to raise the remaining funds needed to Save Sibley Prairie!

Just one year ago, saving Sibley Prairie seemed like a daunting challenge. Today, we believe that we have a clear path to success. But with only three months remaining, we must now focus on two critical priorities to ensure that we can purchase this remarkable 440 acres of Sibley Prairie by December.

THIS IS OUR CLARION CALL.

1. HELP US REACH $1 MILLION IN INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS.

Our goal is to raise a total of $1 million from individual donors. We have already raised $730,000, which means we have $270,000 to go.

That is a significant amount—but it is absolutely within reach.

Please consider making a donation if you are able--or an additional one. (Donate at SaveSibleyPrairie.org or mail a check to Michigan Land Conservancy, 10325 Cherry Hill Rd, Superior Township MI 49198.) And, just as importantly, please spread the word. Encourage your friends, family members, neighbors, and colleagues to contribute.

If we can reach $1 million in individual donations, we believe we will have the flexibility needed to cover any remaining shortfall from our other fundraising efforts.

2. HELP US SECURE AN ADDITIONAL $1.5 MILLION IN LOANS.

If the full $6 million purchase price is not raised by December, we plan to finance any remaining shortfall with one-year bridge loans.

These loans would be repaid when the anticipated $5 million grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund is received by Brownstown Township, which we expect will occur later in 2027.

We are exploring other financing options as well, but personal loans from supporters may provide the most certain path to ensuring that we can complete the purchase on time.

If you might be in a position to provide a larger loan, please contact me directly. Even if you are simply interested in learning more about how this would work, I would be happy to talk with you.

The Fundraising Committee of the Save Sibley Prairie Coalition will continue our intensive outreach to foundations, corporations, and major donors. And if you are in a position to make a six- or seven-figure donation, please know that your gift could be the one that puts us over the top—and could create a lasting legacy by helping preserve Sibley Prairie forever.

Thank you, so much, for your extraordinary support. We still have much work to do but, for the first time, we can clearly see the finish line.

Please help us reach our goal. With your help, we can protect Sibley Prairie—forever.

As we’ve said all along:

TOGETHER, we can Save Sibley Prairie!

With deepest gratitude,

Jack Smiley
President, Michigan Land Conservancy
[email protected]

for the Save Sibley Prairie Coalition
SaveSibleyPrairie.org

09/02/2026

As we move into early autumn, we hope, aquatic macroinvertebrates, or small freshwater creatures, including insects, worms, snails, and molluscs, will all be feeding on the abundance of leaves that fall into our streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes. Some eat the leaves directly. Others consume the break-down products. Others eat other water creatures. Regardless, the annual leaf-fall is critical to the abundance, diversity, quality, and sustainability of waterways and everything that lives in them, including the fish that people catch and consume. They are one of many reasons it is important to keep forest along streams and rivers. Aquatic macroinvertebrates are the tiny, largely unrecognized inhabitants that have maintained life in our waters for millennia. You can read about them at this link:

https://thumbland.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2010-09-September.pdf

08/30/2026

The TLC has renovated our web site over the past year, long overdue after about 15 years. It is still a work-in-progress, but much improved with new educational content.

In 2003-04 and 2009-10, TLC Executive Director Bill Collins wrote several articles for "The Lakeshore Guardian" paper under the "Thumb Habitats" column. Here is one published in September of 2004 about the Minden Bog, a very special and unique natural area here in the Thumb.

https://thumbland.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2004-09-September.pdf

08/08/2026

The latest issue of The Thumb Naturalist. Check out our new web site at ThumbLand.org

https://givebutter.com/messages/view/a45bd895-0abd-46f5-a843-84270585506c

This summer has been another season of meaningful progress for the Thumb Land Conservancy, with new land protected, stewardship efforts expanding, and exciting improvements taking shape across our preserves. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, grant partners, volunteers, and members, we continue...

06/23/2026

The Thumb Land Conservancy is seeking candidates for a Program and Stewardship Director. Applicants must have a history of natural area stewardship, volunteer coordination, and working knowledge of ecology. Our preferred candidates are self-directed - able to complete work assignments with minimal guidance.

Job duties include:

- Summarize stewardship needs for multiple preserves;
- Coordinate stewardship work on multiple preserves;
- Lead volunteers in stewardship work;
- Work with contractors and agencies;
- Lead field trips;
- Assist with fundraising and other assignments as needed.

All candidates must have their own transportation.

This is a part-time position without benefits, but ideally will transition to full-time with benefits for the right person. Pay will be commensurate with experience and performance.

To apply, please send a resume and cover letter by August 1 to:

William Collins, Executive Director
Thumb Land Conservancy
4975 Maple Valley Road
Marlette, Michigan 48453
810-346-2584
[email protected]
ThumbLand.org

04/16/2026

Spotted salamanders are a key indicator species of vernal pools in Michigan because they rely on these temporary, fish-free bodies of water to successfully breed each spring. An indicator species is a plant or animal whose presence, absence, or health reflects the overall condition of a specific ecosystem.

When spotted salamanders are thriving, it signals that the vernal pool is functioning well and maintaining the seasonal water cycles and water quality they—and many other species—depend on.

Unfortunately, many vernal pools have been destroyed or degraded in recent decades, leaving fewer places where these salamanders can live and reproduce.

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