Acquisition of Lake Michigan Coastal Preserve

About this grant

With Mott and other private and public support, the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy purchased approximately 6,000 acres, including two miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, in Michigan’s Benzie and Manistee counties. This ecologically outstanding property, which includes sand dunes up to 330 feet in height, provides important habitat for rare and threatened plant species, migratory birds and butterflies, bald eagles, and a variety of mammal species. Importantly, it is adjacent to several other protected shoreline parcels. Approximately 1,650 acres of the property will be managed as a nature preserve, with public access allowed. The Foundation provided support to the grantee in the form of a zero-interest land contract and bargain sale on the nature preserve portion of the property. This grant increase represents the final deed transfer.