Our friends at Greater Peninsula Conservancy (GPC) have an amazing opportunity to purchase a significant portion of the Ueland Tree Farm (UTF), including ~350 acres that adjoin the southern border of the Preserve. This land is critical to our work to protect the Chico Creek Watershed. As you know, the Foundation has acquired more than 100 acres of the UTF over the years. Throughout that time, we have been doing work to thin and restore the stands to ensure long-term health of the forestland by mitigating wildfire risk and creating healthy wildlife habitat. All of this work benefits the health of our waterways and salmon habitat. With GPC owning the adjoining land this work will extend further and have an even greater impact on the health of this watershed.
GPC approached us about ways we could work with them to support their purchase of adjoining UTF parcels as well as additional land that would be set aside for a future community forest. We met with them at our most recent board meeting to discuss their process and the commitments they need from us to move forward with their proposal. To that end, the Foundation has committed $20,000 to assist GPC in the acquisition of the UTF parcels. These funds are the remainder of a donor bequest that was designated for land acquisition. In addition, our board committed to sending a letter of commitment supporting GPC’s grant applications in which we promise our support at community meetings, our participation in developing their plans, and to share the protocols we’ve developed for assessing the health of our portion of the watershed.
It is rewarding to see other local groups that are as connected as we are to the land. And it will be wonderful to be able to partner with them in monitoring the health of the Chico Creek Watershed and support their efforts to restore the UTF land by sharing what we have learned restoring the parcels we purchased.
I am the point person working with GPC on this opportunity and I am more than happy to answer questions and share details about GPC’s request and their partnership to restore and protect the lands and waterways that are so special to us and our Tribal communities.
– Jeff Wirtz, Vice President