2008 Promising Projects — Protecting the Environment

After increased Congressional scrutiny, the Land Trust Alliance – a national membership organization of community land trusts – created the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. This independent voluntary program is intended to recognize land conservation organizations that meet national standards for excellence, uphold the public trust, and ensure that conservation efforts are permanent. In Michigan, the Land Trust Alliance and Heart of the Lakes Center for Land Conservation Policy in Lansing are partnering to launch a comprehensive, 3-year program to bolster Michigan’s land conservancies into a high-performing, sustainable, and cohesive community ready for national accreditation. The Advancing Conservancy Excellence (ACE) program will provide organizations with the training, knowledge, and capacity required to be well-positioned for accreditation and a sustainable future. Program components include a needs assessment, technical training, organizational assessments, mentoring, strategic partnerships and the availability of organizational advancement grants.

This project, if successful, will ensure the long-term protection of conserved lands and raise the caliber of land conservancies in the state of Michigan. As competition for resources for acquisition and protection of land becomes greater, the availability of strong, well-run land trusts capable of not only acquiring new lands but also stewarding those properties under their protection grows in importance. Although capacity-building grants are not typical awards for the Frey Foundation's environmental grantmaking, the importance of Michigan’s conservancies as strong and operating with professional excellence is critical to the long-term assurance that past Frey Foundation investments in land protection projects is maintained.

With its Stream Care program, Timberland Resource Conservation & Development Area Council (Timberland RC&D) uses a model of local grassroots partnership, landowner education and in-stream habitat improvement to protect and enhance coldwater trout streams. Through this grant award they will focus on stabilizing and maintaining high-quality streams in Kent County through the insertion of woody debris to narrow and speed up streams, rock and timber revetments for stream bank stabilization, and the creation of cover and habitat for fish.

The long term projected improvements include increased water quality, growth in aquatic insects and fish population – especially larger trout and small, locally reproduced trout – and other wildlife, as well as improved recreational opportunities. In addition, their work includes education of riparian landowners and the general public.

Timberland RC&D’s emphasis on partnerships and its focus on preserving and improving water quality in rural stream, especially for trout, is a good example of the Frey Foundation’s environmental grantmaking priorities.