Five Miles of Contiguous Lake Superior Shoreline Now Protected Following TNC Acquisition
24-acre parcel connects east and west sides of TNC’s Mary Macdonald Preserve at Horseshoe Harbor.
Media Contacts
-
Ryan Hermes
Phone: 517-999-7745
Email: ryan.hermes@tnc.org
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) today announced the acquisition of 24 acres of land in Keweenaw County, which connects the east and west sides of Mary Macdonald Preserve at Horseshoe Harbor. The preserve, which is at the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula, is TNC’s most visited preserve in Michigan.
“With this acquisition, five continuous miles of Lake Superior shoreline, an area rich in biodiversity and home to numerous threatened or endangered plants, are now protected—forever,” said Helen Taylor, state director for TNC in Michigan. “To date, TNC and its partners have protected 19 miles, or 64%, of the nearly 30 miles of protected Keweenaw County mainland shoreline.”
The 24-acre parcel that runs north to south from the shoreline into the forest creates five miles of contiguously connected and protected shoreline, making it the second-largest protected tract of shoreline in Keweenaw County.
“This land is part of a unique landscape you can only find at the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula,” said Emily Clegg, director of land and water management at TNC in Michigan. “We’re thrilled to protect this additional stretch of Lake Superior shoreline and connect and expand one of our prized preserves in the U.P.”
The Mary Macdonald Preserve at Horseshoe Harbor was established in 1982 and now covers 1,224 acres. The preserve is a unique landscape of volcanic bedrock lakeshore, which is considered a state-threatened community. Because its surface is rough and jagged, much of the lakeshore is sparsely populated by mosses and lichens as well as scattered trees and shrubs.
The land was purchased from a private owner for an undisclosed sum. A map of the acquisition is available below.
The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. The Nature Conservancy is working to make a lasting difference around the world in 81 countries and territories (40 by direct conservation impact and 41 through partners) through a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit nature.org or follow @nature_press on X.
