$2.1 million awarded to protect stretch of Sturgeon River, promote recreational use
DICKINSON COUNTY — A stretch of pristine wilderness is set to be protected, thanks to a generous grant.
The Superior Watershed Partnership Land Conservancy will be working on a 4–mile stretch of the Sturgeon River, after being awarded $2.1 Million from the Michigan Natural Resource Trust Fund Board. 944 acres of forestland will be protected and worked on, to promote outdoor recreation in the stunning area, with trails, kayak launches, and more.
“This will be an opportunity for our Great Lakes Conservation Corps to get out there and improve access for hiking [and] put in kayak and canoe launches,” said Tyler Penrod, GLCC Program Manager. “I really see this as a big victory for outdoor recreation in the UP, especially the western UP.”
The acquisition will also reduce habitat fragmentation, as the area is a critical habitat for many species, both on land and in water.
Protecting this property also protects Great Lakes water quality and indirectly benefits over 30 million people living downstream.
Parts of the area are set to open in the summer of 2021.