Black Creek Nature Sanctuary

As the comments and reactions shared in class suggest, I am not alone with my mixed reception of our most recent presentation. After the presentation I was motivated to do my own research of local nature preservation/conservation efforts.

What I came across was a surprise. I found that an area I frequently explored as a child was actually a nature sanctuary created by, the Michigan Nature Association(MNA)

Most of my childhood was spent in, on and around the Lake, specifically Sedar Bay AND The Black Creek Nature Sanctuary Trail is basically right across the street!

Sedar Bay

Black Creek Nature Sanctuary

I don't know if I am just out of the loop, but I feel like maybe I should have known about this before now. Why are local nature conservancy efforts secrets?! Maybe this bothers me because I'm local and feel silly for not knowing, or maybe it's because I study communication, probably a combination...
There are all sorts of locations that are protected, I had no idea. This makes me wonder if these groups have awareness campaigns? Am I not a member of their target audience? Are they busy doing something else?

MNA Sanctuary Locations 

Directions to Black Creek Nature Sanctuary from Campus

Fate of our Fresh Water

For as long as I can remember I have been grateful for my close proximity to Lake Superior.

Only recently has it occurred to me that the relatively peaceful environment of our coast is unique.

In numerous places around the world people face live or death situations daily because of water access issues and related war activity. The documentary Blue Gold along with the research we are doing for our group project on the privatization of Great Lakes water has helped me realize that although there is significantly less bloodshed on the Great Lakes coast over water access, tensions exist and are worthy of attention.

Here is a PDF from the Michigan Land Use Institute chock-full of information and action steps

Deciding the Fate of the Great Lakes

      "Rainfall and snowmelt replenish each year only about one percent of the water in the lakes,
        rivers, and aquifers that make up the Great Lakes basin. The other 99 percent of water in the
        basin is finite and nonrenewable"