Resources for Landowners
Professional Consultants
This is a list of organizations and professionals who can help you with your natural resources needs. Click for contact information.
Name: Aquatic Nuisance Plant Control
Phone: (989) 345-7574
Address: 3930 Perry Holt Road, West Branch, MI 48661
Areas of expertise: aquatic invasive species
Name: Black River Habitats
Phone: (269) 208-6275
Address: 1517 60th Street, Fennville, MI 49408
Areas of expertise: native plants, food plots, surveyor, invasive species
Name: Charlevoix County Conservation District
Phone: (231) 582-6193
Address: Boyne City, MI
Areas of expertise: Shorelines, Agriculture, forests, soils, groundwater, conservation education, native plant sale
Name: Cheboygan County Conservation District
Phone: (231) 627-3383
Address: 825 South Huron, Suite 2, Cheboygan, MI 49721
Areas of expertise: forestry, soils, groundwater, conservation education, maps
Name: Designs by Nature
Phone: (517) 651-6502
Address: 9874 Chadwick, Laingsburg, MI 48848
Areas of expertise: native landscaping, environmental education, wildlife habitat, native wildflowers, and grasses nursery
Name: Emmet County Conservation District
Phone: (231) 439-8997
Address: Harbor Springs, MI
Areas of expertise: Farmsteads, crops, greenhouses, orchards, forests, soils, groundwater, nature education, tree sale
Name: GEI Consultants of Michigan
Phone: (517) 525-3882
Address: Williamsburg, MI 49690
Areas of expertise: restoration, invasive species
Name: Huron Pines
Phone: (989) 448-2293
Address: 4241 Old 27 South #2, Gaylord, MI 49735
Areas of expertise: Habitat restoration, Invasive species, buffers/greenbelts, Wildlife viewing enhancement, Native plantings, Instream and shoreline habitat restoration, Rain gardens, Forest health improvement
Name: Michigan Natural Features Inventories (MNFI)
Phone: (517) 284-6200
Address: Lansing, MI 48901
Areas of expertise: Natural areas, plants, and animal surveys
Name: Niswander Environmental, LLC
Phone: (810) 225-0539
Address: 9436 Maltby Road, Brighton, MI 48116
Areas of expertise: wetlands, wildlife, surveys, mapping, restoration
Name: North American Rock Garden Society – Great Lakes Chapter
Phone: (231) 758-9500
Synopsis: Are you interested in rock gardening on your land? Visit here to learn more about the North American Rock Garden Society. A Great Lakes chapter exists, and a northern Michigan chapter is in the works:
Great Lakes Chapter of NARGS
We are a group of Rock Garden enthusiasts with nearly 200 members, mostly in Michigan. We focus on plants of the Alpine regions of the world but never turn down a chance to grow any unique or exciting plant. Why not join us?
From garden tours to plant sales, our members enjoy sharing their knowledge and passion for this type of horticulture. We have speakers and programs that span the globe, with experts from as far as Europe, South Africa, and New Zealand to our very own members, all united in the pursuit of rock gardening.
Name: North by Nature Landscapes
Phone: (231) 340-0446
Address: 465 Orchard Ridge Drive, Petoskey, MI 49770
Areas of expertise: shoreline restoration, native landscaping,
Name: Otsego County Conservation District
Phone: (989) 732-4021
Address: 800 Livingston Blvd. Suite 4A, Gaylord, MI 49735
Areas of expertise: Native plant nursery
Name: PLM Lake & Land Management Corp
Phone: (616) 891-1294
Address: 8865 100th St. SE, Alto, MI 49302-9221
Areas of expertise: Invasive species
Name: Scenic Michigan
Phone: (231)-753-8116
Address: 1100 N. Main Street, Suite 102 Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Areas of expertise: Billboards and sign control, Scenic easements and view protection, Dark Skies, Scenic byways
Name: Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council
Phone: (231) 347-1181
Address: 426 Bay Street, Petoskey, MI 49770
Areas of expertise: shorelines, invasive species, biological, wetlands, project and site plans, stormwater, restoration, maps
Name: Upper MI Land Mgmt & Wildlife Services Inc.
Phone: (906) 786-3488
Address: 1705 4th Avenue North, Escanaba, MI 49829
Areas of expertise: Forestry, wildlife
Name: USDA NRCS
Areas of expertise: Natural Resource Conservation Service: Technical conservation assistance, financial assistance, agriculture
Branch: Petoskey
Phone: (231) 347-5255
Address: 2235 E. Mitchell Road, Petoskey, MI 49770
Branch: Cheboygan
Email: perry.smeltzer@mi.usda.gov
Phone: (989) 733-8323, Ext. 3
Address: 825 South Huron, Suite 2, Cheboygan, MI 49721
Branch: Sault Ste. Marie
Email: kent.dankenbring@mi.usda.gov
Phone: (906) 632-9611, Ext. 111
Email: pat.carr@mi.usda.gov
Phone: (906) 632-9611, Ext. 120
Address: 2847 Ashmun Street, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783
Name: Wildlife and Wetland Solutions, LLC
Phone: (231) 943-0762
Address: 4371 N. Long Lake Rd, Traverse City, MI 49684
Areas of expertise: Wildlife, habitat, wetlands, invasive species, education
Name: Wildtype
Phone: (517) 244-1140
Address: 900 N Every Rd. Mason, MI 48854
Areas of expertise: Native plant nursery, wetlands, plant surveys, restoration
Please note this list is not complete. Anyone wishing to add their contact information to this list is encouraged to contact derek@landtrust.org.
Additional Opportunities For Landowners
The Stewardship Network – The Stewardship Network is a Midwest (and growing) conservation organization connecting, equipping, and mobilizing people and communities to care for their natural environment. The Network is composed of locally acting clusters. Their website contains a searchable database of conservation-related resources.
Go Beyond Beauty – A resource for gardening with native plants.
M-119 Scenic Heritage Route Committee
Private Landowners Network – The Private Landowners Network contains many links and resources.
Quality Deer Management Areas (QDMA) – QDMA is a non-profit wildlife conservation organization dedicated to ensuring the future of white-tailed deer, wildlife habitat, and hunting heritage. Landowners can have their land QDMA certified.
National Wildlife Federation: Garden For Wildlife – You can get your yard certified as a Certified Wildlife Habitat.
Timberdoodles and Young Forests – Learn about creating habitat for American Woodcocks and many other animal species that need young (early succession) forests. Also, check out the Ruffed Grouse Society.
Waterfowl Biology – Resources about waterfowl from Ducks Unlimited.
Funding Sources
This is a list of potential funding sources to help you accomplish natural resources tasks on your property. Click for contact information.
Program: EQIP
Full Name: Environmental Quality Incentives Program
Department: NRCS
Eligibility: Agricultural or Forest Production
Description: Financial assistance payments to help implement approved conservation practices such as reducing soil erosion, enhancing water supplies, improving water quality, increasing wildlife habitat, and reducing damages caused by floods and other natural disasters. You will need to call or visit your local NRCS office to obtain an application. The first application will be to get a conservation plan written by a certified plan writer. These plans are required for further assistance. Then you can reapply for financial aid to help fund the implementation of the activities outlined in your list. Agriculture and forest production means you must be doing some level of management…the NRCS officer will help you determine if you’d qualify.
Program: WHIP
Full Name: Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program
Department: NRCS
Eligibility: Agricultural or Forest Production
Website: Not Active
Description: No longer supported by the 2014 Farm Bill but has been partly incorporated in the EQIP program. Those with land in agriculture or forest production could receive assistance to establish and improve fish and wildlife habitat.
Program: CIG
Full Name: Conservation Innovation Grants
Department: NRCS
Eligibility: Agricultural or Forest Production
Description: Competitive grant opportunity for innovative conservation approaches and technologies, generally more utilized by universities and NGOs but open to individuals. The application process is relatively lengthy— there is a pre-proposal stage before the full proposal stage.
Program: CSP
Full Name: Conservation Stewardship Program
Department: NRCS
Eligibility: Agricultural or Forest Production
Website: Not Active
Description: Financial and technical assistance for agricultural and forest producers to conserve and enhance soil, water, air, and related natural resources on their land. Cropland, hayland, pastureland, and nonindustrial private forestland count. Payments are made each fiscal year for contract activities that were installed and maintained in the previous year. Must apply, contact the NRCS office and explore the website!
Program: CSP
Full Name: Conservation Stewardship Program
Department: NRCS
Eligibility: Agricultural or Forest Production
Website: Not Active
Description: Financial and technical assistance for agricultural and forest producers to conserve and enhance soil, water, air, and related natural resources on their land. Cropland, hayland, pastureland, and nonindustrial private forestland count. Payments are made each fiscal year for contract activities that were installed and maintained in the previous year. Must apply, contact the NRCS office and explore the website!
Program: FSP
Full Name: Forest Stewardship Program
Department: MI DNR
Eligibility: Forest Owners (20 ac.)
Website: Not Active
Description: Open to forest owners (must have 20 acres to get financial assistance). Primarily for getting a Forest Stewardship Plan. This program supports the Conservation District Foresters, who can provide you with free technical guidance and advice. Costs for plans vary widely, and you are encouraged to get a couple of different quotes. The state can cover a portion of the cost through this program.
Program: LIP-LP
Full Name: Landowner Incentive Program-LP
Department: MI DNR
Eligibility: Must be protecting certain species
Website: Not Active
Description: Provides technical and financial assistance to eligible landowners for habitat improvements that address wildlife needs. Potential projects include native grass plantings, prescribed burns, invasive species management, and more. Unfortunately, preference is given to projects in target areas (which are out of LTC’s service area, except northern Chippewa County) or properties and projects that will directly benefit a target species (see this link for a list of these species). You start by submitting a request form.
Program: LIP-UP
Full Name: Landowner Incentive Program-UP
Department: MI DNR
Eligibility: Must be protecting certain species
Website: Not Active
Description: Provides technical and financial assistance to eligible landowners for habitat improvements that address wildlife needs. Potential projects include native grass plantings, prescribed burns, invasive species management, and more. Unfortunately, preference is given to projects in target areas (which are out of LTC’s service area, except northern Chippewa County) or properties and projects that will directly benefit a target species (see this link for a list of these species). You start by submitting a request form.
Program: GLRI-CP
Full Name: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Coastal Program
Department: USFWS
Eligibility: Coastal property or nearby waterway
Description: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Coastal Program – This is for restoring wetlands, streams with barriers, or shoreline restoration to improve animal (primarily fish) habitat. Provides technical and financial assistance.
Project work plans are in coordination with partners and with substantial involvement from FWS field staff. Projects must advance FWS mission, promote biological diversity, and be based upon sound scientific physical principles. Have an idea? Please shoot me an email (derek@landtrust.org) as this project would be more geared towards a collaboration of several landowners working together on a larger scale project. Sept. 30th deadline.
Program: QFP
Full Name: Qualified Forestry Program
Department: MDARD
Eligibility: Must be producing forest products
Description: Landowners receive an exemption from local school operating taxes or exemptions from the uncapping of the property’s taxable value in the event of a change in ownership.
Make sure you read through the documents on the website and acreage requirements. Contact the person listed and ask questions!
The best way to investigate potential opportunities with the National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) is to call or visit your local district office. You can also start here.
