The Washtenaw Land Trust (WLT) will increase its focus in and around the Waterloo Recreation Area thanks to a recent agreement with the Waterloo Land Conservancy Trust.

Under the terms of the acquisition, the Waterloo Land Conservancy Trust will fold its resources into a designated fund at WLT dedicated to the preservation of land around the Waterloo Recreation Area.

As an additional result of the agreement, Charity Steere, 54, of Grass Lake, has been selected to join the Washtenaw Land Trust Board of Trustees. Steere has lived in Waterloo Township and been active in local environmental and land use efforts for the past 32 years.

"This agreement provides WLT with great opportunities to help protect the valuable natural areas surrounding the Waterloo Recreation Area," stated Thomas C. O'Brien, WLT board president. "We're also pleased to welcome Charity Steere to the WLT Board."

The Washtenaw Land Trust is a non-profit organization that works to protect farmland, natural areas and open space in and around Washtenaw County, Michigan, and to educate members, local officials and the public on land use issues. To date, WLT has protected 1,567 acres of land.