The lands protected include:

• 139 acres of wetland habitat, protected forever in a joint project with Ducks Unlimited
• 100 acres of high-quality natural area that will remain 100% natural forever, including creek and lake frontage, tamarack swamps, and fens
• 84 acres of rolling hills and forests that otherwise would have been sold for development to pay estate taxes
• 64 acres of farmland with frontage along a protected tributary of the Huron River

      Thank you to the many members, volunteers, and sponsors who helped make this happen. You have secured these lands – forever. 

Other Local Preservation Efforts
      In Washtenaw County in 2006, land trusts and local land preservation programs protected an additional 1,322 acres of land. (This includes 349 acres protected by the Washtenaw Land Trust in Washtenaw County in 2006. The Land Trust also protected 139 acres of land in Jackson County in 2006.) Prior to 2006, land preservation programs were key to protecting 5,364 acres in Washtenaw County.

      Much of this success is thanks to the dedication of local residents, whose support of local millages and private non-profit efforts remains strong. It is estimated that local land preservation millages may generate as much as $100 million over the life of the current millages. This includes funds that are projected from the Ann Arbor Open Space and Parkland Preservation (Greenbelt) millage, Washtenaw County Natural Areas Preservation Program (NAPP), Scio Township millage, Ann Arbor Township millage, Webster Township millage, along with the efforts of local land trusts, Washtenaw Land Trust, Raisin Valley Land Trust, and Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy, and efforts in Pittsfield Township.

Tax Benefits
      Many acres have been protected not only through purchasing a conservation agreement or outright purchase of the property, but also through donation of a conservation agreement by the landowner to a local land trust.  Landowners may be eligible to receive tax benefits for donating a conservation agreement to a local land trust or local government agency. These tax benefits are greatly increased for donations made during 2006 and 2007. The current tax incentive raises the deduction a donor can take for donating a conservation agreement from 30 percent of their adjusted gross income in any year to 50 percent, and it extends the carry-forward period for a donor to take tax deductions for voluntary conservation agreements from 5 to 15 years.

Federal and State Funding
      These efforts also benefit from assistance from the Federal Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP) and the State of Michigan Agricultural Preservation Fund’s Local Purchase of Development Rights Program grant funds. In 2005, Washtenaw County programs received $3.1 million from FRPP, which was approximately 76 percent of the total funds available for the entire State of Michigan. In 2006, Washtenaw County programs were granted an additional $1.1 million, or 61 percent of the total allocation to the State of Michigan. A State grant award was also made to Pittsfield Township for $255,000. 

Preserved Land
      If it were not for the efforts of these programs, properties such as the Tom and Rosanne Bloomer Farm, which provides Ann Arbor markets with roasted soybeans and popcorn, would not have been permanently protected. Also of notable interest is the Raymond F. Goodrich Preserve, recently protected by the County NAPP Program, which is adjacent to the University of Michigan’s Horner-McLaughlin Woods.  The Goodrich Preserve and UM property make up 107 acres of high quality natural area for local residents to enjoy. 
      As noted earlier, the Washtenaw Land Trust was also able to protect 488 acres of land this year, including 349 acres in Washtenaw County.  Among these is a conservation agreement on a 100-acre natural area in Dexter Township donated by Dr. Rudy Reichert, who has specified that the land will be deeded to the Washtenaw Land Trust at his passing as a nature preserve. Other Washtenaw Land Trust parcels protected in 2006 include a 66-acre farm, 84 acres of rolling hills and woodlands, and 69 acres on the Vershum family dairy farm in Bridgewater Township.

*50 acres of this will be used for recreation/public facilities

About Washtenaw Land Trust
      The first land trust in Michigan, Washtenaw Land Trust is a group of over 1,000 individuals, families, and organizations working together to protect the natural areas and rural landscapes that make our community a great place to live. To date, the growing organization has protected 48 properties totaling more than 2,500 acres throughout Washtenaw, Jackson, and Ingham counties, through voluntary land conservation.

      The Washtenaw Land Trust is a private, non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, visit www.washtenawlandtrust.org, or contact info@washtenawlandtrust.org or 734-302-LAND (5263).

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