Huron Pines Resource Conservation and Development Council

Healthy water program: the priorities of our healthy water program are aligned with the unique needs of the places and communities we serve. We inspire stewardship through education, recreation and access; promote economic growth through infrastructure investment and community Development; and ensure clean water through monitoring, protection and restoration. Huron Pines has inventoried every waterway in our 4.5-million-acre service area to assess stream health, prioritize critical needs and share data for public use by individuals and organizations across the state. Connected waterways restore natural river flow, control erosion, provide fish with access to the upstream habitat they need to flourish and improve tourism and economic viability by promoting recreation. The future health of our rivers and lakes also depends on protecting the quality of water that drains into them. That is why Huron Pines is working with communities to reduce pollution caused by stormwater runoff through education, city planning, and green infrastructure.

Vibrant communities program: the health of our region depends on establishing strong advocates for natural Resource protection. In order to support Conservation that is driven by engaged and empowered communities, we must build connections between people and the environment. By working directly with local residents, municipalities and Conservation partners, Huron Pines will help communities build the infrastructure, best practices and funding mechanisms needed to support the long-term health of the region for generations to come. With programs like Huron Pines americorps and ongoing efforts to connect with community partners of all ages, we are developing tomorrow's community leaders, industry executives and policy makers, responsible for ensuring the long-term sustainability of Michigan's natural resources.

Protected places program: through careful prioritization, planning and execution Huron Pines protects and restores some of northern Michigan's most iconic places including the jack pine plains of the au sable river, the dunes of negwegon state park, the shores of lake Huron and the forests of pigeon river country. These wild places provide the ideal habitat for threatened and endangered species like hines' emerald dragonfly, piping plover, pitcher's thistle, eastern massasauga rattlesnake and kirtland's warbler. Huron Pines engages communities and Conservation partners across the region to support these threatened species. One way we do this is by leading the Huron coastal and Huron heartland invasive species networks, which bring together regional partners to improve wildlife habitat through invasive species management and native habitat restoration. Huron Pines also engages in direct land protection through Conservation easements, ownership of our own nature preserves and by assisting communities and partners with the acquisition of land for protection and public use.

Management and general