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Nature Conservancy Expands North Bay Preserve

Photo © Gerald H. Emmerich Jr.

The Nature Conservancy recently announced that it has added another 40 acres of land to the North Bay Preserve. The acquisition conserves forested wetlands, protects water quality and provides additional access for walking, wildlife-watching, hunting, cross-country skiing and other outdoor activities.



“North Bay is one of several natural areas in Door County where the Conservancy is protecting lands and waters that sustain native plants and wildlife and attract thousands of visitors each year to enjoy the outdoors,” said Mary Jean Huston, Nature Conservancy director in Wisconsin.

The new property is mainly low, wet forest dominated by cedar and some birch. It helps absorb water and replenish a wetland that provides breeding habitat for the Hine’s emerald dragonfly, a species that is endangered in Wisconsin and nationally. 

The Conservancy is protecting groundwater recharge areas important to the dragonfly’s larvae, which may be the key to the species’ survival.



North Bay Preserve is part of an effort by multiple private and public partners to conserve about 13,000 acres along Lake Michigan from Toft Point to Three Springs Preserve. This landscape represents one of the best remaining opportunities to protect a nearly contiguous mosaic of open wetlands, streams, small lakes and conifer-dominated forest along the peninsula’s Lake Michigan coast.



For more information about the Conservancy’s work in Door County visit http://www.nature.org/wisconsin in the ‘Places We Protect’ section.

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