New County Nature Preserve
NAPP Adds 160 Acres in Superior Township
Officially purchased in May,
the Kosch Headwaters Preserve is the newest member of the
growing system of Washtenaw County NAPP preserves. Representing continued
collaboration with the Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy (SMLC), Executive
Director Jack Smiley first brought the availability of the property, and the
impending development pressure, to our attention. Adjacency to the SMLC’s
Springhill Nature Preserve (30 acres of already protected land); high
quality plant communities; and a commitment by SMLC to assist with
maintenance, restoration and trail development over the next ten years all
helped persuade the County to purchase the land.
Although a detailed natural features inventory is needed,
preliminary investigations suggest a high level of biodiversity in the
preserve’s significant wetland and woodland habitats. A wonderful
maple-beech woodland, shared with Springhill Preserve in the southeastern
corner of the property, is home to many mature beech. The rather uncommon
blue ash is found in relative abundance on the western portion of the site.
Wetlands, seasonal streams, and a spring flowing out of the maple-beech
woodland all contribute to the headwaters of Fowler Creek which ultimately flows into the Rouge River—hence
the name “Headwaters”.
Cultivated land, the third major land cover type, makes up about 50% of the property and is currently farmed. Superior Township supports the continuation of farming, and passed a resolution requesting that WCPARC retain active farming on all township lands purchased through NAPP. We’re currently working with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to develop a Conservation Plan to control runoff, minimize erosion, soil loss and invasion by weedy species. Looking to the future, the open land presents opportunities for wildlife conservation plantings and habitat restoration to further protect the existing high quality natural areas. Sylvia Taylor, wildlife management expert and member of NAPP’s Natural Areas Technical Advisory Committee, believes the open land has especially good potential for native grassland establishment and reforestation.
