NAPP News

Natural Areas Preservation Program
Total Land Protected: 1,687 acres
Administered by WCPARC since 2001

It has been our usual practice to begin this news note with a status report on the number of acres acquired/protected through the Washtenaw County Natural Areas Preservation Program. A more important statistic is that NAPP has established 16 nature preserves for the use and enjoyment of the public. Many of these preserves are the result of multiple purchases V with later purchases adding to and enhancing preserves established in the early years of the program. The purchase highlighted below is an addition to the Leonard Preserve V the third acquisition at this location, bringing the total acreage to 259 acres.

Leonard Preserve Addition

Located in the Village of Manchester, the Schaffer Trust Property provides a 22 acre addition to the existing Leonard Preserve. The preserve contains a number of significant natural attributes, most significant of which is nearly 1700 feet of frontage along the River Raisin! It has a mixture of river floodplain and dry, wooded ridges. A small, perennial stream runs through the property and serves as a tributary to the River Raisin. The Schaffer Trust Property is located immediately across the river from the original Leonard Preserve. At present, access to this new addition will be from the river via canoe or kayak.

Tom Freeman, Deputy Director