2006
Shellenbarger Land Company, 80 acres
Sherman Township, Gladwin County

After reading about the Lane’s conservation easement just downstream, Richard Shellenbarger, a co-partner in the Land Company, contacted the Conservancy to ensure that approximately 3500 feet of the North Branch of the Cedar River will remain natural and undeveloped forever.

The 80 acre property, where the Shellenbargers manage the natural resources for traditional recreational use, contains woods, open fields and wetlands. The conservation easement on the property ensures that a permanent vegetated buffer will act as a filter for runoff entering the North Branch of the Cedar River. In addition, the vegetation that hangs over the river provides thermal regulation of the stream, which is important for maintaining healthy aquatic habitat.

The Shellenbarger’s easement is the Conservancy’s first completed Cedar River Conservation Easement Project property, which was funded in part through a grant from the State of Michigan’s Clean Michigan Initiative. Additional funding was provided by 3M Scientific Anglers.