2000
Hugh and Eileen Starks, 40 acres
Fork Township, Mecosta County

In 2000, Hugh and Eileen Starks, founding board members of The Little Forks Conservancy, donated 40 acres of land in northeastern Mecosta County. With approximately 3,000 feet on the Chippewa River, the property was used by the Starks family for picnics, hikes and canoe trips for more than 20 years.

Because the property needed good management to maintain the conservation values found there, the Board of Directors determined that a conservation easement was the best conservation tool to protect the property. In 2002, with the support of the Starks, the property was protected with a conservation easement and returned to private ownership and the proceeds of the sale were dedicated to a permanent endowment fund to support land conservation well into the future.