The Leelanau Conservancy’s mission is to “conserve the land, water, and scenic character of the Leelanau Peninsula. “ In pursuit of this mission, the Conservancy has protected over 11,000 acres of land in its first 30 years of existence. Much of this land is high quality wildlife habitat including: Lake Michigan sand dunes; coastal bluffs and beaches; wetlands that protect water quality of inland lakes and streams; farmlands and forestlands of great beauty and utility; and community open space that protects the character of our small villages.
Our natural lands provide critical conservation corridors for the movement of plants and wildlife. Protecting land to maintain these connections in the face of potential fragmentation is one of our over-arching goals. Another important goal is to protect our spectacular lakes by preserving shoreline and critical watershed lands. Wetlands, stream corridors, and other lands play an important role in maintaining the water quality of Leelanau’s lakes and streams.
The Conservancy owns some of the natural lands it has protected—natural areas such as Whaleback, Houdek Dunes and Kehl Lake are open for public enjoyment. But it also has worked with over 157 private landowners to protect cherished family lands via a legal agreement called a conservation easement. These private conservation easement lands are NOT open to the public.
If you would like to learn more about protecting your land, please contact our Director of Land Programs, Matt Heiman
