Little Traverse Bay Protection and Restoration Fund

You did it!!

The Little Traverse Bay Protection and Restoration Fund challenge match has been met!  We will soon receive the second $250,000 gift from CMS Land Company bringing the Fund balance to $750,000.  And, we are going to keep working hard to build it to a $1 million dollar Fund soon.

Each year grants from the Fund will help support the health of our beloved Little Traverse Bay and its surrounding watershed.  What an enduring gift you have given to a vital community asset that is essential to our quality of life. 

To learn more, keep reading or give us a call - (231) 348-5820.  Thank you!

Fund Background

Little Traverse Bay and its watershed are essential to our regional economy, quality of life, and a main reason visitors from around the world visit the area.

In October 2010, CMS Land Company announced an initial contribution of $250,000 to establish the Little Traverse Bay Watershed Protection and Restoration Fund. The Little Traverse Bay Watershed Protection Plan, developed by the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council and a consortium of community members and organizations, will serve as a guiding document for the fund.

The designated fund has been established in the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation. It will be overseen and decisions will be made at the local level, not by CMS Land or environmental regulators.

In making the initial contribution, CMS Land also committed to make another $250,000 grant in 2011 if the original grant is matched by the community. While our goal was to ensure we could make the match and secure the additional CMS donation, we will now strive to raise an additional $250,000 to establish a fund balance of $1,000,000!
 

Watershed Protection Plan Goals

The Little Traverse Bay Watershed Protection Plan will serve as a guiding document for the fund. The plan was developed by an advisory committee comprising numerous local agencies and organizations. The purpose of the plan is to help ensure that the waters of the watershed will be enhanced, restored, and protected for generations to come.

Some of the main goals of the plan and the fund are:

Work with local governments, businesses, and individuals to reduce pollution from storm water.
Improve both warm and cold water fishing by reducing contaminants input to the watershed.
Protect and restore wetlands and vegetation along rivers and streams to provide shade and wildlife cover.
Repair erosion problem areas on stream banks and shorelines.
Ensure safe recreation by protecting water quality.