Thumb Land Conservancy

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Thumb Land Conservancy

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Thumb Land Conservancy, 4975 Maple Valley Road, Marlette, MI.

The Thumb Land Conservancy is protecting natural areas in Michigan's Thumb, a 6-county region including Saint Clair, Sanilac, Huron, Tuscola, Lapeer, and Macomb Counties.

04/16/2026

Spotted salamanders are a key indicator species of vernal pools in Michigan because they rely on these temporary, fish-free bodies of water to successfully breed each spring. An indicator species is a plant or animal whose presence, absence, or health reflects the overall condition of a specific ecosystem.

When spotted salamanders are thriving, it signals that the vernal pool is functioning well and maintaining the seasonal water cycles and water quality they—and many other species—depend on.

Unfortunately, many vernal pools have been destroyed or degraded in recent decades, leaving fewer places where these salamanders can live and reproduce.

Like our work and want to support it? Please visit https://givebutter.com/tlcmatch to give today!

03/27/2026

On a cold February morning, we explored St. Johns Marsh and reflected on the Ramsar initiative, which could bring increased protection and funding to the St. Clair River Delta. The global Ramsar Convention recognizes wetlands of international importance, and TLC is helping explore designation locally—where community feedback has been mixed but increasingly supportive. By focusing on St. Johns Marsh as a model, the effort aims to build understanding, strengthen local involvement, and ensure conservation succeeds with community support.

Interested in receiving updates and supporting TLC? Please visit https://givebutter.com/tlcmatch to donate and sign up for our newsletter.

03/21/2026

John Kennedy—Oneida Turtle Clan member, master carpenter, and founder of the Blue Water Traditional Pow Wow—was a humble yet powerful advocate for Indigenous presence, culture, and connection to the land in Saint Clair County. Through prayer, art, ceremony, and friendship, he left a lasting monument not only in stone, but in the hearts of all who walked beside him. Read more here:http://www.thumbland.org/TLCThumbNaturalistFebruary2026.pdf =27

Enjoy reading the Thumb Naturalist? Please consider supporting TLC's work: https://givebutter.com/tlcmatch

03/19/2026

Fallen leaves are vital for wildlife. They provide food, insulation, cover, and a place for wildlife to overwinter, among other benefits. When homeowners dispose of fallen leaves, they not only throw away organic gold, they destroy habitat and condemn the wildlife hidden among the leaves to the landfill, compost facility, or incinerator. Have you ever considered how much wildlife is in those leaves? Everything from moths, cocoons, caterpillars, firefly larvae, spiders, sowbugs, centipedes, millipedes, worms, toads, salamanders, and many others. What might future archaeologists digging through the layers of our landfills think about us? Read more here:http://www.thumbland.org/TLCThumbNaturalistFebruary2026.pdf =30

Do you find information like this helpful? Support TLC's vital work today: https://givebutter.com/tlcmatch

03/16/2026

Last fall the TLC met with Bangor Township officials to discuss development of a nature park on the Morley Sanctuary and adjacent Bangor Township park land. If all goes to plan, the two parks will become one larger park of 140 acres. With plans for trails, facilities, and wetland restoration underway, this collaboration will open up a major new outdoor destination near Saginaw Bay while protecting important habitat. Read more here:http://www.thumbland.org/TLCThumbNaturalistFebruary2026.pdf =19

Please consider supporting the restoration of preserved lands such as Morley. Donate here: https://givebutter.com/tlcmatch

03/15/2026

We are so lucky to have a Wooded Dune and Swale Complex in our community! Let's protect it!

Want to support TLC's work of preserving rare species and ecosystems? Please donate today: https://givebutter.com/tlcmatch

https://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/abstracts/ecology/Wooded_dune_and_swale_complex.pdf

03/14/2026

TLC recently acquired a new preserve: the 32 acre Touma Family Sanctuary in Fort Gratiot. The new sanctuary fills a critical gap in the Southern Lake Huron Coastal Park, making future coastal trail connections possible where they once seemed out of reach. From rare dune ridges and wetlands to extensive restoration plans, this sanctuary protects a special landscape while improving water quality and wildlife habitat just upstream from Lake Huron. Read more here:http://www.thumbland.org/TLCThumbNaturalistFebruary2026.pdf =4

Want to support land preservation in the Thumb Region? Donate here: https://givebutter.com/tlcmatch

03/11/2026

Work at TLC's Shorewood Forrest Southeast delivered big moments this past year—from rare orchids and a Blanding’s turtle sighting to the discovery of remnant cedar and tamarack trees from the original dune-and-swale forest. Even as the sanctuary revealed its age and fragility, TLC staff and volunteers stepped in to document, protect, and give new life to what remains of this remarkable landscape. Read more here:http://www.thumbland.org/TLCThumbNaturalistFebruary2026.pdf =16

Want to support TLC's work of preserving rare species and ecosystems? Please donate today: https://givebutter.com/tlcmatch

03/09/2026

Update from TLC's Teddy Wiley: Winter is the perfect time to reflect, plan, and get creative—like sowing a fridge-full of prairie seeds for Loznak Sanctuary while preparing for spring restoration. It’s also been a year since launching the Ramsar initiative for the St. Clair River Delta, and thanks to 38 letters of support from citizens, local government, and organizations, we’re making real progress toward protecting this internationally significant wetland. Read more here:http://www.thumbland.org/TLCThumbNaturalistFebruary2026.pdf =23

Support Teddy's work here: https://givebutter.com/tlcmatch

03/08/2026

Last fall TLC Executive Director Bill Collins gave a presentation at the grave site of Port Huron botanist Charles K. Dodge and his wife Millie for the annual Lakeside Cemetery Tour of the Saint Clair County Genealogy and History Society. Bill shared the story of a man whose work helped shape our region’s understanding—and protection—of native plants. Read more here:http://www.thumbland.org/TLCThumbNaturalistFebruary2026.pdf =15

Please consider supporting our work today: https://givebutter.com/tlcmatch

03/05/2026

Though now spread from Washington, DC to the West Coast, the Touma family’s love for Lake Huron—and its dune and swale landscapes—has never faded. Their deep connection to this place, and their generous support of TLC’s work, is why our newest preserve proudly bears the name Touma Family Sanctuary. Read more here:http://www.thumbland.org/TLCThumbNaturalistFebruary2026.pdf =5

Want to support TLC? Donate here: https://givebutter.com/tlcmatch

Address

4975 Maple Valley Road
Marlette, MI
48453

Telephone

+18103462584

Website

http://ThumbLand.org/, http://thumbland.blogspot.com/

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