Philip Holden had a deep appreciation for a nature and never wanted to see his family property developed. For more than 150 years, the nearly 400 acres of land in Convis Township has been the Holden family's property and respect for the land's natural values has passed down through the generations.
His wishes are now being realized. An easement that allows the property to be conserved and remain in private ownership has been arranged by the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy.
It will protect the property that has such features as a shallow, 124-acre spring-fed lake known as Mud Lake. The lake recharges into Ackley Creek, which in turn flows into Lake Michigan by way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo rivers. The shoreline is unaltered, and the woodland’s understory is blanketed in native sedges with virtually no invasive plants.
The spring-fed lake and more than 150 acres of surrounding high-quality wetlands provide habitat for a diverse array of waterfowl, including Sandhill Cranes. Particularly unique is the archipelago of oak- and pine-dominated islands ringing the western end of Mud Lake, accessible from land bridges constructed by the family in the early part of the 20th century.
The land has a mix of high-quality dry southern forest, southern wet meadows, and emergent marsh. It provides habitat for the Eastern Box Turtle, Cooper’s Hawk, and even the federally endangered Bald Eagle.
"Conserving the Holden's land in its natural condition helps to ensure the quality and quantity of water resources that drain to Lake Michigan," says Geoffrey Cripe, SWMLC’s director of land protection.
He notes that Ackley Creek emanates from a lake just north of Big Marsh, which includes the 690-acre Audubon Bernard Baker Sanctuary and the Kiwanis Youth Conservation Area, home of the annual CraneFest in October.
"The wetlands and uplands that drain to Ackley Creek are a high priority for SWMLC to protect because they are highly significant resources for wildlife and water quality," Cripes says. "The conservation of the Holden property, located about a mile downstream from Big Marsh, is just another step forward in a larger scale plan to protect exceptional resources in Calhoun County."
Linda Holden dedicated the easement in memory of her late husband Philip and his father and grandfather, both named Raymond Francis Holden. Linda and Phil called this land home for 45 years. Linda still lives on the property and says she is glad to know the land will always remain in a natural state as her husband wished.
"He loved the land and wanted to preserve it for future generations and in memory of his father and grandfather who also loved the land," Linda says.
The family has been in contact with Land Conservancy since 1999 and, after working out all the details to finalize the agreement, their wish to forever protecting their land became a reality at the end of 2013.
The Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy maintains 44 publicly accessible preserves and holds conservation easements on 83 privately owned parcels which are not accessible to the general public. SWMLC serves the nine counties of Southwest Michigan and has protected almost 13,000 acres since its inception as an all-volunteer organization in 1991.
Source: Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy
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