We have an outstanding opportunity to protect a roughly 80-acre property in Arcadia Township vital to the water quality and ecological health of the Arcadia Lake watershed, including the globally rare Great Lakes coastal marsh at Arcadia Marsh Nature Preserve.
The property features steep, forested ridges and wetlands, where multiple seeps emerge to form the headwaters of Chamberlain Creek. From here, the creek flows through a largely undisturbed corridor of GTRLC-protected land before it converges with several streams to become Bowen’s Creek. Bowen’s Creek then travels through Arcadia Marsh, leading to Arcadia Lake, and finally, into Lake Michigan.
Because what happens at these headwaters directly affects the watershed downstream, protecting this land is essential to safeguarding water quality. The proposed nature sanctuary will keep these steep slopes and sensitive wetlands intact, allowing them to continue filtering runoff, stabilizing soils and maintaining clean, cold water that supports the health of Chamberlain and Bowen’s creeks, Arcadia Lake and Lake Michigan.
Adjacent to an expansive block of GTRLC-protected land at its northwest corner, including Arcadia Marsh Nature Preserve, the proposed nature sanctuary extends a contiguous corridor of aquatic and terrestrial habitat. While future ecological surveys are planned, the property’s diverse terrain is expected to support a rich variety of plants and wildlife; early observations indicate abundant hemlock stands and thriving deer populations.
The project builds on years of successful restoration efforts at Arcadia Marsh, where GTRLC and partners have restored natural water flow to Bowen’s Creek, re-established native vegetation and enhanced habitat for migratory birds and aquatic species.