Protected, owned and managed by the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy
Protected in 1995, one parcel was donated by Dennis Ireland, and other portions were purchased that same year from Joseph Duncan and Patrick Cooney, bringing the total acreage to 41 acres with over 2,600 feet of undeveloped shoreline on Elk Lake.
The Kewadin Wetlands Nature Sanctuary – which harbors exceptional biodiversity in a small geographical area – has an important role in the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy’s vision of the preservation of unique landscapes in the region. Through the purchase and effective management of the natural communities associated with the sanctuary, GTRLC strives to protect the fragile ecosystem that provides hydrological and ecological benefits to the flora and fauna of Elk Lake.
The sanctuary can be observed from kayak, but accessing land could be hazardous and is not recommended.