Protected, owned and managed by the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy
This nature sanctuary features 3,200 feet of Pierson Creek frontage, an important coldwater tributary of the Upper Manistee River known for its naturally reproducing brook trout population. Roughly half of the property consists of high-quality wetlands, while the remainder supports healthy stands of hardwood-conifer forest.
These forests and wetlands provide natural filtration, erosion control and a dense canopy that keeps Pierson Creek cold and clean. The land also supports a host of wildlife, including beavers, songbirds, amphibians and other species that depend on clean water and connected habitat. The property borders state land to the east and adjoins large tracts of undeveloped land to the south, reinforcing a vital wildlife corridor.
This property was donated by the McShane Brothers, honoring a remarkable 55-year family story while safeguarding critical habitat and water quality in the Manistee River watershed. In 1970, brothers Jim, Al, Pat, Bruce and Steve McShane pooled their resources to purchase this property, which has long served as a family gathering place. In addition to hunting and fishing, the brothers planted thousands of pine trees, excavated a pond and carefully stewarded the landscape. When the time came to consider the property’s future, they knew they wanted to preserve it. Their generous donation of the land enabled GTRLC to leverage additional public funding to complete the acquisition, allowing this property to remain in its natural state.
*This project was funded in part through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s Nonpoint Source Program by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.