Below you will find information on a variety of conservation topics for landowners. If there is a topic that you would like more information on, please contact us.

Spring Cleaning Resources

MANAGING YOUR SEPTIC SYSTEM 
Septic tank maintenance remains a top issue in watershed protection. Nearly 25% of people use a septic system. Incorrectly treated sewage leads to groundwater contamination, threatening drinking water and human health.

DO:

o Clean out your septic tank every 3-5 years, depending on tank size and frequency of use
o Conserve water to prolong the life of your system
o Direct rainwater from gutters and surface runoff away from the drain field
o If your property is located near a water body, plant or retain natural vegetation along shoreline to intercept nutrients

 DON'T:

o Fertilize above the drain field
o Park heavy equipment or cars on top of the drain field
o Dispose of harmful chemicals, grease and fat, or non-biodegradable items down the drain

HAZARDOUS WASTE DISPOSAL AND RECYCLING 
Be careful when disposing of household chemicals. Some materials cannot be thrown into the trash or standard recycling, and must be taken to a Household Hazardous Waste facility. These substances include oil, oil-based paint, antifreeze, batteries, and many more listed here. Check out these non-toxic alternatives to household hazardous waste products.

Use this map to find out where to take household hazardous waste and/or recyclables in your county.

BURNING 
Spring is fire season in Northern Michigan! Be very careful when attempting to burn something on your property. Make sure that you have the proper permit. Burn permit requirements change daily in Michigan depending on the fire risk conditions. Check the following website for daily updates of burn permit requirements for your county:
www.dnr.state.mi.us/burnpermits

Wildlife and Forestry Resources

MANAGING MICHIGAN'S WILDLIFE-A LANDOWNERS GUIDE 
We encourage you to check out a great online resource, Managing Michigan's Wildlife: A landowners guide. This publication was created by the Michigan DNRE and Michigan United Conservation Clubs. Each chapter pertains to managing different ecosystems or species in Michigan.

Topics include:

• Habitat Planning
• Forest Management
• Wetland Management
• Grassland Management
• Cropland Management
• Backyard Management
• Species Management
• Resource Directory 

COOPERATIVE CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE (CCPI) 
What is a forest management plan? Essentially, a forest management plan is a road map for your forest land that will help guide your management decisions to reach your goals while protecting the health of your forest. A forest management plan includes an inventory and map of the natural resources on your land, your objectives for your land and defined schedules of activities (or conservation practices) that will help you meet your goals while protecting the health of the forest. Examples of forest management plan activities might include timber harvesting, wildlife habitat development, invasive species removal, and erosion control.

Funds may be available through the US Farm Bill to assist landowners in developing forest management plans. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service administers the Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI) program. If you have not worked with the USDA before you will need to make an appointment with the Farm Service Agency (FSA) at your local USDA Service Center.

MICHIGAN SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTERS 
The Michigan Society of American Foresters posts monthly articles on a variety of topics relevent to forest landowners. Please visit Newspaper Article Index to learn more.

MICHIGAN FOREST ASSOCIATION 
The Michigan Forest Association (MFA) also has a number of resources on their website.

LINKS

 

 

Native Plant Resources