With its famed streams, remote lakes and vast forests where the calls of wild elk echo, the Pigeon River Country (PRC) State Forest is one of Michigan’s most iconic landscapes. Your generosity sustains a legacy of protecting this remarkable place while inspiring the next generation in its stewardship.

Huron Pines plans to conduct a prescribed burn in spring 2026 at Emily Min Hunt Preserve in Presque Isle County as part of our ongoing work to restore its rare limestone bedrock glade ecosystem.

Our land-assist approach helps communities secure conservation wins.

A year of wins for endangered plovers, coastal habitats and the community’s natural heritage.

The Thunder Bay Watershed encompasses 1,250 square miles of Northern Michigan. From its headwaters in Montmorency County to where the river meets Thunder Bay in Alpena, we are working to reduce stormwater runoff, restore habitats for fish and wildlife, and ensure clean drinking water.

Protected Lands Build Connections to Nature & Conservation

Huron Pines gathered with 40 fellow researchers, land managers and conservationists for the Jack Pine Research Symposium, a two-day retreat in February to coordinate future restoration efforts of Michigan’s once-dominant grasslands.

Huron Pines and MSU Extension brought the Conservation Stewards Program to the Alpena area for the first time in 2025, introducing adults of all ages and backgrounds to the region’s unique natural communities and the environmental challenges they face.

Forty-two forested acres on Hull Island are set to become the AuSable Scenic River Preserve following its transfer from Huron Pines to Oscoda Charter Township. Along with having high conservation value for wildlife habitat and water quality, it holds great potential for public recreation.

Dozens of volunteers and City staff joined Huron Pines Oct. 14 to plant native gardens which will provide habitat for pollinators and support the City’s pledge to protect the water quality of Lake Huron.

A 236-acre expanse of mixed hardwoods, gentle hills and pine groves woven with wild elk trails in southern Cheboygan County has been made public. Huron Pines bought the property in April 2024 with the support of individual donors to our Community-Driven Conservation Campaign

Construction will begin in September on two native plant gardens at Bay View Park, and a dune restoration project at Mich-e-ke-wis Park will be extended this fall. Both projects support the City’s broad efforts to reduce runoff, improve natural habitats and protect water quality.

The Great Lakes welcomed a record 88 breeding pairs of piping plovers for the 2025 season, a good sign that ongoing recovery efforts we’re supporting along the Lake Huron coast are having a positive impact on the endangered shorebird’s population.

The opportunity to see something new, even for lifelong residents of Northern Michigan, is the best feature of North Point Exploration Day.

On Aug. 8 we welcomed 32 people for an evening paddle tour of Tawas Lake where Huron Pines and our conservation partners shared the important work being done to protect the lake’s unique natural features.

Hidden among the vast waters of Lake Huron lie ecological treasures that few will ever witness—remote islands harboring some of Michigan's rarest species and most pristine habitats.

Alcona Community Schools has become the first school to join the Lake Huron Forever initiative, committing to actions which protect Lake Huron’s water quality while empowering its students to become the next generation of community and conservation leaders.

Huron Pines is actively working throughout the Thunder Bay Watershed to improve water quality on several fronts. The U.S. Forest Service came to Alpena last fall to document this collaborative project through interviews with our staff and partners. Their video is out and you can watch it now.

Huron Pines is facing significant challenges from federal funding cuts and changing regulations. We are committed to conserving and enhancing Northern Michigan's natural resources and are proceeding with our major projects while also looking to you for help.

Situated on a prominence of ancient limestone bedrock jutting into Lake Huron, the 1,400-acre North Point Nature Preserve provides visitors with the opportunity to observe a highly diverse mix of songbirds, raptors and waterfowl as they make their spring migration.