Every spring paddlers in the Midwest make their annual pilgrimage to enjoy a few weeks of great whitewater on the creeks that flow into Lake Superior. One of these creeks is the Yellow Dog in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Currently the land along the river is owned by a private timber company who has an interest in selling it and the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve is working to purchase it and make it a Community Forest. As paddlers know, access has sometimes been a challenge for the whitewater runs along the Lake Superior shore that flow through private land. Protecting the wild river corridor of the Yellow Dog for public use and enjoyment is an opportunity to preserve and protect natural habitat and public recreation opportunities.

 

Upon completion, the project aims to protect up to 695 acres of forest, wetland, and granite mountains as well as 5.0 miles of river/tributary. The total cost of the project is $1.1 million. So far the group has $875,000 in committed funds, including a $150,000 matching challenge grant. The goal is within reach, and contributions will be matched 1:1, but the deadline is March 31, 2016.

 

To Contribute:

 

Make a crowdwise contribution

 

Learn More:

 

Yellow Dog River Community Forest Project