HeadWaters Land Conservancy

The purpose of HeadWaters Land Conservancy is to protect the natural diversity and beauty of northeast Michigan by preserving significant land and scenic areas and fostering appreciation and understanding of the environment.

We protect land.

The largest natural lands left in all of Lower Michigan are right here in our back yard. Not to mention eleven of Michigan’s most important watersheds, including the Lake Huron Shoreline. When these precious lands are misused or overdeveloped we all suffer – those who are attracted to the region for its beauty and numerous outdoor activities, and those whose livelihoods stem from its abundant resources.

During the last century, the landscape of this region has dramatically begun to change, and at a faster rate than it has been conserved. HeadWaters Land Conservancy was established in response to such unprecedented growth. Since its inception in 1994, HeadWaters Land Conservancy has been serving people – those here today, who appreciate these lands and have the foresight to preserve such special places – and those of future generations, who will benefit from our endeavors. Today, thousands of acres have been permanently protected with the help of our dedicated supporters.

Organizational Overview

A 501(c)(3) public charity,HeadWaters Land Conservancy has been working with landowners and local communities since 1994 to protect and enhance northeast Michigan’s increasingly threatened lands and waters. Our strategies include: 

• Preservation: Directly protecting land through conservation easements, land acquisition and effective land management.
• Community Engagement: Helping to foster a culture of conservation, to support land conservation and funding, and to ensure that Michigan has highly-skilled and informed citizens.

To achieve our mission, we are partnering with individuals like you with these key goals in mind:

• Secure key habitats to preserve the biodiversity of our native plants and animals
• Protect sustainably-managed forests to support our forest-based economy and wildlife habitat
• Keep our water and air clean to ensure we all have enough clean drinking water and fresh air
• Save our productive farmlands so that every community can benefit from healthy, locally grown food