Land Toolkit - Assess
Before you manage or preserve, it's important to know the current site conditions.
Assessment might be right for you if any of the following apply:
- You've recently purchased new property
- You want to learn about existing flora, fauna, and ecological characteristics of forests or wetlands on your land
- You want someone to assess your property for wetlands, timber, soil texture/chemistry, rain garden installation, etc.
- You want to connect to local organizations that offer workshops, events, and volunteer opportunities where you can build skills to DIY on your property and/or become a steward of your community's natural areas and resources
- You want to connect to management and/or preservation opportunities that align with your property characteristics and landowner goals
Huron River Watershed Council
Kate Laramie,
Watershed Ecology Associate
klaramie@hrwc.org
If you own large areas of forest, wetland, or prairie remnants (10 acres or more) in the Huron River watershed, contact the Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC) to obtain a field assessment which contains:
- What natural features exist on your land
- Which ecosystems are most beneficial for keeping lakes, streams, groundwater, and drinking water clean
- Info to guide management decisions, such as location of invasive species
- Locations of the most ecologically valuable areas, which can help guide conservation decisions
- Data that may help you obtain funding for preservation
River Raisin Watershed Council
Meija Knafl,
Outreach Coordinator
rrwc@lenawee.mi.us
The RRWC promotes stewardship, improves water quality, and encourages public participation to protect, preserve and enhance the River Raisin Watershed by working with partners to provide:
- classroom and public education,
- outreach to farmers,
- water quality monitoring,
- volunteer cleanups, and
- river recreation.
Learn more about your watershed and how your property can help to sustain it!
Washtenaw County Conservation District
The WCCD provides educational opportunities that empower residents to develop new skills to assess and manage their land, such as:
- plant identification,
- tree planting and protection,
- proper pruning techniques,
- and more!
Check out our events page to see upcoming opportunities or visit our YouTube channel to catch-up!
Assessment is also step one of the management programs the WCCD administers.
Still not sure which organization to contact?
Take the quiz to find out which one might best suit your needs or check out additional resources!
Other Assessment Options and Learning Opportunities:
Prefer a book style PDF?
COMING SOON: You can find this information and more in the
"Huron River Watershed Forest Landowner's Toolkit".
Michigan Vernal Pools Partnership
The Michigan Vernal Pools Partnership (MVPP) is a public/private partnership of nonprofits, conservancies, businesses, individuals, educators, and agencies that aim to increase conservation and understanding of vernal pools.
Vernal Pool Patrol
Request monitoring of vernal pools on your property or become a trained volunteer to help assess vernal pools throughout your region. Visit the website to learn more or reach out to a local partner if you'd like to get started:
- River Raisin Watershed Council
- Huron River Watershed Council
- Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation
- Legacy Land Conservancy
Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner's Office
Get Advice on Your Rain Garden
Learn about rain gardens and how to install one on your property! Request a FREE site visit to help you assess your site and plan your installation. Also, sign-up to become a Master Rain Gardener and become the expert in your neighborhood!
Natural Shoreline Visit
Learn about natural shorelines and how to install one on your property! Request a FREE site visit to help you assess your site and plan your installation.
Contractors & Consultants
Need someone with specialized skills or expertise?
Check out our lists of service providers, contractors, and consultants who can assist with the following and more:
- Arborists: tree risk assessment, tree trimming and removal, pest and pathogen diagnosis, including oak wilt, etc.
- Foresters: timber sales, forest management plans, restoration, etc.
- Native Habitat Contractors/Consultants: Design, install, and maintain native gardens or landscapes; invasive species removal; prescribed burns; education, etc.
- Tree Nurseries & Farms: purchase plants in bulk for windbreaks or reforestation
- And More!
Michigan Natural Features Inventory
Field Guide Publications
- A Field Guide to the Natural Communities of Michigan
- A Field Guide to Invasive Plants of Aquatic and Wetland Habitats for Michigan
- A Field Identification Guide to Invasive Plants in Michigan's Natural Communities
- Exploring the Prairie Fen Wetlands of Michigan
- Prairies and Savannas in Michigan: Rediscovering Our Natural Heritage
- Between Land and Lake: Michigan's Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands
- And more!
Services
MNFI scientists conduct a wide variety of fee-for-service and grant-funded projects for public, non-profit and private clients. Services include: information requests, field inventories, rare species reviews, site ecological summaries/assessments, green infrastructure planning, conservation planning, research, and more.
Web Soil Survey
Site Soil Info
Web Soil Survey (WSS) is an online database which can be used for general farm, local, and wider area planning. Onsite investigation is needed in some cases, such as soil quality assessments and certain conservation and engineering applications. Learn how to use the site by watching a series of videos.
Need assistance interpreting the survey data? Try one of the following:
- Check out the NRCS Soil Science website
- Contact your local NRCS office
- Send your report to the WCCD
- Contact private consultants/contractors
This soil data and information is produced by the National Cooperative Soil Survey and operated by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
Friends of the Rouge
Friends of the Rouge (FOTR) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that was founded in 1986 to raise awareness about the need to clean up the Rouge River in southeast Michigan.
- FOTR encourages protection and restoration of the Rouge River by providing opportunities that offer hands-on-immersive learning opportunities. FOTR involves the public and promotes engaged and educated stakeholders in the Rouge River watershed.
The Stewardship Network
The Stewardship Network (TSN) is an award-winning 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Ann Arbor, MI, with a 20-year history of caring for our natural world.
- TSN exists to connect, equip, and mobilize people and organizations to care for land and water in their communities.
Michigan Forest Association
Michigan Forest Association (MFA) is a non-profit organization which provides members with sound, science-based information through workshops, newsletters, a quarterly magazine, field days, and legislative outreach and advocacy.
Membership is open to all who are interested in Michigan’s forests; including forest owners, professional foresters and land managers, and anyone interested in Michigan’s forests, woods and trees.