IRON MOUNTAIN, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Dickinson Conservation District’s annual meeting saw a remarkable increase in public participation, with attendance more than tripling from previous years. Executive Director Amber Butterfield highlighted significant achievements, including securing critical funding and setting ambitious goals for the upcoming fiscal year.
Butterfield began by reminding the community of the district’s origins, emphasizing its longstanding commitment to conservation. She detailed the district’s efforts in securing funding amid state budget uncertainties, noting a successful $40,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to develop a new stormwater management plan for Dickinson County.
In a conversation with WZMQ 19 News, Butterfield elaborated on the stormwater project, explaining, “We don’t have a stormwater management plan here in Dickinson County… This study is to show what happened 20 years ago and show how far it’s come since then, and then make that determination and comparison.”
Butterfield also highlighted a successful $50,000 grant from WE Energies for shoreline restoration between Dickinson and Iron counties. “So with We Energies, their mitigation and enhancement fund, we received another $50,000 for that that is to focus on Shoreline restoration between Dickinson and Iron County they’ll be surveying a subset of lakes within the counties and determining where the shoreline restoration is needed the most and the three sides that we choose, their landowners will get free shoreline restoration. Also be used as an educational opportunity for other landowners, they can come and participate and be educated on how there is a need for a natural Shoreline restoration,” Butterfield explained.
Among other topics, Butterfield discussed efforts to address the county’s status as a food desert, explaining the district’s push for vertical farming initiatives.
Butterfield shared during her annual report presentation to the community: “With NACD, which is the National Association of Conservation Districts, we did apply for $13,000. I have not received whether we got that one or not. That is to determine the need to have vertical farming in Dickinson county. I had applied for that one in case we didn’t get the other one. They also have a follow-up grant that’s more money than what the USDA has. So it’s a better opportunity in the future,” she shared.
Although the district narrowly missed out on $350,000 in federal funding to address Dickinson County’s status as a food desert, Butterfield expressed determination to reapply in the fall, with the potential to secure up to $750,000 with an additional grant sponsor.
Butterfield told WZMQ that if Dickinson County were able to secure the grant funding and find a central location for the start-up, the District already has equipment on stand-by, “We do have equipment that we were told that we could get on a long-term loan. So what we need now is we need a building to house equipment in, and then we could be operational in making affordable produce for the residents of Dickinson County. It would be grown here year-round: local food, and it would also be an opportunity to provide internships and educational opportunities not just for the community, but [potentially] the school systems. We would love to get involved in the school systems and maybe even provide fresh produce to the school systems as well,” She stated.
Looking ahead to fiscal year 2025, Butterfield outlined plans to enhance the district’s capacity, targeting infrastructure improvements, pollution control, and expanding educational outreach. “We have a lot of work ahead of us in 2025 with the funding that we did. What I would like to see is us growing in capacity so that we would be able to hire more staff and make a bigger impact within Dickinson county. The younger generation and even the older generation: they’re very concerned with conservation and the environmental issues that we are facing. So to be able to be that point of contact within Dickinson county and build that trust that then they know that we get out there and do the work” she stated.
Summary of Key Points Discussed by Amber Butterfield in her Executive Director Annual Report:
1. Funding Success: Secured $40,000 from EGLE for stormwater management and $50,000 from We Energies for shoreline restoration. Notably, the shoreline restoration could address shorelines for landowners in both Dickinson and Iron Counties.
2. Stormwater Management: Plan to redo a study from 20 years ago and develop a new management plan.
3. Shoreline Restoration: Focus on Dickinson and Iron counties, offering free restoration and educational opportunities.
4. Rain Garden Installation thanks to another successful grant with the Michigan Wildflower association: New rain garden at Lake Antoine with 800 plants installed; significant media coverage.
5. Urban Forestry: Collaboration with Iron Mountain to address dying trees and provide educational opportunities.
6. Food Desert Initiative: Pursuing vertical farming funding to address food deserts in Dickinson County.
7. Fiscal Year 2025 Goals: Expanding district capacity, focusing on infrastructure, pollution control, and community partnerships.
8. Waste Management: Participation in state-level conferences and potential involvement in developing a recycling plan.
9. Pollinator Habitat Grant: Ongoing work on a $500,000 pollinator habitat project across multiple counties.
10. Community Engagement: Plans to enhance public spaces, making areas more pedestrian and bike-friendly, and promote conservation education.
11. The District will be partnering with the Dickinson Trail Network to do more planting along the Pine Mountain Stairs thanks to the receipt of a $500 grant from the Dickinson Area Community Foundation.
12. A 960% increase in total grant applications this year. An increase in additional donations of 972% this year, and sales in this year’s first quarter are marked by a 38.5% increase as well.
13. The potential for the District’s executive director to sit on the CUPPAD (Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development) board to represent Dickinson County with the development of a recycling plan in response to Part 115.
Upcoming happenings to watch for within the district:
In addition to providing an array of engaging activities for the community like wood burning workshops, fall hikes and tree identification, the Dickinson Conservation District will be presenting a booth at the Dickinson County Fair on August 31st.
Elections:
The Dickinson Conservation District elected Alex Manier to serve as a regular board member.
WZMQ 19 News works closely with the Dickinson Conservation District and will continue to provide updates on the District’s Progress in securing necessary grant funding for addressing community needs.
For more information on the Dickinson Conservation District or shop their fall tree sale which is active now, visit:
