Ogemaw County, Michigan
Conservation Campaign · Lot 5404
Protect 30 Acres of Living Wetland
A mosaic of forested marsh, emergent wetland, and irreplaceable wildlife habitat east of Rose City — at risk of being lost forever. Help us bring it home.
This parcel is currently in a state public land auction. A conservation-minded buyer has agreed to clean up the site and sell it to HeadWaters — but only if we can raise the funds.
These wetlands recharge groundwater, filter surface runoff, retain floodwaters, and deliver clean water downstream — working every single day at no cost.
Amphibians, waterfowl, and dozens of wetland-dependent species depend on exactly this kind of habitat. Lose it, and they lose their home permanently.
Wetlands are among the most powerful carbon sinks on earth. Every acre protected is a direct, measurable investment in our shared climate future.
A rare convergence of ecological value
Lot 5404 isn’t just one wetland type — it’s a living mosaic of forested wetland, emergent marsh, and scrub-shrub habitat, each sheltering different species and providing distinct ecosystem functions.
Located in an increasingly fragmented landscape, protecting this parcel now means safeguarding water quality, floodwater resilience, and biodiversity in Ogemaw County for generations to come.
Six reasons this land cannot wait
Scenic Open Space
In a relatively undeveloped stretch of northeast Michigan, this parcel preserves the wild character of a region that makes Ogemaw County worth living in.
Flood Mitigation
Wetlands act as natural sponges — holding floodwaters and releasing them slowly, reducing downstream flooding risk for nearby communities.
Amphibian Refuge
Frogs, salamanders, and other amphibians — bellwethers of ecosystem health — thrive in exactly this kind of intact, undisturbed wetland habitat.
Plant Diversity
The mosaic of habitat types supports a rich array of native wetland plants, each playing a role in maintaining the health and function of the broader ecosystem.
Water Quality
Wetland vegetation and soils filter pollutants, sediments, and excess nutrients before they reach downstream waterways — a service worth millions if replicated artificially.
Conservation Corridor
Adjacent to other natural lands, this parcel could anchor a broader corridor allowing species to move, populations to mix, and ecosystems to stay resilient.
A keystone in a larger puzzle
Lot 5404 doesn’t stand alone. Its proximity to existing natural lands means protecting it now could contribute to a wildlife corridor — allowing species to move across the landscape as habitats shift under a changing climate.
This is conservation at the landscape scale: individual parcels becoming something much greater than the sum of their parts.
An extraordinary conservation value
30 acres of permanently protected Michigan wetland for the price of a modest used car. Every dollar goes directly to securing this land.
$40,000 Total Acquisition Goal— HeadWaters Land Conservancy“Wetlands like these are the lifeblood of northeast Michigan — they clean our water, shelter our wildlife, and anchor our landscape. Protecting even one parcel creates a ripple effect felt for generations.”