The Balkwill Lands Conservation Agreement was registered on-line April 13, 2007. One might think that the Land Trust could take a little breather but that was not to be the case as plans needed to be made with regard to monitoring the Balkwill Lands. Two CSLT and ECFNC members, Karen Cedar and Shirley Grondin, offered to be the Land Trust’s first monitoring team.
On June 18, 2007, the monitors met with Betty Learmouth who lead Karen and Shirley through the intricacies of the Reference Plan (Plan of Survey), the Balkwill Lands Conservation Agreement, the Balkwill Lands Baseline Documentation Report and an Orientation Manual for Monitors.
The Plan of Survey was examined which shows in detail the various parts of the Balkwill Lands. It was decided that the perimeters of the Lands would be looked at during this initial monitoring, especially the perimeters of the Woodland. At a later date, the perimeters of the Agricultural Areas would be examined more closely. Stakes show where the survey pins are in place from the survey which took place in November 2004.
The monitors then examined the Balkwill Lands Conservation Agreement. The intent of the Conservation Agreement is that “the Owners and the Land Trust intend to conserve the woodland, wildlife habitat and natural features of the Lands and to preserve the aesthetic and scenic character of the Lands, and to prevent exploitation of the Lands and wildlife for commercial, industrial or development purposes.” The Balkwill Conservation Agreement further states that “the Owners and the Land Trust jointly recognize that the Lands have significant natural features including the Woodland and the Owners and the Land Trust mutually agree on the importance of permanently conserving these Woodland and natural features.”
Monitors were introduced to fifteen carefully chosen restrictions in the Conservation Agreement which have been selected to ensure that the Woodland and natural features of the Lands will be conserved in the long term. Examples of restrictions designed to protect natural features and which can be monitored include no construction of a building in other than the Building Area, no operation of dune buggies on the Lands and no dumping of fill in the Woodland.
Monitors called owner Bill Balkwill to arrange a monitoring session on June 25, 2007 at 8:00 a.m. on the Balkwill Lands. Prior to the monitoring session, monitors Karen Cedar and Shirley Grondin reviewed the various documents including an album of labeled photographs which shows the Lands as they existed in August 2005 and November 2006. The many photographs obtained in August 2005 are those that Land Trust volunteers Tom and Cathy Ayles provided for the Land Trust.
Monitors examined the Agricultural Area to the west, the Old Logging Road, the Pond and Prairie restoration site, Lanes 1, 11 and 12 and the Agricultural Area to the east. Of interest were the perimeters of the Lands which are easily accessed from Lanes 1, 11 and 12. Forms especially prepared for each area and lane were used to determine if any violations had occurred. None were noted by the monitors.
A second monitoring session was arranged for July 2, 2007 during which Lanes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 were examined. No violations were noted.
The Balkwell Woodland has a number of vascular plants of interest which monitors enjoyed viewing as they walked the lanes. Some observed plant species included Beechdrops, Alumroot, Squarrosa Sedge, Smooth Rock Cress, Cardinalflower (leaves only), Helleborine (an introduced orchid species), Common Low-Woodland Blueberry, Yellow Giant Hyssop, Downy Arrowwood, Climbing Prairie Rose, Rattlesnake Grape Fern and Michigan Lily.
Following the monitoring, the monitors’ original notes were provided as photocopied sheets in individual binders to the owners, the monitors and the Land Trust. The original monitoring sheets will be stored a safe place, to be updated with each monitoring session along with the other three binders.
The next monitoring visit is planned for Fall 2007. Thank you to owner Bill Balkwill and monitors Karen Cedar and Shirley Grondin.