Shooting club, conservancy look to preserve habitat

Resolutions supporting a proposed conservation easement for natural habitat acreage in Erie Township have been approved by the trustees of Erie and Carroll townships and the Ottawa County commissioners.
The Black Swamp Conservancy has been working with the Toussaint Shooting Club, which owns the land, to permanently maintain it in its natural condition, said Rob Krain, executive director of the BCS.
Approximately 1,107 acres would be covered by the easement if it is approved.
Krain said the BCS sought the resolutions of support to accompany an application for a grant from the Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation Program.
The program provides grants for up to 75 percent of the estimated costs for projects that do either of the following:
-Open space acquisition and/or related development, including the acquisition of easements for parks, forests, wetlands, natural areas that protect an endangered plant or animal population, other natural areas, and connecting corridors for natural areas. Related development projects include projects for the construction or enhancement of facilities that are necessary to make the acquired open space area accessible and useable by the general public.
-Riparian corridor protection and enhancement of riparian corridors or watersheds, including the protection of streams, rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water. Projects may include reforestation of land or planting of vegetation for filtration
“If the application is successful, the club will grant Black Swamp Conservancy a conservation easement ensuring that its property is forever maintained in its natural condition,” Krain said.
The resolution approved by the county commissioners says the conservancy’s “purchase of the …property will provide ecological and aesthetic preservation benefits to the residents of Ottawa County.”