Michigan is a state defined by water. While it is known for its connection to the Great Lakes, it’s also home to some of the most outstanding rivers in the United States: from the Au Sable, Manistee and Pere Marquette rivers in the south to the Presque Isle, Ontonagon, and Paint rivers in the Upper Peninsula. While boasting some 51,438 miles of rivers and streams, just one percent of these waterways are protected nationally as “Wild and Scenic.” Those that are designated need ongoing stewardship.

When local fisherman and landowner Ross Nave thinks back to 30 years ago, he remembers the Milligan Creek area surrounding his home as a trout haven. “In its days, the Milligan brought a lot of people to Northern Michigan just to fish. We don't see those folks anymore,” he says.

The Nature Conservancy has been working to protect the lands and waters in Michigan and the Great Lakes region for more than 60 years. From preserving waterways, coasts and forests to championing the policy and science that make those initiatives more impactful, the organization’s work is critical to the ecological and economic health of the region.