"To assist with land use management through education, community projects, and services"
"Your local source for all your conservation and natural resource needs"
The Chippewa Conservation District was established on June 27, 1949. On October 1, 1952 the Chippewa Conservation District took on the eastern half of Mackinac County to become the Chippewa East Mackinac Conservation District. In 2009 the District celebrated 60 years of service to the landowners of Chippewa and Mackinac Counties. In July of 2012, the Chippewa/East Mackinac Conservation District merged with the Luce/West Mackinac Conservation District to form the Chippewa/Luce/Mackinac Conservation District (CLMCD). The District now includes all of Chippewa, Luce and Mackinac Counties.
CLMCD is now the largest Conservation District in the State of Michigan and the 3rd largest east of the Mississippi River. Altogether we cover 4,628 sq. miles (2,271,440 acres) which includes 641 miles of Great Lakes Coastline that includes Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, St Marys River, and the Straits of Mackinac.
The Chippewa Luce Mackinac Conservation District acknowledges that the lands we serve are the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary homelands of the Anishinaabe people, including the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi Nations. We recognize the sovereignty of the Bay Mills Indian Community, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, who have lived in, stewarded, and cared for these lands and waters since time immemorial.
We honor their deep connection to the natural world and commit to fostering relationships that support Indigenous knowledge, environmental stewardship, and conservation. We acknowledge the ongoing impacts of colonization and strive to work in partnership with Indigenous communities to protect and restore our shared natural resources for future generations.
Conservation Districts are local units of state government consisting of a locally-elected board of directors who employ staff to help landowners and communities with managing their natural resources, including forests, farms, water bodies, and wetlands. Districts originated in the Dust Bowl days to help farmers improve land management practices to conserve critical soils needed for crop production. Districts have evolved and adapted to the changing needs of its contituents to help with forestry, fisheries and wildlife, and other natural resource management issues.
Michigan's Conservation Districts work to preserve natural resources through education, research, and direct remediation of locally identified conservation concerns. Conservation Districts are supported by state, federal, and private grants, and through their own fundraising efforts - especially the annual tree sale. District boards and staff are people committed to conserving our renewable resources.
Conservation District staff are hired when a local conservation need is addressed and funded through competitive federal, state, local, or private grants. The number of employees actively working on projects and programs in our District fluctuates depending on the number of grants achieved by the District. CLMCD has been fortunate to receive many grants over the years as well as funding from Chippewa and Mackinac county. Due to our succsesses we have grown to be one of the most productive and active Conservation Districts in Michigan.
As local, special purpose units of government, each Conservation District is governed by a locally elected, five-member board of directors. The guiding philosophy of Michigan Conservation Districts is that local people should make decisions on conservation issues at the local level, with technical assistance provided by government.
The Board of Directors for the Chippewa/Luce/Mackinac Conservation District meets each month. The meetings are open to the public. Check our calendar of events for monthly postings of board meetings and events. You are welcome to attend these meetings and become involved in the many programs and projects in our District.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service has one position serving landowners in the Eastern Upper Peninsula. Pat Carr is the District Conservationist for the District. NRCS and the Conservation District are long-time partners and coolaborators. we are co-located in the same office to better serve the public.
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Discover how you can contribute to our conservation efforts and stay informed on upcoming meetings.
