February 18 eNews Trivia: Do low temperatures at night affect groundwater discharge into streams?

Answer: Yes, extremely low temperatures at night essentially “shut off” the groundwater.

Stream discharge diminishes greatly during cold nights. However, groundwater discharge regains quickly the following day. Groundwater is typically regarded as a liquid unless permafrost conditions exist. The temperature of groundwater is fairly constant and relative to the mean annual air temperature.

To view water data from local Michigan streams, visit the U.S. Geological Society Real-time Water Data for Michigan.

Groundwater-fed rivers provide valuable fish and wildlife habitat and numerous recreational opportunities. Local communities depend heavily on the tourism generated by these coldwater streams.

High inflows of groundwater, due to the extreme permeability of the soils, are key to the stability of such river systems. This groundwater provides suitable temperatures for coldwater fish. These fish species are generally less tolerant of silt and turbidity, and are commonly associated with a coarser stream bottom.

Research has indicated that sediment is the number one pollutant in many of the rivers of northern Michigan. In a healthy, stable river system, the amount of erosion is generally in balance with the amount of sedimentation that occurs. Past and present human activities have dramatically accelerated the rate of erosion along these river corridors and reduced the ability of streams to flush out sediment the way they normally would. Once introduced into the stable water flow of our streams, sediment, particularly sand, tends to remain for several decades.

Thank you Steve for this week’s question! Steve is a dedicated partner and assists with a number of projects including Large Woody Debris. Rarely does something positive happen on the Au Sable without his wise guidance.

-------------------

February 6 eNews Trivia: What invasive species will threaten the maple trees of Michigan if it becomes established?

Answer: Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis)

The beetle is native to China where it prefers poplar, willow, elm and maple trees. It has a large (1-1.5”) black body with white spots and distinctively long antennae.

It is a threat to North American deciduous hardwoods. During the larval stage, the ALB bores deep into a tree's heartwood, where it feeds on the tree's nutrients. The tunneling damages and eventually kills the tree. Tree species considered ALB host species include all species of maple (Norway, sugar, silver, and red maple) as well as horse-chestnut, poplar, willow, birch, London plane tree, mountain-ash, mimosa (silk tree), and elm.

Signs of Asian longhorned beetle infestation include perfectly round, 2 cm exit holes; frass, a sawdust-like material comprised of tree shavings and insect waste; and oozing sap. Dead and dying tree limbs or branches and yellowing leaves when there has been no drought also signal ALB infestation. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) research indicates this beetle can survive and reproduce in most sections of the country where suitable host trees exist.

The insect was first discovered in the U.S. in 1996. It is present in New York, Illinois and Massachusetts where eradication efforts are underway.

As illustrated by the Asian longhorn beetle, invasive species are an international problem. Species like the emerald ash borer, Eurasian watermilfoil and phragmites have already cost our state millions of dollars. This is why Huron Pines has made this issue a priority by creating the Invasive Species Removal program. Through the Huron Pines AmeriCorps program, we have an Invasive Species Coordinator working to map and remove target species. Key species include: purple  loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), buckthorn (Rhamnus spp.) and phragmites (Phragmites australis). Learn more at Invasive Species Removal program.

Thank you Ned for this week’s question. Ned joined the Huron Pines Board in 2007. Prior to that, he spent a number of years as a Forest Supervisor for the DNR in the Pigeon River State Forest. He brings a great wealth of knowledge about forest management and is a great asset to our organization.

-------------------

January 21 eNews Trivia:

What is the name of the rare brown trout/brook trout hybrid?

Answer: the tiger trout (Salmo trutta X Salvelinus fontinalis)

The brown trout/brook trout hybrid exhibits features of both trout but retains vertical markings or tiger stripes. Tiger trout are known to be highly piscivorous (fish-eating). It is a rare phenomenon in the wild, with the brook trout having 84 chromosomes and the brown trout 80. Artificially, tiger trout can be produced reliably enough to be grown by hatcheries. The hybrid cannot reproduce naturally.

Huron Pines works to enhance fish habitat through our Large Woody Debris program and protect our high-quality, coldwater stream. Check out some of our fish structures upstream of Mio on the Au Sable and you may find the natural anomaly. If you do see one, you’ll know the tiger came to be naturally because fish are not stocked in this stretch of river.

Thank you, Bob, for providing a great question! Be sure to check out the Au Sable River Watershed Restoration Committee to learn about the outstanding work Bob and the committee are doing.

-------------------

January 7 eNews Trivia:

What is the only canine species with the ability to climb trees?

Answer: the gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus)

Gray foxes are the only North American canines that climb trees. They have been found in squirrel nests and abandoned hawk nests up to 60 feet above the ground!

Gray foxes range throughout most of the southern half of North America from southern Canada to northern Venezuela and Colombia. They are solitary hunters and are largely omnivorous. These clever climbers are thought to live from six to 10 years in the wild.

Thank you Andrea for this week’s question. Andrea is a great resource partner for Huron Pines. She has been instrumental in completing several road/stream crossings and serves on our Resource Advisory Group. She is also an active Huron Pines Member.

Photo Credit: Steve Wayne Rotsch/Painet Inc.

-------------------

December 22 eNews Trivia:

Phragmites (Phragmites australis) plants can grow up to 15 ft. in height, but what percentage of the plant’s mass is underground?

Answer: 80%

Phragmites, also known as common reed, is a perennial wetland grass. While it is native to Michigan, there is a non-native, invasive variety of phragmites that is threatening and overtaking wetlands and coastal areas.

Phragmites creates tall, dense stands that essentially make it impossible for native vegetation to survive. The monoculture that is created also crowds out animals and blocks shoreline access to swimmers, fishermen, and hunters. A dangerous fire hazard can also be produced by the dead, dry plant material left behind each fall by the plant.

Learn more by viewing the Invasive Species Fact Sheet: Phragmites.

Thank you Tim for this week's question. As part of the Huron Pines AmeriCorps program, we are launching an Invasive Species program to help address the issue in Northeast Michigan. During the 2009 field season, Tim will be leading an inventory and monitoring several key problem species: purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), buckthorn (Rhamnus spp.), and phragmites (Phragmites australis).

-------------------

December 10 eNews Trivia:

Do all trout spawn at the same time of year?

Answer: Each species spawns at different times. Brown trout (Salmo trutta) start off the spawning run for salmonids in late October.  Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) head to the redds in mid November, probably waiting until those big browns are recovering and no longer on the prowl.  Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) are non-conformists and wait till spring, the beginning of April, to reproduce.

Angler tips from Thomas- It is important to leave these fish alone when they are on the redds.  They are very vulnerable at this time.  Don't fish to 'em, it only hurts the fishery in the long run.  In addition, never walk through redds or areas with a lot of redds.  There are eggs around and you could damage them.  Those eggs will disperse and hatch in short order.

What's the best approach if you want to fish?  Keep an eye out for activity in the stream; shiny, bright spots in the gravel - it looks like somebody took a scrub brush to them - are the tip off.  Stay out of those stretches, try another river, or take a break from fishing for a couple of weeks around the end of October.  If you do fish, don't cast around redds and stay away from those areas, even getting out of the stream if needed, when wading.  It'll pay big dividends in the future.

Bob Stuber, a Fisheries Biologist at the Huron-Manistee National Forests, added Rainbow trout (and steelhead) and cutthroat trout generally spawn in the spring.  Brown trout and Atlantic salmon (genus Salmo) spawn in the fall as do most members of the Pacific salmon genus (Onchorhynchus spp.; chinook, coho, pink, chum, sockeye) and members of the char genus (Salvelinus spp.; brook trout, arctic char, bull trout, lake trout).  And, these are only the trout and salmon native to North America.  

Learn more about fishing in Michigan at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Thank you Thomas for this week’s question. Thomas is a very active Huron Pines volunteer and member. He is an incredible help with River Restoration projects through Huron Pines, Anglers of the Au Sable and the Au Sable Big Water Preservation Association. We greatly appreciate his dedication to conservation!

-------------------

November 26 eNews Trivia:

1. What is a baby turkey called?
Answer: Immature turkeys are called poults.

2. Wild turkeys often spend the night in trees. What species of tree do they prefer?
Answer: Turkeys prefer to spend the night in oak trees.

Wild turkeys are found in many areas across the U.S. and part of Ontario, including most counties in Michigan. However, this is following a major re-introduction effort that was first successful after four failed attempts. They had disappeared from Michigan by 1900, probably due to loss of habitat, and unregulated hunting.

As year-round residents of Michigan, wild turkeys move from grasslands and forest clearings that have lots of high protein insects for their young in the summer to more covered areas such as stands of mast producing trees in the winter. Wild turkeys are a game species in Michigan and their numbers have increased enough to support two hunting seasons each year (spring and fall).

Thank you Tim and Chris for this week’s question. Tim recently began as the Invasive Species Coordinator for Huron Pines. He graduated from Northern Michigan University with a degree in physical geography and recently volunteered with the Nevada Conservation Corps. We are looking forward to launching several projects centered on removal and prevention of invasive species with Tim.

Chris is the Implementation Coordinator and will be developing a water quality monitoring program, coordinating the Conservation First Responder Program and organizing volunteer workdays. He is a graduate of Michigan State University and majored in Fisheries and Wildlife.

-------------------

November 12 eNews Trivia:

What year did the state of Michigan pass the first legislative act regarding deer management?

Answer: In 1859, the state of Michigan established the first deer season dates.

White-tailed deer are the smallest of the three members of the deer family found in Michigan, the others being elk and moose. They range throughout Michigan and are a game animal in this state. As a species, they extend from the southern edge of the arctic prairies in Canada, all the way to the northern bank of the Amazon River.

Deer have been a valuable resource in Michigan since the first Native Americans began to hunt them. Prior to European settlement, Michigan had an abundant deer herd in the south. The mixture of hardwoods, wetlands, bogs and forest openings was perfect for deer. There were few deer in the virgin forests of the north, which were inhabited mostly by elk and moose. The mature trees were so dense that sunlight could not reach the forest floor and therefore little deer food was available.

As farmers and settlers moved into southern Michigan, deer were exterminated by removal of cover and by unregulated shooting - deer were mostly gone by 1870. Logging of forests in the north produced an opposite effect--more openings, brush, and young forests - the northern herd climbed to estimated 1 million deer in the 1880s.

As railroads were developed and provided access into the wilderness, market hunters slaughtered hundreds of thousands of deer. Early measures to control market hunting were not very successful, but in 1895, after several decades of ineffective management, a new law significantly changed deer management by establishing a deer hunting season (November 1 to 25) and limiting the number of deer that could be harvested (five deer per hunter per year).

Thank you Eric for this week’s question! Eric has been with Huron Pines for several years and works primarily on the Pigeon River Habitat Initiative. He is an outdoor enthusiast and brings a unparalleled positivity to Huron Pines.

To learn more about deer hunting in Michigan and view the current regulations, visit www.michigan.gov/dnr.

-------------------

October 29 eNews Trivia:

How far can witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), a small understory tree found in northern Michigan forests, shoot its seeds?

Answer: In the fall, witch hazel flowers will release their seeds by shooting them up to 50 feet in the air! These seeds will lay dormant in the seed bed for up to two years.

Witch hazels are relatively short-lived trees, surviving for approximately 100 years. They are small, slow-growing hardwood trees (some consider them shrubs) that often grow in the understory of a mature forest. At maturity, they are generally 20-30 feet tall with a trunk getting no larger than 5-7 inches in diameter. As for growing conditions, witch hazel prefers full to partial sunlight and mesic to dry forests.

The witch hazel is unique in that its yellow, four-petaled flowers are in bloom in late fall and can even be seen into winter. Having flowers, one might assume that to fertilize its seeds it cross-pollinates with other witch hazel flowers. It does, but how does the witch hazel cross-pollinate in the late fall and early winter when insects are not as active?

Research has shown that there are several insects that are still active when the temperatures turn colder. Small fungus gnats (Bradysia spp.) are the main pollen vectors. Small parasitoid wasps, American hover flies and tachnid flies have also been observed helping the witch hazel to cross-pollinate.

Other names witch hazel has gone by are winterbloom, snapping alder and spotted alder. The witch in its name is taken from the Anglo-Saxon word -wych- meaning bending. The witch hazel is said to have divining properties- when a Y-shaped branch is taken from the tree, it has been known to be able to direct its wielder to water.

Many folks have heard of the medicinal properties that belong to the witch hazel. The commercially-sold “Witch Hazel Water” is used as an astringent and to sooth various muscle aches and pains. However, historically witch hazel has been used medically for centuries. European settlers would make a similar home recipe for “witch hazel water” by mixing pieces of the inner bark, leaves, water and alcohol. Additionally, the Ojibwa, Potawatomi, Menominee and Iroquois are said to infuse (heat without boiling) the leaves to extract the witch hazel’s active ingredient: tannic acid. From this solution, teas were made that were said to relieve lung ailments, diarrhea, sore muscles and various skin problems. Homemade infusions are more “potent” than the store-bought variety because the tannic acid remains in the solution. The process by which pharmaceutical companies make the solution involves distilling, which renders the tannic acid inactive. Thus, one question remains: why is the store-bought witch hazel water still effective?

Thank you Craig! Mr. Kasmer has been wonderful in helping with Huron Pines projects, especially the Huron Pines AmeriCorps program. Thank you so much for your positive attitude and inquisitive mind. Go Swampers!

-------------------

October 15 eNews Trivia:

How many singing males were counted in the 2008 Kirtland’s warbler (Dendroica kirtlandii) survey?

Answer: Approximately 1,800 singing males were counted.

The endangered Kirtland's warbler is one of the rarest members of the wood warbler (Parulidae) family. It is a bird of unusual interest for many reasons. It nests in just a few counties in Michigan's northern Lower and Upper peninsulas, in Wisconsin and the province of Ontario. Its nests generally are concealed in mixed vegetation of grasses and shrubs below the living branches of five to 20 year old jack pine forests.

To protect the bird, it was essential to provide more jack pine areas. During the mid 1970s, some 134,000 acres of jack pine were designated for management as Kirtland's warbler nesting habitat within state and national forests. Additional lands were added through the 1990's to bring the total public land specifically set aside for the Kirtland's warbler to more than 150,000 acres.

The Kirtland’s warbler census is held from June 6-15 each year and is a count of singing males, as the females do not sing. The numbers have been rising since the early 1990s as the warbler population increases. To learn more about the census, visit http://warbler.kirtland.edu/.

Quick Facts
The Kirtland's warbler was first described in Ohio in 1851
It is commonly referred to as the jack pine warbler
This songbird is one of 56 species of wood warblers in North America
Its nesting habitat is jack pine stands from 5-20 years old
It nests on the ground under living jack pine branches
Adult Kirtland's warblers are lightweight birds, weighing 1/2 oz
Its average life expectancy is two years
The diet of the warbler includes many insect species, as well as ripe blueberries
Breeding males have plumage of blue gray with black streaks
It spends the fall and winter seasons in the Bahamas
Brown headed cowbirds are parasites of Kirtland's warbler nests
Migrating at night, this wood warbler can come in contact with towers and other high structures

This information is from the Michigan DNR website “Kirtland’s Warbler.”

Thank you Aaron for this week’s question and for supporting Huron Pines. Aaron has been vital in providing technical support through NRCS to Huron Pines through our RC&D partnership. He has also been a member of our organization since 2005. We are grateful to have such a wonderful resource nearby.

-------------------

October 1 eNews Trivia:

How many trees were placed along the Au Sable during the Large Woody Debris helicopter week?

Answer: Over 415

Huron Pines has been working with a number of partners over the last decade to replace trees along our rivers streambanks. Historically, trees entered the river system as they died and fell along the riverbank. However, during Michigan’s logging boom, most of the trees were removed to allow downstream transport of timber.

For years, fisheries biologists have identified a lack of in-stream “large woody debris (LWD)” as one of the major problems facing the Au Sable River’s fishery. The trees are important because the debris structures create critical fish habitat. And, the trees prevent future erosion. In addition to providing habitat diversity for numerous species of fish, invertebrates, reptiles and amphibians, the debris protects streambanks from erosion and buffers the effects of high water flows.

Therefore, we have a season long restoration crew working on these issues and coordinate one week with a helicopter to lift whole trees and place them into the river system. Trees up to 4,500 lbs from state land are cabled and hooked onto a 150 ft. cable and then lifted and carefully placed in the river. The cleared land will be turned into a wildlife food plot.

Patrick has been with Huron Pines as the Restoration Project Manager for 2.5 years. He has coordinated a number of valuable restoration projects in the Au Sable, Pine and Ocqueoc River Watersheds. We would like to thank him for all his efforts in making the Large Woody Debris helicopter week a success.

-------------------

September 17 eNews Trivia:

On average how many eggs are in a clutch of a Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus)?

Answer: 8-14

Located in aspen woodlands and early succession mixed deciduous forests with small clearings, the Ruffed Grouse is a popular game bird. Population densities across the continent have declined in recent decades, primarily from habitat loss. Many states in the U.S. have open hunting seasons that run from September through January, but hunting is not considered to be a significant contributing factor in the population decline.

Ruffed Grouse nests occasionally are parasitized by Ring-necked Pheasants or Wild Turkeys that lay eggs in the nests. In addition, the Great Horned Owl is a common predator.

Thank you Nathan Skibbe for the question this week. Nathan is about to complete his year of service with Huron Pines AmeriCorps. He's done a fantastic job coordinating a multitude of volunteers in a variety of conservation projects. To date, Nathan has utilized 232 volunteers in 895 hours of service. We appreciate all the great effort!

-------------------

September 3 eNews Trivia:

There are approximately 76,000 regulated dams in the U.S. What is the average life span of a man-made dam?

Answer: The average life expectancy of dams is approximately 50 years.

Of the estimated 2.5 million dams in the U.S., 76,000 are six feet or greater in height; a minimum size for dam safety regulatory concerns. Of these 76,000 dams, 80% or 60,000 are expected to be 50 years of age or older by the year 2020. This implies that a large number of dams will be in need of maintenance or considered for removal in the near future.

This information comes from Effects of Dam Removal on Fluvial Geomorphology and Fish (Michigan State University, 2007) by Bryan Burroughs. At the Dam Summit on September 17, Bryan will be addressing some of the current dam issues we face in Northeast Michigan.

-------------------

August 20 eNews Trivia:

Historically, what is the average number of years between wildfires in a jack pine ecosystem?

Answer: According to a US Forest Service Rapid Assessment Reference Condition Model, the average fire interval is 22 years. However, the MI DNR website reports that fires returned every 30 to 100 years.

The jack pine ecosystem is dependent on these fires because they are necessary for the release of seeds. Fire also clears the area of competition, which creates the sunny areas jack pine require to grow.

The endangered Kirtland's warbler relies on these young jack pine stands. Nesting areas greater than 80 acres composed of jack pines at least 5 feet tall are preferred. Such stands are typically eight years old. The warblers will continue to nest in these forests until the trees are about 20 years old. At this time, they begin to lose their lower brances and are lees desirable nesting habitat (MDNR).

Thank you Emily for this weeks question. Emily is about to complete her first year of service with the Huron Pines AmeriCorps program. During her time at the Otsego Conservation District, she implemented several youth environmental education programs and native plant projects. Emily's efforts have not only improved resources in Northeast Michigan, but are helping create long-lasting stewards of the land.

-------------------

August 6 eNews Trivia:

In 2006, there were 1.4 million anglers in Michigan. How many were primarily interested in fishing for trout?

Answer: Nearly 180,000 or 13%

Trout may be less widely distributed in northern Michigan waters in the coming decades in response to global climate change. The most recent climate modeling predicts warmer temperatures and lower water levels for much of Michigan (although intense rainstorms and flooding will be more common), particularly in the summer. This is bad news for trout, who need cool summer water temperatures to survive.

As a result, efforts to protect our headwater streams and the cool groundwater they provide to our rivers will become even more important in the future than today.

Thank you to Greg Goudy for the trivia question this week. Greg works for the Surface Water Quality Division of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. He has helped Huron Pines and our partners develop and implement many of the watershed projects that benefit our lakes and streams, including stormwater management, water quality monitoring, development of watershed management plans, and installation of road-stream crossing Best Management Practices.

-------------------

July 23 eNews Trivia:

What is the sweetest soil in Michigan?

Answer: Sugar Soil!

Found in Chippewa County, this soil is moderately well drained and formed in loamy lacustrine sediments over calcareous clayey materials on lake plains. Common tree species in forested areas include sugar maple, red maple, quaking aspen, white spruce, and paper birch.

Michigan has a unique blend of soils. The picture to the right(courtesy of NRCS) is Michigan’s state soil, Kalkaska Sand. This was chosen because it is found on both peninsulas, covers over a million acres and sustains wooded forests. Largely developed from glacial sediments, soil characteristics in Michigan vary widely from one place to the next.

Steve Rodock has been a soil scientist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service for over 20 years. He is also always eager to learn more about American history. Steve has been a great resource for Huron Pines and helped us greatly with GIS and trainings. Thanks again Steve!

-------------------

July 2 eNews Trivia:

How many river miles, lake acres and shoreline miles are in Huron Pines’ 11-county service area?

Answer: 5,005 river miles, 172,800 lake acres and 467 shoreline miles.

Thank you Lisha for this week's question. Lisha has been with Huron Pines for 5 years. As Program Director, she oversees staff projects as well as heads the Huron Pines AmeriCorps project. She has also been a supporter of Huron Pines through the membership program.

-------------------

June 25 eNews Trivia:

What North American songbird has the longest migration, over 12,000 miles round-trip?

Answer: The bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) leaves northern Michigan in late July migrating along the southeastern coast to Florida. The migration continues across the Gulf of Mexico to Cuba. After a rest stop in Cuba, they continue across the Caribbean Sea to South America to southern Brazil, northern Argentina, and Paraguay.

Found in open fields and hayfields, the bobolink has white on the back and black underneath, the only American bird with that plumage. This coloring makes the male stand out while he is performing his displays and singing its melodious call. After breeding, the males spend the rest of the year in a drab, camouflaged plumage.

The courtship behavior and beautiful song of the Bobolink make for great bird-watching. Unfortunately, the early mowing of hayfields disrupts young fledglings and has reduced their numbers. Delaying mowing in hayfields benefits this species.

Cool Facts (from Cornell Lab of Ornithology) http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bobolink.html#description

One female, known to be at least 9 years old, presumably made this trip annually, a total distance equal to traveling 4.5 times around the earth at the equator! The Bobolink is one of the few songbirds who complete two molts each year, completely changing its feathers on both the breeding and wintering grounds.

Thank you Ann Baughman for providing us with the question this week. Ann has worked with us on many projects through the years and is also a donor to our organization. She is employed as the Outreach Specialist at Freshwater Future in Petoskey.

-------------------

June 13 eNews Triva:

How deep can loons dive?

Answer: loons, an icon of our northern Michigan lakes, can dive 200-250 feet deep!

Thanks to Jeff Silagy, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, for providing this question and answer. Jeff is a supporter of Huron Pines and provides technical input as a participant with our Resource Advisory Group.

Loons are very sensitive to pollution, development and disturbance. Many of our Huron Pines members are avid lake enthusiasts, but there are things we can all do to help sustain the loon population, such as keeping our lakes clean by participating in programs like shoreline greenbelt protection. It's also really important to give loons plenty of space during their time of nesting and chick-rearing, which takes place early in the summer.

-------------------

May 28th eNews Trivia:

Just how high do brook trout jump?

The maximum height brook trout have been observed jumping in the wild is 2 feet.

This maximum height was recorded for a strong adult brook trout, which means smaller fish will not be able to jump as high. Why is this important? We can spend thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours of labor improving habitat in the river, but if the fish can’t easily access that part of the river then your efforts were wasted. In order to restore habitat for brook trout we need to make sure that the trout can travel the entire length of the river. Often fish are blocked at road crossings when culverts are perched (too high on the downstream side of the flow for fish to jump into), if the culverts are blocked or damaged in some manner, or if the water velocity in the culvert is too strong (1 m/sec. will block all fish passage, even salmon). If the culvert is higher than 2 ft. then passage for strong, adult brook trout will be blocked, and fish will not be able to access the upper reaches of a river. Next time you are out driving around, stop and take a look at the road crossings at your favorite stream. Are they blocking fish passage?

Thanks to Heather Rawlings, biologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, for providing this question and answer. Through her work with USFWS, Heather provides technical input and funding to many of the projects Huron Pines works on. She also serves on our Resource Advisory Group and we're pleased to have her support as a member of Huron Pines.