Walking the Talk: Paddock Conservation Easement
McKinley Township, Emmet County

From Spring 2001 newsletter


An inholding within a large wildlife corridor in the Douglas Lake Watershed has been protected thanks to a 47-acre conservation easement donated by Mark and Ruth Paddock. With a small amount of frontage along Douglas Lake Road, the Paddock’s property is otherwise completely surrounded by thousands of acres protected through the University of Michigan Biological Station and the state. The Paddock property includes upland meadow with an old apple orchard, northern hardwoods, and a 10-acre pine plantation. We asked Mark, a Conservancy trustee, to tell us a bit about himself and Ruth and what motivated them to donate a conservation easement.

How did you and Ruth come to this region? Ruth and I met just before our graduation at the University of Colorado. Our first date was a picnic on a lovely day in the mountains. It was then we learned we each loved the natural world, and that was the beginnings of our love for each other. These loves and respect have grown stronger ever since. We came to this region in 1971 when I accepted the position as Associate Director of the University of Michigan Biological Station on Douglas Lake. I retired in 1991 and we moved to our 80 acres, “Old Orchard,” year-round in 1997. Prior to coming to Michigan , I had positions in Idaho (game biologist), Colorado (alpine ecologist), and Missouri (administration of a botanical garden and arboretum). My education is in geography, conservation education, biology, and ecology. Ruth majored in art (watercolor painting).

What is your personal land ethic?
We have a strong “land ethic” and consider our land ownership responsibilities as a stewardship. Our land ethic follows that proposed by Aldo Leopold: “The individual is a member of a community. While he may compete for a place in that community, his ethics prompt him to cooperate with others to insure that there may be a place to compete for. The land ethic simply enlarges the boundary of the community to include soil, water, plants and animals.”

How do you feel about the future of conservation efforts?
From the vantage of 50 years of involvement in and observation of conservation (environmental) activities and successes in America, it is increasingly obvious that we cannot have too much conservation or environmental success because the tremendous social and economic forces that are at play alter and damage landscapes and cause pollution far in excess of conservation and environmental mitigation. That said, however, we in this area can be more optimistic because we have a community with many people who understand the need to conserve and preserve the essence of what it is that makes this area so attractive and special, such as lovely landscapes, and high quality air and water. We are also exceedingly fortunate to have very effective organizations devoted to keeping high environmental quality in this region. I doubt there is another area in America with a comparable small population base that has such excellent, effective organizations.

What would you recommend to others who are considering a conservation easement on their land?
In so far as land conservation by the Little Traverse Conservancy is concerned, I have the utmost regard for their effectiveness. I believe that in the future, as land prices keep rising and parcels reasonably available to purchase for protection become more scarce, conservation easements will play an increasingly important role in land conservation. For the same reasons, an increasingly important tool will be carefully planned land development tightly coupled to preservation of open space on the same property holdings. Now that we have made the decision to place the majority of our land in a conservation easement, we face our future with more ease and satisfaction. We know that our land will FOREVER remain in a natural condition. And, we still have the satisfaction of ownership and control.

We strongly urge others with appropriate land holdings to look into a conservation easement as a future option. It is a wonderful way to make a forever-lasting contribution to northern Michigan!

EPILOGUE from Mark and Ruth written May, 2006:
"It has been almost six years since we placed a large portion of our property in a conservation easement with The Little Traverse Conservancy. Our conviction that it was the right decision is stronger than ever. Like many land owners  in this beautiful region we have developed a deepening love for our land in its natural condition. The thought that after our passing it could be deeply disturbed or developed was almost abhorrent. Even if our heirs (our children) agreed with our desire to keep this land free of development, there is no way to ensure what the future may bring in that regard. A conservation easement does guarantee that our wishes will be granted. In those six years since we made this decision, development pressure has steadily and strongly increased in this region. Countless lovely, natural  pieces of the landscape are now under development. It is comforting to us to know that our "Old Orchard" will never follow that path."

Year protected: 2000
Total acreage today: 47 acres