The Nature Conservancy’s Ross Coastal Plain Marsh

GET OUT THERE AND ENJOY OUR ENVIRONMENT

“Just north of South Haven, MI, you will find one of the state’s unique natural treasures. The Nature Conservancy’s Ross Coastal Plain Marsh is 1,449 acres of beauty and is home to a stunning variety of habitats, plants, and wildlife.

The diversity of life found at Ross can be traced back to its geological history. Ancient sand dunes from the shores of what is now called Lake Michigan created a mosaic of plant communities. The most outstanding are three coastal plain marshes, or wet meadows, that occur along the shores of small lakes and ponds and harbor plants and wildlife ordinarily found in marshes along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.”

“‘Visitors to the Ross Preserve will find so much to do and see, not just once, but over several seasons,’ said Restoration Director, Chris May. ‘In the winter, snowshoeing is a great way to see the preserve’s many habitats.’ Because Ross contains one of the larger unfragmented woods in southern Michigan, it provides important habitat for many bird species. This makes it an ideal spot for bird watching, especially during spring and fall migration.”

Taken from Field Notes from Michigan, Spring, 2018 a Nature Conservancy publication, p. 14. For more information on Ross Coastal Plain Marsh Preserve follow this link:
https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/ross-coastal-plain-marsh-preserve/

written by Denise Clegg, photo credit: plantsamazeme.blogspot.com, permission granted.