Protecting the Heart of a Recovering River with High Priority Land and Waterways
The Flint River Watershed connects hundreds of tributary creeks, lakes, forests, and communities on an area over 1300 square miles that drains into the Flint river.
The Flint River begins in Columbiaville with headwaters formed by a spring-fed lake and a confluence of the river’s South Branch and North Branch. From there, the Flint River flows west for 142 miles until it meets the Cass, Titabawassee, and Shiawassee Rivers in the wetlands of the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge. This confluence forms the Saginaw River and empties into the Saginaw Bay. Like the Shiawassee River Watershed, the Flint River Watershed is part of the greater Lake Huron Basin.
Blue Heron Headwaters Conservancy is focused on the southern section of the watershed where major waterways that feed the Flint River begin. While organizations like the Flint River Coalition concentrate on protecting the main stem of the Flint River, Blue Heron safeguards the headwaters of three of the four main creeks that supplement the Flint River: Swartz Creek, Thread Creek, and Kearsley Creek. These creeks drain parts of Oakland, Genesee, and Lapeer counties and flow north to the Flint River. All three creeks exhibit characteristics of high quality headwaters streams. They originate in forested areas, draw water from numerous wetlands, flow slowly downhill and grow to identified creeks as they pick up water from many rivulets.
Most of the riparian areas along the Swartz, Thread, and Kearsley creeks are designated as “high priority conservation areas” by the Michigan Natural Features Inventory. Natural areas are prioritized for conservation based on ecological characteristics such as biodiversity, size, core area, known features, connectivity, wildlife habitat, land cover change, fragmentation, and impacts to human health. The Swartz, Thread, and Kearsley creeks’ sub watersheds are in areas of low population and are consequently less polluted and with minimally altered stream structure. These characteristics make the creeks ideal for Blue Heron’s objectives, which emphasize preservation of existing natural features rather than remediation of human-made disturbances.
Blue Heron leads stewardship projects, collects environmental data, and preserves land along the Swartz, Thread, and Kearsley creeks of the Flint River. The Haddon Nursery is an 80-acre easement property located in the drainage area of Swartz Creek. It consists of restored agricultural land, a historic barn and schoolhouse from the 1800s, mixed conifer and hardwood forest, and several wetlands and ponds. Blue Heron remediated a significant infestation of invasive swallow-wort on the property. The Schwartz Preserve is a 13-acre property located along a tributary of Thread Creek. This biodiverse pocket of land is surrounded by residential areas and has been susceptible to littering and dumping; But with consistent stewardship over the course of 25 years, the native open woods have been able to regenerate and wildflowers have been able to expand in a clean area. Tully Lake Preserve (7 acres) and Long Lake Village (10 acres) are two adjacent properties located along Kearsley Creek. Wet woodlands, an emergent marsh, a vernal pool, and activity from beavers and aquatic wildlife can be found within the preserves. Blue Heron is currently exploring potential acquisitions, such as 50 acres along Kearsley Creek, 47 acres in the Village of Ortonville (on Kearsley Creek’s drainage area), and 15 acres along Swartz Creek. Together, public land and private partnership can protect the special characteristics of these creeks and their connected ecosystems.
The Kearsley Creek is one of only two streams in Southeast Michigan that has cool enough water temperatures and enough in-stream structure to support trout and their habitat. In 2023, Blue Heron received a grant from the Land Trust Alliance to “Cool the Kearsley” by planting native bushes and trees that overhang the creek and mitigate increasing water temperatures as development increases along streambanks. Volunteers visited the creek and began the baseline for monitoring water temperature and tree cover in order to measure the cooling effect that riparian vegetation creates for waterways. Through communication and outreach, residents along the creeks are encouraged to keep the shorelines natural to reduce rising temperatures and sedimentation, thereby supporting aquatic habitats.
Even with increasing development and an unfortunate reputation of unclean water, the Flint River Watershed is filled with conservation potential for high quality natural land and water. The headwaters of the Flint River and its major streams can continue to deliver clean, unpolluted drinking water to the metropolis of Flint and neighboring communities with the help of nature supporters and advocates. Community support also protects the habitat for mink, red-headed woodpeckers, and pickerel frogs, all of which are declining species in this region, but have nonetheless been spotted on Blue Heron’s preserves. Together, we can commit to the vision of providing “forest to tap” clean water to Southeast Michigan residents and balancing the coexistence of urban and natural areas.
Co-author: Sue Julian, Land Specialist
Works Cited
“Conservation Planning - Michigan Natural Features Inventory.” msu.edu, 2024,
mnfi.anr.msu.edu/services/conservation-planning. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.
“Flint River Watershed.” www.michigan.gov,
“How Does a Watershed Work | Flint, MI.” www.flintriver.org,