Hi First name / Subscriber! We hope you enjoy the February edition of the Muskegon Conservation District Newsletter. This month you can read about the MCD Annual Meeting, the seedling sale and much more! 

 

As always if you have any questions please reach to our office via email at muskegoncd@macd.org or by phone at (231)-828-5097. Our office hours are Tuesday through Friday 7:00am -5:30pm. 

     The Muskegon Conservation District warmly invites you to an evening of reflection, learning, and looking ahead to the future!

 

    If you're curious about what we do at the District, this is the perfect event to attend. We’ll share highlights of the conservation work we've accomplished over the past year and give you a glimpse into our plans for the year ahead. Plus, you'll have the opportunity to vote for three new members of our Board of Directors—voting is open to Muskegon County residents only.

 

    We’re also excited to announce that the evening will feature delicious food catered by the Gnarly Heifer. We hope you can join us!

     Don't miss out! There's still time to place your order for our annual spring seedlings sale — but hurry, orders must be in by April 21st! Pickup will be on April 26th from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM at 4735 Holton Rd, Twin Lake, Michigan (The MCD Office).

 

 

 

 

     Spring is shaping up to be an action-packed season here at MCD, with a variety of exciting workshops just waiting for you to dive into! Take a look at the two upcoming workshops in early March — they’re just around the corner. If one catches your eye, be sure to register soon, as spots are filling up quickly! Have any questions? You can reach out to the contacts listed on each flyer. Don't miss out on these fantastic opportunities to learn and grow with us!

 

Don’t worry if you can’t make it to those workshops — we’ve got plenty more exciting ones coming later this spring! Be sure to check out our upcoming sessions, covering a variety of engaging topics. There’s something for everyone, and we’re sure you’ll find a workshop that sparks your interest!

Other upcoming workshops

 

     As winter melts away and the days get longer, the arrival of spring brings a refreshing change, with warmer weather and the promise of new growth. However, this seasonal shift also brings a surge of runoff water that can carry hidden risks to our water systems. As the snow and ice retreat, water flows over impervious surfaces like roads, driveways, sidewalks, and rooftops, picking up pollutants that have accumulated throughout the colder months. These pollutants—such as road salt, chemicals, pet waste, and residual fall fertilizers—can impact local waterways, contributing to nutrient overload and affecting water quality. But with a little awareness and action, we can turn these challenges into opportunities for improvement!

 

     Impervious surfaces such as roads, parking lots, and rooftops are designed to shed water, but in doing so, they also collect chemicals that accumulate over time. These chemicals, which can include oils, fuels, pesticides, and heavy metals, are washed away by spring runoff and enter the local water systems.

 

     One of the most concerning pollutants found on impervious surfaces is petroleum-based products. These chemicals can cause water contamination, leading to reduced oxygen levels, toxicity to aquatic organisms, and changes in ecosystem dynamics. In addition to oils and fuels, chemicals used for cleaning, deicing, or pest control can leach into the environment, further stressing water quality.

 

     Pet waste is another common pollutant that can significantly affect water quality during spring runoff. When pet owners fail to pick up after their animals, fecal matter left on the ground is washed into storm drains and eventually reaches nearby water bodies. Pet waste contains harmful bacteria and pathogens such as E. coli and Giardia, which can pose serious health risks to humans and wildlife.

 

     In addition to pathogens, pet waste is also rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, two nutrients that contribute to nutrient loading in waterways. These nutrients can cause eutrophication—a process where excessive nutrients promote the growth of algae blooms, which can deplete oxygen levels and suffocate aquatic life. Eutrophication also leads to the loss of biodiversity and disrupts the balance of aquatic ecosystems.

 

     While fertilizers are primarily associated with spring and summer gardening, the impact of fertilizers can persist well into the spring runoff period. Residual fertilizers from fall lawn treatments can still be found on lawns and impervious surfaces after the snow melts. These fertilizers often contain nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which are essential nutrients for plant growth but can cause significant harm to aquatic ecosystems when they enter waterways.

 

     When excess fertilizers wash into rivers and lakes, they contribute to nutrient loading, leading to the same detrimental effects as pet waste. Algal blooms, oxygen depletion, and reduced biodiversity are common consequences of excess nutrients in the water. Additionally, fertilizers can contaminate drinking water sources, leading to the presence of harmful chemicals such as nitrates, which can pose health risks to humans, especially infants.

 

     Addressing spring runoff risks requires a multifaceted approach. For chemicals on impervious surfaces, regular street cleaning, green infrastructure like permeable pavement and rain gardens, and eco-friendly cleaning products can help minimize pollutants. Pet waste can be managed through responsible pet ownership, readily available waste bags, and public awareness campaigns. Local governments can also set up pet waste disposal programs. To reduce fertilizer runoff, homeowners should apply fertilizers appropriately, use organic alternatives, and establish buffer zones of native plants along water bodies to filter excess nutrients.

 

    Land has value.  Timber has value.  Land is subject to property taxes.  Timber sales are subject to income taxes. 
     First, the property taxes. Michigan has two forestland property tax programs.
     The Qualified Forest Program is administered through the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD).  A forest must be at least 20 acres in size and a forest management plan is required.  The typical tax benefit is usually a net reduction of 16 mils from property taxes.  A large advantage is “capping” the property value with an ownership change.  There are other eligibility and contract factors to consider, too.  This is the more popular of the two Michigan property tax programs among family forestowners. 
     The Commercial Forest Program requires at least forty acres and a management plan.  Additionally, the forestland must be open to public hunting and fishing, via foot traffic only.  Roads can be gated but land cannot be posted.  This feature makes the CF program less popular, but the tax breaks are much greater, a straight $1.30 per acre. 
     Both property tax reduction programs require a commitment to forest management.  It would be legally unwise to enter into one of these contracts with no intention to follow a management plan.  Each program has more information on their respective websites.
     Second, timber sales generate income. 
     That income is taxable by both federal and state governments.  Regarding federal income taxes, there is a set of schedules that can save you thousands of dollars on a timber sale.  Reporting timber sale income as “ordinary income” can be an expensive mistake. 
     There are three major ways to reduce federal income taxes.  The first is to report income as capital gains, rather than ordinary income.  This means, among other things, that you must have owned the trees at least a year before a timber sale.  Do not sell timber during the first year of forest ownership!  There are a couple of capital gains classifications, so work with a tax preparer to help figure out which way is best for you. 
     The second tax reduction category has to do with a calculated “timber basis”.  This is a tax term for the timber value (stumpage) at the time of acquisition, usually a land purchase.  Timber values can be separated from land values.  Many new forestowners don’t think to obtain timber values, but those can be back-calculated by a forester.  When a proportion of timber is harvested, an equal proportion of the timber basis can be deducted from the gross income.  For details on this procedure, find a tax preparer familiar with IRS “Form T”. 
     The third category to reduce income taxes is through deductions for expenses related to the timber sale.  These are items for which you paid cash for services or materials related to the timber sale.  Such things as survey expense and consultant fees are usually eligible deductions.  Work with a tax preparer familiar with timber sales. 
     Lastly, many forestowners are not aware that tree planting costs are eligible for a federal income tax credit.  This is about reforestation, not planting an orchard or Christmas tree farm.  There are annual expense caps and the credits are apportioned (amortized) over an eight-year period.  Again, work with a tax preparer familiar with the program. 
     Owning and managing a woodland necessarily involves taxes.  It may not be a favorite topic among forestowners, but knowing the options can save significant amounts of money. 

     The Muskegon Conservation District is busy surveying for Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) this winter. Surveys typically take place from November to April and involve carefully maneuvering through sections of forest to identify Eastern Hemlocks that are actively infested with HWA.
 

     This infestation appears as many white, cotton-like balls at the base of each needle, most visible from the underside of the branches. Inside these cotton-like balls, called ovisacs, is a small adelgid. During the summer, this adelgid will feed off of the nutrients found within the sap of the hemlock. 

 

     During the survey process, MCD staff will measure and record the diameter at breast height (DBH) of each infested tree. Based on the DBH, the tree will either have a metal tag at the base or a plastic tag at eye level. Large trees receive a metal tag, while smaller trees are tagged with a plastic one.

 

     These tags allow MCD staff to return during the treatment season, typically from May to October, to determine the amount of chemical required to appropriately treat each tree.

 

     If you are interested in having your hemlocks treated and would like to learn more, click the button below to visit the MCD website. Alternatively, you can reach out to Lance McCarty at lance.mccarty@macd.org.

     The Muskegon Conservation District offers a variety of properties open to hunting, with deer hunting available through the fall and continuing until the end of Michigan’s deer season.