http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North.html Shortly after Gratiot River County Park was established in 2001, the owners of the adjacent land to the north launched plans to develop 24 lakefront homes, with access via a bridge across the Gratiot River right through the middle of the new Park. In 2003, the NWC borrowed $1.7 million (the loan was secured by the land and stocks, bonds, and other assets and notes pledged by NWC members) and purchased the land, now called Gratiot River North, from the developers with the intention of holding the property for up to three years, until a conservation buyer could be found. In 2005, Keweenaw County was awarded a Trust Fund Grant to add the bulk of the GRN parcel to the existing County Park (the remaining 212 acres is NWC Gratiot River North). The NWC wrote and administered the grant on behalf of the County and donated the 25% match ($677,00) by selling the Park Addition for 75% of its state-appraised value. Most unfortunately, the grant funds were not delivered to the County until late 2008 (three years instead of the typical 6-9 months). The “extra” two years of interest on the interim ownership loan made this project go into the red. There is now a sizable mortgage on GRN. Despite the delay and extra cost, this project was well worth it. Together we protected nearly a mile of wild, scenic, biologically diverse shoreline for the enjoyment of this and future generations. Don’t miss the story of “In the Moment,” a 4’x8’ master oil painted at GRN by renowned artist and NWC Board member Robert L Pence. Robert donated all the prints of this master work to the NWC to benefit GRN. Canvas Giclee prints are available in two sizes, 24x52 (250 s/n) and 41x90 (5 nearly full-size artist proofs). To view the images below, double click on any photo or play slideshow. Directions to GRN at bottom of page. http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North.html#0 2f6b1e29-4797-48a1-8617-478764f1ac56 http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North_files/Media/DSC00417/thumb.jpg http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North_files/Media/DSC00417/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">trailhead and parking area</p></div></div> http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North.html#1 234039fd-896b-44d5-a220-5a9aa7cdcbb7 http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North_files/Media/DSC00586/thumb.jpg http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North_files/Media/DSC00586/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Ahhh...<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption"> Lake Superior</p></div></div> http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North.html#2 4f2affe7-06de-424a-b8e0-0f11f3ad4ade http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North_files/Media/DSC01306/thumb.jpg http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North_files/Media/DSC01306/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">miles of cobble</p></div></div> http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North.html#3 e54720a7-b942-472c-9a90-7c66fffe0807 http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North_files/Media/black%20spruce%20GRN/thumb.jpg http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North_files/Media/black%20spruce%20GRN/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">black spruce</p></div></div> http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North.html#4 56e826fc-ef02-4f78-a104-5e28c76602b2 http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North_files/Media/huntingagatesGRN/thumb.jpg http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North_files/Media/huntingagatesGRN/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">searching for agates</p></div></div> http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North.html#5 e639793d-f9ea-40d5-8487-3d99d045833d http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North_files/Media/DSC00574/thumb.jpg http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North_files/Media/DSC00574/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">hike after annual meeting</p></div></div> http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North.html#6 0f1c7326-09b5-4bb4-8e16-584ba4e72966 http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North_files/Media/DSC00149/thumb.jpg http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North_files/Media/DSC00149/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">do not eat!</p></div></div> http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North.html#7 8ff27438-383c-4fcd-b65f-f6013517a056 http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North_files/Media/DSC01303/thumb.jpg http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North_files/Media/DSC01303/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Trail Running Festival</p></div></div> http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North_files/Media/MOV00397/MOV00397.MPG 33d97140-a6b3-43fb-ab1f-158f0b374e1e http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North_files/Media/MOV00397/thumb.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">fall storm</p></div></div> {"moviePoster": 0, "movieStartTime": 0, "movieShowController": true, "movieEndPoster": 1, "movieAutoPlay": false, "movieEndTime": 1, "movieSoundVolume": 1, "movieDuration": 34.56, "movieLoop": "SFDMovieNoLoop"} http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North.html#9 e754e156-1946-4b2c-8097-0f417175856e http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North_files/Media/DSC01816/thumb.jpg http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North_files/Media/DSC01816/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">GRN winter</p></div></div> http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North.html#10 b78fa9a8-7b6f-4e11-8911-5e903e41c603 http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North_files/Media/DSC04166/thumb.jpg http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North_files/Media/DSC04166/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">slushy lake</p></div></div> http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North.html#11 b15da48e-097d-426f-b2f7-37e99122cf96 http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North_files/Media/DSC01021/thumb.jpg http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North_files/Media/DSC01021/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">ice cubes... big ice cubes</p></div></div> http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North.html#12 6275ad08-b3ea-4a94-9474-8cfaab286a64 http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North_files/Media/DSC01007/thumb.jpg http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North_files/Media/DSC01007/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">fractal ice</p></div></div> http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North.html#13 a32de802-3bae-43f5-890b-ca2989d22e42 http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North_files/Media/note%20sign/thumb.jpg http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North_files/Media/note%20sign/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">most boundaries are marked with this sign</p></div></div> http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North.html#14 563b810e-d8d6-43e7-a42e-7357741f2b19 http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North_files/Media/NWC%20GRN%20and%20GRCP%20detail/thumb.jpg http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North_files/Media/NWC%20GRN%20and%20GRCP%20detail/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">NWC GRN and GRCP detail</p></div></div> http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North.html#15 203c583f-a3f7-4ea1-be6d-2a76e0b15f97 http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North_files/Media/NWC%20GRN,%20DW,%20CF,%20and%20GRCP%20location/thumb.jpg http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_North_files/Media/NWC%20GRN,%20DW,%20CF,%20and%20GRCP%20location/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">NWC GRN, DW, CF, and GRCP location</p></div></div>