A Vision Became Reality
Delavan Sipes was a graduate of Wayne State University and University of Michigan. He was an educator, first teaching in the Detroit Public Schools and finishing a 30 year teaching career at Schoolcraft College in Livonia Michigan. His focus in electronics and science. A passionate researcher, writer, and environmentalist, Del served for many years as president of the Paw Paw Lake Association and the Woodland Nature Conservancy. He was the editor of the Michigan Lake and Streams Newsletter and had a weekly column, the Paw Paw Lake Almanac with the Tri-City Record. He also was active on township boards and committees in Watervliet, Michigan. Del was a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving as a radar operator on the USS Breeze, a mind sweeper ship, during World War II. in 1995, Del aquired 7.1 acres south of individual lakefront properties on what is now called Woodland Avenue. The property was slated to be developed as a condominium community of Sherwood Shores. Del met with the builder Bert Deaner, who also developed Chalet Du Paw Paw, and the 2 men started discussions of selling the land to Del. Deaner was having financial problems as the first phase of units at Sherwood Shores were not selling and he was running out of money. He sold the property to Sipes on October 10, 1995. Del's vision for the property was to create a nature conservancy. The Woodland Nature Conservancy became a reality of which 4 property owners manage and maintain. Del learned later during a survey of the property that the private road that ran along the north side of the conservancy was up for auction by the State of Michigan. The property was in default over non payment of taxes as the owner had died. A survey showed half of the road was on conservancy land. The land the road was on was added to the Woodland Nature Conservancy and has continued as a private road for the use of its homeowners. The Woodland Nature Conservancy (first called the Woodland Association) has gone through changes over the last 30 years, along with changes in ownership of the 4 properties that watch over the conservation land. A meandering path has been created. A natural spring was uncovered and a bridge built to be able to cross the spring when it was flowing and full. Bluebird houses were put up to attract bluebirds in the open meadow (6 in all). Finally a community garden was created for area families to try their hand at gardening. There is always more work to be done.
The Meadow
In 1996, the meadow would be plowed, harrowed, and sowed to get it back to its original state. The soil would not grow anything as clay had been dumped on the property when neighboring land was stripped for construction. Using a local business, The Watervliet Fruit Exchange, yellow clover, alfalfa, and Sudan grass were added to the soil. The clover and alfalfa would bring the ph up so things could grow, while the Sudan grass would "sweeten" the soil. Perlite from Silbrico Corporation (Hodgkins, IL) was also rototilled into the clay soil area for a proposed community garden. Almost 30 years later, the garden still is producing vegetables.
The Forest
Walking through the quarter mile path, you can find maple, pine, red and white oaks, black walnut and hickory trees scattered throughout the wooded area that are native to Michigan. There are numerous wild grape vines and patches of poison ivy. Visible also are apple and fir trees and many second growth timber. Planted in 1996 were native shrubs, blue spruce, and tulip poplars. Located in the northwest end of the property is a three quarter acre area that drops into a basin approximately at a 12 percent incline and used to be a wetland. There was a spring flowing out of the slope. Unfortunately previous owners of this property dumped 600 cubic yards of yellow clay covering the spring. The WNC worked hard at trying to restore the wetland, removing and relocating the clay from the slope. As the water started emerging, a small pond emerged, bringing sightings of mallard ducks, spotted salamanders, toads, northern wood, green, and western chorus frogs. Their sounds filled the night air.
The Wildlife
Living among the 7+ acre property are rabbits, woodchucks, raccoons and an occasional white-tail deer. Birds are abundant. Depending on the time of year there are cardinals, Baltimore oriole, titmouse, chickadee, goldfinch, crow, English sparrow, house sparrow, wren, ruby-throat hummingbird, indigo bunting, robin, downy and pileated woodpecker, and the occasional mallard duck. In the evening, if you look up in the evening sky you will see brown bat.
Contact Us
Woodland Nature Conservancy
A Home for Woodland Animals and Plants
If you would like to help to further our commitment to protect and preserve this unique landscape for the native plants and animals who live here, please send your donation to:
Woodland Nature Conservancy
5650 Woodland Avenue
Watervliet, MI 59098
Your gift is deductible to the extent provided by 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations. No goods or services were given in exchange for your gift.