John Bush Inks Second Conservation Easement with Conservancy

In rural Colfax Township, Mecosta County, John Bush made a vision a reality by permanently protecting 78 acres under a conservation easement with Chippewa Watershed Conservancy. Named after the former landowners and godparents of John, the Martz Conservation Easement preserves riparian corridor along a designated trout stream, restored grasslands for butterfly habitat and workable farmland that will remain in a natural state in perpetuity. John was delighted to close on his second conservation easement with CWC on May 2^nd 2018.

When asked about why he felt moved to conserve his land John said, “As I grew up and saw two parcels our land sold, divided, and developed, I knew that if I was to honor and preserve the gifts of nature and the gifts from my ancestors, I would have to do something to get in the way of having that ever happen again. I was troubled as I pondered the responsibility that I felt. Then one day, I discovered the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy. Their mission to ‘set aside land to preserve open spaces’ fit perfectly into what I was trying to find.”

CWC’s 39^th conservation easement borders the Jacobson Easement – which totals 36.5 acres – on two sides. It is only a few miles away from John’s 92-acre easement which is also located on Ryan Creek. The Hayes Conservation Easement, totaling 118 acres, is nearby.

“I am a part of the land that I own and it has become a part of me. I became a part of the land while growing up. I walked and worked and played on the land and I listened to the stories told by my parents as they talked of their childhood, teenage, young adult, and then adult years — as they became a part of the land,” said John.

CWC has now forever protected nearly 4,700 acres under conservation easement.