Ihadmycoatzippedall the way.With my hood up, I had to turn my head like Batman to see from side-to-side.Everything was quiet now that I’d stopped trudging and crunching my way to what might have been the middle of the wetland.
Little piles of snow weighed down bent blades of sepia-toned grass.A cardinal hopped from the limb of one tree to the next, its light-weight body supported on a thin twig.There were bunny and deer tracks in trails all over the ground.My boot prints were the only signs of humanity on the otherwise undisturbed earth.And that was only what I could see.Then there was the plant life diversity.Every element of this marsh worked together to serve our planet for possibly as far back as twelve thousand years.
These acres of land were being used in exactly the way they needed to be.It would continue that way, only if we were able to save it.
IfIwas able to save it.
“No pressure,” I mumbled.
Turning, I started back for the road where my car was parked.Ready to begin the task I was here to do.
The head librarian, Mrs.Simons, had been more welcoming than Deb Creger at Town Hall.Wrinkles deepened around Deb’s pinched lips with every sentence I spoke, her gray eyes narrowing at my leaflets and charts.But I’d dealt with skeptical locals before.I could handle a wary town clerk.I wouldn’t move everyone to my side, but I’d try.
“My firm was planning to have the marsh purchased by one of our benefactors when it went to public auction.Our plan was to place protective covenants on the deed.But when it didn’t go to auction, we looked into it and found that there was already a development proposal,” I explained.
“Why is the protection important?”she asked, skimming over the papers on her desk.
One corner of my mouth lifted.“Oh my goodness, I will try to not gettoopassionate about wetlands.”
Some of the tightness relaxed from her expression.
I took it as encouragement to lean into my most earnest self.“I am of the mindset thatallwetlands should be protected, and Michigan as a state has been protecting them since the late 70s.But that doesn’t mean that we aren’t still losing them to development and such.Wetlands home such a vast collection of species—both in plant life and animal life, as well as being water filtration powerhouses.Being this close to Lake Michigan, it makes the role this chunk of earth is providing that much more important.”
Her scowl was slowly thawing.
“We aresolucky here in Michigan,” I continued.“Being surrounded by such a significant percentage of the earth’s freshwater supply, but that also means that we need to be good stewards of that water and protect it.”
“But you’re from Chicago,” she said.
“I live there, but I grew up just outside of Mackinaw.”
Her eyebrows lifted.She assessed me with fresh eyes, a part of the tribe.
“So, not only do I know how important the lake is to the planet, but to people living right here.It’s a source of community and fun, but alsotourism.”I gestured to the stack of pamphlets offering tours and attractions next to her desk.
She nodded.“It’s our primary industry.”
“It is for my hometown too.”
“What do they want to build?”
“A resort, with a golf course and little amusement park, and as a tourist location, I think that’s great.I even sent them a couple of properties currently listed to consider moving their plans to.Each of those is currently owned by a resident of the area and would benefit someone here directly.”
Deb tapped on the map spread out on her desk.“Why here then?”
At this point in the conversation, I had to be very careful.I lowered my voice, leaning close enough to smell her peony-scented perfume.“All I’m allowed to say is that it does not appear to be selling at market value.”
She tilted her head and considered everything.“That’s state land.”
“It is.”
“Why would the state sell the land at a discount?”
Internally, I screamed,Because the developer is the son of a state congressman!
Externally, I stated, “Legally, I have said all I’m allowed to say.”
I didn’t know exactly what she inferred to make her sit back in her chair assessing me and the information I had provided.Maybe it was that a stranger with money was coming to take advantage of the area and its people.Maybe it was a general blue-collar distrust of “the man.”But there it was.Deb had just moved over to my side.Her jaw set determinedly, and her shoulders squared.She might notknowwhy the land was being sold for cheap, but she knew it was an underhanded deal that did not benefit her friends and neighbors.
