2025-12-23T15:47:01-08:00 2024-12-31 844476356 Marilyn H Zigarac CPA 6918 Royal Saint George Clarkston MI 48348 990 2024-01-01 237207644 Independence Land Conservancy DBA Blue Heron Headwaters Conser INDE 2487952808 P O Box 285 Clarkston MI 48347 Emily Duthinh President 2025-12-23 true true Marilyn Zigarac P00005906 5866046400 X 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z X Emily Duthinh P O Box 285 Clarkston MI 48347 305266 false X www.blueheronheadwaters.org X 1972 MI The mission of the organization is to protect the land, water, and wildlife in the headwaters region of the Clinton, Shiawassee, Huron, and Flint rivers through preservation, stewardship, and education. 11 11 7 100 0 286025 239242 24077 23996 15647 20358 12419 9270 338168 292866 0 0 46309 138499 0 48270 79443 84684 125752 223183 212416 69683 2062159 2141507 3795 8224 2058364 2133283 X The mission of the organization is to protect the land, water, and wildlife in the headwaters region of the Clinton, Shiawassee, Huron, and Flint rivers through preservation, stewardship, and education. false false 59045 Stewardship (Maintenance, Monitoring & Restoration) - BHHC provided active stewardship for all 60 protected parcels, including annual monitoring of conservation easements, invasive species control, habitat restoration, and infrastructure maintenance at publicly accessible preserves. A Stewardship Coordinator was onboarded and investments were made in equipment, mapping, and reserve planning to support long-term care and compliance with Land Trust Alliance standards. 39365 Preservation (Land Protection & Conservation Easements) - Blue Heron Headwaters Conservancy (BHHC) permanently protects ecologically significant lands in the headwaters of the Clinton, Shiawassee, Huron, and Flint River watersheds. In 2024 BHHC continued to uphold its commitment to land preservation through outreach to landowners, easement monitoring, and community partnerships to advance long-term conservation goals. BHHC holds interests in 60 parcels totaling approximately 1,550 acres (20 owned, 40 under conservation easement). 32800 Education (Community Outreach & Volunteer Engagement) - BHHC engaged the public through native-plant sales, guided hikes, stewardship workdays, and educational outreach events focused on watershed protection and native habitats. The organization expanded volunteer participation, provided training on ecological stewardship, and used its website and publications to educate the community and promote conservation awareness throughout the region. The Conservancy continued its partnership with Oakland County CISMA to remove invasive species. Continued focus on reintroducing native plants to the properties we maintain. 131210 true true false false false false true false false false true false false true false false false false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true 6 0 true 7 true false false false false false false false 0 false false false false false false false X 11 11 false false false false false false false true true false false true true true true true true true true false MI X Jason Meekhof 2487952808 P O Box 285 Clarkston MI 48347 Jason Meekof Executive Dir. 40.00 0.00 X 40833 0 0 Emily Duthinh President 3.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 Michael Metz Vice President 1.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 Bette Moen Secretary 1.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 Michael Dougherty Treasurer 2.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 Larry Kodosky Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Susan Julian Director 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Jean Gramlich Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Lora Perkins Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Todd Roeser Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Nicole Breadon Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Jeffrey Schiffman Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 40833 0 false false false 0 18430 220812 239242 Easement Annual Fees 17613 17613 Easement/Stewardship 6076 6076 Other 40 40 Phragmite kits 267 267 23996 20358 20358 0 0 0 0 21670 18430 12400 9270 0 0 0 292866 44354 0 0 0 0 40833 6223 18619 15991 0 88110 62117 8459 17534 0 0 9556 5064 2007 2485 0 0 6609 6609 0 0 1300 1300 0 0 3496 1853 734 909 4629 2453 972 1204 0 14040 7441 2948 3651 868 460 182 226 0 0 0 0 0 5049 4023 1026 Conservation/Stewardship 31889 31889 Outreach Programs/Education 5356 4734 622 Other fundraising expense 2928 2928 Other organizations - Dues 2626 2626 5894 2330 844 2720 223183 131213 43700 48270 200450 41975 239416 461867 0 925 0 0 0 0 0 0 13518 13518 0 92492 108789 0 0 0 1528876 1528876 2062159 2141507 3795 8224 3795 8224 X 328881 374803 1729483 1758480 2058364 2133283 2062159 2141507 69683 5236 X false false false X 182716 104812 123842 286025 239242 936637 33981 45691 25949 24378 21670 151669 0 0 0 216697 150503 149791 310403 260912 1088306 0 0 1088306 4796 4620 2298 8622 20358 40694 0 4796 4620 2298 8622 20358 40694 0 0 221493 155123 152089 319025 281270 1129000 0.96400 0.97600 0.03600 0.02400 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED X X X 40 11 1 true false 13518 13518 Conservation land 1528876 1528876 292866 292866 292866 223183 223183 223183 Part II, Line 9: Organization Reporting of conservation easements. Line 5 - Monitoring and Enforcement Policy -- The organization has a written policy regarding the periodic monitoring, inspection, handling of violations and enforcement of the easements held. The Stewardship Committee meets on a regular basis and schedules the inspections. Only persons with the proper training perform the inspections. If someone performing stewardship activities on a property notes a possible violation, it is reported to the appropriate party and a trained inspector is assigned to review the issue. When violations occur, the offending party is notified. All violations are followed until resolution. Line 9 - Accounting for Conservation Easements -- The value of conservation easements is not reported on the Balance Sheet. The Conservancy has acquired numerous easements in Oakland County, Michigan in which the donor grants a perpetual conservation easement over the property. The purpose of the easement is to preserve the natural, scenic, open space, scientific, biological and ecological values of the property. Any uses of the easement property which may impair or interfere with the conservation values are expressly prohibited by the easement document. Disclosure includes: property name, year acquired and number of acres. PART II, Line 7 -- The majority of the hours spent on monitoring, inspecting, handling of violations, and enforcing conservation easements are volunteer hours using Survey 123 software. Limited staff time is involved. X X X X X X false MI Native Plant Sale 20418 20418 11767 Sue Julian Legacy Event 18430 18430 282 52 299 38848 18430 20418 282 52 12066 12400 8018 Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 11b The Form 990 is reviewed and approved before filing by the Finance Committee. A copy of the Form 990 is provided to all board members before filng. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 12c Each project is presented to the board and board members are asked to disclose any conflicts Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 15a All compensation is approved by the Board of Directors. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 15b All compensation is approved by the Board of Directors. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 19 All documents are available to the public upon request. Doing Busines As -Additional Names Blue Heron Headwaters Conservancy, BHHC. Prior DBA's were: North Oakland Headwaters Land Conservancy, NOHLC Form 990, Part 1, Item 6 - Volunteers The dedication of our volunteers helps turn conservation goals into reality one project at a time. Their 4,173 volunteer hours - whether restoring habitats, monitoring preserves, or supporting educational events - ensure that our lands remain healthy, protected, and accessible for future generations. Together, we create a lasting impact, fostering a community that cares for nature and safeguards its future. The organization also benefits from the pro bono work of experts in accounting, law, IT services, photo and video documentation, and ecological management. Form 990, Part III, Line 4D All other accomplishments In 2024, Blue Heron Headwaters Conservancy (BHHC) made significant progress in advancing its mission to protect land, steward natural resources, and educate the public about the importance of Southeast Michigan's headwaters. A major organizational milestone was the hiring of BHHC's first full-time Executive Director, marking a critical investment in leadership capacity and long-term sustainability. This new leadership helped expand outreach efforts, strengthen community partnerships, and provide strategic direction for conservation and stewardship initiatives. BHHC actively stewarded 60 protected properties totaling approximately 1,550 acres across the Clinton, Shiawassee, Huron, and Flint River watersheds. Stewardship activities included annual monitoring of all conservation easements, removal of invasive species, installation of interpretive signage, and habitat restoration projects on several preserves. the organization also hired a dedicated Stewardship Coordinator and invested in necessary field tools, mapping technology, and the creation of a stewardship reserve fund to ensure the long-term care of its lands. Community engagement was a core focus in 2024. BHHC hosted volunteer workdays, native plant sales, and educational events designed to connect people with nature and teach the value of protecting headwaters ad native ecosystems. Through its website, annual report, and in-person programming, BHHC continued to grow awareness and build a community committed to local land and water conservation.