Former Stoneco quarry donated to conservation organization

Stoneco donated a 262-acre former sand-and-gravel quarry near Ann Arbor, Mich., to Ducks Unlimited to support wildlife conservation efforts.

The donated land, appraised at $2.1 million, is located in Lodi Township, Mich., outside of Ann Arbor.

“We are proud to donate this land to Ducks Unlimited,” says Rick Becker, Stoneco vice president and general manager. “Our company, employees and families do business, live and work in Washtenaw County, and this is a natural extension of who we are and what we do.”

The former quarry site was active until 2014 and has since been undergoing a reclamation process. The area has tremendous potential for wildlife habitat development through wetland restoration, grassland plantings, reforestation and management of the reclaimed mine pit, according to Stoneco.

Ducks Unlimited is exploring use of the property as a permanent headquarters for its regional office staff, which consists of biologists, engineers, geographic information systems technicians, administrative staff and fundraisers dedicated to wetlands conservation.

According to Stoneco, the land donation will support Ducks Unlimited’s Rescue Our Wetlands Campaign, a seven-year, $2 billion effort aimed at changing the face of conservation in North America. Rescue Our Wetlands is the largest wetlands and waterfowl conservation campaign in history, the company says. The public portion of the campaign was launched in May. So far, the campaign has raised more than $1.1 billion.

David Brakhage, director of operations for Ducks Unlimited’s Great Lakes/Atlantic region, says the land donation will help the organization with its mission to conserve, restore and manage wetlands and associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl.

“We are very grateful to Stoneco for making this donation in support of our mission,” Brakhage says. “With the right support and fundraising, we are hopeful to transform the site from a former mining operation into a functional green space that will attract all types of wildlife and benefit the community.”