By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
MARCELLUS – How do Goshen, Ind., guys get recognized for environmental stewardship in Michigan?
Like this, according to the Cass County Conservation District, which bestowed its 2006 Environmental Stewardship Award on the father-son duo of Don and Bill Minter.
Bill's association with Cass County goes back two decades to when he was a forester with the CCCD.
This accolade given Wednesday night at Hudson Memorial Building during the CCCD's 62nd annual meeting goes to those who exhibit an exemplary commitment to conserving natural resources.
The Minters have devoted almost 20 years to saving the area of Porter Township in southeastern Cass County known as Mirror Valley.
They became interested in the camp in Porter Township operated by the Mennonite Church.
Once a thriving retreat for urban youth from the 1940s to the 1960s, the camp was showing its age and crying for attention.
The Minters became immediate benefactors and began restoring the buildings, upgrading recreational facilities and establishing nature trails.
When an adjacent parcel came up for sale, they bought it and donated 35 acres of woods and wetlands to the camp.
But the Minters wanted to do more for this area that had once been named one of the Most Beautiful Drives in America by Reader's Digest.
Working through the CCCD, the Minters were introduced to the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy in Portage.
With the conservancy's help, they purchased camp property and established conservation easements in 1996, 1999, 2001 and 2004.
A conservation easement is a financial tool to permanently protect private land from development.
The Minters used the benefits of each easement to finance their next property purchase.
"Don and Bill and the entire Minter family deserve this recognition and the county's thanks for permanently protecting more than 300 acres of farmland, woods, wetlands, streams and lake frontage," the CCCD praised.
"The unique conservation value of this land will benefit our community for generations to come."