By Ken Nims
This summer, the stewardship crew completed vital projects on Grindstone
Island—work that carries special meaning as we celebrate 40 years of conservation.
Our story began on Grindstone in 1985, and the Island continues to be at the
heart of our conservation mission. Its mix of forests, wetlands, and open fields
supports a remarkable diversity of wildlife and plant communities.
The team completed much-needed road repairs, ditching, and culvert
improvements, ensuring safe access and reducing erosion across several key
properties. These efforts protect infrastructure while safeguarding sensitive
habitats from unnecessary disturbance.
In addition, through a partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS), the crew carried out grassland mowing to create and maintain
upland habitat. This important management technique prevents fields from
transitioning into forest too quickly, sustaining areas that provide critical food,
cover, and water resources for wildlife. By maintaining these open grasslands, we
restore and conserve rare or declining native communities while supporting species
that rely on upland habitats during parts of their life cycle.
From infrastructure care to habitat restoration, this season’s work on Grindstone
reflects the values that launched TILT four decades ago—protecting land, water,
and wildlife for generations to come.