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WLA board trustee Stanley Jones (foreground) is helping WLASA president Karl Schmitt (background) place RR-ties into a protective barrier fence at Hilt's Landing. Hilt’s Landing is Bishegaindang “the beautiful” By Tom Hamilton, WLA member The 220-acres adjacent and East of the U-31 freeway and South of the White River includes the junction of Silver Creek. Hilt’s Landing is the modern name for the property, the previous Burying Ground Point name was used on behalf of the Native Americans, and Bishegaindang was the Native name “the beautiful”. Former Muskegon County Commissioners Nancy Frye and James Kobza noticed “the beautiful” along with local citizens. Frye and Kobza worked hard through their positions with the county board to protect the “Public Trust” and saved the land from developers. On September 9, 2002 the County owned land was dedicated to remain public domain as a natural area forever. The dedication included a Native American blessing by tribal council members of the Little River Band of Odowa Nation celebrating Bishegaindang “the beautiful”. It took several years to get to get to the dedication of 9/9/02. In 1998 the volunteer White River Watershed organization included the Hilt’s Landing property as part of the complete White River watershed erosion survey. The panoramic photos of Hilt’s Landing swayed the Muskegon County commissioners to first preserve the property, and then support a grant to stabilize and restore parts of the property. The Muskegon Conservation District (MCD) received $25,000 from the Great Lakes Basin Program for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control. The work is being conducted from September through November 2003 as weather permits. Heavy equipment was used to cut trees, moved earth, and restore large portions of the riverbank. This will also provide some new fish habitat. The MCD, White Lake Area Sportfishing Association (WLASA), and volunteer crews have been working Labor Day, weekends, and any day they can get together. They are spreading compost topsoil, seeding, and placing straw cover. The crews are also putting in RR tie post as barriers across the top of the hill. Finally, there will be a stairway built and landscaped down through the worst erosion site to the river. This will provide a safe designated route to the river at the junction of Silver Creek and the White River mainstream. The White Lake Association recognizes the importance of the White River watershed to the health of White Lake. White Lake is a drowned river mouth lake that reflects the composite deposition of the soil chemistry and water quality of the river. The work at Hilt’s Landing is one example of preserving 220-acres of “the beautiful” property for the health of White Lake and for the community to enjoy far into the future. The WLA members are welcome to visit Hilt’s Landing, Bishegaindang, and enjoy the view. There is a constructed historic geological map provided by Grand Valley State University (GVSU) showing White Lake proper extending well beyond the Hilt’s Landing property almost to Big Blue Lake. That map is included within a CD, “White River Preliminary Habitat Assessment” available at the GVSU Lake Michigan Center. The CD is a great gift idea with a wealth of data. The cost is $10.00.
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White Lake Association
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