Welcome to the Lake Erie Islands Conservancy!
Our Mission Statement
The mission of The Lake Erie Islands Conservancy is to encourage conservation and protection of natural and agricultural lands in the Lake Erie Islands for the benefit of future generations.
Our History
The Lake Erie Islands Conservancy (LEIC) is located on South Bass Island in the archipelago of the western basin of Lake Erie in Ohio. The Conservancy was created in 2000 by a small group of dedicated board members whose goal is to protect and conserve natural areas from rapidly encroaching commercial and private development. The Lake Erie Islands are a truly unique environment providing habitat for migrating birds and homes for a host of indigenous flora and fauna. We teamed with the Black Swamp Conservancy until we received our own nonprofit status in 2015. We have worked hard to preserve a variety of island habitats for residents and visitors to enjoy! With our partners, the Put-in-Bay Township Park District, over 70 acres on South Bass and Middle Bass Islands are now protected for the future. These include the gravel beaches and reefs of the Scheeff East Point Preserve, spring wildflowers at the Jane Coates Wildflower Trail, rocky cliffs at the Massie Cliffside Preserve, and the wet woodlands of the Middle Bass Forested Wetland preserve. Visit the preserves and enjoy the natural beauty on offer! Lake Erie Islands Conservancy sponsors programs and walks at these preserves to bring heightened awareness of the unique environment of the Lake Erie Islands and the opportunity to preserve and protect our natural heritage, enhancing the quality of life.We are excited to be celebrating our 20th year of land protection and education on the Lake Erie Islands!
A New Start for our Conservancy
After functioning (and flourishing!) under the auspices of the Black Swamp Conservancy of Perrysburg, Ohio, the Lake Erie Islands Chapter (LEIC) is ready to go out on its own. The Lake Erie Island Chapter of the Black Swamp Conservancy has become the Lake Erie Islands Conservancy (LEIC)!
Our new entity will have more local control and decision making ability and will be more sensitive and responsive to the needs of the Lake Erie Islands.
A dissolution and separation agreement was signed among three entities: the Black Swamp Conservancy, the Lake Erie Islands Chapter, and the Put-in-Bay Township Park District. All money and equipment raised and held by the local chapter will be assigned to the new entity — the Lake Erie Islands Conservancy. All properties preserved by the Chapter are being transferred to the Put-in-Bay Township Park District.
The Lake Erie Islands Conservancy has obtained an IRS Identification Number, written Rules and Regulations, obtained a 501(c) (3) authorization as a nonprofit conservation and educational organization, and has been designated as a nonprofit, domestic corporation in the State of Ohio.The Lake Erie Island Conservancy will dedicate itself to its mission: “to encourage conservation and protection of natural and agricultural lands in the Lake Erie Islands for the benefit of this and future generations.”
The Lake Erie Islands Conservancy will continue to work for the protection of unique and threatened species, and advocate the preservation of scenic and natural areas – activities that enhance the quality of life not only for the residents but also for the visitors to this unique Island area.The Lake Erie Islands Conservancy will continue to work closely with the Put-in-Bay Township Park District.
Our logo, mission, board, members, and contact phone stay the same. The name is new-Lake Erie Islands Conservancy! Our new website address will be www.lakeerieislandsconservancy.org and e-mail leiconservancy@gmail.com. These changes should all be complete by the end of the 2015.We look to the future with optimism for our new Conservancy! And look back gratefully on a rich 15 year history of land preservation on the islands! Thanks for your support!!
Join Us
Please follow our efforts on this website and stay in touch us as we enjoy and look after our special islands! Help preserve the natural beauty of the Lake Erie Islands by becoming a member today! Email us here or the link at the top of this site to give a donation and become a member of The Lake Erie Conservancy.Board of Directors
Lisa Brohl
Chairman – Lisa Kutschbach-Brohl, the chair of the Lake Erie Islands Conservancy has a B.S. degree from the Ohio State University in Natural Resources (Parks/Interpretation). She received her M.S. from OSU in environmental science with a specialty in wetlands. She has an abundance of educational work experience including work with...
Kelly Faris
Secretary/Treasurer – After thirty-two years in education, Kelly Faris retired from Put-in-Bay Local School District where he served as teacher/administrator from 1972 to 1996. Before accepting the position at Put-in-Bay School, Faris taught in Lorain, Elyria, Maumee, and Port Huron, Michigan. He graduated from Kent State University with a...