There's a lot of urgency to our work in that area. Restricting development in the area, around the headwaters of the tributaries to East Bay, preserves their health and quality as well as that of East Bay, source of Traverse City's drinking water. The Grand Traverse group also has about 700 acres currently under option. A highlight of the Leelanau Conservancy's year was completing projects in Centerville Township. They fulfilled the organization's goal of having projects in all 11 townships.
Conservancies use various means to restrict land from development.
They can buy it outright or receive it as a gift. They or other entities, such as the state, can also purchase what are known as development rights. In those cases, the owner keeps the land but is restricted in how it may be developed. Owners can also place conservation easements on property, which means they voluntarily surrender the right to develop it. The Traverse City Record-Eagle.