Humbug update (OCT 2003)
On Monday, September 29, 2003, the property known as Humbug Marsh was purchased by the Trust for Public Land for $4.8 million, and will become a part of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. Thus ends the nearly seven year long battle fought by local environmentalists to save the last mile of undeveloped coastal wetlands on the U. S. side of the Detroit River.
In 1996, developers Made in Detroit (MID) purchased the 400+ acre parcel, including a 30 acre island, for the purpose of building luxury homes, a marina, and a golf course. These development plans sparked unprecedented citizen opposition, led by the Friends of the Detroit River. In fact, the issue led to a huge increase in membership for the Friends, which gained considerable influence in the community and subsequently broadened its interest in other problems all along the river.
The Humbug Marsh and Island Complex is considered one of the richest areas of biodiversity along the river, especially on the U. S. side. It provides critical habitat for many species of fish, ducks, migratory birds, mammals and other animals, as well as many valued plant species. In addition to the 30 acre island, the marsh itself covers about 100 acres, and there are over 300 acres of forested uplands. The property is adjacent to a recently acquired 44 acre site that will become the headquarters for the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, which will house the offices of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The fight to save Humbug resulted in substantial political turnover in the cities of Gibraltar and Trenton, as citizens registered their opposition to the proposed development, and their desire to save this unique and irreplaceable resource. There were council meetings, public hearings, numerous letters to editors, and other activities that expressed the public’s interest in saving the marsh from development. Zoning battles ensued and lawsuits were threatened as the developers insisted that the project would go forward. A significant obstacle MID could not overcome was the denial of a wetlands permit by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1999.
In April of 2001, the $3 million loan that MID had secured from Standard Federal Bank and Bank One went into default. A foreclosure sale was scheduled for October 24, 2002, but MID filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy the day before. The case was finally resolved when U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Marci McIvor denied the reorganization plan submitted by MID, and ruled in favor of the plan put forth by MID’s unsecured creditors. That plan called for the sale of the property for $4.8 million to the Trust for Public Land. The Trust for Public Land will be repaid, in part, by a $3.5 million federal appropriation secured by U. S. Congressman John Dingell (D-15th District) and a $1 million grant from the Mott Foundation.
The Humbug property will now be a part of the International Wildlife Refuge, and the precious habitat it provides will be preserved. Many groups and individuals played valuable roles in this important victory. In addition to the Friends of the Detroit River, organizations that helped included Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC), the Sierra Club, Detroit Audubon Society, Ducks Unlimited, and the Michigan Environmental Council. Key individuals that were instrumental in this struggle included Blair McGowan, Don Griffin, Jane Mackey, Jeannine Ansley, Bruce Jones, Kathleen Law, John Hartig, Patricia Hartig, George Mans, Sam Washington of MUCC, and many others. Congressman John Dingell and Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich) were instrumental in the passage of the federal appropriation for the Humbug purchase. We can all share in this victory, and in the realization that a small group of determined individuals can achieve great things in their own community, and the world, by having the vision and the will to see that vision realized