About the property . . . The "Yellow Dog Swamp" or SOSAWAGAMEE (Yellow Water), as it was known by the Ojibway, surrounded and encompassed much of what is now Lake Independence - roughly 3,500 acres of swampy lake.  In the early 1930's, a dam was built on the Yellow Dog River, which elevated the swampy lake into the Modern-day Lake Independence. The original Yellow Dog Swamp has been reduced to about 1,600 acres. The State of Michigan owns 1,048 acres, 160 acres are corporately owned and the remainder is private.

In 1996, large tracts of Yellow Dog River lowlands were purchased by developers and subdivided into small "river-frontage" parcels and sold. The remaining 160 acres of this development tract is our target acquisition. The tract is located at the mouth of the Yellow Dog River and is a riparian wetland with more than half of the acreage an open riverian marsh with hummocks of mixed upland/lowland forests. It is a thriving habitat for numerous waterfowl, migratory birds, and marsh and riparian flora and fauna - both common and protected. The southern remainder of the property is mixed upland/lowland forests with the Yellow Dog River flowing slowly through it where the river ends just before flowing into Lake Independence. It travels underground or braids into hundreds of tiny channels of flowing waterways - making its way to Lake Superior River via the Iron River. 

Purchase of this parcel protects nearly one-quarter mile of the Lake Independence shore; over a mile of the Yellow Dog River; the mouth of Johnson Creek; and all associated wetlands, swamp and riverine forests from home development, road building and timber production. As the wildness and beauty of this area is treasured by many, this purchase is an immense boon and asset to the community. We have begun  the process of making the property accessible to the public with hiking/skiing trails, observation areas and many wildlife oriented activities – like fishing!