GINLC Newsletter: 2007 Grosse Ile Conservationist of the Year

Fred Pepper earned the 2007 Conservationist of the Year award for his dedication and outstanding contributions to the preservation and stewardship of natural resources on Grosse lie and the surrounding area. Attracted to Grosse Ile by the open spaces and community support for land conservation, Fred moved here seven years ago. As chair of the Stewardship Committee, he organized numerous work groups to clean up Conservancy properties. Last spring he planned an ambitious tree planting program on our Thoroughfare Canal property and personally tended to them through the hot and dry summer months, leaving them only for a short honeymoon trip, but not without first assuring the trees would be well cared for in his absence. Fred has conducted a ruthless fight against invasive species, from the phragmites on the BASF-donated property, to the vines choking trees on the Coleman lot, all while keeping a keen eye on the other conservancy properties. He has been personally vigilant in keeping plastic bags from collecting at one of our properties near Macomb. With his special fear-provoking enforcement technique, perfected in his earlier days as a school principal, Fred was also able to get quick action from a Conservancy neighbor or two who had left piles of trash on our properties. All in all, Fred's efforts have been so commendable it was only fitting to honor him with the 2007 Conservationist of the Year award at the annual meeting.