Several groups working to conserve Cass County property

Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy has announced it is working with several entities to conserve the LaGrange Valley property – formerly Lake LaGrange.

Efforts to conserve the 425-acre property in Cass County’s LaGrange Township are being done in conjunction with the Edward Lowe Foundation, Western Reserve Land Conservancy, the Michigan and Ohio Departments of Natural Resources, and several community and conservation partners.

The property is home to two species on the federal endangered species list, as well as numerous others listed as rare or threatened.

Miko Dragitz, development associate, said the conservancy has been awarded Endangered Species Act funding to help acquire the LaGrange Valley property, but still needs to raise $250,000 to match those federal dollars.

The agency expects to launch a public-fundraising campaign this summer.