Coalition seeks to preserve rare Sibley Prairie in Wayne County

Sibley Prairie: Last Original Forest-Wetland in Southeast Michigan

The Sibley Prairie is the last remaining tract of original forest-wetland in Southeast Michigan, created when the glaciers receded. Approximately 440 acres remain, and efforts are underway to purchase the land to preserve it.

Located in southern Wayne County off of Telegraph, this plot of land is often overlooked by drivers. To many, it looks like any other fenced-off wilderness in Metro Detroit. However, to conservationists, the untouched 440 acres are significant.

The Sibley Prairie in Brownstown Township is unique. It represents an era of Southeast Michigan that predates much of the current civilization.

“This is the last and highest quality Lakeplain Prairie remaining in the state of Michigan,” said Jack Smiley, president of the Michigan Land Conservancy.

“We’re hoping to buy this property,” he added. “We have an option that goes through this year, and we need to raise $6 million, so we have a big challenge ahead of us.”

Lakeplain prairies are remnants of old lake beds formed by glaciers thousands of years ago. One well-known example is Lake Erie.

As water shed from the glaciers, fine materials like silt settled at the bottom.

“(As it) receded, it left this,” said Jeff Vornhagen, gesturing to the prairie. “It’s very flat, but it’s also comprised of a lot of fine particles that are completely impermeable to water.”

This means that when spring rains arrive, the area floods. The same land becomes bone-dry in warmer weather.

“We have a unique plant community because it has to tolerate both flooding in the springtime and extreme drought in the summer,” Vornhagen said. “This corridor is considered globally unique because there are only plant species that occur here.”

Vornhagen is a member of the Michigan Botanical Society, part of the coalition working to purchase the land. Other members include Friends of the Rouge, Ducks Unlimited, the Sierra Club, and the Detroit Bird Alliance.

The land is currently owned by Fritz Enterprises Inc., which put it up for auction. Smiley helped secure a chance to purchase the land after convincing the company to wait for a year.

The coalition has until 2026 to raise the $6 million needed to buy the land.

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