February Field Trip
The February 15, 2025 field trip to Pere Marquette Park and the
Muskegon Channel was canceled due to the bad weather forecast.
February 18 Program
Natural Features of Ottawa County
Bill Martinus, Botanist
In tonight’s program Bill will discuss:
1 - What a Natural Features Inventory is, and the process and methods of creating an NFI.
2- Which Natural Features occur in Ottawa County Parks:
Flora and fauna of special concern,
Threatened and endangered species,
Habitats, unique features, etc.
3- Data, interpretation, and practical uses of NFI information to Ottawa County Parks, the community, and science.
William Martinus and his wife Shirley have lived in western Ottawa County for over 50 years, wandering through natural areas (especially Ottawa County’s parks) recording plants and birds. After teaching for thirty years, Bill’s focus narrowed to conducting inventories of what specifically occurs within the 7,400 acres of Ottawa County’s Parks and 50+ properties.
His official inventories over 20 years include those completed in Upper Macatawa, Stearns Creek, North Ottawa Dunes, Ottawa Sands, Rosy Mound, Port Sheldon Natural Area, Hiawatha Forest, Crockery Creek, Eastmanville Bayou, Grand Ravines, and Grose parks.
