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Conservation district outlines water quality, hunting access and invasive‑species work in annual report
Summary
Killeen Conservation District executive director Ryan Reinke presented the district’s 2025 annual report to the board, highlighting water quality as the top priority, a $39,000 EGLE grant for the Battle Creek River watershed plan update, expansion of the Hunting Access Program, and treatment of an invasive mile‑a‑minute weed in Calhoun County.
Ryan Reinke, executive director of the Killeen Conservation District, presented the district’s 2025 annual report at the Dec. 4 Calhoun County Board meeting, outlining priorities and recent grants.
Reinke said a conservation needs assessment had 103 respondents (up from 37 previously) and identified water quality as the top five‑year priority. He said the district secured a $39,000 grant from the Michigan EGLE to begin a three‑year update of the Battle Creek River watershed plan (phase one to include an agriculture inventory and animal feeding operation review to identify phosphorus runoff sources).
Reinke highlighted growth in the Hunting Access Program (HAP): acreage in the program rose to 243 enrolled acres across three properties with 503 recorded uses as of Nov. 26, 2025; one formerly leased property was placed into HAP and has seen significant use. The district also expanded partnerships for water trails planning and is working with MSU and local municipalities on accessibility, signage and emergency planning.
On invasive species, Reinke said the BCK CISMA has surveyed over 14,000 acres for mile‑a‑minute weed with 336 acres treated in the last year; he described treatment as a multi‑year effort requiring careful methods to avoid collateral damage.
Commissioners asked follow‑up questions about survey representativeness, portage locations at dams on mapped water trails and whether planned dam removals might alter access; Reinke said outreach to smaller municipalities and expanded marketing are priorities to increase participation in future assessments and programs.
