A 120-acre stretch of land along the Dowagiac Creek could soon be owned and protected by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

The DNR will hold a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday to discuss the potential purchase of the land, which is located around five miles east of Dowagiac along McKenzie Street. The meeting will be held at the Cass District Library, located at 319 M-62 North in Cassopolis.

The department has been in discussions for around a year to purchase the land from current owner, Westrate LLC, said Jay Wesley, the DNR’s Southern Lake Michigan unit manager.

“We’re always interested in purchasing land in Southwest Michigan, and the owner was aware of that,” Wesley said. “He wanted to see the creek remain protected, and the best way he thought to do so was to turn it over to state ownership.”

The DNR has been a warden of the Dowagiac Creek for more than 40 years, stocking the body of water with brown trout at various locations, Wesley said. The creek has received frequent visits from local anglers due in part to the DNR’s care, he added.

“Dowagiac Creek is unique in that it’s a cold water stream and can support trout stocking,” Wesley said. “It creates a unique fishery in Southwest Michigan because of this characteristic. There’s a fair amount of cold water streams in the region, but this is one of the most popular.”

By purchasing this property, the DNR can assure regular access to the creek, for both themselves and fishermen. In addition, the land contains several endangered and at-risk species that their officials can help protect, Wesley said.

“It’s really about providing public access to the water and preserving and enhancing the county’s wildlife corridors,” he said.

The DNR owns a number of water access points around Cass County already, including a lot of land east of Jones.

“A lot of Cass is made up of farm land, so anytime we can preserve flood planes and forests, that’s good for the county,” Wesley said.

The department plans on purchasing the property at current market value, using grant money from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund. If all goes to plan, the DNR will be able to close on the acquisition in around six to nine months, Wesley said.

Once the land is purchased, the DNR will work with either the county or another organization to manage the property. Public access to the creek via the land will be maintained, Wesley said.

The purpose of Tuesday’s meeting is not only to inform Cass County residents of the planned purchase, but also to determine whether the public will support the endeavor, Wesley said.

“Some counties don’t want the state to own land in their boundaries, so we want to make sure that won’t be the case here,” he said.

People with additional questions or concerns can contact Wesley at 269-685-6851 or wesleyj@michigan.gov.