The City of Mentor and conservation groups have sought to protect this property for decades. The Trust for Public Land was able to work with the property owner, Morton International, Inc.,Mentor Mayor Ray Kirchner comments, “By protecting significant portions of land along the Lake Erie shoreline, we help protect water quality, wildlife, and the natural beauty that attracts people to this area.” The Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve located adjacent to the newly conserved 99 acres occupies an ancient abandoned channel of the Grand River and was designated a National Natural Landmark by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior in 1966. With more than 640 acres of wetlands, it is a home to a wide variety of animals and birds, attracting naturalists and bird watchers from across the state. Since its founding in 1972, The Trust for Public Land has helped protect more than 2 million acres of land in 45 states. In Ohio, The Trust for Public Land has protected more than 9,500 acres valued at $60 million.