Looking over the Republic Wetlands Preserve, it’s hard to believe that just over a decade ago it once looked like a moonscape.

The former open-pit iron ore mine and tailings basin—all part of the now-defunct Republic Mine owned by Cliffs Natural Resources—was nothing but fine, red sand. Void of vegetation and life, the area looked more like an alien landscape than four square miles in the middle of the north woods in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

The mine grew so large in its heyday from the 1950s to the 1970s that it pushed into the town of Republic, forcing about 90 homes to be relocated and others demolished. A second town was created on the other side of the mine, known as South Republic. In 1981, the mine was closed due to high production costs and by the early 1990s, Cliffs Natural Resources, known then as Cleveland Cliffs, began removing equipment and demolishing structures.

But hard work and dedication—and over $10 million—has now helped turn the former mine into a preserve covering 2,300 acres of upland and wildlife habitat, including 679 acres of wetlands.
It wasn’t an easy task, recalls Republic Township board trustee Chuck Hurst, who spearheaded the push to get the preserve opened to the public. He remembers how it used to look.

“It was a tailings basin,” Hurst said. “The slurry from the mine was deposited into those basins. It would settle in the first basin and move to the second and settle some more. By the time it would move to the third basin, the water was pretty much clean.” 
But the sediment that settled out of the water was nothing more than fine, inert sand. Nothing could grow in it. It was desolate.

Cliffs Natural Resources began work on the preserve in the late 1990s. The company brought in experts to begin construction on several phases of the project through 2004. Restoration included vegetative establishment and wildlife use through planting and construction of habitats. Since then, species such as sandhill cranes, peregrine falcons, gray wolves, bald eagles, black bears, bobcats, coyotes, ducks and loons and even ospreys have been documented at the site.
“We are very proud of what we have accomplished at the Republic Wetlands Preserve as part of a program of sequential land use,” said Dale Hemmila, the district manager of public affairs for Cliffs’ Michigan operations. “The land was used to mine and process the main raw material to make steel—iron ore—for decades, providing jobs and economic benefits to the surrounding area. Now it has been returned to a natural habitat for native wildlife, while providing a benefit to the still-operating Empire and Tilden mines nearby. The RWP benefits those two facilities through the approved acreage available for wetland mitigation purposes, to mitigate any unavoidable wetland impacts at Empire and Tilden.”

When Republic Township was informed of the project, Hurst stepped forward and took a leadership role in getting the area open to the public. Since then, the third basin site, which was turned into a large lake and wetlands area, has been opened. There is currently a trail over two miles in length used for non-motorized access and is available all year round for biking, hiking, snowshoeing, skiing, paddling and more.

“I thought this was something that the public should be allowed to be a part of,” said Hurst. “I wanted this to be open for the people of Republic and for those who come and visit the area.” 
Plans are underway to open other parts of the preserve, but funding is being sought for small bridges and viewing areas needed on existing trails and roads that were part of the former mine’s tailing operations. Hurst estimates about $150,000 is needed to make some areas of the preserve accessible, and more for signage and other additions.

Since the area was built where the mine once sat, the large berms and earth dikes are still in place. A hike to the top of them offers spectacular views of the preserve, noted Hurst.
“You climb up them and look down and you’ll be looking down 100 or 150 feet,” he said. “Below you will be the preserve. You’ll be above eagles’ nests even. It’s a wonderful sight.” 

For more information about the Republic Wetlands Preserve, visit http://www.republicmi.com/IronOreTrail.php.
See a PDF of before/after photos of the preserve Here