The Martin and Elsie Priest Conservation Easement protects 8.3 acres of gently rolling upland and floodplain forest along Deer Creek and was purchased by the family in 1887 as part of a working farm. The family continues to farm the surrounding area. A shallow river valley borders Deer Creek, which flows south to north through the property. Upland forest species such as sugar maple, beech, basswood, musclewood, sassafras, and red oak occur more frequently on the slope and ridge above Deer Creek, while floodplain species such as black walnut, sycamore, and willow are more frequent in the floodplain surrounding the creek. The woods along Deer Creek form an attractive corridor for wildlife that extends to the north on neighboring properties. The presence of ephemeral wetlands (vernal pools) provides important habitat for aquatic invertebrate, reptile and amphibian species which depend on seasonal water pools. Deer Creek is a tributary of the Galien River and joins the Galien about one mile from the Property.