Great Lakes Coastal Cleanup Day at Wisconsin Point
Fall Beach Cleanup at Wisconsin Point recap (9/20/2025)
Volunteers gather for a photo as a Great Lakes ship passes through the Superior entrance. (credit: Callie Grones)
Dreary fall weather didn’t deter 38 extraordinary volunteers from coming to help the Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve (FOLSR) clean the beaches of Wisconsin Point. Led by board members Lisa, Will, and Matt, and AmeriCorps member, Callie, FOLSR and volunteers joined cleanup efforts across the Great Lakes region for the Alliance for the Great Lakes coastal cleanup day. Protecting our Great Lakes is an effort that requires help from everyone. The beach cleanup also coincided with National Estuaries Week and Wisconsin Stormwater Week. Both events highlight the importance of clean water for our ecosystems and communities.
Volunteers met at Lot #3 of Wisconsin Point, then dispersed in groups to all five lots to clean the beaches and shorelines. A special thanks to Dr. Rios Mendoza, professor at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, for sending her students to the cleanup for extra credit! Data was collected by volunteers on what trash was collected and how much. Overall, 147 lbs of trash was recovered from the beaches and shorelines of the Point. Volunteers expressed that the most common pieces of trash were small pieces of plastic. This is significant because small pieces of plastic can be missed in trash pickup, and plastic of that size is dangerous in our waterways for fish and other wildlife.
A juvenile bald eagle perches in a tree. (credit: Will Mowchan)
Speaking of wildlife, there was lots of wildlife to see including a juvenile bald eagle (photographed by FOLSR board member, Will Mowchan). Volunteers also interacted with birders in town for the annual Jaegerfest, a birdwatching event for the migrating Parasitic Jaeger that takes place at the Point. Among its many incredible features, Wisconsin Point is a popular birding spot for shorebirds, raptors, and marsh birds in Allouez Bay.
Want to stay connected to more events like this one? Visit folsr.org/events to learn more about some amazing events we have coming up.
We are always looking for volunteers! Visit folsr.org/volunteer to see what opportunities we have to make a difference right here in your community.
Article by Callie Grones
Cover photo: A group of volunteers gather with 147 lbs of trash collected at the beach cleanup. (credit: Will Mowchan)