What’s New at the Reserve?
To say that a lot goes on at Lake Superior Reserve is quite the understatement. The late summer months and start of autumn provided numerous events and projects that were coordinated by the hardworking reserve staff. Here are just a few to highlight the diversity of work that occurs at the reserve and how important it is to the well-being of the estuary.
(Photo credit: GLIFWC and Lake Superior Reserve; Ojibwe florals, embellishments, and iconography by Sarah Howes, Anishinaabe artist)
Honorable Mention for Ganawenindiwag
“Ganawenindiwag: Working with plant relatives to heal and protect Gichigami shorelines” and the creative team behind the guidebook, received an honorable mention in the “broad partnerships” category for the 2024 Climate Adaptation Leadership Awards. Co-leading the many contributors to Ganawenindiwag, is Karina Heim, the Lake Superior Reserve Coastal Training Program Coordinator. Congratulations to the entire team of Ganawanidiwag for a creative and informative resource for everyone living on the shores of Gichigami (Ojibwemowin: Lake Superior).
"Ganawenindiwag: Working with plant relatives to heal and protect Gichigami shorelines" is a shoreline restoration-focused plant guidebook intentionally written to help people and plants adapt to coastal erosion and other impacts of climate change, while simultaneously affirming Ojibwe culture, language, stewardship, plant knowledge, and treaty rights.”
To learn more about Ganawenindiwag and access a copy, visit the Reserve website HERE
River Talks
The Lake Superior Reserve is hosting a River Talks series later this fall and into winter. The series will be held at the Lake Superior Estuarium or virtually, depending on the presentation. More information will be available as dates approach. The four dates and topics are below:
Wednesday, November 13, 6:30pm-7:30pm
Topic: Secretive marsh birds and Allouez Bay
Wednesday, December 18, 6:30pm-7:30pm
Topic: Restored Connection to a River in Recovery
Wednesday, January 8, 6:30pm-7:30pm
Topic: Chigami-Ziibing - Ojibwe Placenames and Perspectives along the St. Louis River Estuary
Wednesday February 12, 6:30-7:30pm
Topic: Restoring Good Fire to Superior Forests
Building Blocks for Sharing Science
The Building Blocks series provides professionals and leaders working on the Great Lakes coasts with skills and tools to effectively execute projects and visions. Co-coordinated by Karina Heim of Lake Superior Reserve and Emily Kuzmick of Old Woman Creek Reserve in Ohio, this three part series dove into topics valuable for all professionals, especially those working on the Great Lakes. Watch the Reserve’s website for next year’s Building Blocks events. The 2024 dates and topics are below:
July 16, July 18, 2024: Let’s Talk About Trust: A Collaborative Learning Opportunity to Reflect on Building Long-Term Relationships with Underserved Communities
September 18, 2024: What’s in a Story? Exploring Narrative to Capture and Explain Impact
October 30-31, 2024: Connecting the Dots with Your Project Plan
For more information on the Building Blocks series, visit https://lakesuperiornerr.org/coastal-training/buildingblocks/
River Walks
The River Walks series wrapped up with their last event on Thursday, October 3 with a walking tour of Wisconsin Point to highlight the restoration work being completed. This three part series provided attendees with tours of different parts of the estuary while also learning about land and water issues through an outdoor interactive experience. You can learn about the River Walks series, co-coordinated by Karina Heim and Kirsten Rhude, here: https://lakesuperiornerr.org/coastal-training/river-walks/#walking-tour
The reserve’s trusted flat-bottomed boat, R.D. Browne, docked at Clough Island with a view of Spirit Island in the distance
(photo credit: Callie Grones)
Wisconsin Conservation Corps at Clough Island
A Wisconsin Conservation Corps crew spent a week on Clough Island with Reserve staff pulling non-native buckthorn from a peninsula on the island. This area’s population of ash trees have been affected by Emerald Ash Borer, so the removal of the invasive buckthorn will allow for new trees to be planted. The dead buckthorn was pulled and was then piled. These piles will be burned in the wintertime. Thank you to Kirsten Rhude, Stewardship Coordinator for the Lake Superior Reserve, for her oversight and coordination of this important project.
Various project and community leaders speak at the Gibiskising minis celebration as community members listen
(photo credit: Deanna Erickson)
Gibiskising-minis azhe-dibinaweziwin
Reserve staff joined Thomas Howes, the Fond du Lac Natural Resources Manager, and community members to celebrate the opening of Gibiskising-minis azhe-dibinaweziwin, a restoration project between the Fond du Lac band of Lake Superior Chippewa and the Lake Superior Reserve. These partners are in the process of creating a restoration plan to steward 10.9 acres at the edge of Gibiskising minis (land bridge, Wisconsin Point). The intention of the project is to create an actionable plan to restore sand dunes, pine forests, medicinal plants, and cultural relationships. It is also intended to address damage from off road vehicles, illegal dumping, unplanned trails, and erosion. This project is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law through the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. To learn more about Gibiskising-minis azhe-dibinaweziwin, click here!
Fall/Winter Schedule for the Lake Superior Estuarium
(photo credit: Lake Superior Reserve)
The Lake Superior Estuarium has switched to fall/winter hours for the remainder of this year into 2025. We will be open every Friday and the first Saturday of the month from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Come explore this free exhibit hall perfect for people of all ages. Enjoy interactive displays, maps, and a children’s play area to learn about the St. Louis River estuary. Check out a virtual tour of the space here.
Lake Superior Estuarium:
3 Marina Drive, Superior, WI, 54880
Article by Callie Grones, edits by Deanna Erickson