What’s new at the Reserve? January 2024 Update
There are always amazing things happening at the LSNERR! Look below for the latest highlights.
In November, Reserve Monitoring Coordinator Hannah Ramage was awarded the National Estuarine Research Reserve System's (NERRS) Technical Service Award, recognizing her for technical skills and support for the System-Wide Monitoring Program and data management. Congrats, Hannah!
Ganawenindiwag (Ojibwe for "they take care of each other"), a resource which empowers users to grow, promote, and use plants adapted to coastal areas of Gichigami (Lake Superior), was released at the end of 2023. This awesome project was initiated by Karina Heim, Coastal Training Program Coordinator at the Reserve, in collaboration with the Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC), the Lake Superior Research Institute, and UW-Madison Division of Extension Natural Resources Institute. Learn more about Ganawenindiwag or order your own copy here on the Reserve website!
Dr. Kait Reinl, Research Coordinator at the Reserve, has also had projects in the works. Kait is the lead on a new project partnering with seven other Reserves across the US to quantify estuary ecosystem dynamics and identify trends along an ecological gradient using long-term datasets collected from the NERRS national water quality monitoring program. This approach includes a graduate level course in partnership with the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Graduate students will lead water quality analyses in collaboration with each of the Reserves. Click here for more information about the project.
Not long ago, Reserve Director Deanna Erickson was appointed by the Department of Commerce undersecretary for oceans and atmosphere, Dr. Rick Spinrad, to serve a four-year term on NOAA's inaugural Marine and Coastal Area-based Management Advisory Committee! Here, Deanna will advise coastal conservation under America the Beautiful, the ambitious US effort to conserve 30% of land and water by 2030. Learn more about the committee and meet its members here. Congrats, Deanna!
Recently, the Reserve was also involved in the creation of “A Sea Change for Superior” - A PBS documentary utilizing prominent Indigenous and scientific voices in our community to spread awareness and action regarding the rapid warming of Lake Superior. The documentary is part of a multi-faceted education and stewardship initiative that is raising awareness and mobilizing public action to help keep Superior cold, clear, and clean. Check it out here - you might just see some familiar faces!