Celebrating Lake Superior Day!
The Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve (FOLSR) make it our mission to celebrate Lake Superior everyday, but it is extra special when other coastal communities are celebrating, too. Saturday, July 19 and Sunday, July 20 were filled with important stewardship and celebration for the largest surface of freshwater on Earth!
Saturday, July 19
AmeriCorps member Callie poses with a large spotted knapweed plant removed from Wisconsin Point. (credit: Melissa Burke)
FOLSR teamed up with Reserve staff to help pull spotted knapweed from the habitat near parking lot #5 on Wisconsin Point. Spotted knapweed is non-local plant that uses a chemical in its roots to outcompete with other native plants. It is important to remove as much of this plant as possible before it begins spreading its seeds in late summer.
11 total participants pulled 139 lbs of spotted knapweed from the dune habitats of Wisconsin Point. Volunteers were educated about the plant prior to its removal and enthusiastically got to work keeping Wisconsin Point habitats healthy. Contractor bags full of the spotted knapweed plants were weighed to determine how much was removed from the environment.
The Spotted Knapweed Removal on Wisconsin Point was a part of the River Walks series. River Walks are hosted by the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve and feature educational opportunities to get outside and onto the estuary. You can learn more about the River Walks series by visiting the reserve’s website here: lakesuperiornerr.org/events-news
Volunteers work to remove spotted knapweed plants from Wisconsin Point. (credit: Callie Grones)
Sunday, July 20 - Lake Superior Day:
FOLSR joined the Lake Superior Reserve and many partner organizations for a Lake Superior Day celebration on Barker’s Island. Participants learned about all the work happening on the St. Louis River and Lake Superior. Community members could receive “passport activities” to interact with other organization and agencies in exchange for donated prizes. Community members could also participate in the North Shore SUP 4K race called “Paddle for the People” or grab some food from Superior Cubans food truck. The Lake Superior Estuarium was also opened to visitors.
Thank you to all who visited with FOLSR and others at Lake Superior Day! You can check out some additional news stories featuring some FOLSR folks and Reserve staff here:
FOLSR board members table at Lake Superior Day celebration. (credit: Callie Grones)
Northern News Now: Many celebrate Lake Superior Day with 8th annual Paddle for the People 4K
WDIO: Lake Superior Day filled with appreciation and education
Fox 21: Lake Superior Day Brings Great Appreciation
https://www.fox21online.com/2025/07/20/lake-superior-day-brings-great-appreciation/
Article by Callie Grones
Cover photo: Volunteers gather together with 139 lbs of removed spotted knapweed from Wisconsin Point (credit: Melissa Burke)