Wisconsin

Green Bay: Restoring a Great Lakes Treasure

Green Bay on Lake Michigan is one of The Nature Conservancy’s most important conservation priorities in Wisconsin and in the Great Lakes region.

  • The bay’s warmer, shallower waters make it the most productive part of Lake Michigan for fish and other aquatic life and an important stopover site for birds in migration.
  • One third of all the land that provides water to Lake Michigan through rivers and streams is located in Green Bay’s 10.6-million-acre watershed. More than 10 million people get their drinking water from Lake Michigan.
  • Green Bay is important for commercial and sport fishing and is popular with sailors, boaters and other outdoor enthusiasts.

The health of the bay is at risk from wetland loss, invasive species like zebra mussels, urban and agricultural run-off and shoreland development.

We are collaborating with citizens, public agencies, academic institutions and other nonprofit groups to find innovative solutions to the challenges facing Green Bay and restore its health for people and nature.

Explore our work in the Green Bay watershed!

UW Pike-researchersUniversity of Wisconsin researchers check northern pike traps in a ditch near Green Bay. © Matt Miller/TNC
If You Restore It, Will Pike Come?

New research sheds light on whether or not northern pike return to spawn in the streams where they are born and the implications for pike habitat restoration.

Researcher and northern pikeUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison researcher Dan Oele with northern pike. © University of Wisconsin-Madison
Answer In a Fish’s Ear

Pike ear stones are helping ID best places to improve fish passage in Great Lakes.

Seagull Bar LagoonGreen Bay Wetlands, Seagull Bar Lagoon © E.J. Judziewicz
New Green Bay Conservation Tool

This online tool can help guide wetland protection and restoration of fish spawning habitat.

Green Bay AerialGreen Bay, Wisconsin © Mark Godfrey/TNC
World Water Day

Nicole Van Helden’s guest column on being a friend to Green Bay on World Water Day.

Green Bay Road Stream Crossing WorkshopParticipants at a road-stream crossing workshop collect data on the size of pebbles and other stream bed material, which they will need to design an artificial stream bed through the culvert. © Mike Grimm/TNC
Helping Pike Cross the Road

Identifying and removing barriers to fish migration will give northern pike a fighting chance.

Green BayGreen Bay, Wisconsin © Mark Godfrey/TNC
Green Bay Watershed

See why the bay is special and what we’re doing to restore its health.

Nicole Van HeldenNicole Van Helden, Green Bay Watershed project director. © Phil Van Helden
Meet Nicole Van Helden

Meet our Green Bay Watershed project director and see what she's working on.

Mark MaricqueMark Marique, Green Bay commercial fisherman © Yolanda Maricque
Fishing Green Bay

Mark Maricque continues to fish the waters of Green Bay despite the challenges.

Green HeronGreen heron © Michael McDowell

See a cool slideshow of the unique landscapes, plants and animals in the Green Bay watershed!

Green Bay Watershed MapMap of Green Bay watershed © TNC

Map of the Green Bay Watershed Enlarge image

Read More

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Arden OConnor 215x143Arden O’Connor. © Lajla LeBlanc

Nature Matters

Hear some of nature's success stories and see how nature matters to us all. Watch videos

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