The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin Applauds Gov. Doyle for Recommending Lake Superior Estuary as Research Site

The St. Louis River Estuary is a Key Area for Wildlife Including Migratory Birds and Game Fish

MADISON, Wis. — May 30, 2008 — The Nature Conservancy commends Gov. Doyle for recommending today that the St. Louis River estuary be added to the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, a network of highly significant conservation areas that have been established for long-term research, water-quality monitoring, education and stewardship.

“It’s gratifying to see Gov. Doyle committed to establishing a National Estuarine Research Reserve on Lake Superior," said Matt Dallman, the Conservancy’s Director of Conservation for Northern Wisconsin. "This would benefit freshwater estuaries and coastal wetlands around the entire lake. The Nature Conservancy is part of a large coalition of communities, academic institutions, natural resource agencies and conservation groups that are working together to establish a National Estuarine Research Reserve on Lake Superior."

The reserve system is a partnership program between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and states. NOAA provides funding, guidance and technical assistance. Each reserve is managed by a state agency or a university with input provided by local partners. There are no federal regulations imposed as a result of reserve designation.

Old Woman Creek on Lake Erie in Ohio is currently the only freshwater estuary in the network of 27 estuarine areas. Estuaries are areas where freshwater empties into a large open body of water and they typically provide highly productive wildlife habitat.

“The St. Louis River estuary is a great choice as it is the largest wetland complex along Lake Superior's shore. It provides habitat for a large number of fish species including lake sturgeon, northern pike and walleye,” said Dallman, who works out of the Conservancy’s Northwoods Office in Minocqua. “The estuary is also an essential stopover and breeding site for migratory birds including songbirds, shorebirds and waterfowl. Since the estuary also provides the largest harbor and international port on the Great Lakes, it's a good place to study issues that have a much broader impact including the effects of aquatic invasive species, lake level changes and climate change.”

It’s uncertain when NOAA will act on Gov. Doyle’s recommendation but most site designations have taken between four and six years. Gov. Doyle officially started the process in 2004 when he notified NOAA of Wisconsin’s interest in a possible Lake Superior site.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 15 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 102 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. In Wisconsin, the Conservancy has helped conserve more than 140,000 acres since 1960. The Conservancy has more than 21,000 members in Wisconsin and offices in Madison, Baraboo, East Troy, Minocqua and Sturgeon Bay. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at nature.org/wisconsin.