The Interconnectedness of Conservation and Public Health

A healthy environment contributes to our overall well-being, makes us more resilient to disease, and helps prevent illness. Ecosystems around the world provide us with the food we eat, water we drink, air we breathe, and all other everyday essentials that sustain us; everything we have and are is from nature. Environmental conservation is an important public health strategy because it positively impacts the six dimensions of human health: social, physical, mental, emotional, environmental, and spiritual.

Lakeshore Natural Resource PartnershipSeptember 10, 2024Intern, Mary Nelmark, Public Health, Trees, Beach Cleanup

Adapting to Change: Collaborative & Science-Driven Reforestation for Coastal Resilience

The Great Lakes region is facing a growing array of challenges from the continual spread of invasive pests to a warming climate that brings with it new extreme weather patterns. These issues are placing unprecedented strain on our coastal habitats, endangering the ecological health of areas critical to migratory birds and other wildlife. With funding from the U.S. Forest Service and Wildlife Conservation Society, LNRP is working with a team of consultants, nonprofits, municipalities, and community members to spearhead a comprehensive tree planting initiative that tackles these environmental threats head-on.

The Crescent Crew: Volunteers Championing Long-Term Invasive Species Control

Nestled along the shores of Lake Michigan, Crescent Beach in Algoma is a beloved destination for locals and visitors alike. However, maintaining the beauty and ecological health of this valued community space requires continuous effort, especially in the battle against invasive species. Enter the Friends of Crescent Beach (FOCB) and their dedicated volunteer group, the Crescent Crew, who have taken up the challenge of restoring and preserving the natural habitat of Crescent Beach.

LNRP Summer Update: Shared Waters, Shared Efforts

One of my summer reads is the amazing book Braiding Sweetgrass, in which author Robin Wall Kimmerer weaves together Indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge, and the teachings of plants. Her deep discussions concerning the importance of the relationships we have with people and the land reflects the core values we hold dear at LNRP. She writes, “Restoring land without restoring relationships is an empty exercise. It is a relationship that will endure and a relationship that will sustain the restored land.” For LNRP, the work of caring for our lands and waters has only been possible because of the relationships that we’ve fostered over 21 years with passionate grassroots organizations, engaged community members, and effective government leaders.

LNRP's Land Acknowledgment Statement

LNRP’s Land Acknowledgement Statement, along with our Biodiversity Statement, provide fundamental guiding principles for our work and the work of the 17 partner groups that make up the LNRP family. These principles reflect a deep respect for Indigenous cultures and their historical connection to the land. They also underscore the valuable insights traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) offers for contemporary conservation efforts.

Lakeshore Natural Resource PartnershipAugust 7, 2024Values, Land Acknowledgement, First Nations

Project Update — Carstens Lake Sedimentation and Treatment Basin with Sorption Technology

LNRP secured a DNR Lake Management Planning grant to provide the necessary framework for water quality improvement projects in Carstens Lake. Improvements to land use practices to reduce phosphorus and other nonpoint source pollutant inputs are underway; however, additional work was needed to improve Carstens Lake water quality. The subsequent 2018 Carstens Lake Comprehensive Management Plan recommended several structures adjacent to Pine Creek for water quality treatment to mitigate phosphorus loading in Carstens Lake.

ProjectLakeshore Natural Resource PartnershipJune 4, 2024Carstens Lake, MCLA, 2024

Program Highlight — Trout in the Classroom: Connecting Students to Calumet County’s only Cold-Water Trout Stream

Trout in the Classroom (TIC) is a nationally recognized program and curriculum aiming to bridge classroom education with the natural world, fostering environmental stewardship in the process. In 2016, community reconnection to Stony Brook began with bringing the Trout in the Classroom program to Chilton School District (CSD). Since then, Oshkosh Area School District has joined CSD in adopting this valuable program that teaches students how to raise trout and assess their habitat conditions in Stony Brook.

Project Highlight — Transforming the Valley Creek Corridor through Collaborative Planning & Public Engagement

The City of Port Washington is embarking on an exciting watershed-scale initiative to revitalize Valley Creek, a crucial tributary flowing into Lake Michigan. This project aims to tackle the challenges facing Valley Creek using innovative, nature-based solutions. The goal is to not only stabilize the stream’s condition, but also strengthen the surrounding ecosystem and community by building climate resilience and improving public access.

LNRP Spring Update: Conservation in Full Bloom!

With the spring blooming of Forsythia, the LNRP team has been embarking on a campaign of restoration site visits, partner engagements, tabling events, speeches, town meetings, and so much more! Consider this letter as your Season Pass to come out and join us or our dedicated partner groups for a myriad of community events and volunteer opportunities. We invite you to get your boots dirty, meet some amazing people, and engage in work that truly improves the lives of everyone in your community.

Sheboygan Receives Grant to Plant Trees

“The City of Sheboygan is one of twelve communities around the state to receive a grant aimed at planting more trees. The city is set to receive $5,000 from Alliant Energy’s One Million Trees initiative to help repopulate county parks with trees…”

PressZFMK CreativeApril 1, 2024Sheboygan, Trees, Grants

PODCAST: Planting Trees with Jeff Lutsey and the Big Plant

“The partners that make up the Big Plant aim to add 10,000 trees to the peninsula landscape in April. Coordinator Jeff Lutsey of the Climate Change Coalition joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about his path the CCC, the value of trees and how to make a difference one root at a time…”

Retired Rambler: Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership

“(WFRV)- Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership provides strategic planning, networking, support, and more to the Wisconsin Ledge…”

Nearly $50K in Water Protection Grants Awarded to Sheboygan County Initiatives by State DNR

PressZFMK CreativeFebruary 16, 2024Sheboygan, Wisconsin DNR, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

City of Manitowoc Looks to Beautify the Lakeshore

“The City of Manitowoc is looking to beautify a section of the city near the lakeshore. The Public Infrastructure Committee heard from Parks Planner Brock Wetenkamp earlier this month as he was looking for approval of funding for the restoration of Maritime Bluff, located along Maritime Drive…”

PressZFMK CreativeFebruary 15, 2024Manitowoc

Project Update — National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Grant Supports Valley Creek Corridor Restoration, Resilience, and Community Benefits

The City of Port Washington received a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to start designing restoration plans for the Valley Creek Corridor. The Valley Creek Corridor has been experiencing excessive bank erosion which damages infrastructure, degrades native fish habitat, and poses health and safety risks. LNRP has been working with the City of Port Washington to secure funding for this project, and has been subcontracted with these funds to implement education and outreach programs. Ultimately this project has the potential to improve water quality and habitat, significantly reduce the risk of flooding, and increase safety and accessibility of this valuable public green space.

Project Update — West Foundation Supports LNRP Projects in the Manitowoc River Basin

This year, LNRP received a grant from the West Foundation, which funds work in the Manitowoc River Basin. With this generous support, LNRP will be able to increase investment in ongoing initiatives in this region, expand support through our partner groups, and leverage additional funds for project grants. These funds help make possible projects ranging from small-scale, educational initiatives like Trout in the Classroom to large-scale, multi-stakeholder projects like the Coastal Resiliency Community Impact Project (CRCIP). LNRP thanks the West Foundation for their support of our work, and their contribution to the health and vitality of the Manitowoc River Basin.

Water, Water, Everywhere! A Message from Executive Director Mike Mullen

Navigating the successful work of 2023 has left LNRP in an amazing position for 2024 and the critical work that lies ahead! Working side by side with our partner groups, we strive to protect fragile natural resources, forge working relationships with agricultural communities, support practices that positively impact climate change, and control invasive species to promote habitat biodiversity. This critical work involves people, funding, resources and a whole lot of passion.

A Regional Approach to Controlling the Spread of Invasive Phragmites

Invasive species can cause widespread damage to ecosystems, reducing overall health, biodiversity, and climate resilience. That’s why a collaborative team called the Lakeshore Invasive Species Management Area (LISMA) has been working on invasive Phragmites control efforts for over 10 years throughout northeast Wisconsin. Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership (LNRP), Glacierland Resource Conservation & Development Council (RC&D), Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance, and Stantec Consulting Services Inc. are championing LISMA to protect and enhance the resiliency of the Great Lakes region through an innovative, grassroots approach.

LNRP's Statement on Biodiversity

LNRP developed a biodiversity statement to guide, inform, and re-affirm our commitment to fostering biodiversity in our conservation and restoration work. We also created a short video to showcase the importance of biodiversity, how it connects to our work, and how you can be part of protecting it.

Lakeshore Natural Resource PartnershipJanuary 22, 2024Biodiversity, Values

Letter of Introduction from Executive Director Mike Mullen

Joining the LNRP team as it celebrates 20 years of cultivating conservation, collaboration, and community is both an honor and a privilege. I am honored to continue the mission of supporting dozens of community-based partners and privileged to lead this organization and its amazing staff into the next decade. Supporting our mission for the next decade has never been more important as we focus on the vital natural resources that exist from the “Ledge to the Lakeshore.”

Lakeshore Natural Resource PartnershipDecember 4, 2023Executive Director, Mike Mullen