Elevating Wisconsin's Niagara Escarpment
The Niagara Escarpment Resource Network (NERN) has been hard at work over the past 18 months to renew and re-invigorate its decades-long effort to build awareness and increase stewardship of this globally unique geologic resource. Formed in 1998, NERN joined LNRP’s efforts in 2010 to expand its ability to implement its mission and achieve its overall vision of a protected Niagara Escarpment corridor that provides economic, social, and environmental values for generations to come.
To advance its mission, NERN worked with the Appleton firm A2Z Design to develop a new organizational brand – WI LEDGE – which serves as an identifiable moniker to promote its five major focus areas:
WI LEDGE Geotourism
WI LEDGE Events
WI LEDGE Tours
WI LEDGE Learning
WI LEDGE Conservation
Along with its new tagline, “It’s Ledge-ndary”, the brand builds on the often-used vernacular term for the escarpment’s prominent cliff face. To promote the new effort, a fresh website – www.wiledge.org - was launched and progress has been made on two of these five focus areas: Geotourism and Events, as summarized below.
wi ledge geotourism
The Niagara Escarpment’s distinct geology – a 1,000+ mile-long exposed cliff face – influences the landscape surrounding it, thereby creating its own microcosm of natural splendor and ecological wonder. The new Geotourism Program will promote events and experiences related to the natural and cultural features along the escarpment corridor, allowing visitors and area residents alike to develop their own sense of place at a variety of destinations along the seven-county corridor. The program aims to boost local and regional economies by working in partnership with responsible businesses and organizations that promote community, culture, and the environment. Some examples of recent efforts and successes are described below:
Along with its new website, NERN has been developing an interactive, on-line ESRI StoryMap called the “WI LEDGE Rambler” which locates publicly accessible sites (parks, trails, natural areas, historic sites, and museums, etc.) along its 230-mile long corridor. The WI LEDGE Rambler StoryMap, being created by the Bay-Lake Regional Planning Commission, will also contain educational information about the Niagara Escarpment, as well as details about each identified site, links to upcoming events, and ultimately a listing of certified travel-related businesses that embrace sustainable practices in their daily operations.
Eric Fowle and Susan Kennedy, both members of NERN’s Steering Committee, were guests on the July 20, 2020 episode of the Larry Meiller Show on Wisconsin Public Radio. Both spoke about the importance of the Niagara Escarpment and the development of the WI LEDGE Geotourism Program, as well as fielding callers’ questions. Listen to the recorded version on WPR’s website here.
Creating an improved identity for the escarpment along its entire corridor is the goal of the Program’s Monument & Interpretive Sign Project. Working with state and local entities, NERN aims to install easily identifiable monument and interpretive signs at approximately 14 locations across seven counties in order to visually connect popular parks and natural areas while also providing the necessary educational and interpretive information about the feature for visitors. With the help of Thrive Architects in Waukesha, a set of conceptual signs have already been designed. In addition, a prominent monument sign celebrating the existence of the Wisconsin Ledge American Viticultural Area (AVA) – a federal designation for outstanding grape-growing areas – is being planned for Way-Morr County Park in Brown County, which is located in the exact center of the 2.4 million acre AVA. Brown County’s Recreation & Education Committee gave its preliminary approval for locating the sign in August of 2020 and fundraising for the sign is currently underway. The AVA’s 24 existing wineries are being asked to support most of the project’s costs with LedgeStone Vineyards, Trout Springs Winery, and Von Stiehl Winery, LedgeStone Winery, and Cold Country Vines & Wines already giving donations.
Our most exciting opportunity to promote the Niagara Escarpment corridor as a travel destination is NERN’s new partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Tourism. TravelWisconsin.com is the official website of the destination marketing organization for the State of Wisconsin. Their mission is to market the state as the Midwest's premier travel destination for fun by executing industry-leading marketing programs, providing reliable travel information and establishing strategic partnerships so that exceptional customer service can be delivered, hence generating a greater economic impact for Wisconsin. Their recognition of the Niagara Escarpment Corridor and the WI LEDGE effort as a multi-faceted tourism asset within the state puts us on par with the Great River Road (Mississippi River), the Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Parkway, and the Driftless Area of Southwestern Wisconsin. NERN plans to begin uploading content and building name recognition for WI LEDGE in the coming months, so keep an eye out for more!
wi ledge events
Special events help to showcase “The Ledge” and its many rich facets, engage the community in learning about its unique features, and building a sense of connection with the Niagara Escarpment. NERN has sponsored past events including: wine and food from within the specially designated viticultural area; one-of-a-kind guided group tours of the natural and historic features of the region, and; those focused on important issues related to the health and preservation of the Escarpment. While the Covid-19 pandemic has eliminated most events due to the risk of spread, NERN did decide to move forward with one of its main outdoor events:
On August 15, 2020 at the 8th Annual Wisconsin Ledge AVA Celebration, about 150 wine (and Ledge) enthusiasts came out to Trout Springs Winery (TSW - www.troutspringswinery.com) in southern Brown County to taste the bounty of the Niagara Escarpment in a safe outdoor environment. They not only enjoyed the fine wines made from grapes grown within the designated Wisconsin Ledge American Viticultural Area (AVA), but also the fine arts and crafts of the Water’s Edge Artists (https://watersedgeartists.com/) and Clay on Steele (www.clayonsteele.com). In addition, it was a special day for Trout Springs Winery owners Steve and Andrea DeBaker as a formal proclamation was made by State Senator Andre Jacques noting TSW as “the birthplace” of the Wisconsin Ledge AVA. In addition, a surprise cash donation to NERN was received from the Porsche Club of America – Fox Valley Region and TSW in support of NERN’s educational efforts.
We would like to thank our current AVA Celebration winery sponsors:
NERN’s recent accomplishments will undoubtedly yield even more opportunities to build awareness of, and a conservation ethic for, the Niagara Escarpment in Wisconsin. We hope that 2021 allows us to expand upon current efforts as well as create new opportunities for the public to experience all that the Niagara Escarpment corridor has to offer. We ask that you support NERN’s activities through direct donations via our website: www.wiledge.org. If you would like to partner with us, volunteer, lend your skills to a project, or serve on our Steering Committee, please reach out to Eric Fowle at eric@lnrp.org.
Enjoy the remaining days of fall color and, of course, Love the Ledge!
Related Links (Autumn Newsletter):
Niagara Escarpment Resource Network’s LNRP Partner Profile
Looking Forward to 2021 (and beyond!)…
Coastal Resiliency: EAB Mitigation and Coastal Infiltration with Trees