Project Update — Coastal Resilience Community Impact Project

Extreme precipitation events, coastal storms, and fluctuating water levels pose threats to Lake Michigan coastal communities. Flooding, erosion, and storm surge can threaten properties and impair infrastructure and other assets that are vital to the region’s economic security. Agricultural and urban runoff during heavy rain events can also impair water quality in receiving water bodies, further threatening recreation and tourism. Planning, preparing for and adapting to these and other climate change hazards can enhance community resilience and strengthen coastal economies.

Project Update — Carstens Lake Water Quality Improvement Project

The Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership (LNRP), Stantec, and the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point (UWSP) are collaborating to improve water quality in Carstens Lake and Lake Michigan. A study identified high phosphorus levels in Carstens Lake, leading to the construction of an offline sedimentation basin and the use of UWSP's sorption technology to reduce contamination. The project aims to protect the lakes, create wildlife habitat, and diversify land use. Construction is set to begin in fall 2023 with two years of monitoring. LNRP also plans to enhance a degraded wetland area for additional water quality benefits and habitat value.

Project Update — LNRP and Stantec Work Together on Projects in the Lakeshore Basin

LNRP and Stantec Consulting Services have created project summaries showcasing collaborative initiatives in the Lakeshore Basin. The summaries cover projects funded by the US Forest Service and the Wildlife Conservation Society's Climate Adaptation Fund, a regional Collaborative Phragmites Control Program, and the Amsterdam Dunes Preservation Area Habitat Restoration project. These projects aim to enhance coastal ecosystems, control invasive species, and protect critical habitats for migratory birds in the Lakeshore Basin.

Project summaries were developed to showcase several collaborative projects in the Lakeshore Basin.

LNRP Wraps Up Climate Adaptation Fund Efforts

LNRP secured funding in 2019 from the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Climate Adaptation Fund to support collective coastal resiliency efforts. Complementary to the multiple projects funded by US Forest Service grants, the effort uses tree plantings and collaborative education and outreach to address several issues that are emerging as critical challenges to the Lake Michigan coastal ecosystem.

LNRP Helps Lead Better Water Management at the Sheboygan Marsh

Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership (LNRP), a Wisconsin environmental nonprofit focused upon land and water conservation in the Lake Michigan basin, has recently led forward critical collaborative restoration work at the Sheboygan Marsh that will help protect fish and wildlife and improve recreational hunting, fishing, and bird-watching.

Lake Michigan Conservation Heroes to be Honored during Lake Michigan Day Event on August 13th

The Lake Michigan Stakeholders (LMS) have selected the individuals, organizations, businesses, and first nations it will celebrate for outstanding efforts to protect and enhance the lands and waters of the Lake Michigan basin. To honor and recognize their achievements and impacts, LMS will honor these Lake Michigan “Champions of Conservation” during the virtual Lake Michigan Day event on Friday, August 13th. Click on the image to learn more.

CCCDC Founders Recognized as Champions of Conservation

The Lake Michigan Stakeholders (LMS) organization has named Dick and Mary Smythe Champions of Conservation – a recognition that honors outstanding environmental achievements in Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan basin to restore, improve or enhance Lake Michigan or any of the watersheds that flow into it…

Champions of Conservation Awarded by Lake Michigan Stakeholders

This year's Champions of Conservation include a lifetime achievement award and four additional champions spanning a wide range of areas including a public education institution, a watershed group, a media reporter, and a group working on mitigating the impact of climate change.