NEWS + UPDATES

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.

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.

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.

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.

Twenty years ago, Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership (LNRP) was founded with the belief that the Lakeshore Basin's best hope lay in people reaching across fences to "foster partnerships, cultivate projects, promote discussion, and advocate for a balance between land use and natural resource conservation and protection". We hope you will join us in celebrating our 20th anniversary by helping to support the next chapter of LNRP through a charitable gift.

Given annually in recognition of Tom Ward for years of dedicated and inspirational service to our Lakeshore communities, the Ward Award honors individuals, landowners, businesses, and local units of government for leadership of collaborative efforts to control and eradicate invasive species in the Lakeshore region of Wisconsin. This year, the 3rd annual Ward award goes to Tony Fessler, representing Restoration of our Trees Sheboygan (ROOTS).

The Door County Soil and Water Conservation Department (SWCD) is conducting a study to evaluate post-drawdown conditions of the Forestville Millpond. Results will be used to assess changes in water quality, clarity, depth, aquatic plant community, and the overall health of the waterbody. Project deliverables will include a final report on the collected data and an analytical comparison to historic results.

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.

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.

Twenty years ago, Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership (LNRP) was founded with the belief that the Lakeshore Basin's best hope lay in people reaching across fences to "foster partnerships, cultivate projects, promote discussion, and advocate for a balance between land use and natural resource conservation and protection". We hope you will join us in celebrating our 20th anniversary by helping to support the next chapter of LNRP through a charitable gift.

Given annually in recognition of Tom Ward for years of dedicated and inspirational service to our Lakeshore communities, the Ward Award honors individuals, landowners, businesses, and local units of government for leadership of collaborative efforts to control and eradicate invasive species in the Lakeshore region of Wisconsin. This year, the 3rd annual Ward award goes to Tony Fessler, representing Restoration of our Trees Sheboygan (ROOTS).

The Lakeshore Water Institute, a collaboration between Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership (LNRP) and UW-Green Bay Manitowoc, hosted the annual Lakeshore Water Summit on Wednesday, October 11th. The summit provided a forum for students, who call themselves the “Stream Team,” to present on data that they collected and analyzed over the summer.

The LMS Lake Michigan Champion of Conservation awards program recognizes and honors the outstanding achievements in several categories. Nominations are open to any group, program, organization, business, or individual located in the Lake Michigan Basin.

Amy Lentz joins the LNRP team with 8 years of experience in non-profit work, primarily in Milwaukee County. Those positions focused on environmental education, youth mentorship, and science communications, as well as political organizing. She has a M.S from UW- Milwaukee’s School of Freshwater Sciences and a B.S from UW-Madison in Environmental Science and History.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Spring has sprung – and with it, all the requisite synonyms we all use to describe this time of year.  

Rebirth. Reawakening. Renewal. Rejuvenation. Regeneration. Revival. And yes, Restoration.

All of the above words certainly connect intimately to our LNRP mission. Really, they capture the essence of the transformative community-focused, conservation-based work we do with our partners, friends, and supporters like you…

Amy Lentz joins the LNRP team with 8 years of experience in non-profit work, primarily in Milwaukee County. Those positions focused on environmental education, youth mentorship, and science communications, as well as political organizing. She has a M.S from UW- Milwaukee’s School of Freshwater Sciences and a B.S from UW-Madison in Environmental Science and History.

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.

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.

“(WFRV) – For 20 years, they’ve been working to improve and protect the land and water surrounding Lake Michigan.

Retired Rambler Steve DeBaker visits Local 5 Live along with Tom Mlada, Executive Director for the Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership with more on the important work happening in this unique section of Wisconsin.

Wiledge.org is the place to learn more about Wisconsin Ledge and connect with the Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership at lnrp.org.”

“Baileys Harbor resident Jeff Lutsey has been named executive director of the Climate Change Coalition of Door County, taking a new position in what has been a volunteer-driven organization since its founding 10 years ago…”

“A potentially familiar face to you has been selected as the new leader of the Climate Change Coalition of Door County…”

In response to the challenge of climate change, LNRP launched the Coastal Resiliency Community Impact Project (CRCIP) in late 2020 and spent 2021 engaging Lake Michigan’s coastal communities. We believe this Coastal Resiliency opportunity will prove valuable resources to our municipal partners working to identify, plan, fund, and execute relevant community projects.

Lake Michigan coastal and riparian communities have been significantly impacted by land-use changes; therefore, restoring these unique ecosystems and reducing impacts from land conversion, erosion, pollution, and fragmentation are critical. Forests along the Lake Michigan coastline absorb severe impacts from a changing climate, including intense challenges to birds and wildlife and changes in weather patterns. LNRP will address climate impacts such as warmer, longer growing seasons, milder winters, increased frequency of heavy precipitation, higher fire risk, and the amplification of forest health stressors such as pests and invasive species.

Management techniques such as prescribed fire, removal and control of invasive species, and planting native trees, shrubs, and herbs are needed to maintain and enhance ecological health. The establishment of diverse native vegetation and year-round cover on this Property will result in increased foraging and nesting habitat for native wildlife species.

On Saturday, September 18th and Sunday, September 19th almost 75 volunteers descended on five separate City of Manitowoc beaches for one of our many annual Beach Clean-ups. These hands-on activities (literally) allow members of the general public to take part in an important seasonal ritual…

ALGOMA - Friends of Crescent Beach is seeking donations to support the 25-year-old Crescent Beach Boardwalk. The group also hopes to compile a history of the boardwalk and create a revolving capital fund for boardwalk maintenance and improvements…

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) – When your fall color tour of Sheboygan County reveals large swaths of already-bare trees, then you’re likely not seeing signs of early autumn, but the work of the Emerald Ash Borer, a small beetle which kills ash trees in a few short years when the larvae eat the tree’s sap-carrying tissue beneath the bark…

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…

MANITOWOC (WLUK) -- It's one of the largest bodies of water on the planet. Lake Michigan is part of the Great Lakes, a vital water system for the region, the country and beyond. Environmental challenges and success were highlighted at the 7th annual lake Michigan Day summit…

Local Climate Change Coalition founders talk about their efforts to help create a more sustainable future. During the 2012 presidential debates, Sister Bay resident Dick Smythe recalls being profoundly disappointed not hearing any discussion about climate change. Smythe considers himself a lifelong environmentalist and environmental researcher, and has always been fond of the outdoors…

Landowners are invited to attend a series of free public workshops to learn more about why Phragmites is a problem and how private landowners are benefiting from participating in an exciting regional program working to control these invasive plants…

The city said in a news release that it is partnering with Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership, Friends of Manitowoc River and Stantec Consulting Services, Inc., to perform ecological restoration within portions of Lower Henry Schuette Park, 3800 Broadway Street…

MANITOWOC, Wis. (WFRV) – The City of Manitowoc announced on Wednesday that it is partnering with Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership, Friends of Manitowoc River, and Stantec Consulting Services, Inc. to perform ecological restoration at the Lower Henry Schuette Park…

“LNRP, a large umbrella non-profit, was seeking to refresh their outdated website with something that would get people engaged, provide benefit to their partners, and improve their efforts of conservation in Northeast, Wisconsin. Each year ZFMK Creative helps continue this transformation with updates and new features.”