5th Annual St. Louis River Summit at UWS
By Deanna Erickson
SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve (Lake Superior NERR) is holding its annual St. Louis River Summit Mar. 31 – Apr.1 at the University of Wisconsin-Superior in the Yellowjacket Union. More than 35 speakers over two days will present information about progress on projects related to the river environment, society, and the economy.
“This is the fifth annual summit, which speaks to its value as an information-sharing event,” said Erika Washburn, Lake Superior NERR manager. “The condition of the St. Louis River Estuary is improving as we learn more about it and cooperate in its research and care.”
Summit keynote speaker March 31, David Ullrich
After welcoming comments by state and federal legislators and local dignitaries, keynote speaker Dave Ullrich with the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative will look to the future with a talk about habitat restoration progress in the Great Lakes region. Day two keynote speaker John Jensen with the University of Rhode Island will offer a look to the past with a discussion of how people have shaped the region. Jensen will also offer summit closing remarks.
A free public evening talk, “The St. Louis River in Your own Words,” will feature Lizzie Condon discussing results of interviews she conducted with St. Louis River Estuary stakeholders. It is being held as part of the popular monthly River Talk series at 7:30 p.m. at the Lake Superior NERR Learning Center on Barker’s Island.
Summit keynote speaker April 1, John Jensen.
The goal of the summit is to share information about the St. Louis River among people in the community, students, scientists, educators, industry, and natural resource managers. Other summit presentations involve wild rice restoration plans, Interstate Island, the 40th Ave. W. habitat restoration project, fish consumption and mercury, and rehabilitation of waterfront docking areas. A poster session will take place the end of the day on Mar. 31.
Pre-registration is required. The cost is $20, which includes lunches and refreshments. To register and see the agenda, visit http://lsnerr.uwex.edu/.
Sponsors include Cardno, Enbridge, the Lake Superior NERR, the Large Lakes Observatory, Marine Tech, Minnesota Land Trust, Minnesota Sea Grant, Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, W. J. McCabe Chapter of the Izaak Walton League, University of Wisconsin Extension, University of Wisconsin-Superior, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The Yellowjacket Union is located at 1605 Catlin Ave. on the UW-Superior campus. For maps and directions go to uwsuper.edu/maps.
Reporters, photographers and videographers are invited to cover this event.
Media Contact: Deanna Erickson, Lake Superior NERR Education Coordinator, (715) 392-3141, or email: deanna.erickson@ces.uwex.edu
