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Where the River
Meets the Lake
| FOLSR Newsletter | Spring 2025 | | Puppet lantern enters the 15th Annual St. Louis River Summit. (credit: Michael Anderson) | | |
Hello Michael,
Smelt are running upstream and birds are winging their way north. On the home front, a particularly combative robin has taken up a fight with a reflection of himself, despite my efforts to broker peace. Spring is full of motion and commotion as it should be.
What makes this spring different, however, is the commotion happening federally. Changes within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ... happening and proposed ... underscore the urgency of the following two asks:
ASK 1
Today, please contact your U.S. elected officials and ask them to support NOAA's National Estuarine Research Reserve System, of which the Lake Superior Reserve is a part. The Reserve System is on the chopping block and may struggle to keep the lights on beyond November 2025. Among other exceptional qualities, the Lake Superior Reserve is a trusted source for local water health information and an award-winning leader for delivering resources and place-based education programs to coastal communities.
ASK 2
Volunteer to be a Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve board member. We need you. The Lake Superior Reserve needs you. The board meets monthly to organize events; to make decisions about spending, communications and logistics; and to strategize about volunteer recruitment and how best to support the Lake Superior Reserve. If interested, please send your contact information and a brief summary of your background to: outreach@FOLSR.org.
Thank you for your time and attention. Please check out our website:
folsr.org
We hope to see you around the Lake Superior Reserve this season.
Your Friend,
Sharon, FOLSR Board Chair
The mission of the Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve is to support the vitality and effectiveness of the Lake Superior Reserve. We do this through fundraising, advocating on behalf of the Reserve and engaging community members in the Reserve’s work.
| | Everyone Can Bird! 2025 series | | |
It's about that time again when birds of all kinds will be making the great return to the Northland. That means it's time for some spring, summer, and fall birding with the Everyone Can Bird! crew.
Three events have been scheduled at various places along the estuary with accessibility in mind for all bird lovers.
The first event is on Sunday, May 4, 9:30 - 11:30 am in Chambers Grove Park, Duluth, MN. More information on free transportation and accessibility features are available on the website linked below.
Everyone Can Bird! is a free event series hosted annually in partnership between Wisconsin Sea Grant, Lake Superior Reserve, Embark Supported Employment, Duluth Parks & Rec, Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory, Minnesota Land Trust, and the Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve.
| | Beach Cleanup at Wisconsin Point | | |
Once again, the Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve are hosting a beach cleanup on Wisconsin Point. WI Point is such a special place beloved by the community. We want to do our part to keep it clean and healthy for the habitat and humans alike.
The spring beach cleanup is on Saturday, May 17 from 9:30 am - 12 pm. We'll meet at Lot #1, Wisconsin Point Road, and disperse from there to clean the beaches and shorelines. Equipment, light snacks, and water will be provided.
The Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve host two beach cleanups per year, one in fall and one in spring. We have adopted the beaches of Wisconsin Point through the City of Superior's Adopt-A-Park program.
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Lake Superior Estuarium
Upcoming Activities and Volunteer Docent Training
| | Community members engaging with the interactive map in the Estuarium (credit: Lake Superior Reserve) | | |
The Lake Superior Reserve education team is getting ready for summer fun in the Lake Superior Estuarium. Stay tuned for an expanded summer schedule starting in June.
The summer schedule will be posted online at this link here: CLICK HERE.
Currently, the Estuarium is open on every Friday and the first Saturday of the month from 10 am - 2 pm. Extra activities are planned for the first Saturday.
Upcoming first Saturday activities include:
- May 3: Birding with binoculars
- June 7: Summer plants
- July 5: "Bee" a friend to pollinators
Explore this FREE exhibit hall, which has a play area for young children, as well as maps and information about the St. Louis River Estuary, Lake Superior, and the surrounding community.
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Volunteer docents Cheryl and Jim in front of the Estuarium (credit: Callie Grones)
“Anybody can be a volunteer and be a member of FOLSR. It is fun, and you meet interesting people who share an interest with you. You have the opportunity to serve your community, be curious, and learn something new about one of our great natural resources.”
-Jim Haasis (Estuarium volunteer docent and FOLSR board member)
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The Lake Superior Estuarium relies on a handful of wonderful volunteer docents. What do docents do? They:
- Greet people coming into the Estuarium.
- Talk with visitors about the St. Louis River estuary and the work of the Lake Superior Reserve.
- Manage the Estuarium building during open hours.
Interested in becoming a docent?
Participate in a training.
Option 1: Tuesday, May 27, 10 - 11:30 am
or
Option 2: Saturday, May 31, 10 - 11:30 am
The Lake Superior Reserve education staff and the Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve encourage community members who want to make a difference to volunteer.
| | What's New at Lake Superior Reserve? | | Lake Superior Reserve staff and researchers gather in front of a puppet lantern at the 15th Annual St. Louis River Summit (credit: Luciana Ranelli) | | |
Callie Grones, the AmeriCorps volunteer that serves both the Reserve and Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve, said,
"Sometimes, I get asked if things have slowed down at work. My answer is always the same: The work never stops at the Lake Superior Reserve!"
As the season changes, staff are prepping for the field season and the arrival of seasonal workers to help with research, education, outreach, and stewardship. Events to look forward to include a series of River Walks, and an upcoming algal I.D. training hosted by Lake Superior Reserve research, monitoring, and coastal training staff. Learn more about the work of the Lake Superior Reserve by clicking the link below.
| | An Estuary in the Balance Recap | | |
Jim Anklam (past chair of the Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve) gives the FOLSR annual update to Annual Meeting attendees.
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Despite the seemingly arctic conditions of the Twin Ports on February 18, the annual Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve gathering was a success. About 50 community members braved the cold to enjoy good food, good company and an inspiring presentation by John Shepard, Associate Professor at Hamline University and creator of the documentary A Sea Change for Superior.
During the membership meeting, Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve board members and Reserve staff presented updates and talked about opportunities to get involved.
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Celebrating the Estuary Mosaic at the
St. Louis River Summit
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FOLSR members actively participated in the 15th Annual St. Louis River Summit in March. Board members helped gather sponsorships and organized a successful decision-maker session.
This year's theme was An Estuary Mosaic: Understanding the Pieces, Appreciating the Whole. Nearly 300 community members and natural resources professionals attended the conference at the Yellowjacket Union at UW-Superior to learn about the research, restoration, and community building work happening along the St. Louis River.
The St. Louis River Summit is organized annually by the Lake Superior Reserve staff.
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left - Panelists for the keynote event "Water, We Respect You" discuss tribal sovereignty and water quality in the St. Louis River. (credit: Michael Anderson)
right - About 300 attendees of the St. Louis River Summit watch a presentation. (credit: Michael Anderson)
| | A message from our birding friends | | |
FOLSR got a letter from some friends! Laura and Steve LaValley are avid birders in Superior, Wis., and help FOLSR coordinate the Superior circle of Audubon's Christmas Bird Count. They write ...
Many thanks to Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve for being a friend to the Superior Audubon Christmas Bird Count, in 2023 and 2024. Originated in 2012, the Superior CBC needed a stable online contact point, as well as publicity to round up more participants, and FOLSR has filled those needs well. Having the Estuarium to meet at and pick up maps is a bonus!
We hope for a great 2025 in Superior with more joining in the challenge!
Laura LaValley teaches novice birders
during Christmas Bird Count (credit: Callie Grones)
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FOR YOUR CALENDAR Spring and Summer 2025
Sunday, May 4, 9:30-11:30am
Everyone Can Bird! Spring Migration
Chambers Grove Park, Duluth, MN
Saturday, May 17, 9:30am-12pm
WI Point Spring Beach Cleanup
WI Point Lot #1, Superior, WI
Tuesday, May 27, 10-11:30am
Estuarium Docent Training, OPTION 1
Lake Superior Estuarium (3 Marina Drive, Superior, WI, 54880)
Saturday, May 31, 10-11:30am
Estuarium Docent Training, OPTION 2
Lake Superior Estuarium (3 Marina Drive, Superior, WI, 54880)
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Saturday, July 19
Spotted Knapweed Pull
WI Point, Superior, WI
Sunday, July 20
Lake Superior Day
Barker's Island, Superior, WI
Thursday, August 21
Everyone Can Bird!
TBD, Duluth, MN
| |  | | | Introduction by Sharon Moen; Newsletter articles by Callie Grones; A message from our birding friends by Laura LaValley | | Comments or questions? We'd love to hear from you! | | | | |
Email us at outreach@folsr.org
Call us at 715-399-4095
FOLSR.ORG
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