Partner groups report restorations, volunteer events and monitoring across the Lakeshore region

Multiple LNRP partner groups used the webinar to summarize 2025 activities and 2026 priorities, highlighting volunteer events, habitat restoration and education programs across the Lakeshore region.Eric Fowell, steering committee chair of the Niagara Escarpment Resource Network, described ledge tours, updates to an interactive geotour map (previously supported by a $50,000 Fox Cities Community Foundation grant), and plans for interpretive signage at about 14 sites. He said a canceled fall fundraiser reduced capacity and contributed to the resignation of a key steering committee member.Mark Nichols of Friends of Manitowoc River Watershed reported two large beach cleanups that mobilized 195 volunteers and removed 405 pounds of garbage, plus regular invasive‑weed pulls (138 pounds removed this year), storm‑drain marking and continued water monitoring through WAVE and TMDL programs. "We gathered 195 volunteers and ended up with 405 pounds of garbage," Mark said.Friends of Northpointe’s Laura Clem described planting roughly 1,300 native plants at a spring event, seed collection partnerships with Kohler company and Kohler High School, a public seed giveaway at Mead Public Library (Mar. 21) and plans for an Aug. 1 BioBlitz across three bluff sections with results posted to iNaturalist. Judy Hartle of Friends of Stony Brook recounted the group's origin in a 'trout in the classroom' program, easement work that opened access to 1.25 miles of stream, student releases of more than 3,000 trout (about half brook and half brown) and DNR confirmation of natural reproduction in 2021. "We have released over 3,000 trout, approximately half brook and half brown," Judy said. The group described ongoing rehab work and a planned next phase on the Gensler property.

What happens next: Partner groups will continue volunteer recruitments, plan the BioBlitz and fall brush removal events, proceed with geotourism map updates and seek capacity through recruitment and fundraising.