Summer projects aim to improve Wisconsin Point habitat

Shelley Nelson, Superior Telegram, Wis.
·4 min read

Feb. 21—SUPERIOR — Wisconsin Point will see a flurry of activity starting in July as efforts to improve the habitat get underway.

Efforts include improving the habitat for marsh birds in Allouez Bay, addressing erosion on the beach at Lot 1 and starting research to develop a plan to improve the natural resiliency of Wisconsin Point.

The projects are collaborative efforts of national and regional organizations and federal, state and local government agencies.

The St. Louis River Estuary, which includes Allouez Bay, has been identified as one of 12 locations on the Great Lakes that is a priority region for the National Audubon Society. At least 240 bird species have been recorded with the estuary, including marsh birds such as Virginia rail and sora. However, marsh birds have been in decline and birds like the black tern have not been seen in the region since the 1990s, despite once having a breeding colony in Allouez Bay.

Planning to improve the habitat for marsh birds has been in the works since 2020 or 2021, said David Grandmaison, conservation manager with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

The DNR is managing the project with Audubon Great Lakes and working with many partners to improve the hemi-marsh (equal parts water and plant life) in the bay.

"It consists of two phases," Grandmaison said. "We're working currently, this season, on doing some on-the-ground work in the actual footprint of the existing wetland complex to ... improve habitat conditions."

The second phase will consist of planning for a broader restoration effort, Grandmaison said.

"Basically what we're trying to do

here in this phase of the project and future phases is to restore more hemi-marsh

," said Tom Prestby of Audubon Great Lakes. "That's one component. That's because these sensitive species are declining."

Starting in late July or early August, after bird nesting has occurred in the marsh, Prestby said the effort will focus on stopping the spread of invasive cattails and preserving native species of vegetation. Crews working with hand tools will cut the invasive cattails below the waterline to give high-quality native species a chance to thrive.

"We've got a busy year ahead," Prestby said.

This summer another project will focus on

erosion of the beach near Lot 1

from early July until October.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is dredging for the beneficial reuse of material for a beach nourishment project to address erosion on Wisconsin Point, said Linda Cadotte, Superior's parks, recreation and forestry director.

"They are proposing the material to be hydraulically placed via pipeline and pump based on the length of the requirement of 2.3 miles," Cadotte said. "Booster pumps are needed along the route in order to transmit that amount of material."

She said two pumps would be needed that could be placed at the rustic kayak and canoe launch and on the Allouez Bay side down a little way from Lot 1. Cadotte said they are looking at ramping so people can drive over the pipeline. She said the placement will be finalized once a contract is in place for the project.

During the project, Cadotte said access to the area will be closed for safety reasons. Cadotte said the beach to the right of Lot 1 would also be closed. The intent is to have the Makwa Ziibiins Miikana (Bear Creek Trail) open, but the secondary boardwalk would not be open.

Cadotte said the material has been tested and she's confident that it will remain onsite.

"The idea of beach nourishment is more of a temporary (solution)," Cadotte said. "That's why we're doing an overall resiliency study for Wisconsin Point, to figure out a longer-term solution."

Over the summer, the city is also planning to begin work to plan for long-term resiliency of Wisconsin Point.

A broader study will look at coastal processes on Wisconsin Point between Morrison Creek and the south entry, Grandmaison said. It will look at sediment dynamics and hydrodynamics, and information based on plant morphology and geomorphology, he said. Preliminary information showed a couple of areas where there is a lot of erosion.

"We're looking to understand that better so we can look at more of a long-term resilient solution," Grandmaison said.

As part of that planning, the city will take the lead to explore how the point is used by the public. Cadotte said the city is preparing to find a consultant to lead the effort.

"We'll be doing visitor-use assessments during this time, too," Cadotte said.