Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve

Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve Research, education, outreach and stewardship on the St. Louis River estuary.

Mission: The Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve works in partnership to improve the understanding of Lake Superior’s coast and estuaries. We address issues affecting the watershed through integration of research, education, outreach, and stewardship.

This is a great opportunity to shape the future of Superior's water access!
06/15/2026

This is a great opportunity to shape the future of Superior's water access!

Join us this Thursday, June 18 from 5:00-6:30pm for a walking tour of the 44th Avenue East Dock, formerly known as the Bunge Dock.

Hosted by the St. Louis River Alliance, the City of Superior, and Stantec, this “Old Dock – New Era” event invites the community to consider the future of the 44th Avenue East Waterfront Access Project. This is a community-driven effort to reimagine a former industrial dock on Allouez Bay as a safe, welcoming public waterfront space.

Know before you go:
🌿 This walk is approximately 1.5 miles long on flat gravel roads.
🌿 A shuttle will be available for participants with mobility needs.
🌿 Light snacks and refreshments will be provided.
🌿 This event is free and open to all ages!
🌿 Please register here: https://forms.gle/UXuYyVvkkrRpTXAh9

What would you like to see as the future 44th Ave E waterfront site in Superior?
Please share your feedback by completing this quick survey:
tinyurl.com/44-ave-dock

The Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve will host an AmeriCorps member as their Lake Superior Outreach Coordinator from...
06/14/2026

The Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve will host an AmeriCorps member as their Lake Superior Outreach Coordinator from September 2026-August 2027 (with the option to renew for a second year). This is an amazing opportunity for someone to gain experience in the environmental field- it includes non-profit administration, education and outreach, and land & water stewardship all rolled into one!

Image: A group of people wearing gloves celebrates the successful removal of hundreds of pounds of invasive plants from Wisconsin Point. Text reads: Serve with AmeriCorps through the Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve. Lake Superior Outreach Coordinator position now open! Applications accepted on a rolling basis, no later than July 30, 2026. Visit the FOLSR website and click news to learn more.

06/12/2026

We sure had an amazing day on the water with Paddle and Portage and the St. Louis River Alliance! Thank you for spreading the word about the resurgence of Chi-gami ziibi, the St. Louis River estuary, and this remarkable National Water Trail. Check out the podcast wherever you download and listen!

We're a little safer out on the water now that staff are Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder certified! T...
06/04/2026

We're a little safer out on the water now that staff are Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder certified! Thanks Longleaf Wilderness Medicine, for your excellent instruction.

The Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve is hiring an AmeriCorps member as their new Community Outreach Coordinator! Fur...
06/03/2026

The Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve is hiring an AmeriCorps member as their new Community Outreach Coordinator!

Further details are available on their website at f o l s r .org.

Location: Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve, 14 Marina Drive, Barkers Island, Superior, Wisconsin, 54480. Some work activities may take place at regional field sites.

Position Duration: 14 September 2026 - 31 August 2027

Compensation: Living stipend of approximately $20,400; health, vision and dental insurance; low-to-no cost childcare assistance; eligibility for an educational credit of $7,395, No-cost dorm housing for AmeriCorps member available upon request.

Estimated Hours per Week: 36

Position Description: The Friends of Lake Superior Reserve (FOLSR) and the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve (Reserve) seek a community-driven individual wanting to develop non-profit administration and outreach skills. This AmeriCorps position works to enhance the well-being and physical health in the City of Superior and Lake Superior region by building stewardship opportunities and stronger connections to the outdoors in partnership with FOLSR and the Reserve, both located on Barkers Island in Superior, Wisconsin.

This position involves communicating through a variety of platforms and supporting FOLSR and Reserve volunteers. The person in this position recruits, tracks and works with volunteers to tackle issues affecting the Lake Superior watershed while building community and FOLSR membership. They help to organize and staff community events and stewardship activities connected to the St. Louis River Estuary. They welcome visitors to the Lake Superior Estuarium exhibit hall and support the Lake Superior Reserve’s stewardship program, which cares for local lands and waters. They manage data, use digital media and produce newsletters and videos to bring the St. Louis River Estuary, FOLSR and the Reserve to broader audiences.

Required Skills and Experience:

1. Strong commitment to community service and dedication to the well-being of volunteers

2. Demonstrated organizational skills and communication skills

3. Experience managing websites and social media platforms

4. Aptitude for learning and managing information and data

5. Demonstrated ability to plan collaboratively and execute independently

6. Strong commitment to community service and dedication to the well-being of volunteers

7. Demonstrated commitment to building positive relationships and equitable access across diverse identities, backgrounds, and social constructs, including those associated with race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, socioeconomic status, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, and other aspects of human diversity to work toward justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

8. Ability to work in the outdoors in a range of conditions

9. Reliable transportation to reach the office, field sites and off-site events

10. Available for occasional weekend and evening work

Preferred Skills and Experience:

1. Experience in organizing and promoting events or volunteer opportunities

2. Familiarity with the Superior/Duluth area and the St. Louis River

3. Experience developing educational or stewardship-oriented programs, especially related to health, well-being and the environment

4. Current certification in Basic First Aid and CPR

To Apply:

Email a cover letter, resume and contact information for 2 references to [email protected].

Applications will be reviewed in the order they are received by representatives of the Lake Superior Reserve and the Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve. The last date to apply is July 31, 2026. The successful candidate will submit a final application to the Marshfield Clinic Center for Community Health Advancement AmeriCorps program, the administrative host of the position.

Send questions to [email protected].

The rumors are true- we're expanding our office on Barkers Island! Watch for the solar-powered building expansion to tak...
05/30/2026

The rumors are true- we're expanding our office on Barkers Island! Watch for the solar-powered building expansion to take shape this summer. Thanks to University of Wisconsin Superior, Rhom Construction LLC and Stack Brothers Mechanical for making it happen. And a huge thank you to the City of Superior for helping us expand our land lease to accommodate the extra space.

Superior City Council amends land lease to allow for an expansion of the staff building on Barker's Island.

Please join us in welcoming long-time St. Louis River collaborator Dr. Molly Wick to the Reserve as our new Research Coo...
05/28/2026

Please join us in welcoming long-time St. Louis River collaborator Dr. Molly Wick to the Reserve as our new Research Coordinator!

Here's a little bit from Molly about her work and interests:

I am a transdisciplinary social-ecological scientist with training and experience in collaborative, community-engaged mixed qualitative and quantitative environmental research. I have a PhD and a M.S. in Water Resources Science from University of Minnesota, and a M.S. in Earth and Planetary Science from University of New Mexico. I hold expertise in cultural ecosystem services, human-nature relationships, aquatic ecosystem assessment, coastal and estuarine habitat restoration, and environmental decision-making. My research strives to be value-driven, place-based, and highly collaborative with tribal, government, and NGO entities. My PhD research, with support of a NOAA Margaret A. Davidson Fellowship, was a collaborative study that investigated how identity influences relationships with and barriers to water access at the Lake Superior Reserve. I completed two research fellowships with USEPA through Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, focused on Great Lakes ecosystem assessment and cultural ecosystem services mapping. Most recently, I was the Lake Superior Program Coordinator with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. I also have expertise in science communication and was selected as a Scientists Promoting Policy, Access, Research, and Knowledge (SP2ARK) Fellow by the Consortium for Aquatic Science Societies in 2024. I have lived in, worked in, and studied the Twin Ports and Chigami Ziibi (St. Louis River Estuary) region since 2011. I am beyond excited to continue to explore and study this beautiful and significant place as the Reserve Research Coordinator.

UW-Superior graduate (!) Ashla Ojibway served as manoomin restoration research technician for two seasons at the Lake Su...
05/25/2026

UW-Superior graduate (!) Ashla Ojibway served as manoomin restoration research technician for two seasons at the Lake Superior Reserve while completing her degree. Last week she was received the University of Wisconsin Superior Chancellor's Leadership Award in part to recognize her research experiences with cultural fire and wild rice. We sure were proud!

Graduation photo credit- UWS

🔥🔥 How it started at the prescribed Ishkode (fire) site on Wisconsin Point and how it's going. 🌱🌿
05/22/2026

🔥🔥 How it started at the prescribed Ishkode (fire) site on Wisconsin Point and how it's going. 🌱🌿

Over 100 people came out to the St. Louis River on Sunday because...Everyone Can Bird! We're grateful to so many partner...
05/04/2026

Over 100 people came out to the St. Louis River on Sunday because...Everyone Can Bird! We're grateful to so many partners who make this program happen, but especially want to shout out Natalie Chin at the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant/Water Resources Institutes. Get your daily dose of American White Pelicans at the link below.

Sunday’s event offered stationary and mobile activities, snacks, free bus transportation and binoculars to borrow.

Address

14 Marina Drive, PO Box 2000
Superior, WI
54880

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm
Saturday 8am - 4pm
Sunday 8am - 4pm

Telephone

+17159192154

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Share