Association designates Lake Superior gems

The Wisconsin Wetlands Association celebrates the designation of 12 Wetland Gems in the Lake Superior Region of Wisconsin on July 23.

The city of Superior is hosting the event at Billings Park, which will begin at 11 a.m.

Wetland Gems are high quality habitats that represent all of Wisconsin’s wetland riches – marshes, swamps, bogs, fens, and more – that historically made up nearly a quarter of the state’s landscape. Critical to Wisconsin’s biodiversity, these wetland treasures also provide our communities with valuable functions and services as well as recreational and educational opportunities. They are landscapes that preserve the past and inspire for the future.

Wetland Gem sites in the Superior region are located in Ashland, Bayfield and Douglas counties.

The complete list of 100 statewide Wetland Gems was announced May 18 in celebration of American Wetlands Month and is available at www.wisconsinwetlands.org/gemslist.htm.

At this special afternoon program Wisconsin Wetlands Association Executive Director Becky Abel and Outreach Program Coordinator Brooke Bushman will be joined by Rep. Nick Milroy, D-Superior, to highlight the Lake Superior region Wetland Gems. And, landowners of the sites will be recognized for their important contributions to wetland conservation in the region.

A light lunch will be provided by the city of Superior and optional paddling field trips to two of the region’s 12 Wetland Gem sites will be led by local paddlers. Field trip groups depart from Billings Park for the Pokegama Wetland and the St. Louis River Marsh boat launches around 1 p.m. Call the Wisconsin Wetlands Association to register for both the Billings Park program and the field trips by today. Space on the field trips is limited. Call (608) 250-9971.

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