Management Plan Funded

The Friends are pleased to receive a grant from the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation Biodiversity Fund this spring that will allow us to assemble the resources needed for the completion of a science-based management plan for the unique 120-acre headwaters property we own and steward in perpetuity. That’s an awesome responsibility, to which we are totally committed. At this juncture, it’s necessary to anticipate issues that will arise, and plan to address them proactively. Our completed management plan will consider probable future climate change scenarios and potential invasive insect and plant infestation, and plan for the evolution of biological communities necessary to sustain the threatened, endangered, and priority species currently dependent on this wetland habitat.

An initial property assessment has been made by a forester, and a botanist. It’s been educational and informative accompanying each of them as they complete their surveys. The grant also provides funding for the purchase of additional trail cameras. Our cameras have been instrumental in documenting the presence of a wide variety wildlife species that we wouldn’t have known about otherwise. Additionally, funding has been secured for a specialist to build a story map website that will help users explore the hidden reaches of the property, and view places that few people will ever visit.

We’re looking forward to the completion of the plan, and sharing it with the membership next spring.