Vision: The communities and ecosystems of Wisconsin’s Lake Superior Basin are climate resilient and sustained by collaborative conservation partnerships and projects.
Mission: To bring people together to prioritize and coordinate conservation projects that meet the ecological, social, and cultural needs of current and future generations in Wisconsin’s Lake Superior Basin.
Goal: To build a watershed-wide Conservation Blueprint for Wisconsin’s Lake Superior Basin that will help prioritize and coordinate projects to meet ecological, social, and cultural needs.
About
The Headwaters to Coast (H2C) Initiative is a collaborative conservation effort focused on Wisconsin’s Lake Superior Basin. Launched in 2022 and funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), H2C brings together partners to create a unified Conservation Blueprint for the region. This initiative addresses critical environmental challenges such as habitat fragmentation, water quality, climate change, and biodiversity loss. By uniting conservation efforts across agencies and organizations, H2C aims to build a sustainable, resilient landscape that benefits both ecosystems and communities across Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas, and Iron counties.
H2C is led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the Lake Superior Collaborative. Through this initiative, we are working to create an enduring framework that coordinates and enhances conservation projects to meet both current and future ecological, social, and cultural needs.
Conservation Priorities
The Headwaters to Coast (H2C) Initiative focuses on six key conservation priorities, chosen in 2023 through a collaborative process with input from over 50 partners. These priorities are the foundation of all H2C work, guiding projects and strategies across the Lake Superior Basin:
| Habitat Connectivity and Functionality | Healthy Habitats and Biodiversity |
| Water Quality and Hydrologic Integrity | Climate Resiliency |
| Inclusive Community Engagement | Inclusive Community Engagement |
Priority Teams
To advance each of the H2C conservation priorities, dedicated teams have formed to focus on specific areas of work. These teams bring together experts and partners to develop actionable goals and strategies:
- Community Engagement
- Aquatic Habitat Team (Brook Trout)
- Climate Resiliency
- Northwest Sands Habitat
- Slow the Flow
- Northwoods Cooperative Weed Management Area
Updates
Find the November 2024 Headwaters to Coast Update here for the latest insights and progress on this initiative.
Contact Information
For more information on the Headwaters to Coast Initiative, please reach out to:
Catie Geib, Email: catie.geib@wisc.edu, Phone: 715-577-1361