Strengthening Conservation Through Partnership
For decades, conservation professionals, agencies, and organizations have worked together to protect the landscapes and waters of Wisconsin’s Lake Superior Basin. These partnerships have taken many shapes and forms over the years, evolving in response to new challenges and opportunities. What began as early regional efforts in the late 1990s has grown into a sustained, coordinated network committed to long-term restoration, protection, and climate resilience.
Since its official formation in 2018, the Lake Superior Collaborative (LSC) has served as a hub for conservation action, bringing together state, Tribal, and federal agencies, local governments, academic institutions, and nonprofit organizations. Built upon a foundation of earlier partnerships—including the Lake Superior Basin Partner Team (1998–2012), the Chequamegon Bay Area Partnership (2009–2017), and the Lake Superior Landscape Restoration Partnership (2014–2017)—the LSC continues the vital work of ensuring that conservation in the basin is collaborative, effective, and forward-thinking.
The shared vision of the LSC is a future where the communities and ecosystems of Wisconsin’s Lake Superior Basin are climate-resilient and supported by sustained and collaborative conservation partnerships and projects. To achieve this vision, the collaborative aligns land and water stewardship efforts with regional priorities, facilitates networking and information exchange among partners, and supports outreach to foster watershed stewardship. The LSC also plays a key role in securing funding for conservation projects and ensuring that investments in restoration and protection efforts are strategic and effective.
One of the major initiatives of the Lake Superior Collaborative is the Headwaters to Coast (H2C) Initiative, a collaborative effort launched in 2022 and funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). H2C seeks to develop a Conservation Blueprint for Wisconsin’s Lake Superior Basin that prioritizes and coordinates conservation projects to meet ecological, social, and cultural needs. By uniting conservation partners across Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas, and Iron counties, the initiative addresses critical environmental challenges such as habitat fragmentation, water quality, climate change, and biodiversity loss. This effort builds a more sustainable and resilient landscape by ensuring that conservation actions are strategic, collaborative, and beneficial to both ecosystems and communities.
The annual Lake Superior Collaborative Symposium is another key event that fosters collaboration and knowledge-sharing among conservation professionals, researchers, and community members. Held during the last week of October, the symposium provides a platform to discuss restoration strategies, climate resilience efforts, and innovative approaches to conservation. In 2024, the symposium theme, “Widening the Horizons of Restoration,” encouraged participants to expand their approaches to ecosystem resilience. Attendees shared research, project updates, and field demonstrations showcasing restoration techniques in action, strengthening connections and laying the groundwork for future conservation efforts.
The Lake Superior Collaborative goes beyond strategy and discussion by supporting on-the-ground projects that make a measurable difference in ecosystem resilience and community well-being. Partner organizations have worked together to stabilize eroding stream bluffs in Fish Creek, reducing sediment loads and improving water quality. The first natural flood management demonstration project in Wisconsin is being implemented to mitigate flood risks and restore natural hydrology. Restoration efforts are reconnecting wetlands and floodplains, strengthening habitat networks, and enhancing biodiversity. Additionally, improvements to road-stream crossings are helping fish populations move more freely while reinforcing infrastructure against extreme weather. Each of these projects is a testament to the power of collaboration and shared commitment to the long-term health of Wisconsin’s Lake Superior Basin.
The work of the Lake Superior Collaborative is essential to protecting and restoring one of the region’s most valuable natural resources. The Lake Superior Basin is a unique and ecologically significant area that faces ongoing threats from climate change, habitat loss, and water quality concerns. By bringing together conservation professionals, government agencies, researchers, and local communities, the LSC ensures that efforts to protect this region are coordinated, effective, and sustainable.
Membership in the Lake Superior Collaborative is open to any organization that shares a commitment to conservation and climate resilience. By working together, partners can amplify their impact and create lasting benefits for both people and nature. Whether through participating in workshops, joining restoration projects, or attending the annual symposium, there are many ways to get involved and contribute to the ongoing efforts to protect Wisconsin’s Lake Superior Basin.
The Lake Superior Collaborative has been here for years, but the work is far from over. This is an opportunity to reconnect, collaborate, and reaffirm a shared commitment to the conservation and resilience of the Lake Superior Basin. As new challenges emerge and conservation efforts continue to evolve, strengthening partnerships and aligning priorities will be key to ensuring a sustainable future for the region’s lands, waters, and communities.