Beginning in August 2015, some folks in Sturgeon Bay and then Green Bay, led by Caitlin Oleson, have been pursuing a freshwater research center in town. Following Caitlin’s year-long investigation project for UW-Green Bay (2017), a National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) has emerged as a top candidate. These materials were included in the Waterfront Advisory Committee’s planning materials and ideas.
The Neeskay, out of UW-Milwaukee’s renowned School of Freshwater Science, operates out of Sturgeon Bay each season. The bay of Green Bay is the World’s Largest Freshwater Estuary.
The bay of Green Bay is the World’s Largest Freshwater Estuary. In January 2016, Ms. Oleson convened a conference bringing together leaders from UW-Green Bay, UW-Milwaukee, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Manitowoc, state and federal agencies, to discuss the needs of a research operation and facilities, and associated technology clusters and affiliated programs, in Sturgeon Bay.
January 2016 Conference. UW-Green Bay’s Matt Dornbush and Caitlin Oleson speaking.
Attendees and notes from the conference are here.
More recently, I believe both Sturgeon Bay and Door County have written letters of support for a NERR. Hopefully the Waterfront Committee (on which Ms. Oleson serves), city staff, and Council are able to make positive progress on this exciting endeavor.
Submitted by N. Aten