Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve facts for kids
The Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve is a special place where the St. Louis River meets Lake Superior. It's located in Douglas County, in the northwest part of Wisconsin, United States. This Reserve is one of 29 similar places across the country. It helps protect important land and water areas. The Reserve is managed by the Natural Resources Institute of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension. It covers about 16,697 acres (6,757 ha) and was created in 2010.
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Where is the Reserve Located?
The Lake Superior Reserve is found at the very western tip of Lake Superior. It protects parts of the lower St. Louis River freshwater estuary in Wisconsin. The St. Louis River is the biggest river that flows into Lake Superior from the United States. It travels 179 miles (288 km) through a 3,634 square miles (9,410 km2) area in Wisconsin and Minnesota. For 23 miles (37 km), it forms the border between these two states.
Amazing Nature and Habitats
This Reserve is home to many different types of natural areas. You can find:
- Forests and woodlands, including northern pine and leafy trees.
- Coastal areas with shrubs and tall grasses.
- Wetlands like marshes and swamps near the coast.
The water here is special because it mixes in layers. The water levels can change a lot due to wind and storms. This is sometimes called a "slosh." Most of the fresh water comes from the St. Louis River watershed.
The Reserve protects some very important places. These include:
- The world's largest freshwater sand bar, called Wisconsin Point.
- Wetlands where the river meets the lake.
- Steep red clay cliffs that can easily wear away.
Many important historical and cultural sites are also found here. These include Native American sites and old logging and shipping areas.
Wetlands and Forests
The wetlands of the St. Louis River freshwater estuary are one of the largest wetland systems in the entire Lake Superior area. These wetlands are a mix of different types:
- Marshes where plants grow underwater.
- Marshes where plants stick out of the water.
- Wet meadows or bogs.
- Wet areas with shrubs.
Two special natural areas in Wisconsin and 11 important wetlands are inside the Reserve. Experts have also said that the wetlands and forests here are very important for wildlife across North America. Even though some parts of the Reserve have been changed by people, many areas are still very natural and untouched.
On the sand bars that separate the river from Lake Superior, you can find rare plants. These plants only grow in the Great Lakes region. The area also has miles of sandy beaches, dunes, and small wet spots between the dunes. There are also forests with white and red pine trees. The way different types of forests meet here is also very unique.
Parts of the Reserve
The Lake Superior Reserve covers 16,697 acres (6,757 ha). It is made up of four different land areas and parts of the waterways. These areas are all in the northwest corner of Wisconsin, where the St. Louis River flows into Lake Superior. Each part has its own mix of habitats.
The Reserve includes:
- Highland areas and underwater lands.
- Riverbanks and river habitats.
- Islands in the river.
- Freshwater marshes, wetlands between dunes, and wet swamps.
- Forests with aspen, dry trees, and hardwood trees.
- Open sandy beaches and dunes.
The four parts are not connected to each other. However, they are all within 10 miles (16 km) of each other.
The Red River Breaks
This is the largest part of the Reserve, covering 6,926 acres (2,803 ha). It mainly has state-owned uplands (higher ground) and wetlands along the St. Louis River.
Pokegama Bay Component
This part is special because it includes one of the largest city-owned forests in the United States. It covers 6,723 acres (2,721 ha). Here you will find large wet forests, uplands, clay flats, and underwater lands.
South of Pokegama Bay
This is the smallest part of the Reserve, called the Pokegama-Carnegie Wetlands. It is owned by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). This 226-acre (91 ha) area is part of the biggest and most natural red clay wetlands left in northwest Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Point
The Wisconsin Point part is about 2,822 acres (1,142 ha). It includes wetlands, dry forests, and parts of Lake Superior's water and lake bed. Wisconsin Point is very important for wildlife. It has a sand bar that separates Lake Superior from Allouez Bay. Native American cultural sites are found on Wisconsin Point and throughout the lower St. Louis River freshwater estuary. This land is owned by the city, county, state, and university.
Who Manages the Reserve?
The Reserve is supported by the Cooperative Extension division of University of Wisconsin-Extension. It is hosted at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. The Reserve's offices and research buildings are on Barker's Island in Superior Bay. This area is part of the Duluth-Superior harbor.
What are Freshwater Estuaries?
The Lake Superior Reserve is important because it represents a type of area not found in many other Reserves: the Great Lakes, specifically the Lake Superior region. The Lake Superior Reserve and the Old Woman Creek Reserve (in Ohio, on Lake Erie) are the only Great Lakes freshwater estuaries in the entire Reserve System.
This region includes all of Lake Superior and its freshwater estuaries. One of these estuaries formed where the St. Louis River flows into Lake Superior. Lake Superior is bordered by Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Ontario, Canada. It is the largest of the Great Lakes and the cleanest.
Freshwater estuaries happen where rivers and Great Lakes water mix. This usually occurs in shallow wetlands near where a river enters the lake. The Reserve has all three main features of a Great Lakes freshwater estuary:
- A "drowned river mouth," meaning the river valley was flooded by the lake.
- A clear area where lake and river water mix.
- Influence from tides or "seiches" (water sloshing back and forth).
