Wetlands in Our Community
Our funding would support an expanded water quality monitoring program at the Heckrodt Wetland Reserve, a 91-acre urban nature reserve located on the northern shore of Lake Winnebago in Menasha. Despite its location in a rapidly urbanizing area, the reserve supports a wide variety of habitats including forested wetland, cattail marsh, open water, prairie, and […]
East River Flood Mitigation Project
Our funding will support an eleven-acre wetland restoration at Emilie Park, adjacent to the main stem of the East River in Green Bay. Green Bay residents have faced frequent flooding on the East River due to changes in the frequency and intensity of storm events, undersized stormwater infrastructure, and increasing development pressure. The Emilie Park […]
Prioritizing Remnant Small Dam Removals to Restore Stream Health and Reconnect Habitat
Hundreds of small dams were built across northeast Wisconsin in the 1800s and early 1900s to support logging operations. Many of these remnant dams are undocumented, located in remote areas, and unknown to resource professionals. New technology using AI and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) has made it much easier to identify them. A grant […]
Sponsorship Program to Fund Green Stormwater Infrastructure
Green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) is a cost-effective solution to local flooding and water quality problems, but it can be difficult for municipalities to finance. The Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC), working in partnership with the Great Lakes Cities Initiative and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, will lay the groundwork for a “sponsorship” program within […]
Wisconsin History Center Underwater Archaeology Exhibit
The new Wisconsin History Center, projected to open in 2027 on the Capitol Square in Madison, will be a 100,000 square foot facility drawing an estimated 200,000 visitors a year, including 60,000 school children. A grant from the Fund will support a 600 square foot Underwater Archaeology Exhibit. The exhibit will feature a central interactive […]
Great Lakes Reporting Initiative
A grant from the Fund will support Caitlin Looby, a Ph.D. climate scientist turned journalist whose in-depth reporting on the Great Lakes and water quality issues has become an essential source of news for readers across Wisconsin and beyond. At a time of news media uncertainty and federal funding cuts for environmental programs, sustaining experienced, […]
Nature Everywhere Waukegan
The Children & Nature Network’s Nature Everywhere Program will work with a local cross-sector team, including city and school district officials, nonprofits, funders, and residents, to develop a community wide vision and implementation plan for increasing access to nature and promoting stewardship of natural resources. As part of the planning process, the team will conduct […]
Agrivoltaics Virtual Fence Project
This project would take place at MG&Es Tyto Solar project in Fitchburg, which utilizes a flock of sheep owned by nearby Wiscovery Farms for vegetation management. Using No Fence virtual collars will allow less labor intensive, but more ecologically protective grazing on site. The project will bolster research for improving water quality while enhancing agricultural […]
Going Beyond Stormwater Status Quo
This grant will support Root-Pike WIN’s effort to encourage municipalities and developers to enact stormwater projects that focus on water quality and land sustainability through 2026. RPW will advance five projects in each of the Root and Oak Creek Watersheds, ensure at least 5 new developments implement green infrastructure and other sustainability measures from the […]
A Great Place on a Great Lake
Over the last several years, HDI has successfully advanced several major water quality and habitat-related projects and initiatives in Milwaukee’s Harbor District. In the last year and a half Harbor District has secured funding for multiple development or planning projects in and around the harbor. These includes $14.7 million to the City of Milwaukee through […]