Project protects valuable

bird habitat

A land purchase in northern Wisconsin increased public access to the Lake Michigan shoreline and protected valuable bird habitat.

Description

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration worked with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to acquire a parcel of land where Mashek Creek flows into Lake Michigan. The property includes 1,700 feet of Lake Michigan shoreline and 1,400 feet of frontage on both sides of Mashek Creek. Wooded areas on the site provide stopover habitat for neo-tropical migratory birds and raptors that move along the shores of Lake Michigan. Salmon and steelhead migrate into the creek from Lake Michigan, creating fishing opportunities. The acquisition provided the first public parcel along the shores of Lake Michigan in Kewaunee County. The land buy protected the site’s ecological values and provided new recreational opportunities and educational programs.

Resource Challenges Addressed

  • Loss of migratory bird habitat
  • Lack of public access to Lake Michigan’s shoreline

MASHEK CREEK PROPERTY ACQUISITION

A kayak on the Great Lakes with a view of the shoreline

Protected shoreline, like the kind pictured here, has protected valuable bird habitat in Wisconsin. Credit: Courtney Celley U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Location: Pierce, Wis.

Approximate cost: $1,100,000 with $398,000 from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

Key partners: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Types of jobs created: Property appraiser, mortgage broker, land acquisition specialists

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Results and Accomplishments

The purchase increased public access to the Lake Michigan shoreline while protecting an ecologically valuable parcel of coastline, forest and Mashek Creek.