Hog Island is a place of scenic beauty and high ecological value. Located at the "headwaters of Lake Superior," at the far western end of the lake within the city of Superior, Wisconsin, the area is regionally important both as an ecological resource and a recreational and scenic amenity. Since the early 20's the area has served as a disposal site for dredge spoils, a railway yard, and a repository for industrial petroleum byproducts. Contamination at the site was severe and in 2005 Newton Creek and the Hog Island inlet were remediated under the federal Great Lakes Legacy Act, the first in the Lower St. Louis River AOC and one of the first in the entire Great Lakes system.

UW-LSRI has partnered with Douglas County Land and Water Conservation team to implement the restoration plan. In 2009 to present day the project continues to move beyond remediation to restoration on Hog Island as well as other strategic locations found in the St. Louis River Area of Concern. The long term goal for project is to restore ecological processes and biodiversity; reduce threats to the long term sustainability of natural communities; and implement a compatible recreational plan for the area. It is the intent that the Hog Island Ecological Restoration Project will serve as a model for restoration of contaminated areas throughout the Great Lakes system.