The Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve, a program of UW–Madison Division of Extension based on the University of Wisconsin–Superior campus, has been honored with the 2025 National Excellence in Extension Award for a Team by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. This prestigious award recognizes outstanding achievement in extension research, technical assistance, and outreach education. The award shines a spotlight on a team that has driven meaningful change along the shores of Lake Superior and the St. Louis River Estuary.

The Lake Superior Reserve is one of 30 National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERRs) led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and is the only reserve based within an extension program, weaving UW–Madison’s extension values of engagement, collaboration, and lifelong learning into the NERR network.

Partnership is at the core of the reserve’s identity. More than 45 organizations—ranging from municipal governments and regional tribal colleges to K–12 schools and the volunteer-driven Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve—collaborate on stewardship projects, environmental monitoring and workforce development programs. These relationships amplify local voices, build capacity to address Great Lakes coastal challenges in regional communities, and ensure that decision-makers have the information they need to safeguard community well-being and ecological health.

The team empowers educators with hands-on STEM curricula that spark student curiosity about water quality, wetlands, and Lake Superior through the Rivers2Lake Program. Their Coastal Training Program transforms local decision-makers into coastal leaders by providing learning opportunities that help community managers prepare for flooding, erosion and algal blooms. At the same time, research led by the reserve has expanded long-term monitoring of these risks, equipping local leaders with real-time insights to anticipate and mitigate coastal hazards.

What sets the Lake Superior Reserve apart is its dual role as a community partner and scientific institution. Their efforts not only protect one of the world’s largest freshwater estuaries but also foster a culture of resilience and curiosity that ripples out into the surrounding communities.

“Reserve staff lead impactful work through their connections to Lake Superior, our communities and each other. I cannot imagine a more deserving team,” said Deanna Erickson, reserve director.

To learn more about the reserve, visit www.lakesuperiornerr.org or follow their work on Facebook.