The Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve is situated at the confluence of the St. Louis River and Lake Superior, the largest and most pristine of the Great Lakes. It is one of 28 areas across the country protected for long-term research, water-quality monitoring, education and coastal stewardship under the National Estuarine Reserve System. The site consists exclusively of public lands and waters owned by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, City of Superior, Douglas County and the University of Wisconsin. It is a large, diverse complex that contains a variety of representative terrestrial and aquatic habitats, including riparian and riverine habitat; riverine islands; emergent freshwater marshes, interdunal wetlands and scrub swamp; aspen, dry and hardwood forests; and open sand beach and dunes. The Reserve works in partnership to improve the understanding of Lake Superior freshwater estuaries and coastal resources and to address the issues affecting them through an integrated program of research, education, outreach, and stewardship.
