UW-Green Bay to Host Public Meetings on National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR)

The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay is hosting two events in September to share the preliminary recommendation for the natural area site(s) of the Bay of Green Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR). Both events will offer the same information and are open to the public.

1) In-person on Wednesday, September 7th, 2022 1pm-2:30 pm (central time) at the S.T.E.M. Innovation Center on the UW-Green Bay Campus, 2019 Technology Way, Green Bay, WI 54311.

2) Virtual on Thursday, September 8th, 2022, 3:30pm-5 pm (central time) via Zoom. If requested upon joining the virtual meeting, the meeting ID is 995 5126 4991, and the attendee access code is NERR. Participants may also join the meeting by phone by using this toll-free number +1 312 626 6799, and meeting ID 995 5126 4991, and attendee access code 688730.

REGISTER HERE

A map of the preliminary recommended natural area sites can be found HERE, and a downloadable version HERE. The NERR designation is non-regulatory and would bring attention to the Bay of Green Bay as an important waterway in our area. Only publicly owned or lands open to the public are eligible to be included in the NERR and no new land will be purchased for the designation.

The National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERR) is a national network of 30 sites across the coastal US, including the Great Lakes, designed to protect and study estuaries and their coastal wetlands.

The mission of the NERR System is, “To practice and promote stewardship of coasts and estuaries through innovative research, education, and training using a place-based system of protected areas.” 

Established through the Coastal Zone Management Act, the reserves represent a partnership program between NOAA and the coastal states. NOAA provides funding and national guidance, and each site is managed on a daily basis by a lead state agency or university with input from local partners.

For the Bay of Green Bay NERR, UW-Green Bay is the state lead for the designation process. At the local level, a Green Bay NERR will offer a coordinating force to manage, restore, and protect the Green Bay ecosystem, with a programmatic focus on four sectors: research, education, stewardship, and training.