This proposed project seeks to build upon existing restoration efforts by supplementing and expanding upon existing habitat restoration projects in the fish creek watershed

Burke Center for Ecosystem Research Inc. received a $305,017 Cooperative Agreement from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the National Wildlife Refuge System Enhancements program (CFDA 15.654), awarded June 1, 2025, with completion targeted for May 19, 2028. The award supports comprehensive habitat restoration and public engagement initiatives in Wisconsin's Fish Creek watershed. Primary deliverables include restoration of up to 10 acres of wetland, riparian, and upland habitat through nonnative cattail removal, native plant seeding in Fish Creek Sloughs, and tree and shrub plantings in Prentice Park and along the upper main stem of North Fish Creek. The project leverages ongoing work with the Lake Superior Collaborative and an existing EPA Nine Key Element Watershed Planning project to expand ecological restoration outcomes.

The agreement also funds the design and planning of a Fish Creek Restoration Trail featuring interpretive signage, kiosks, and recreational access improvements extending from watershed headwaters to coastal areas. A restoration trail working group will develop a concept outline identifying key components, locations, and partner organizations. Contracted landscape design and interpretive content specialists will generate at least three conceptual designs for trail locations and components, with particular emphasis on updating existing signage along the City of Ashland Lakefront Trail and within Prentice Park. These combined efforts integrate habitat restoration with environmental education and community access objectives.

In addition we will tell the story of the rich history and extensive modern restoration efforts in fish creek by developing design plans for a restoration trail which will include a series of interpretive signs and kiosks and improvements for recreational access to the creek from headwaters to coastal areas of the watershed. We will leverage the ongoing work of the lake superior collaborative and an existing EPA nine key element watershed planning project focused on portions of the fish creek watershed to expand on existing habitat restoration projects and the education and outreach outputs from the planning effort. We will restore up to 10 acres of wetland riparian and upland habitat through a combination of supplementing and expanding an existing nonnative cattail removal and native plant seeding project in the fish creek sloughs tree or shrub plantings to restore terrestrial areas recently treated for invasive species removal in prentice park in the city of ashland and tree and shrub plantings to enhance existing bluff stabilization and fish habitat enhancement projects along the upper main stem of north fish creek. To complete the design planning for the fish creek restoration trail we will create a restoration trail working group with a charge to outline key components locations and partners to include in a restoration trail concept outline. A particular area of focus will be updating existing interpretive signage along the city of ashland lakefront trail and within prentice park. A landscape design firm and a consultant to assist with content and design for interpretive signage will be hired to work with the restoration trail working group to take the concept outline and generate at least three conceptual designs for locations and components in the restoration trail. The restoration trail working group and consultants will engage in community outreach and engagement events to gather community input on the design plans and identify a preferred option. The outcome from the project will be approximately 30 percent design plans for the restoration trail with itemized cost estimates and a task list for implementing the full design. The design plans and cost estimate will allow partners to apply for funding to implement the full design of the restoration trail. This project directly supports multiple conservation priorities and objectives identified by the headwaters to coast initiative including connected and functional habitats healthy habitats community engagement and prepare for and address current and emerging threats.