Great lakes restoration initiative woodland dunes riparian forest restoration

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded $119,969 through the Cooperative Forestry Assistance program (CFDA 10.664) to Woodland Dunes Nature Center & Preserve Inc., a non-profit organization in Wisconsin, for the Woodland Dunes Riparian Forest Restoration project. The 2-year project, commencing in March 2024, will support activities such as producing tree seeds and seedlings, controlling invasive species, restoring hardwood swamp canopy, and realigning a degraded stream tributary. These efforts aim to improve aquatic and wetland habitats, increase native species diversity, reduce sediment loading, and enhance water quality in the Woodland Dunes preserve and downstream in Lake Michigan. The project builds upon Woodland Dunes' previous federal grants for coastal forest restoration and wetland enhancement initiatives, demonstrating the organization's commitment to comprehensive ecological restoration and preservation in the Great Lakes region.