UW-Green Bay on the path to host National Estuarine Research Reserve | WUWM 89.7 FM – Milwaukee’s NPR
UW-Green Bay is on the path to host the nation’s 31st NERR, or National Estuarine Research Reserve, which brings with it federal dollars to protect and study estuaries and adjacent wetlands.Most NERRs are located on the east and west coasts. Green Bay holds the distinction of being the world’s largest freshwater estuary. The NERR brings together NOAA and local partners to designate one or more natural areas within the estuary and construct what most people who’ve heard about NERR are excited about: a visitor and education center. Sturgeon Bay is just one of the communities promoting itself as the right choice. But for now the focus is on choosing natural areas that will be folded into the reserve. “That’s sort of the heart of the NERR system is these, and all the programming builds out around that,” says Matt Dornbush. He’s dean of UW-Green Bay’s business school and a NERR committee member.Nine natural areas are being considered — from islands off Door County, Green Bay’s southwest shore, to the Peshtigo River and Marinette.
