About
The Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve is a member of the National Estuarine Reserve System, a network of 29 reserves across the United States designated for long-term research on coastal resources and the human populations those resources support. The Lake Superior Reserve is one of only two estuarine reserves in the Reserve System located in the Great Lakes. This makes the research we and our partners conduct all the more vital to the understanding of freshwater resources and the health of the Great Lakes, which hold more than 20 percent of the Earth’s surface freshwater.
Our reserve is centered on the St. Louis River Estuary between Superior, Wisconsin, and Duluth, Minnesota. However, we envision a Lake Superior where all coastal watersheds and estuaries are understood, valued and thriving. To accomplish this, we prioritize work on climate change, water quality, healthy ecosystems, strengthening communities and developing a sense of place.
