In 2017, the Northeast Wisconsin Land Trust purchased and protected 143 acres of rare land in Brown County, which is adjacent to the Red Banks State Natural Area. This land is now part of the State Natural Area and has nearly doubled its size. The land was protected thanks to the strong partnerships between the local community and committed landowners.

The Red Banks Alvar State Natural Area is now the largest and best example of a Great Lakes Alvar community in Wisconsin. Alvar areas are rare communities found in only five regions in the world.

The Red Banks area is rich in snails and has one of the most diverse snail communities in the Midwest. The land includes unique wetlands that drain into the Bay and is an important stopover site for migratory birds in spring and fall. The Red Banks Preserve protects these coastal wetland ecosystems that are home to threatened and endangered species found only in this area.

The Red Banks State Natural Area is open to the public for recreational bird-watching, fishing, hunting, and hiking.

The site is also being used for environmental research by faculty and students at the nearby University of Wisconsin–Green Bay. The Land Trust is grateful to all the conservation partners who have helped protect this land.