In 2020, NEWLT acquired this 73 acre property between Wequiock Falls and Point Au Sable, adding to the corridor of protected land in this ecologically and historically important region. NEWLT collaborated with the Town of Scott and the University of Wisconsin Green Bay during this acquisition process, and will continue to work with these partners to help preserve this property.
We have transferred ownership of much of the preserve to the UW Green Bay Foundation, allowing it to be managed by the University’s Cofrin Center for Biodiversity. The Cofrin Center is organizing a variety of restoration projects on this preserve, and UWGB students are able to use the site as a location for ecological research. Additionally, the University maintains trails and interpretive signage in their portion of the preserve, providing an opportunity for others in the community to visit and learn about this landscape.
The town of Scott was actively involved in the acquisition of this property, and they continue to help provide public access by managing the roadway and parking lot for the preserve. They are invested in continuing to steward this landscape as a resource for the community.
Like the rest of the surrounding region, Wequiock Creek Natural Area has historic and cultural significance to several First Nations people, including the Ho Chunk, the Potawatomi, and the Menominee. We have been working with archaeologists and First Nations representatives throughout the acquisition and management planning process for this preserve, and we will continue to do so into the future.
NEWLT continues to own and manage the southwest portion of the preserve, and we also maintain a conservation easement on the UWGB-owned portion of the property. Working alongside these many other partners, we plan to continue to strengthen connections between this preserve and the surrounding community through public events, volunteer opportunities, and other programs to engage community members with the preserve’s cultural and ecological significance.
