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Enbridge announces new Ecofootprint Grant recipients

Lighthouse on a lake

April 22, 2024

In celebration of Earth Day and the people and communities across the Line 5 Wisconsin Segment Relocation Project area, Enbridge and its partner Lumberjack RC&D announced today Ecofootprint grant awards in support of conservation work by northern Wisconsin organizations.

Ecofootprint is a two-year, $500,000 grant program created in 2023 by Enbridge to support environmental restoration and improvement projects in northern Wisconsin across Ashland, Bayfield, and Iron counties as well as the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa and the Red Cliff Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa.

Last year during the first round of funding, $150,000 was granted to the Bayfield County Barrens Project and the Cranberry River Fish Passage Project. Today we’re pleased to announce the second round of grants totaling $350,000.

Lake Superior Watershed Project – Sponsored by the Bayfield County Forestry Department, funds will be used to develop stream crossing survey protocol, survey stream crossings on Bayfield County Forest lands and develop a priority list for repair. The priority list will inform budgeting and repairing stream crossings. This project will reduce sediment entering the Lake Superior Basin and create better quality habitat for wildlife. The department will then be able to share the procedures developed. EcoFootprint is proud to help projects that create this type of resource-sharing. 

Tyler Forks Stream Crossing Project – Sponsored by Iron County Land and Water Conservation Department, this project will rebuild a failing culvert over a class II brook trout stream, creating lasting habitat and reducing sediment entering the Bay. This is one of the last and the largest stream crossing projects in the Town of Anderson and because of that, it has been set aside due to funding. With Ecofootprint’s help, this shovel-ready project is set to be completed by September of this year!

Mackey Wetland Enhancement Project – Sponsored by Bayfield County Land and Water Conservation Department, this project would rebuild ponds on private forest land being choked by cattails and reed canary grass. The property owner has agreed to use the site as a demonstration area for local students and participate in spring waterfowl surveys. Multiple other small wetland complexes nearby, and the Fish Creek sloughs, will enhance habitat and breeding for migratory waterfowl and native shorebirds and slow the flow of runoff into South Fish Creek and Chequamegon Bay.

Iron River Community Forest – Sponsored by Landmark Conservancy, funds will be used to help secure this 860-acre parcel in perpetuity for public use. Once secured, the property will be owned by Bayfield County and become a County Forest. Protection of the property brings assurances by both Landmark and the property owners that the forest will be properly maintained and managed, wildlife habitat protected, and the public continues to have access to this pristine property. EcoFootprint is proud to be part of preserving this unique property and notes that it provides desired connectivity to managed lands nearby such as state natural areas, Red Cliff Tribal lands, and county forests.

To administer Ecofootprint, Enbridge has partnered with Lumberjack Resource Conservation and Development Council, Inc. Lumberjack RC&D is a ten-county, conservation nonprofit in northeastern Wisconsin which, through its own community conservation grant program, has distributed more than $1.2 million to over 100 conservation projects in the past 20 years. To learn more about how all the projects are progressing, visit the Enbridge Ecofootprint Grant or Ecofootprint Grant (lumberjackrcd.org)

Ecofootprint grant awards were selected from among applicants by a panel of ecology, conservation, and philanthropy experts according to the following program priorities:

  • Improving and/or protecting surface water and/or groundwater quality in watersheds crossed by project.
  • Advancing research and science related to threatened and endangered species and/or declining populations.
  • Fostering environmental postsecondary education and stewardship.
  • Improving research related to the transportation of crude oil as it relates to the environment.
  • Focusing on environmental areas most relevant to local communities.

To learn more about the Ecofootprint Grant Program and how to apply, visit the Enbridge website or Lumberjack RCD.