Celebrate the U.P. this weekend

Sept. 15, 2017

 

SAULT STE. MARIE — Everything from the area’s Native American origins to recent endeavors to clean up toxic hotspots and benefit fish and wildlife habitat will be explored in a celebration of the St. Mary’s River and Eastern Upper Peninsula. The day-long program of local, natural themes is the creation of the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition. The public is welcome. UPEC’s annual forum has been celebrated for nine years in the central and western U.P., but this event will be its first in Sault Ste. Marie. The EUP’s longstanding Sierra Club chapter, Three Lakes Group, is organizing the event, which seeks to allow residents and visitors to better appreciate how fortunate we are to have this vast area of natural resources where we work and play, and what we need to do to keep it all healthy. Hear from a variety of natural resource experts while visiting with vendors, including area businesses that are connected to the EUP land and water. The programs start at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16,  and will conclude around 4 p.m.

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• Greg Zimmerman: The Tannery Site Clean-up: A Local Environmental Success Story – Eventually

• Aaron Payment: The History of Bahweting from an Anishinabe Perspective

• Bernie Arbic: Sault Sainte Marie: City of the Rapids

• Nick Cassel: Invasive Species in the Eastern Upper Peninsula

• Wayne Barry and Joanie McGuffin: Lake Superior and U.P. Water Trails

• Elliot Nelson: Islands and Wetlands of the Saint Mary’s River and the Birds that Call Them Home

• Ashley Moerke and Keving Kapuscinski: LSSU Aquatic Research Laboratory’s role in Great Lakes Fisheries and habitat

• Paula Antunes and Lisa Derickx: Cleanup and Current Status of the St. Mary’s River

• Ellen Benoit and Dennis Dougherty: EUP Water Trails – Collaborations and Success Stories Along the Way

• Eric Clark: Climate Change and Wildlife in the Eastern Upper Peninsula: A Case Study

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Participants may come and go as they please and get lunch on their own in LSSU’s Quarterdeck. Visit tlgsierraclub.org/celebrate for information on registration and programs, as well as activities taking place afterward.