On August 25, 2026, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources announced that a pair of piping plovers was observed nesting on Wisconsin Point in Superior. This marks the first time the critically endangered shorebird was documented in the St. Louis River Estuary since 1977.
The return demonstrates the success of a completed Great Lakes Restoration Initiative project in the St. Louis River Area of Concern. In 2019, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and Wisconsin DNR placed over 87,000 cubic yards of sand dredged from the Duluth/Superior Harbor to create piping plover stopover and nesting habitat.
EPA administered approximately $4M GLRI funding to USACE and Wisconsin DNR for the design, construction and establishment phases of the project. This was done in support of a St. Louis River AOC goal for removal of the Degraded Fish and Wildlife Populations Beneficial Use Impairment. The BUI was officially removed in January 2023 as a direct result of this project and other habitat restoration work in the AOC.
Ultimately, the sighting is a huge step forward for this small bird’s big comeback.
To learn more, read the full press release on Wisconsin DNR’s website: Piping Plovers Observed Nesting On Wisconsin Point For The First Time In 49 Years