Ephraim, Wis. (July 26, 2021) – Join the Climate Change Coalition of Door County in a unique field trip visiting the Ephraim Swamp from 10 am to noon Saturday, July 31. Lee Frelich, director of the University of Minnesota Center for Forest Ecology and part-time Door County resident, will discuss the current ecology of the swamp and the alterations we can expect as our climate continues to change.
Off the beaten track in Door County, Ephraim Swamp is a rare coastal wetland bound on the north, east and west by the Niagara Escarpment and upland landscapes. It harbors a diverse array of uncommon plants and animals. It plays a crucial role in protecting the quality of the water flowing into Ephraim’s Eagle Harbor and helps prevent coastal flooding in Ephraim and its environs.
Frelich brings extraordinary expertise and knowledge to this outing. He has lifelong experience with Door County’s forests and wild lands. He has authored more than 160 publications with 200 coauthors from 23 countries, including major works for Cambridge University Press and Oxford University Press. His research has been featured in the news media more than 450 times, including The New York Times, Newsweek, CBS Radio Osgood Files, and National Geographic. He received a Ph.D. in Forest Ecology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1986.
Chuck Lauter, who has lived on the edge of the swamp for many years and has spent much time exploring and writing about it, will accompany Frelich.
The hike is a fundraiser for the Climate Change Coalition. Cost is $40 per person. The group will be limited to eight. To register, contact Nicole Matson, 715-330-4660, or nicole@lnrp.org . Participants will meet at the Door County Land Trust easement, 3052 Gibraltar Road, Fish Creek. This will be a “dry shoe” hike – no boots or waders necessary.
Frelich and Lauter will reprise this field trip Saturday, September 25.