As part of our mission to preserve and protect the 17 acres that make up the Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve, a spilt rail fence was installed today to help prevent erosion on both sides of the maintenace road. Wildflowers and other native plants will be planted in the open areas around the bank of the pond and lagoon.

These areas have been popular with fishermen, but with all the foot traffic on the bank, we've been unable to get flowers or plants established. Once these plantings are in place and mature, they will help reduce the amount of runoff into the pond and the lagoon and will also help prevent the buildup of sand and silt in the new culvert that was installed three years ago as part of our restoration.

There are still many other great areas to fish at the Preserve, including the entry bridge, the four piers along the Al Bell Trail and the Wilder River Walk.

Thanks so much to Steve, Norm, Gale and Tom for their hard work!

Help Re-open the Wilder River Walk

Our fundraising drive continues for the repair of a 250' section of the Wilder River Walk that is temporally closed. Over the years, a portion of the bank of the Muskegon River has washed away resulting in the boardwalk tilting towards the river.

The Wilder River Walk is one of the most popular areas of the Preserve and enjoyed by walkers, bicyclists, fishermen and students from local schools.

Please help us reopen the Wilder by donating today. Donations can be made by going to our website at https://muskegonlakenaturepreserve.com and clicking on the Click to Donate button or by sending a check or money order to the Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve, P.O. Box 5038, N. Muskegon, MI 49445.

Thank you!!

Wilder River Walk Fundraising Campaign

The Wilder River Walk at the Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve needs immediate repairs! The boardwalk was built on dry land in 2007 along the shore of the Muskegon River. Over the years however, the level of the river and Muskegon Lake have risen dramatically and washed away a portion of the original riverbank causing a section of the walkway to sink and slope towards the river. That section of the River Walk is now temporally closed until repairs can be made.

The estimated cost of the repairs is $46,530.00. The Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve is managed by the Muskegon Environmental Research & Education Society (MERES), a 503 (c) nonprofit organization and is kicking off the Wilder River Walk fundraising campaign to make the needed repairs.

Donations can be made by going to the Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve website at https://muskegonlakenaturepreserve.com and clicking on the Click to Donate button or by sending a check to the Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve at P.O. Box 5038, North Muskegon, MI 49445-0038.

The Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve is home to trails, the Al Bell Wetland Trail, a paved bike and walking trail, the Ron Brown Education Pavilion and the 1⁄4 mile long Wilder River Walk. Activities include bird watching, fishing, jogging, walking, biking, wildlife viewing and dog walking. The Preserve also serves as an outdoor classroom for teachers and students from the local school districts, in their study of wetlands and forest environmental issues.

If you have any questions regarding the fundraiser or the Preserve, please contact Steve Thompson at 616-405-3524, Tom Willi at 231-260-6730 or friendsofthemlnp@gmail.com.

Wilder Riverwalk Partial Closure

A portion of the Wilder River Walk is now closed. There are barricades on each side of the section of the Riverwalk that is leaning towards the river.

The entrance to the Riverwalk that includes the Peter & Sophia Wege observation tower along the Muskegon River will remain open. The paved bike path that connects with the Riverwalk near the Wilder Observation tower inland will also remain open and will still connect with the Muskegon Lakeshore Trail.

Over the winter, we will be looking at options and costs for repairing that section of the Riverwalk.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday is a global movement that was created in 2012 to encourage people to do good. It is a day to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. Every act of generosity counts and everyone has something to contribute toward building a better community that we all want to live in.

This year's Giving Tuesday event is November 29th. The Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve will be a participant this year and over the next 9 days we will talk more about Giving Tuesday and the MLNP.

The Muskegon Environmental Research & Education Society (MERES) operates the 17 acre Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve. MERES is a 501-C-3 tax exempt organization and operates without any direct government assistance. We are totally dependent on donations, grants and the dedication of volunteers who have worked many hours to provide this beautiful nature sanctuary in the heart of an urban community.

Restoration Project Complete!

The Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve restoration work is complete! The first phase of the project involved removing invasive species, grading, placing topsoil and removing debris, concrete and iron from locations within the preserve. Seed and erosion blankets were then installed to stabilize the work areas and prevent erosion.

The second phase of the project included the planting of 2100 trees, 3400 shrubs and 30,400 herbaceous plants. Habitat structures were placed to provide cover for fish and wildlife.

The aquatic restoration portion of the project restored the connection to Muskegon Lake to allow for the movement of fish and water flow from the river/lake into the lagoon.

The project was funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative with a grant through the West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission and the NOAA/Great Lakes Commission Regional Partnership.