GATEWAY TO THE ESTUARY
Specialized Spaces for Research and Learning
Our facilities provide a gathering place, educational opportunities and support economic development through research and tourism. The Lake Superior Reserve occupies two waterfront buildings on Barker's Island near Route 53 in Superior. Our buildings, which we purchased in 2011 through funds obtained through a grant from NOAA, are part of the UW-Superior campus. The buildings house our administrative offices and offices for the Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute, as well as a dock-side laboratory, a public science and interpretive learning center and classrooms.
Classroom & Meeting Space
Request the Confluence Room for your non-profit, government or business group.
Research Facilities
Tools for your research
The Reserve’s research facilities include a meeting room, student work stations and a 1,300 sq. ft. dockside laboratory. The lab is available to visiting and partnering researchers and houses equipment for water quality analysis and other scientific research.
Additionally, the Lake Superior Research Institute (LSRI), housed at UW-Superior, maintains several aquatic biology and chemistry labs. Visiting researchers should contact LSRI directly for more information.
Contact:
Research Vessels
Navigate the estuary and coastal Lake Superior
R2512
The Reserve is home to a 25-foot vessel that enhances its scientific research, monitoring and educational missions. The vessel is intended for operation in protected waters and near-shore environments, making it an ideal boat to navigate the St. Louis River Estuary and coastal Lake Superior. It comes outfitted with a high-resolution sidescan sonar that produces detailed images of lakebeds and river bottoms. Additionally, an onboard side crane allows loading and unloading of bulky scientific equipment needed for other research endeavors. The vessel, named R2512, is assigned under an agreement with NOAA. Download request for use form
Contact:
R.D. Browne
The Reserve owns and operates a 19 ft. shallow draft, high-capacity boat, which is available—along with an operator—to visiting researchers and educators. Download request for use form
Contact:
Local lodging
There are many local lodging options that allow visiting faculty, students, researchers, and professionals to stay within a short distance of the Reserve’s Barker’s Island facilities–and experience the beauty of the Twin Ports of Superior and Duluth.
Lake Superior Estuarium
A Gathering Place for Exploration
The Lake Superior Estuarium creates a better future through community, collaboration and place-based education in the Lake Superior Watershed. The Estuarium exhibit hall houses fun, family-centered exhibits that tell the story of the St. Louis River Estuary, Lake Superior and the communities on their shores.
Visiting the Estuarium is free, though donations are welcome. It is open to the public Fridays and Saturdays in the summer (Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend) and winter seasons.
Occupancy: 233
Classroom & Meeting Space
Confluence Room
The Lake Superior Estuarium includes a well-equipped classroom and meeting space and offices for the Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve and visiting researchers or students. Request the Confluence Room for your non-profit, government or business group. The facility is not currently available for private events.
Occupancy
Classroom style (rows of tables): 25 people
Theater style (chairs only): 60 people
Maximum room occupancy: 128 people
Room Reservation Process
Simply check the calendar to see if the Confluence Room is available during the date and time you are interested in.
