2021 Lake Michigan Champions of Conservation

In 2021, the following nominees were selected as our Lake Michigan Champions of Conservation:

Marjie Tomter

In 2010, Marjie launched “Treasures of Oz,” an Ozaukee County‐wide celebration of special places, open spaces, and natural areas, accessible to the public, which represent critical collaborative restoration, protection, and preservation efforts. Over the course of the past 11 years, Marjie has been instrumental in driving significant new levels of engagement among community residents. Each year, Treasures consistently generates a high degree of awareness and energy and strong turnout from Ozaukee County communities. People eagerly await the unveiling of the sites that will be showcased each year, and on the day of the event, excitedly visit each of them and have their “Passport” stamped. Volunteer “docents” proudly staff the designated sites and share with visitors important information about land and water conservation efforts. This results in a more educated, more engaged, more empowered resident base!

In one of Wisconsin’s most conservative Counties, Marjie has established herself as a trusted, well respected, and highly‐reputed environmental leader. She has a demonstrated ability to build authentic, meaningful relationships across political lines. She advocates for bipartisan action in advancing smart land and water conservation policy – and she models that philosophy. Her selfless service extends beyond the Treasures of Oz event; Marjie has assumed leadership roles with the Ozaukee Treasures Network; Ozaukee Washington Land Trust; Gathering Waters; Ulao Creek Partnership; and Ozaukee County Watershed Coalition. In short, Marjie is an unbelievable Champion of Conservation!

Ariens Company

Ariens Company maintains 250 acres of green space on its corporate campus located in Brillion, Wis. The property which is located between two of the company’s manufacturing plants, and adjacent to the 4,800-acre WDNR Brillion State Wildlife Area, serves multiple uses and community benefits.  To improve wildlife habitat and water quality within the upper reach of the Manitowoc River basin, Ariens is in the process of restoring approximately 165 acres of diverse native plant communities adjacent to their manufacturing facilities.  Within this restored area, Ariens has created over 4 miles of recreational trails and a trailhead that connects different habitat areas and links to the WDNR Friendship and Fox River State Trail systems.  Engaging its employees in this habitat restoration, Ariens has developed a beehive community to promote pollinators and a bluebird nest box program.  Ariens also partners with the community and engages local school groups in its conservation efforts and allows public access to the trail system.

Ariens’ vision and leadership in this habitat conservation, outdoor recreation, and educational project has promoted a sense of employee and community pride while improving the quality of life for employees and local residents.  Selecting Ariens for the 2021 Champions of Conservation Award brings awareness about the environmental and social benefits of conservation projects and can inspire other companies in the Lake Michigan basin to create similar projects in their communities.

Oneida Nation’s Environmental, Health, Safety, Land & Agricultural Division

The Oneida Nation has addressed and continues to address several critical environmental needs within their community and the larger landscape of northeast Wisconsin.  These needs include clean water, improved and restored fish and wildlife habitat, culturally significant plantings, and environmental education. The Oneida Environmental, Health, Safety, Land & Agricultural Division is the provider of those services that preserve, restore and enhance the environment.  The Division has been a leader in developing innovative techniques and partnerships to conserve, enhance, and protect the natural resources. Their approach of working from the headwaters of a watershed first to create the most sustainable set of water quality improvement practices demonstrates their holistic approach to conservation. Staff have restored wetlands and streams, improved fish and wildlife habitat, implemented innovative agricultural practices, and much more. 

The lands of the Oneida Nation in Wisconsin exist within the Lake Michigan watershed and the wetlands and streams of the Oneida Nation flow through the lower Green Bay north to Lake Michigan. Many of these streams have been impaired in the past from practices that degraded the water quality, and fish and wildlife habitats of those streams and bordering riparian lands. The Oneida Nation has made a commitment to recover the health of these natural systems for the species that live there and for the humans that use these places. They have made tremendous advances on this journey in the past decade and the leadership, knowledge, and wisdom they have earned and are sharing with other conservation resource professionals in the region has improved the waters and lands beyond the Oneida Nation. They have become regional leaders in the practice of honoring and restoring the Earth for the creatures and people that share it.