The Fund for Lake Michigan has awarded the Ridges Sanctuary in Baileys Harbor a $75,000 grant to develop a “living laboratory.” The Milwaukee based organization says the grant will help the Ridges showcase rain gardens, native plantings, and, other storm water management practices at its new Cook-Fuller Nature Center. Steve Leonard, Executive Director of the Ridges Sanctuary, says the funding will help pay for the demonstration project at the nature center while also educating the public about the things they can do to improve Lake Michigan water quality. In addition, the grant will help the Ridges restore 16 acres surrounding the new center including a two acre brownfield which has been leaching kerosene from past fish boils into the groundwater and Lake Michigan. A total of 27 projects will share in $1.9 million provided by the Fund for Lake Michigan.
