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LSSU’s Great Lakes research boosted by $3 million gift

David Lyden
02-12-2026

   SAULT STE MARIE — Lake Superior State University is expanding its Great Lakes research capacity through a $3 million investment from donors Dick and Theresa Barch. The gift establishes the Richard and Barch Endowed Executive Directorship, which is the first named directorship in the university’s history.
   The donation supports the university’s Center for Freshwater Research and Education in Sault Ste. Marie. The funding will be used to create an Excellence Fund for student research, acquire advanced equipment and purchase a larger research vessel for applied fieldwork.
   The investment establishes an Excellence Fund at the university’s Center for Freshwater Research and Education, known as CFRE. This fund will support student research projects and the purchase of advanced scientific equipment. It will also provide a new, larger research vessel to give students more opportunities for fieldwork on the Great Lakes.
   The center serves as a regional hub for freshwater research and workforce development. Staff and students regularly collaborate with tribal, federal and state agencies to address environmental challenges. Dr. Ashley Moerke serves as the executive director at CFRE and noted the gift’s regional significance.
   “This investment strengthens our ability to grow research and student training at a scale that impacts not only LSSU, but all those who appreciate the Great Lakes and freshwater ecosystems,” Moerke said. She added that the resources will help the center gather data to inform conservation and resource management across the region.
   The donation arrives as the university expands its academic offerings in natural resources. Dr. Kevin Kapuscinski is a professor and the holder of the Vanderploeg Endowed Assistant Directorship at CFRE. He emphasized the importance of the timing for the university’s new accelerated degree options.
   “This level of support enables us to expand the scope of our research and involve more students directly in applied fieldwork,” Kapuscinski said. He noted that the upgraded equipment will help protect the Great Lakes while training students for careers in the management of natural resources.
   LSSU recently launched an accelerated 4+1 Master’s Program in Fisheries and Wildlife Management. This program allows students to complete both an undergraduate and graduate degree in five years. Aiden Cardwell is a senior Fisheries and Wildlife Management student and is among the first to enroll in the program.Cardwell has worked at the center for two years analyzing water quality and sampling fish. “The Barch Center and all that it facilitates, has been instrumental in shaping my professional and personal life, my sense of place and my appreciation for freshwater and fishery sciences —an impact this generous gift will ensure is felt by many others to come,” Cardwell said.
   The center also leads specific research projects with international partners. One current project involves oil spill research using mesocosms to replicate freshwater conditions. This study is conducted in partnership with Algoma University, the University of Windsor and the U.S. Coast Guard.Richard Barch, who has a long history of supporting the university with Barch, said the center provides experiences that textbooks cannot replicate. He described the value of students working directly in wetlands and marshes.
   “Turning over rocks in a river or along a lake bottom brings a kind of personal satisfaction that deepens learning and reveals the complexity of ecosystems,” Barch said. “Getting wet, cold and muddy in waders isn’t a side note at LSSU, but a defining part of the student experience and one you won’t find in an urban campus setting.”
   Students in the new accelerated Master’s Program in Fisheries and Wildlife Management will continue to complete research-based theses using the new equipment and vessel. The endowed directorship is expected to assist the university in pursuing future external funding and research partnerships.

Bill to make Apostle Islands Wisconsin’s first national park clears House committee

By Eric Nordrum
Feb. 11, 2026

   WASHINGTON, D.C. (Northern News Now) – A bill that would redesignate the Apostle Islands as Wisconsin’s first national park advanced out of the House Committee on Natural Resources in a narrow vote this week.
   The panel approved the Apostle Islands National Park and Preserve Act on a 20-17 vote. The legislation, introduced by Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., would elevate the Apostle Islands from a National Lakeshore to a National Park, while keeping current boundaries intact.
   “The Apostle Islands are one of Wisconsin’s greatest natural treasures. With their sandstone cliffs, historic lighthouses, and iconic ice caves, they are worthy of becoming our state’s first National Park. Upgrading them from a National Lakeshore to a National Park would honor our heritage, protect these Lake Superior gems, and strengthen local communities for generations,” said Congressman Tom Tiffany.
   Supporters say the change would highlight the area’s sandstone cliffs, historic lighthouses and ice caves, while boosting tourism and local economies. The bill would designate Sand Island as a National Preserve to maintain hunting access. Management would remain with the National Park Service.
   Chairman Bruce Westerman said, “The Apostle Islands are Wisconsin’s Crown Jewel. By elevating this special area to a National Park, more Americans will experience the joys of visiting this natural wonder and nearby communities will reap the economic benefits. I applaud Rep. Tiffany for his leadership to designate Wisconsin’s first and only national park in celebration of our nation’s 250th anniversary.”
   The Apostle Islands, located on Lake Superior, were designated a National Lakeshore in 1970. If approved by Congress and signed into law, the change would make the site Wisconsin’s first national park. You can read the full act here.  https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5497
   As we have reported before, the Apostle Islands National Park and Preserve Act has received strong opposition since Rep. Tiffany first proposed it in the Summer of 2024.
   The Washburn City Council passed a resolution formally opposing the bill back in October of 2024. At the time, a lack of public information meetings and public infrastructure worries prompted the resolution.
   Washburn Mayor Mary Motiff said, “I am very disappointed in the lack of communication regarding this topic prior to the bill being introduced. I certainly hope that area stakeholders will be able to participate in the important discussions that I hope will still happen if this bill progresses.”
   The Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa issued this statement in August of 2024, saying “To the Tribe’s knowledge, there has been no environmental impact study; no economic impact study; no infrastructure impact study; no cultural and treaty rights impact study; and no mention of what specific federal fiscal resources this change would bring to the area.”
   Northern News Now will provide updates and reactions to the Apostle Islands National Park and Preserve Act vote as they become available.