The Ridges Sanctuary in Baileys Harbor has received a $73,000 grant from the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Coastal Program for restoration of the Dwarf Lake Iris species. 

The Dwarf Lake Iris is a rare species from the Upper Great Lakes region, but is actually relatively common in Door County. The species grows on the edges of shoreline forest and dune habitats and are purple in color. The plant has been decreasing in numbers due to loss of its habitat, effects of climate change, and other environmental threats. 

The Ridges Sanctuary Land Manager Sam Hoffman reiterates the importance of the plant, telling us it is common for the plant to be in Door County, but it is still at a high level of endangerment. He also went on to talk about the grant they received and some restoration plans. 

Door County is just one of two Wisconsin counties hosting the federally threatened iris with The Ridges Sanctuary being the county’s resident expert in Dwarf Lake Iris conservation and research. The plant is one of the more popular of the recently named endangered plants, and the Ridges is hoping to not only increase the population of the plant, but to maximize its genetic diversity over time.