What does the project entail?

This project has two main components: shoreline stabilization and improvements along the Mariners Trail.

On the shoreline side, work is planned for the left side of the harbor near Seagull Marina and the Lighthouse Inn. With adequate funding, compatible sand will be added to widen the existing beach. This will create a softer, more natural line of defense against erosion, while also expanding recreational space for visitors. To further protect the shoreline, offshore rock breakwaters will be constructed to absorb wave energy before it reaches the coast. The south jetty of the Two Rivers Harbor will also be extended, which should improve wave conditions inside the harbor and potentially reduce how often dredging is needed at the entrance channel. In addition, the area west of the Lighthouse Inn will see dune restoration and native plantings, which will help stabilize the shoreline and reduce the ongoing issue of sand drifting across the trail and road.

The Mariners Trail portion of the project introduces a series of improvements at different locations:

• Area 1: Remove half of the pavement from the wayside parking lot and restore it as prairie, creating an extension of the existing natural habitat. A meandering walking path will invite people into the space, while the remaining parking area will be repaved and upgraded with a curb-and-gutter system for improved stormwater management. A rain garden with energy dissipators and riprap overflow is also proposed to strengthen stormwater resilience.

• Area 3: Reimagine some of the existing ornamental gardens maintained by the Friends of the Mariners Trail. The proposal is to convert part of these gardens into a rain garden and bioswale, which would provide ecological benefits while still being maintained by the Friends group. This shift aligns the gardens with broader stormwater and resiliency goals.

• Area 5: Enhance accessibility and habitat along the lakeshore. Native vegetation would be planted around the existing boulders that act as vehicle barriers, improving both aesthetics and ecological value. Plans also include an ADA-compliant ramp with railings for accessible beach entry, a new stairway down to the beach, and, if funding allows, a small changing room and restroom facility for visitors.

Why expand prairie habitat?

Prior to European colonization, prairies covered 2.1 million acres across Wisconsin. Today, according to the WDNR, less than 0.1% of native prairie remains in the state. Besides the value of the native landscape, prairies are home to a biodiverse array of life, hosting plants, insects, vertebrates, and other organisms like mosses, liverworts, and lichens, along with organisms invisible to the eye.

Prairies also benefit lakes and watersheds. Their root systems and soil structures allow them to absorb rainfall and water flowing across the landscape, providing erosion control and nutrient reduction.

These factors make prairie habitat a great and accessible candidate for our Resilient Waterfront Project!

(https://www.cleanlakesalliance.org/prairies-and-our-lakes/)

Area 1 - Mariners Trail

This largely unused parking lot is undergoing construction to reduce impermeable surfaces by over 50% through the removal of the concrete pavement. The City of Two Rivers initiated construction in the fall of 2025. The former parking lot will soon become an expanded area of native plant prairie. A section along the Mariners Trail path was previously restored as native prairie habitat, with the help of Stantec, and this area will increase in size in the spring of 2026. Native prairie plant seeds will be used to further restore this habitat.