Nature Conservancy Acquires 358-Acre Clough Island

SUPERIOR, Wis. (AP) -- The Nature Conservancy has acquired 358-acre Clough Island in the St. Louis River Estuary near Superior, Wis., after a developer previously sought to build condominiums and a golf course.

The island is located where the St. Louis River meets Lake Superior and is the largest island in the estuary. The Conservancy bought the island to preserve and retain the habitat for wildlife that includes native fish and migratory birds.

Wildlife officials say as many as 230 species of birds have been documented using the estuary that's also home to beavers, minks, river otters, muskrats, wolves, bears, bobcats and white-tail deer.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded a $1 million grant to help pay for the conservation and restoration of Clough Island through its National Coastal Wetlands Conservation program.

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